News Articles
Masks, distance and boosters curb Omicron
Date of Posting: 25-02-2022
Two notorious COVID-19 super spreader events that turbo charged the outbreak of Omicron in Newcastle have been analysed to better understand the highly infectious virus variant. Health restrictions coupled with a booster shot are the best way to c Read More...
SA doctors call for more health funding
Date of Posting: 25-02-2022
South Australia's doctors have called for major investment to improve a health "system in crisis", urging voters to carefully scrutinise promises from political parties ahead of the March state election. With both Labor and the Liber Read More...
Gastro cases double in NSW childcare
Date of Posting: 25-02-2022
There have been more than 155 outbreaks of highly infectious gastroenteritis in NSW childcare centres this month, nearly double the usual number of cases. Richard Broome from NSW Health said almost 1000 children and more than 210 staff members had Read More...
Some paracetamol have 'hidden' salt
Last Updated: 24-02-2022
"Hidden" salt in some types of paracetamol has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and death in a large new study. Thanks to safety messages, people are more conscious than ever about the levels of salt in their food.[subsc Read More...
Delay for under-5s COVID vaccine approval
Date of Posting: 24-02-2022
Work on potentially approving COVID-19 vaccines for children under five will not get under way until after Easter, according to health officials. The head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration said it would be some time before vaccination consid Read More...
How women's experience of birth during COVID-19 can help improve childbirth in future
Last Updated: 24-02-2022
Over the past 2 years we have avoided hugs and handshakes, stayed at home and quarantined, and experienced important life events alone. We have been reduced to family bubbles – keeping away from friends, acquaintances and even other family m Read More...
Better outcomes for newborn cardio-respiratory health
Last Updated: 24-02-2022
Researchers at Monash University have developed new software which delivers advanced sound quality of heart and lung monitoring for preterm and full term babies, and can be used by parents at home. The software, used in conjunction with digital st Read More...
NSW's $4 billion spend on pandemic health
Date of Posting: 23-02-2022
In the past two years the NSW government has committed more than $4 billion to the state's health system to manage the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The staggering figure was revealed by the incoming boss of NSW Health Susan Pearce on Tues Read More...
WA faces 'half a million' Omicron cases
Date of Posting: 23-02-2022
West Australians are being warned to expect months of COVID-19 restrictions as long-awaited modelling predicts the state will record almost half a million cases by August. WA Health on Tuesday reported 258 new local cases and five travel-related i Read More...
Qld to ditch mask mandates, density limits
Date of Posting: 23-02-2022
Queensland will scrap face mask mandates in most indoor settings and density limits at most venues next week, as its COVID-19 outbreak fades. The state recorded five COVID-19 new deaths and 5583 cases in the 24 hours to 6.30am on Tuesday. There Read More...
SA Labor pledges 300 more nurses
Date of Posting: 23-02-2022
Labor has pledged to recruit 300 more nurses for South Australian hospitals if the party wins the March state election. The promise includes 212 extra staff to support the party's commitment to open 300 extra beds across the public health syst Read More...
Mother on a mission over regional health
Date of Posting: 23-02-2022
Two days after giving birth, Melinda McLennan started to feel "unsafe" in her own body. "I came home and I didn't feel right. I didn't have a touch on reality and felt very spaced out," Mrs McLennan says. It was the Read More...
Nurses report burnout and anxiety linked to low quality of care
Date of Posting: 22-02-2022
A new study has found that nurses who report mental health symptoms like anxiety and burnout also perceive that their patients receive a lower quality of care. While the link between nurse mental health and quality and safety of patient care deliv Read More...
Making a difference is what keeps me in midwifery
Last Updated: 22-02-2022
Being able to make positive change in a patient’s journey is the driving force behind Jane Palmer’s career as a midwife. “It mightn't always be massive differences, but certainly if there are people in the system or midwives Read More...
Pre-natal period a missed opportunity for vaccination communication
Date of Posting: 22-02-2022
Growing evidence shows that many parents begin the decision-making process about infant vaccination during pregnancy and these decisions – once established – may be resistant to change. Despite this, many interventions which target vac Read More...
Baby formulas recalled due to bacteria
Last Updated: 21-02-2022
Australian health authorities are warning parents to stop feeding their babies three brands of formula as they may be contaminated with dangerous bacteria. Both Victorian and New South Wales health authorities issued alerts on Sunday night, after Read More...
Victoria posts 4867 cases, nine deaths
Date of Posting: 21-02-2022
Victoria has added 4867 new infections to its COVID-19 caseload along with a further nine virus-related deaths. Health authorities say the state continues to manage more than 46,700 active coronavirus cases, down from 48,420 reported on Saturday.[ Read More...
Autism is still underdiagnosed in girls and women
Last Updated: 21-02-2022
Being autistic, but not diagnosed, can lead to a lifetime of struggles and being misunderstood for women. This issue has been highlighted in the last few years by celebrity women including Hannah Gadsby, Daryl Hannah, British reality star Ch Read More...
Fears people with disability are being left behind
Last Updated: 21-02-2022
The COVID-19 Omicron variant has created "acute fears" for people with disabilities and their care and support, the disability royal commission says. A statement from the commission lists 10 areas of concern, including an overall de-prio Read More...
Doctor convicted for practising despite suspension
Date of Posting: 21-02-2022
A Melbourne-based medical practitioner who continued to practise after he was suspended, and who obstructed an Ahpra investigation into his conduct, was today convicted after pleading guilty in the Magistrates Court of Victoria following charges laid Read More...
