Publications

An outline of the reform directions that governments will take over the period 2012-2022.

• Mental health

 Historical reports from the National Trachoma Surveillance and Reporting Unit (NTSRU)

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Eye health

This document has been developed to assist staff and management working in both the residential and community aged care setting to make informed decisions in relation to the use or non use of restraint, in responding to behaviours of concern.

• Ageing
• Injury prevention

This report assesses the effectiveness and appropriateness of the program and its current operational parameters as well as modelling future demand and growth patterns. It addresses patient outcomes, program uptake, program demand, cost benefits, program structure and compliance.

• Mental health
• Nursing

• Eye health

The Aged Care Workforce Census and Survey informs workforce planning on issues surrounding the recruitment and retention, training and education, carer development and employment conditions of the aged care workforce. It provides a comprehensive profile of the aged care workforce which spans almost a decade.

• Ageing
• Aged care services
• Carers
• Health personnel
• Health workforce
• 2012

A person-centred approach is a restraint free approach – a way of thinking that preserves the human rights of any person. All residents are entitled to respect and protection of their basic rights and freedoms, regardless of where they live. This entitlement includes all persons bearing a corresponding obligation to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of others.

A restraint-free environment means no words, devices or actions will interfere with a person’s ability to make a decision or restrict their free movement.

• Men's health
• Male Health

The Australian Government Directory of Services for Older People is a comprehensive guide to the wide range of services provided for older people by the Australian Government.

• Ageing
• Aged care services
• Seniors

This report summarises evidence regarding outcomes attributed to systems-level intersectoral linkages involving mental health services, and identifies barriers and facilitators to the intersectoral linkage process.

• Mental health

This page contains frequently asked questions regarding the Asbestos Householders Guide.

• Environmental health

This strategy sets out a long term vision for developing an accessible, high quality and integrated e-mental health care system.

• Mental health

• Child health
• Infant Health
• Physical activity

• Child health
• Physical activity
• Infant Health

This guide provides useful information to enable householders to sensibly and safely manage the risks arising from any occasional encounters with asbestos materials in and around their homes.

• Environmental health

Australian Government Response Productivity Commission’s Caring for Older Australians Report

• Health Reform
• Aged care services
• Seniors

• Health Reform
• Aged care services
• Seniors

An independent review of the Private Hospital Data Collection was conducted in 2011.

• Casemix

This guideline will assist health professionals to diagnose, treat and manage borderline personality disorder in adolescents and adults, and will improve understanding and recognition of BPD in health services and the community.

• Mental health

The Report on the Second Review of the Dental Benefits Act 2008 (the Act) is a further independent review of the operations and administration of the Act, in relation to the Medicare Teen Dental Plan.

• Dental health

Online and PDF versions of the Final Report of National Advisory Council on Dental Health.

• Dental health

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

This publication aims to ensure that consumers, carers, support persons, service providers and the community are aware of relevant rights and responsibilities and can be confident in exercising them.

• Mental health

Consumer Directed Care is a form of care for older people that gives them a greater say in, and more control over, the design and delivery of community care services provided to them and their carers.

• Aged care services
• Ageing
• Carers
• Seniors

Report on a national survey to assess whether there have been changes in recognition, treatment beliefs, stigmatising attitudes and other aspects of mental health literacy.

• Mental health

This report was completed by Paxton Partners Pty Ltd, June 2011, and examines the use of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) as a fee schedule for medical services by States and Territories.

The AHPC, with the assistance of the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA), has prepared the NatHealth Arrangements to articulate the strategic arrangements and mechanisms for the coordination of the Australian health sector in response to emergencies of national consequence.

Australian Government response to the scoping study to inform the establishment of a new peak national mental health consumer organisation.

• Mental health

Report on the second Australian national survey of psychotic illness.

• Mental health

The Report is the result of extensive consultation with Australia’s domestic stakeholders to ensure it accurately reviews the health sector response to the 2009 pandemic.

The National Blood-borne Virus (BBV) and Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI) Surveillance and Monitoring Plan is a supporting document to the National Strategies for BBVs and STIs. The Plan has been developed by a steering committee under the direction of Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA). Implementation of the plan will be overseen by the National BBV and STI Surveillance Sub-Committee of CDNA. The Sub-Committee will provide advice to CDNA on the staging of the implementation of the National BBV and STI Surveillance and Monitoring Plan, and oversee the annual implementation and reporting on the Plan.

• HIV
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Sexual Health

• Health personnel

In addition to the main 2008 Australian Secondary Students Alcohol and Drug (ASSAD) Survey, students from an additional 19 schools from rural areas in Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory were surveyed. From the 400 schools surveyed as part of the 2008 ASSAD and ASSAD Extension, 1317 students identified themselves as Indigenous Australians. This report is based on data from this combined group of Indigenous students.

• Alcohol
• Drugs
• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs
• Tobacco

This report assesses the implementation of the Mobile Outreach Service projects model and its impact on, and outcomes for, Aboriginal children and young people and their families and communities.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

The Government commissioned the National Centre for Social Applications of Geographical Information Systems (GISCA) to study the effect of the Government’s $134m Rural Workforce Strategy, which forms part of the Government’s regional workforce investments.

• Rural health services
• Health workforce

Produced by the HCOASC in 2006, the aim of the Delirium Care Pathways project was to build on the HCOASC Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Delirium in Older People, by developing pathways for patients/clients, carers and practitioners across care settings: (i) community; (ii) acute; and (iii) residential aged care facilities.

• Aged care services

Standards for the handling, storage, disposal and transport of security sensitive biological agents and suspected security sensitive biological agents.

