News Articles
Childhood upbringing linked to mental health conditions
Date of Posting: 09-05-2024
The impact of child abuse and neglect in Australia causes nearly half of common mental health conditions, a study has found. A University of Sydney study found childhood maltreatment accounted for 41 per cent of suicide attempts in the nation, 35 Read More...
New award for physiotherapy students at Bond University
Date of Posting: 09-05-2024
The annual Nancy Low Choy Memorial Award for Academic Excellence has been introduced to Bond University. It will be given to the top-performing student graduating with a Doctor of Physiotherapy degree from Bond University on the Gold Coast. Named aft Read More...
Study shows heavy lifting may help osteoporosis
Last Updated: 09-05-2024
A Griffith University research team has identified heavy lifting as a way to assist patients with osteoporosis. The team is encouraging clinicians to refer patients to heavy lifting exercise program to improve bone health. They believe this type o Read More...
Furniture suppliers to warn of toppling risk for kids
Date of Posting: 08-05-2024
Furniture suppliers will be required to provide safety warnings to people buying large items that can topple and potentially harm young children when not properly secured. Some 28 people - including 17 children under the age of five - have died in Read More...
Opioid treatment drug offers hope for long COVID cases
Date of Posting: 08-05-2024
A drug commonly used to treat opioid dependency may also prove life changing for long COVID-19 sufferers. Queensland scientists have discovered Naltrexone can be used on a low dose to alleviate long COVID's debilitating symptoms, describing it Read More...
Two copies of gene a 'virtual guarantee' of Alzheimer's
Date of Posting: 07-05-2024
People who carry two copies of the APOE4 gene are virtually guaranteed to develop Alzheimer's and face symptoms at an earlier age, researchers report in a study that could redefine such carriers as having a new genetic form of the mind-wasting di Read More...
Shot in the arm for winter disease fight
Date of Posting: 07-05-2024
More than one million doses of the influenza vaccine have been given in Victoria since the beginning of autumn. Just over one in five shots were administered by a pharmacist, two thirds given by general practitioners and the rest by other health p Read More...
Monash Health pleads guilty over patient's death
Date of Posting: 07-05-2024
The father of a woman admitted to a Melbourne mental health unit says he feels like he is in a "living nightmare" after the hospital failed to prevent his daughter's death. Monash Health pleaded guilty to contravening health and safe Read More...
Child protection a 'disgrace' say mental health experts
Date of Posting: 05-05-2024
Still reeling from the tragedy of a 10-year-old Aboriginal boy who took his own life in state care in Western Australia in April, First Nations mental health experts are calling for proper investment in preventative measures. Tania Brown, chief ex Read More...
Why Is A Jungle Gym Good For Kids Exercise?
Last Updated: 03-05-2024
Looking for a way to get your kids to be more active? We all know that children need to exercise to stay healthy. The good news is that kids can get all the exercise they need through play. The key is to make exercise fun, and what better way than to Read More...
Research improves early detection of prostate cancer
Date of Posting: 02-05-2024
An Australian-developed process that accurately identifies prostate cancer in low-risk patients "at point zero" could revolutionise detection. The process, developed by University of South Australia researcher Jessica Logan, has been ful Read More...
Disability service accused of reporting failures
Date of Posting: 02-05-2024
Australia's disability insurance scheme regulator has taken legal action against a provider for allegedly failing to report more than 600 incidents, including sexual misconduct, within required time frames. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Comm Read More...
Paramedics' mobile numbers 'exposed' in data breach
Date of Posting: 29-04-2024
Victorian paramedics have been ensnared in another apparent privacy breach, with a union declaring staff members' mobile phone numbers were exposed. The Victorian Ambulance Union was notified the personal mobile phone numbers and rostering sta Read More...
Bulk-billing increase ruled out despite rate rise
Date of Posting: 29-04-2024
Almost one million extra trips to the GP have been bulk-billed since additional incentives for doctors came into effect, but the government has ruled out further rises to the scheme. The bulk-billing rate rose 2.1 per cent to 77.7 per cent in Marc Read More...
ACN calls for school-focused campaign to educate and retain nurses.
Last Updated: 29-04-2024
A campaign to promote the image of nursing is required if Australia is to keep up with the needs of its growing and ageing population, according to the Australian College of Nursing. The ACN has called on the government to fund a campaign which wo Read More...
'A pretty good gig': understanding orthopaedic physiotherapy
Date of Posting: 29-04-2024
A lack of understanding around the role of the orthopaedic physiotherapist exists among patients and professionals both within and outside of the hospital environment, according to educator Michael Edmonds. “I have lost count of the number o Read More...
New hope for Aussies battling early stage breast cancer
Last Updated: 28-04-2024
Australians who live with a high risk of recurrence after early breast cancer will soon pay as little as $7.70 for an expanded treatment that could halt the disease from spreading. The federal government is expanding subsidies for abemaciclib (Ver Read More...
After 25 years, birthing suite available for rural mums
Date of Posting: 28-04-2024
For 25 years, women in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula have travelled more than 800km in their last month of pregnancy to access maternity services. But that is all about to change.[subscribe] Weipa Hospital's new birthing services wil Read More...
UK patients test personalised mRNA jab for melanoma
Date of Posting: 28-04-2024
The world's first personalised mRNA cancer jab for melanoma - which also has the potential to stop lung, bladder and kidney cancer - is being tested in British patients. The jab, which offers hope of a cure, is custom-built for each person in Read More...