Better dietary management for oncology patients
Date of Posting: 21-02-2022
A new dietary tool to quickly and accurately assess micronutrient levels aims to help cancer patients fight disease, paving the way to find better nutritional solutions for oncology services, Flinders University researchers say. Chroni Read More...
NSW nurses and paramedics take industrial action
Last Updated: 21-02-2022
NSW paramedics will join nurses across the state by taking industrial action this week. Thousands of NSW nurses in public hospitals will walk off the job on Tuesday for the first time in a decade as part of a long-running campaign for better staff Read More...
WA to finally reopen borders from March 3
Date of Posting: 20-02-2022
Western Australia will reopen its borders from March 3 amid a growing Omicron outbreak, bringing to an end almost 700 days of seclusion. Insisting the new date was "locked in", Premier Mark McGowan on Friday expressed confidence WA was r Read More...
NSW posts 12 deaths, 7615 new virus cases
Date of Posting: 20-02-2022
NSW has posted a further 12 COVID-related fatalities and 7615 new infections. Health authorities say the deaths were of six women and six men. One each were aged in their 50s, two in their 70s and four each in their 80s and 90s.[subscribe] Nine Read More...
Vic prepares to open new quarantine hub
Date of Posting: 20-02-2022
Victoria will welcome the first cohort of unvaccinated international travellers to its newly-built $200 million quarantine hub within days. The Victorian Quarantine Hub, which will replace hotels and become the state's only quarantine site fro Read More...
SA virus cases stable with 1479 infections
Date of Posting: 19-02-2022
South Australia has reported another 1479 COVID-19 infections, continuing the state's run of consistent daily case numbers. New infections have remained between 1000 and 2000 each day for the past three weeks, after dipping below 2000 on Janua Read More...
COVID-19 restrictions ease in Victoria
Date of Posting: 19-02-2022
Coronavirus restrictions are being eased at many venues in Victoria, with density limits to go and check-ins no longer required. From 6pm on Friday, density limits will no longer be enforced at restaurants, pubs and clubs, and indoor dancefloors c Read More...
Joy as virus restrictions ease, for now
Date of Posting: 19-02-2022
Residents of NSW, Victoria and the ACT have enjoyed their first night back on the dancefloor as the summer COVID-19 outbreak appears to subside. Health officials in the jurisdictions say cases have plateaued, with some also scrapping most QR check Read More...
NSW paramedics worked 'to the bone'
Date of Posting: 18-02-2022
A 24-hour strike by NSW paramedics has failed to rouse a meaningful response from the government, their union says. Emergency responders are taking part in industrial action on Thursday, with paramedics refusing to leave their allocated stations t Read More...
Qld mental health funding under spotlight
Date of Posting: 18-02-2022
Queensland could learn from mental health care in Portugal and Scandinavia as professionals call for a significant funding boost in the sector. The state "spends the lowest of any state or territory on mental health" and could do with a Read More...
NSW nurses back to work after strike
Last Updated: 18-02-2022
Thousands of NSW nurses are returning to work following strike action for the first time in more than a decade as workers call for more staff and better pay. But they say further strikes will follow unless their demands are met.[subscribe] NSW Read More...
Time for action on Australia's hidden epidemic
Last Updated: 18-02-2022
Wounds Australia has used the Federal Government’s pre-Budget submission process to call for all political parties to commit to solutions that solve the ‘hidden epidemic’ of chronic wounds. The peak body for wound prevention and Read More...
Last Updated: 18-02-2022
Thousands of Queensland children are catching COVID-19, but authorities are more concerned about the potential risks for their families. The state recorded another 12 virus deaths and 6596 cases after 10,738 tests in the 24 hours to 6.30am on Wedn Read More...
Global burden of depression in spotlight
Date of Posting: 17-02-2022
Tackling some of the myths about depression could help combat the illness in the same way as cancer or heart disease. But reducing the stigma alone won't solve the issue of underfunding according to the 'Time for united action on depressio Read More...
Vic opposition spruiks mental health plan
Date of Posting: 16-02-2022
The Victorian opposition has laid out an alternative pitch to fix the state's "broken" mental health system if it wins government, but is yet to reveal how much it will cost. Opposition Leader Matthew Guy unveiled the initial stage o Read More...
NT posts a rise in COVID-19 infections
Date of Posting: 16-02-2022
The Northern Territory has reported 1086 new COVID-19 cases, with the government hailing its handling of the pandemic as parliament returned for the year. Tuesday's case numbers were a rise on the 757 reported on Monday.[subscribe] There ar Read More...
SA reports 1138 new COVID-19 cases
Date of Posting: 16-02-2022
South Australia has reported another 1138 COVID-19 infections with health officials confident cases are "going in the right direction". Four more deaths have also been confirmed with 219 people in hospital with the virus, including 18 in Read More...
Australia Post gets mental health officer
Date of Posting: 16-02-2022
Australia Post is appointing a chief mental health officer, the first government business enterprise to do so. Group CEO Paul Graham says the move reflects the increasing recognition of the importance of mental health and Australia Post is helping Read More...
Care facility fails disabled SA man
Date of Posting: 16-02-2022
A disabled man in a South Australian government care facility was left in soiled clothes with an infected pressure wound, an investigation has found. The Health and Community Services and Complaints Commissioner looked into the man's case afte Read More...
Young adults with old knees: preventing arthritis after ACL knee injuries
Last Updated: 15-02-2022
Australians have the highest rates of ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) knee injuries worldwide, and young Australians are most at risk, with a 74% increase in knee surgery in people under 25 since 2000. Half the people who’ve had a knee reco Read More...