Final Report - August 2010 of the Northern Territory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Aged Care Workforce Development Projects

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Aged care services
• Ageing

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework monitors progress in closing the gap in Indigenous Australian health outcomes, health system performance and broader determinants of health.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

This report was commissioned by the Department of Health and Ageing. It uses mathematical transmission models to evaluate the alternative interventions available for the control of an emerged pandemic of influenza.

• Influenza

Report to Parliament on barriers to generic medicines entering the market through the inappropriate use of intellectual property rights over product information

• Pharmaceutical benefits

Reports by KPMG: Review of the impact of the new Medicare Levy Surcharge thresholds on public hospitals Year 1 Review Report 2010 and Review of the impact of the new Medicare Levy Surcharge thresholds on public hospitals Year 2 Review Report 2011.

• Private Health Insurance

This review examined OATSIH’s current investment into BBV and STI virus activity and sought to make an assessment of service and system models, funding models, workforce and impact resulting from that investment.

The purpose of this study is to develop a range of feasible clinical service delivery models and care pathways to best meet (current and projected) needs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients from remote communities requiring dialysis in Central Australia.

The Transition Care Program Guidelines 2011 (the Guidelines) are an updated version of the Transition Care Program Guidelines 2005 which were developed by the Australian Government in consultation with all states and territories through the Transition Care Working Group.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

The Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon has released the ‘Review of Capping Arrangements Report 2011’.

• Medicare

Healthy Body Art, pull-out brochure for consumers on healthy tattooing and piercing.

This research assessed a variety of models of collaborative care to deduce principles upon which collaborative care should be based and strategies to achieve these goals.

• Youth health
• Mental health
• Child health

This response highlights commitment to reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease through targeted investment and through broader health reforms.

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Chronic disease

Using the enHealth Environmental Health Officer Skills and Knowledge Matrix is a companion guide to the enHealth Environmental Health Officer Skills and Knowledge Matrix, a document which provides a nationally agreed description of the skills and knowledge required to support the breadth of activities undertaken by EHOs. Using the enHealth Environmental Health Officer Skills and Knowledge Matrix looks at how the Matrix can be used in the workplace, across jurisdictions, and in the education and training sectors, and guides users through the various applications of the Matrix, including in the development of position descriptions.

• Environmental health

Guidance on use of rainwater tanks consolidates the most up-to-date information and advice as a resource for both Environmental Health Officers and other professionals, and for those members of the public seeking detailed guidance.

• Environmental health

The fourteenth annual report of the Medical Training Review Panel (MTRP).

• Annual reports
• Health care systems
• Health personnel
• Health workforce

This report identifies the essential elements of early psychosis intervention services and makes recommendations to provide an effective national system of early psychosis care.

• Mental health

The Department of Health and Ageing's Regulatory Plan for 2010-11

This project implemented consumer participation demonstration projects in a variety of drug treatment settings in Australia. It followed the phase one research project which recommended a series of priority actions to support education and training in relation to consumer participation.

• Drugs and substance abuse

This comprehensive evaluation assessed the overall appropriateness, effectiveness and impact of the Better Access initiative.

• Suicide prevention
• Mental health

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration made 31 recommendations. The Australian Government response to specific recommendations is provided in this publication.

• Ageing
• Carers
• Aged care services

This report is a systematic review of existing published and unpublished literature relating to assistive technology for frail older people in the community care context.

• Aged care services
• Ageing
• Carers
• Health Technology

This report presents consolidated information on the performance of the national HACC Program in 2008-09 across the states and territories, including against Key Performance Indicators. It also includes client case studies, funding information and a snapshot of HACC clients and services across the states and territories, and research projects undertaken in 2008-09.

• Annual reports
• Ageing
• Aged care services
• Seniors

This evaluation assessed the overall appropriateness, effectiveness and impact of the Mental Health Services in Rural and Remote Areas (MHSRRA) program.

• Mental health
• Rural health services

The Community Care Common Standards have been developed jointly by the Australian Government and State and Territory Governments as part of broader community care reforms to develop common arrangements that help to simplify and streamline the way community care is delivered.

• Aged care services
• Ageing
• Seniors

This report highlights some of the innovative ways that Australian clinicians, service providers and funding bodies have sought to overcome the significant challenges of providing effective and collaborative support to adults with a severe and persistent mental illness.

• Mental health

This report outlines the Australian Government's plan for suicide prevention in Australia.

• Mental health

This framework sets policy directions and identifies program goals to assist governments and administrators planning the future development of needle and syringe programs.

• Drugs and substance abuse

Information to guide implementation of the national standards for mental health services by non-government community services.

• Mental health

Information to guide implementation of the national standards for mental health services by private office based mental health practices.

• Mental health

Information to guide implementation of the national standards for mental health services by public mental health services and private hospitals.

• Mental health

The Strong Fathers Strong Families Program is an Australian Government initiative to promote the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers, partners, grandfathers and uncles, and encourage them to actively participate in their childrens and families lives, particularly in the antenatal period and early childhood development years.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

As part of the Improving Eye and Ear Health Services for Indigenous Australians for Better Education and Employment Outcomes measure, social marketing activities targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are being developed and implemented from 2010 to 2013 to help promote ear and hearing health.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

The Department of Health and Ageing has received multiple requests for access to all or parts of the Incoming Government Brief under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).

The Department of Health and Ageing conducted the 2008 Community Care Census between February and May 2008, which consisted of a census of three packaged care programs, Community Aged Care Packages (CACP), Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH) and Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACHD) and a survey of the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP) respite care services.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

This manual is designed as a field reference for Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) engaging with and working in remote Indigenous communities.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Environmental health

This report, the eleventh in the series, presents the latest data on progress made under the National Mental Health Strategy.

• Mental health

This report evaluates the administration of the National External Breast Prostheses Reimbursement Program in its first year of operation, and the impact of the program on the lives of women who have had a mastectomy as a result of breast cancer.