Half of nurses, midwives considering leaving profession
Date of Posting: 26-04-2024
Nearly half of Queensland nurses and midwives are considering leaving the profession amid chronic understaffing and aggression leading to burnout. Of the 20,000 Queensland Nurses and Midwives' Union (QNMU) members, 46 per cent of them are over Read More...
Vitamin D may encourage better cancer immunity levels
Date of Posting: 26-04-2024
British research has found a possible link between vitamin D and improved immunity to cancer. The study in mice found that the vitamin encourages the growth of a type of gut bacteria which gives the animals better immunity to the disease.[subscrib Read More...
Mental health chief resigns over government 'inaction'
Date of Posting: 26-04-2024
The head of Australia's peak mental health body has resigned over what he labelled the Albanese government's inaction following decades of underfunding and inattention. Matt Berriman's resignation comes a little more than a week after a 4 Read More...
Melbourne's original injecting room to stay
Date of Posting: 24-04-2024
Melbourne's original injecting room will stay open and receive extra funding despite the Victorian government rejecting advice for a second facility in the CBD. Premier Jacinta Allan ruled out the creation of a new centre under her leadership, Read More...
Landmark doctor underpayment case prompts culture shift
Date of Posting: 24-04-2024
A culture of long hours of unpaid overtime for junior doctors will need to change following a multimillion-dollar underpayment settlement, believed to be the biggest in Australian history. More than 20,000 junior doctors could share in a $229.8 mi Read More...
Australia's healthcare system delivers value for money
Date of Posting: 24-04-2024
Australia's healthcare system delivers "some of the best value for money of any in the world", a federal government research body says. The Productivity Commission's conclusion is based on its assessment of how much it costs to t Read More...
Psychologist first person in Peru to die by euthanasia
Date of Posting: 23-04-2024
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years has died by euthanasia, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assist Read More...
Door closes on new safe injecting room for Melbourne
Date of Posting: 23-04-2024
The Victorian government has rejected a second safe injecting room in Melbourne despite a report pushing for the facility and about six years after the first centre opened in North Richmond. * June 2018: Melbourne's first medically supervised Read More...
Millions in job support set for people with disability
Date of Posting: 23-04-2024
Australians living with disability who want to work, but have support needs, will benefit from millions in funding as the government attempts to bolster employment options. Almost $15 million will be awarded to organisations that help boost traini Read More...
Australian school guidelines changing to promote a healthy lifestyle
Date of Posting: 22-04-2024
Australian school curriculum guidelines have been updated, and any activities involving calorie counting, body mass index (BMI), body measurements, and food intake recording will be taken out. Teachers have also been asked not to use the word ‘ Read More...
Alarm sounded on 'deep fake' health misinformation
Date of Posting: 22-04-2024
Australia must do more to address health misinformation before artificial intelligence makes it harder to call out, leading experts say. Former Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton believes it's only going to get harder to stamp out fal Read More...
Long COVID study gives Australians cause for hope
Date of Posting: 21-04-2024
Some long COVID symptoms may not last quite as long as first feared, according a study of Australians infected early in the pandemic. Immunological symptoms that were present eight months after contracting the virus had largely resolved for most p Read More...
Survey shows culture of bullying in trainee doctors
Date of Posting: 21-04-2024
Non-binary and women medical trainees around the nation report higher experiences of bullying and mistreatment. Serious concerns about the culture of medicine were raised by trainee doctors all genders in the Australian Health Practitioner Regulat Read More...
'Get tested': how hip pain led to late cancer diagnosis
Date of Posting: 21-04-2024
When squash coach Malcolm McClarty experienced persistent pain in his right hip, he chalked it up to just another sports injury. But when the 63-year-old described his symptoms to one of his students, oncologist Niall Tebbutt, it immediately set o Read More...
Fears history repeating with vaping uptake among kids
Date of Posting: 19-04-2024
Strong vaping laws to prevent devastating health impacts on children are being pursued by the nation's health ministers. Legislation was introduced last month to stop the importation, manufacture, supply and commercial possession of disposable Read More...
Elective surgery wait times longest on record
Date of Posting: 19-04-2024
Wait times for elective surgery at public hospitals have blown out to the longest on record, prompting calls for an overhaul by Australia's peak medical body. The latest Public Hospital Report Card, released on Friday by the Australian Medical Read More...
Vaccines saved 'thousands' of people during COVID-19
Date of Posting: 18-04-2024
COVID-19 vaccines prevented almost 18,000 deaths among people over 50 in NSW as the Omicron strain hit, a study has found. And experts say this may be a conservative estimate after scientists used computer simulations to track death rates.[subscri Read More...
Falls behind one in three child injury hospital visits
Date of Posting: 18-04-2024
One in three injury hospitalisations among Australian children and young people are caused by a fall, with playground equipment the main culprit. A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows there were 603,675 emergency d Read More...
Food delivery apps leaving out nutritional info
Date of Posting: 17-04-2024
Outdated NSW menu labelling laws are allowing large food outlets to leave out nutritional information on food delivery apps, a study has revealed. The University of Sydney study shows that menu items for major food outlets such as McDonald's a Read More...
Nigeria first to use new meningitis vaccine
Date of Posting: 17-04-2024
Nigeria has become the first country in the world to roll out the new Men5CV vaccine against meningitis, the World Health Organisation says. Nigeria is one of the hotspots of the deadly disease in Africa.[subscribe] Last year, a 50 per cent ris Read More...
Meningococcal disease warning ahead of predicted peak
Date of Posting: 17-04-2024
Families and students have been urged to be alert for signs of invasive meningococcal disease ahead of a predicted peak in cases over coming months. It can be deadly and up to 40 per cent of patients develop long-term consequences, according to th Read More...