• Cancer
• Chronic disease

• GP Super Clinics
• General practice
• Primary health care

The Strategy builds and communicates an evidence base to support decision making around primary health care, focussed on the priority areas of the National Primary Health Care Strategy.

• Primary health care
• Research and development

This document provides recommendations for infection prevention and control procedures to minimise the risk of transmission of Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease (CJD) in health care settings.

• Communicable diseases
• Diseases and conditions

This report analyses demographic, self-care and clinical data of people referred to specialist diabetes services over approximately one month in 2010.

• Chronic disease
• Diabetes

This document outlines a revised set of mental health service standards which can be applied to all mental health services, including government, non-government and private sectors across Australia.

• Mental health

An evaluation to determine the extent to which the day to day living program contributed to improving the social and health outcomes of participants, and to inform the future of the program.

• Mental health

The Communicable Disease Network Australia (CDNA) formed a working group in 2005 in order to develop national guidance regarding outbreaks of norovirus and suspected viral gastroenteritis, in response to increasing reports of outbreaks. These Guidelines are designed to complement existing state and territory guidelines.

• Communicable diseases

This report updates the Early childhood and parenting support services scoping study by presenting a current service system map for each state and an overview of the current methods of service system information dissemination across sectors.

• Mental health
• Child health

List of tobacco-related resources.

• Tobacco

Resources to assist GPs and their practices to manage lifestyle-related risk factors.

• General practice
• Health promotion
• Nutrition
• Obesity
• Physical activity
• Chronic disease
• Alcohol
• Tobacco

Advice for parents on how to communicate with adolescents and when and where to seek help.

• Youth health
• Mental health

Advice for parents on helping children deal with loss and change and problems relating to fitting in at school.

• Child health
• Mental health

Advice to parents on relationships, including making time to be together, dealing with family breakup and getting support.

• Mental health

Advice for parents on how to survive the first year with a new baby.

• Infant Health
• Mental health

Advice for parents on managing and improving behaviour for children aged one to four years.

• Child health
• Mental health

This report explores possible models for delivery of high quality services to those with recurrent or persistent psychotic disorders.

• Mental health

The Department of Health and Ageing's Regulatory Plan for 2009-10

OATSIHs Head Agreement and Funding Agreement

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Health care systems

This document reports on services under the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program in Longford, Clare, Bathurst, Geelong, Ipswich, Mackay and Ballarat.

• Mental health
• Nursing

This case study project investigated seven different sites where the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) has been implemented, covering a variety of locations, service models and employment arrangements. The case studies were intended to highlight the development, implementation and some early outcomes of the MHNIP.

• Mental health
• Nursing

This is the final report on the evaluation of the alcohol and other drug (AOD) response measures implemented by the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) as part of the overall Northern Territory emergency response (NTER) in 2007–08, and the continuation of key elements of this response in 2008–09.

Manual to assist general practice to use Lifescripts as a tool for lifestyle interventions as part of routine clinical practice.

• General practice
• Health promotion

A short list of questions to help both health professionals and consumers to assess the risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the next five years.

• Diabetes
• Chronic disease
• Health promotion

The Development of a Quality Framework for the Medicare Benefits Schedule – Discussion Paper was released on 29 April 2010.

• Medicare

This strategy builds on the first national Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs) Strategy. It is also one of a suite of five strategies aiming to reduce the transmission of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBVs), and the morbidity, mortality and personal and social impacts they cause.

• Sexual Health

This strategy builds on five previous strategies which guided Australia’s response to HIV and AIDS between 1989 and 2009. It is also one of a suite of five strategies aiming to reduce the transmission of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBVs), and the morbidity, mortality and personal and social impacts they cause.

• HIV & AIDS

This strategy is one of a suite of five strategies aiming to reduce the transmission of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBVs), and the morbidity, mortality and personal and social impacts they cause.

• Sexual Health
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

This strategy is the first national strategy on this disease to be adopted in Australia. It is also one of a suite of five strategies aiming to reduce the transmission of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBVs), and the morbidity, mortality and personal and social impacts they cause.

• Communicable diseases

The Australian Health Ministers’ Conference have endorsed five new national strategies for blood borne viruses (BBVs) and sexually transmissible infections (STIs).

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Communicable diseases
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• HIV
• Sexual Health

Stage two of the Government’s National Health Reform Plan

Information booklet about cancer and what the government is doing about it.

• Cancer
• Chronic disease
• Health care systems
• Oncology

This report presents the ideas, preferences and areas of consensus which emerged throughout the national scoping project for a new peak national mental health consumer organisation. It outlines an approach to organisational development which foreshadows a strong, viable and accountable organisation based on good governance principles and reflecting the need for an organisation which can deliver for and with mental health consumers nationwide.

• Mental health

List of Publications on environmental health currently distributed by the Office of Health Protection of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

• Environmental health

The National Health Disaster Management Capability Audit 2008 is the third national audit designed to identify pressures in the health system during a major emergency and to act on these to improve responses into the future.

• Emergency management

The Review looks at the operation of the Dental Benefits Act 2008 (the Act) having regard to the attainment of the purposes of the Act; and the administration of the Act, particularly in relation to the Medicare Teen Dental Plan.

• Dental health

This document sets out major structural reforms to establish the financing and governance foundations of a National Health and Hospitals Network for Australia’s future. The Government expects that these reforms will permanently establish the Commonwealth Government as the majority funder of hospitals and place the Australian health system onto a sustainable and self-improving footing for the future.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Chronic disease
• Health promotion
• Hospitals
• Primary health care
• Rural health services
• Youth health

The following publications contain information about the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program, particularly in relation to its clients, their characteristics and the services they receive. The information HACC services provided in all states and territories is summarised by financial year.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

The evaluation highlights the impact that swimming pools have on the health of Indigenous children in remote communities in the APY lands.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

This report summarises the success of the ATAPS program to date, presents the outcomes of the review process and identifies key directions to refine and further improve the initiative.

• Mental health

The following page shows the Impact of PBS Reform - Report to Parliament

• Pharmaceutical benefits
• Prescribed drugs
• Pharmacy

The Concise Factbook is a biannual publication that presents key statistics on the Australian health and ageing expenditure.

• Statistics
• Ageing
• Aged care services

Annual report on the minimum data set

• Aged care services

This report focuses on the reproductive health of women from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH).

The Health Technology Australia Review has recommended key improvements to the way new health technologies, procedures and services are assessed for public and private funding in Australia, in line with international best practice.

• Health Technology

• Medicare

The DASR provides unique and valuable information that OATSIH and the sector can use in formulating policy, in planning and to profile the work of stand-alone Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander substance use services.

Resources from the National Binge Drinking Strategy (Drinking NIghtmare) database

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Alcohol
• Youth health

This review analysed the effectiveness and efficiency of the Multicultural Mental Health Australia project and identified future direction.

• Mental health

This document outlines the scope of the National Perinatal Depression Initiative, roles and responsibilities of governments and beyondblue, key areas for action, underlying principles, monitoring arrangements, and government investment plans.

• Mental health

This document sets an agenda for collaborative government action in mental health for five years from 2009, offers a framework to develop a system of care that is able to intervene early and provide integrated services across health and social domains, and provides guidance to governments in considering future funding priorities for mental health.

• Mental health

The following pages contain the latest revision of the Manual of Resource Items and their Associated Costs for use in major submissions to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee involving economic analyses (Version 4) December 2009

• Pharmaceutical benefits

This page provides information about the Review of Private Sector Outreach Services Legislation.

• Private Health Insurance

This report considers the population benefits, value and cost-effectiveness of needle and syringe programs.

• Drugs and substance abuse

This report evaluated service delivery models for comorbidity treatment in the alcohol and other drugs and mental health service sectors, identified elements of good practice, and made recommendations arising from the evaluation.

• Alcohol
• Drugs and substance abuse
• Mental health

This report provides a summary of the key findings from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2008 Report (HPF). The first report was published in 2006. The HPF has been developed under the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) to provide the basis for measuring the impact of the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (NSFATSIH) (NATSIHC 2003).

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

An analysis of departmental survey data of initial community reactions to the graphic health warnings.

• Tobacco

A review of research relating to graphic health warnings.

• Tobacco

Data collection and methodology considerations of the evaluation of the graphic health warnings on tobacco products.

• Tobacco

An examination of the public health value of the current system of voluntary disclosure in Australia.

• Tobacco

Detailed findings of the 2008 evaluation of the graphic health warnings on tobacco products.

• Tobacco

Summary of findings of the 2008 evaluation of the graphic health warnings on tobacco products.

• Tobacco

These resources are for use in the implementation of the training component of the Nursing Home Oral and Dental Health Plan.

• Dental health

Documents and application forms for the Prevention of type 2 diabetes program

• Diabetes
• Chronic disease
• Health promotion

An overview of the clinical status of people with diabetes attending specialist diabetes services during a period of one month in 2009.

• Diabetes
• Chronic disease

This report identifies actions that can be taken by governments to reform the health system under three reform goals: tackling major access and equity issues that affect health outcomes for people now; redesigning our health system so that it is better positioned to respond to emerging challenges; and creating an agile and self-improving health system for long-term sustainability.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Cancer
• Chronic disease
• Health promotion
• Hospitals
• Primary health care
• Rural health services
• Youth health

This report, which is the first in the program's 24-year history, presents consolidated information on the performance of the national HACC program. It provides a snapshot of the HACC clients and services by state and teritory and nationally.

This report, which is the first in the program's 24-year history, presents consolidated information on the performance of the national HACC program. It provides a snapshot of the HACC clients and services by state and teritory and nationally.

• Ageing
• Aged care services
• Annual reports

This guide is intended to help you find the right care and treatment for panic disorder and agoraphobia.

• Mental health

This guide is for adults who have engaged in self-harm. It informs them of the best possible assessment, treatment and support and what to expect of services intended to reduce self-harm and its related suffering.

• Mental health

The purpose of this guide is to clarify for consumers and carers the symptoms of depression and where to get help, the treatment options and an estimate of the costs, as well as advice on where to find further information and support.

• Mental health

This treatment clinical practice guideline is for adolescents and adults who have anorexia nervosa or who believe they are at risk of developing it. The guide contains the latest research available on anorexia nervosa and recommendations from recovered consumers to assist you to choose the best kind of treatment.

• Mental health
• Nutrition

This guide was developed for adults and young people with schizophrenia or who suspect they have schizophrenia and covers early treatment, support and recovery.

• Mental health

This guide was written by consumers and mental health professionals to answer the priority questions consumers have about treatments for bipolar disorder and living with the condition. Its purpose is to provide consumers with information on best practice in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder.

• Mental health

This page contains the Final Report for the Home Medicines Review Qualitative Research Project

• Prescribed drugs

Outlines the processes employed by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority in recommending prices for pharmaceuticals to the Minister.

The first National Health Disaster Management Capability Audit was carried out in 2003 and was edited for public release in May 2009.

• Emergency management

The National Health Disaster Management Capability Audit 2005 (2005 Audit) is the second in a series of national capability audits undertaken by the Australian Health Protection Committee (AHPC), previously the Australian Health Disaster Management Policy Committee (AHDMPC), to provide a national assessment of health assets that may be employed in a health disaster. The first National Health Disaster Management Capability Audit was carried out in 2003 (2003 Audit). In 2005 the AHDMPC agreed it was timely to undertake the second audit. The rationale behind the 2005 Audit was to provide a more current and detailed “snapshot” of Australia’s public health disaster response assets over the audit window of August to November of 2005.

• Emergency management

This report presents a comprehensive summary of the results of the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. It provides information on the prevalence of mental disorders, their severity, associated suicidality, and comorbidity with other mental disorders and physical conditions, as well as what services people use for their mental health problems.

• Mental health

A report on the operation, effectiveness and implications of the Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) was tabled in both Houses of Parliament on 12 May 2009.

• Medicare

This page contains the report on the review of the first 12 months of operations of the PBS Streamlined Authorities, which were introduced to reduce the administrative burden for prescribers and allow them more time to devote to patient care.

This practical guide was developed and considered by the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) for use by public health units during the 2008 influenza season.

• Influenza

The following publication contains information about the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program, particularly in relation to its clients, their characteristics and the services they receive. The information carers HACC services provided in all states and territories is summarised by financial year.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

The Office of Chemical Safety and Environmental Health is seeking public comment on a Discussion Paper which outlines possible options for the adoption of the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) within the system of public health regulation of domestic and consumer chemicals, including pesticides.

• Drugs

This report analyses the current state of programs for cardiovascular disease management in Australia, discusses key themes emerging from research, literature review and stakeholder consultation, and recommends future options for consideration.

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Chronic disease

This paper outlines why the government is developing a National Women’s Health Policy, what the government wants the policy to achieve, and gives information on the consultation process and how you can have your say.

• Women's health

This policy represents a renewed commitment to the continual improvement of Australia's mental health system.

• Mental health

The Report of the Maternity Services Review

This resource was developed from two (2) Falls Prevention Projects developed by Queensland Department of Health and modifying and adapting resources developed by Home and Community Care (HACC) providers, carers and their clients in Western Australia and was funded by the Department of Health and Ageing.

The delivery of appropriate care for people with more severe psychogeriatric disorders that result in behaviours that place either themselves or others at risk is a significant challenge.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

The thirteenth annual report of the Medical Training Review Panel (MTRP).

• Health workforce

National Bowel Cancer Screening Program - Information Booklet

• Cancer

This Guide has been prepared to assist approved providers to understand the changes to the regulatory framework for aged care detailed in the Aged Care Amendment (2008 Measures No. 2) Act 2008 (the Amending Act).

• Aged care services
• Ageing
• Legislation

This report investigates the feasibility of linking clinical prompts to scores on the National Outcomes and Casemix Collection (NOCC) routine outcome measures.

• Casemix
• Mental health

Outlines why the Government is developing a National Women's Health Policy, what the Government wants the policy to achieve, and gives an overview of health issues affecting women.

• Women's health

This page contains a report following the 2008 Workshop and Forum

A national approach to closing the health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians should ensure that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have access to a basic suite of comprehensive primary health care services (including for chronic disease and for maternal and child health) regardless of funding streams or administrative responsibility for the health service.

This page contains a printable PDF version of the Family Centred Primary Health Care report

This literature review has been prepared by Biotext Pty Ltd for the National Health and Medical Research Council. The aim was to identify risk factors for eye disease and injury, and the measures that the general public can take to prevent or reduce the risk of eye disease and injury. This report examines the evidence relating to the validity of risk or causal factors for eye disease and injury such as tobacco, alcohol, nutrition, infections, age or ageing, ultraviolet (UV) damage, injury and medication side effects.

• Eye health
• Aged care services
• Ageing

The Gastro-Info Gastroenteritis Kit for Aged Care is a resource kit to assist residential aged care homes identify the signs and symptoms of an outbreak of gastroenteritis to respond quickly and appropriately in the event of a gastroenteritis outbreak. It is not intended to supersede requirements under relevant legislation or to replace specific State or Territory guidelines.

• Aged care services

The pathology workforce related information below includes reports from projects funded under the Quality Use of Pathology Program

• Health workforce
• Pathology

The quality framework lists core elements, their purpose and guidelines to promote the development and delivery of high-quality telephone counselling and internet-based support services. It includes a self-assessment tool to enable service providers to identify how well they meet the framework.

• Mental health

The National Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Strategy 2008-2011 (the Strategy) has been developed within the existing legislative framework and focuses on prevention, supply reduction and treatment in a partnership framework.

• Drugs
• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

Monograph Series No. 69 - This background paper is a companion paper to the National Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Strategy 2008-2011, and describes the goals and objectives of the Strategy and the priority areas for action. It was prepared to provide greater insight into the Strategy for researchers and other interested parties.

• Drugs
• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

The Ageing and Aged Care in Australia booklet provides a concise overview of the Australian Government's ageing and aged care policies and programs.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

This report provides the findings of the National Evaluation of the Transition Care Program.

• Ageing
• Aged care services

The Department of Health and Ageing's Regulatory Plan for 2008-09

This guide has been developed with the aim at giving aged care providers information to help them make the most of computer technology – what is available, how to get computers to work as an effective business tool, demystifying modern terminology and how to go about practical issues like purchasing IT equipment, staff training and support.

• Ageing
• Aged care services

The following publication contains information about the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program, particularly in relation to its clients, their characteristics and the services they receive. The information carers HACC services provided in all states and territories is summarised by financial year.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

This report evaluates the effectiveness of the Public Access Defibrillation Demonstration project, identifies issues that arose during the trial, and considers lessons which may be relevant to future considerations of public access defibrillation.

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Chronic disease

This report is the first progress report by jurisdictions to the Australian Health Ministers' Conference on progress to date in implementing the National Framework for Action to Promote Eye Health and Prevent Avoidable Blindness. It covers the period from the release of the Framework by Health Ministers in November 2005 to July 2008. The report has been compiled by the Eye Health Working Group of the Australian Population Health Development Principal Committee of the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC).

• Aged care services
• Ageing

The Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) is a federally-funded program, established to promote links between people living in an aged care home and the wider community.

The Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) is a federally-funded program, established to promote links between people living in an aged care home and the wider community.

Guidelines to assist with contingency planning to manage the clinical implications of a shortage of heparin based products.

• Prescribed drugs

This detailed report examines the changing roles of carers, their health and employment status and health service use. Based on the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) the report specifically compares women who took up caring between surveys 3 and 4, those who stopped caring between surveys and those who did not have caring roles.

• Aged care services
• Carers
• Women's health

A set of plain language fact sheets arranged around topic areas that summarise the key issues in suicide prevention and suggest further sources of information and help.

• Mental health
• Suicide prevention

The revised Living is For Everyone (LiFE) framework provides updated information to mental health professionals and the wider community to enhance the understanding and prevention of suicide and self harm in Australia.

• Mental health
• Suicide prevention

This report sets the context for suicide prevention activity, summarising current research, evidence and statistics relating to suicide and suicide prevention in Australia.

• Mental health
• Suicide prevention

A supplementary document to these Guidelines which provides further background to hepatitis C in custodial settings and expands on the evidence base for the Guidelines is available from the Department of Health and Ageing. The supplementary document also includes appendices, additional reading and references.

• Communicable diseases
• Hepatitis C

The health and corrections sectors are committed to working jointly to strengthen the response to emerging public health issues in custodial settings.

• Communicable diseases
• Hepatitis C

This is the second report on vaccination coverage in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and complements the Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Vaccination Coverage reports produced biannually since 2000.

• 2008

A flipchart to raise awareness amongst girls and women of the adverse effects of petrol sniffing.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Drugs and substance abuse

This review examines published and unpublished literature about interventions designed to combat volatile substance misuse.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Drugs and substance abuse

A flipchart to raise awareness amongst boys and men of the adverse effects of petrol sniffing.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Drugs and substance abuse

This report Effective Caring : a synthesis of the international evidence on carer needs and interventions - aims to identify the needs of carers including the factors that sustain carers in their caring role, identify interventions and to develop a research agenda. The report is based on the Centre for Health Service Development, University of Wollongong, 2007 review of Australian and international academic and practice literature, together with a concurrent analysis of policy and practice in Australia.

This discussion paper proposes that the formal qualifications and experience required to become an APP will vary according to the category of laboratory that an APP proposes to work in and the scope of testing that they will be performing.

This study examined factors that either deter or support access to Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) services among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander injecting drug users (IDUs).

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Drugs and substance abuse

The 2nd Edition of the National Hepatitis C Resource Manual aims to enhance the health outcomes of people affected or potentially affected by hepatitis C, by providing standardised, accurate and current information about hepatitis C and associated issues to a wide range of health care providers.

• Hepatitis C

A review of the requirement for a supply of atropine sulphate tablets as a first-aid antidote in an agricultural workplace setting.

OATSIH has commissioned the development of a set of resources for primary health care providers outlining the latest evidence on the treatment of middle ear infection in this high-risk population, including Recommendations for Clinical Care Guidelines on the Management of Otitis Media (Middle Ear Infection) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Populations.

OATSIH has commissioned the development of a set of resources for primary health care providers outlining the latest evidence on the treatment of middle ear infection in this high-risk population, including Recommendations for Clinical Care Guidelines on the Management of Otitis Media (Middle Ear Infection) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Populations.

These Guidelines have been developed by the Blood Borne Virus and Sexually Transmissible Infections Sub-Committee (BBVSS) of the Australian Population Health Development Principal Committee (APHDPC), to inform, support and harmonise approaches by Australia’s States and Territories to the management of people with HIV who place others at risk of HIV infection.

• Communicable diseases
• HIV
• Public awareness

An Implementation Kit to accompany The Australian Pain Society's Pain in Residential Aged Care Facilities: Management strategies.

Brochure detailing important changes to Australia's residential aged care system to take effect from 20 March 2008.

This is the second Australian Government Implementation Plan against the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (NSFATSIH) 2003-2013

Report to support the project for the evaluation of the impact of accreditation on the delivery of quality of care and quality of life to residents in Australian Government subsidised residential aged care homes

• Aged care services
• Ageing

To support the project for the evaluation of the impact of accreditation on the delivery of quality of care and quality of life to residents in Australian Government subsidised residential aged care homes

• Aged care services
• Ageing

The 2006-2007 jurisdictional summary report provides a summary of the individual jurisdictional reports that have been provided by all State and Territory Governments and covers the period of 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

This research identified patterns of use and harms associated with methamphetamine use among specific groups in Australia.

• Drugs and substance abuse

The 2nd Round of Coordinated Care Trials gave the Commonwealth, States and Territories, healthcare providers, community and Indigenous organisations, and patients an opportunity to adopt innovative and experimental approaches to health services.

• Chronic disease

This summative evaluation shows that progress was made in all the key areas and stated outcomes of the National Mental Health Plan 2003-2008.

• Mental health

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

• Drugs

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED.

• Communicable diseases
• Drugs

In July 2006, the Council of Australian Governments' (COAG) endorsed a national action plan on mental health.

• Mental health
• Suicide prevention

This report scopes potential delivery settings for early childhood services and mental health support for young children.

• Child health
• Mental health

The aims of the Guidelines are to assist primary care practitioners with the emergency management of cases of suspected invasive meningococcal disease; and to assist public health practitioners with the prevention of further cases after a case of invasive meningococcal disease has been reported.

• Communicable diseases
• Diseases and conditions

Final report of the project to 'evaluate the impact of accreditation on the delivery of quality of care and quality of life to residents in aged care homes'

• Aged care services
• Ageing

The National Data Repository on the Aged Care Assessment Program (ACAP) Minimum Data Set (MDS) in Australia for the 2005-06 period.

• Aged care services

Are you concerned that someone close to you is considering taking their own life? Would you like to know how to help keep them safe?

• Suicide prevention
• Mental health

The Department of Health and Ageing's 2007-08 Regulatory Plan

An overview of mental health services for children and adolescents, and of services to support their families.

• Child health
• Mental health
• Suicide prevention

Findings on the effectiveness of the campaign which ran from December 2006 to March 2007.

• Tobacco

The Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992 limits the exposure of the public to messages and images that may persuade them to start or continue smoking.

• Tobacco

An overview of the clinical status of people with diabetes attending specialist diabetes services during a period of one month in 2006.

• Diabetes
• Chronic disease

The DASR provides unique and valuable information that OATSIH and the sector can use in formulating policy, in planning and to profile the work of stand-alone Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander substance use services.

This is the fourth report on vaccine preventable disease and vaccination coverage in Australia, and is produced by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing published as a supplement to the Communicable Diseases Intelligence journal Volume 31, June 2007.

• 2007

The Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) is a federally-funded program, established to promote links between people living in an aged care home and the wider community.

• Ageing
• Aged care services

The Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) is a federally-funded program, established to promote links between people living in an aged care home and the wider community.

• Ageing
• Aged care services

The National Hepatitis C Testing Policy has been developed as a concise source of standardised currently available information to assist government, health professionals, industry, people living with hepatitis C, and the community in general, about matters associated with hepatitis C testing.

• Diseases and conditions
• Hepatitis C

Annual report on the minimum data set

• Aged care services

This brochure talks about personality disorders, outlining the main types, possible causes, treatment options, and where to go for help.

• Mental health

This brochure talks about mental illness, outlining the main types, myths and misunderstandings, what can be done about stigma, and where to go for help.

• Mental health

This document provides guidelines for health professionals for managing blood-borne virus infections in health care workers.

This document provides health advice about personal health protection to persons planning to travel to disaster-affected areas in the Asia-Pacific area as a member of an Australian government health team.

The purpose of this document is to provide health advice to persons who are returning from disaster-affected areas in the Asia-Pacific area as a member of an Australian government health team.

This document provides recommendations for public health practitioners who are traveling to disaster-affected areas in the Asia-Pacific area as a member of an Australian government health team.

In June 2004, the Communicable Diseases Network Australia issued a statement on the Follow-up of communicable diseases reported among travellers on aeroplanes. These guidelines have now been revised, in November 2006, and include advice on measles.

This table provides a comprehensive summary of the Government's initial and final responses to the Hogan Review. It also provides updates (in italics) on key initiatives including additional initiatives already put in place by the Australian Government that relate to the issues identified in the Hogan recommendations.

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED Information about the simpler and fairer income tested fees

A report prepared for the department by La Trobe University in 2005

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

This community guide to evidence-based best practice in social and behavioural interventions is intended for use by Aboriginal health workers, Aboriginal sexual health workers and other health clinic staff involved in sexual health promotion. It has been synthesised from a systemic review of published literature of what is effective in sexual health promotion in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health context.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Sexual Health

Medicare statistics for the March Quarter 2007 together with data for earlier quarters and financial years.

• Medicare
• Statistics

An evaluation of Link Up, Bringing Them Home Counsellors, Social and Emotional Well Being Regional Centres and Mental Health Service Delivery Projects.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

This report explores awareness, attitudes, perceptions and experience of issues relating to illicit drug use and mental illness amongst youth, young adults, their parents and the broader community.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs
• Mental health

This report arises out of a Review of the PSR Scheme chaired by the Department and representing key stakeholders in the Scheme (AMA and Medicare Australia, with PSR a co-opted member of the Steering Committee).

• Health personnel
• Medicare

This brochure talks about schizophrenia, its symptoms and causes, treatment options and where to go for help.

• Mental health

This brochure talks about depressive disorders, outlining the main types, possible causes, treatment options and where to go for help.

• Mental health

This brochure talks about bipolar mood disorder, its symptoms and possible causes, treatment options and where to go for help.

• Mental health

This brochure talks about anxiety disorders, outlining the main types, possible causes, treatment options and suggestions on where to go for help.

• Mental health

This brochure talks about eating disorders, outlining the main types, possible causes, treatment options and where to go for help.

• Mental health
• Nutrition

This report is a literature review which summarises research and evaluations of Indigenous community programs in nutrition, early childhood, housing, sporting and cultural programs, employment, community services and alcohol use.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Environmental health

This report is the tenth in the series and presents the latest data on progress made under the National Mental Health Strategy.

• Mental health

This position statement arises from a discussion session on antiviral use for laboratory staff working with H5/Pandemic Influenza A virus at the October 2006 face-to-face meeting of the Public Health Laboratory Network (PHLN).

• Communicable diseases

The 'Identifying the carer project' examined issues associated with identification of carers in the context of mental health service delivery. This included current practice, policy and legislation, and preferred processes.

• Carers
• Mental health

The Department of Health and Ageing's 2003-04 Regulatory Plan

The Department of Health and Ageing's 2006-07 Regulatory Plan

Medicare statisitcs for the September Quarter 2007 together with data for earlier quarters and financial years.

• Medicare
• Statistics

Medicare statisitcs for the June Quarter 2007 together with data for earlier quarters and financial years.

• Medicare
• Statistics

Medicare statisitcs for the December Quarter 2006 together with data for earlier quarters and financial years.

• Medicare
• Statistics

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED - Brochure on how to breastfeed your baby.

• Health workforce
• Women's health
• Child health
• Nutrition

This chapter provides recommendations for infection control procedures to minimise the risk of transmission of classical Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (cCJD) in health care settings.

Guidelines for preparing submissions to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) - December 2008 (Version 4.3)

• Pharmaceutical benefits

2006 Review of Australia’s Plasma Fractionation Arrangements

• Blood and Blood products

Report to support the project for the evaluation of the impact of accreditation on the delivery of quality of care and quality of life to residents in Australian Government subsidised residential aged care homes

• Aged care services
• Ageing

Comparative survey report - to support the project for the evaluation of the impact of accreditation on the delivery of quality of care and quality of life to residents in Australian Government subsidised residential aged care homes

• Aged care services
• Ageing

Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia as represented by the Department of Health and Ageing and Diabetes Australia for The National Diabetes Services Scheme. A printable version is available via the link below the table of contents.

This report describes the national consultation undertaken in 2004 on the role of relapse prevention in the recovery process for people who have been seriously affected by mental illness.

• Mental health

The Implementation Plan for the National STIs Strategy 2005-2008 has been developed to assist key stakeholders to progress and monitor activities on sexually transmissible infections across the health sector and should be read in conjunction with the strategy.

• Communicable diseases

The Implementation Plan for the National HIV/AIDS Strategy 2005-2008 has been developed to assist key stakeholders to progress and monitor activities on HIV/AIDS across the health sector and should be read in conjunction with the strategy.

The Implementation Plan for the National Hepatitis C Strategy 2005-2008 has been developed to assist key stakeholders to progress and monitor activities on hepatitis C across the health sector and should be read in conjunction with the strategy.

• Communicable diseases
• Diseases and conditions

The Implementation Plan for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Strategy 2005-2008 has been developed to assist key stakeholders to progress and monitor activities on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and sexually transmissible infections across the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and should be read in conjunction with the strategy.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Communicable diseases

National Trachoma Surveillance and Reporting Unit

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Eye health

The DASR provides unique and valuable information that OATSIH and the sector can use in formulating policy, in planning and to profile the work of stand-alone Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander substance use services.

A framework for local and national public health surveillance of preventable chronic disease and the determinants of chronic disease.

• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Chronic disease
• Diabetes

Identifies aspects of care where Australia might most usefully invest to reduce the impact of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis.

• Arthritis
• Chronic disease

Identifies aspects of care where Australia might most usefully invest to reduce the impact of diabetes.

• Chronic disease
• Diabetes

Identifies aspects of care where Australia might most usefully invest to reduce the impact of cancer.

• Cancer
• Chronic disease

Identifies aspects of care where Australia might most usefully invest to reduce the impact of asthma.

• Asthma
• Chronic disease

Identifies aspects of care where Australia might most usefully invest to reduce the impact of heart, stroke and vascular disease.

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Chronic disease

Provides an overarching framework of national direction for improving chronic disease prevention and care across Australia.

• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Chronic disease
• Diabetes

This report informed implementation of the July 2006 Council of Australian Governments' initiative for Better Specialist Training. It proposed a modest and gradual expansion of training settings for medical specialist training.

• Health workforce

This report provides a summary of the achievements of the National Continence Management Strategy since inception in 1998 to June 2006 and provides recommendations to assist with planning for future phases.

• Continence

Medicare statisitcs for the September Quarter 2006 together with data for earlier quarters and financial years.

• Medicare
• Statistics

Annual report on the minimum data set

• Aged care services

Information for Approved Providers and their subcontractors (transition care service providers), to give a general understanding of how monthly payments of the Australian Government subsidy are calculated, processed and paid.

The Handbook aims to assist ACATs to develop an understanding of transition care to ensure that older people are accurately and consistently assessed as being eligible for the Transition Care Program.

The amendments up to 17 March 2009 have been incorporated

As part of the National Continence Management Strategy, Hawthorne (2006c) reviewed patient satisfaction measures and recommended (a) investigation into a single patient satisfaction item for use by clinicians wishing to make an “on-the-spot” assessment, (b) that a short incontinence specific measure be developed based on revisions to the GUTSS instrument, and (c) that a short generic instrument be developed. This study implements these recommendations through the evaluation of various patient satisfaction instruments to determine their suitability for inclusion in the NCMS suite of measures.

• Aged care services
• Ageing
• Seniors

Statistical data related to Medicare for the June Quarter 2006 together with data for earlier quarters and financial years.

• Medicare
• Statistics

This report examines the range and evidence base of models for protecting against risk of suicide for people with a mental illness following discharge from a mental health service.

• Mental health
• Suicide prevention

The attached summary of the 2006 Report provides data and information on what Australian people know and understand about palliative care. It also reports on any changes that have occurred, in community and professional awareness of palliative care issues, since the 2003 benchmark report.

• Aged care services
• Seniors
• Palliative care
• Research and development

This report is a follow-up from the 2003 Community Attitudes to Palliative Care Issues Report and provides data and information on what Australian people know and understand about palliative care, and reports any changes that have occurred in the awareness, understanding and importance of palliative care issues in the community since 2003.

• Research and development
• Palliative care

A publication to help Approved Providers and the broader aged care sector to better understand the certification process.

This brochure summarises research findings on early intervention for autism, outlines the kinds of programs available in Australia, provides guidelines for best practice in early intervention, and lists contacts for programs across Australia.

• Autism
• Child health
• Mental health

This publication reviews research literature relating to the management and treatment of young children with autism to identify the most effective models of practice.

• Autism
• Child health
• Mental health

Following a tender process in 2004, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing contracted the Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care to report on the feasibility of developing a standards rating system for all Australian Government subsidised aged care homes. This is the final report of that study.

• Ageing
• Aged care services

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED - The Australian Government Directory of Services for Older People has been produced as a comprehensive guide to the wide range of services provided for older Australians by the Australian Government

• Ageing

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) endorsed this edition of its Guidelines in November 2006. It follows an extensive consultation process and provides guidance for all stakeholders involved in or affected by submissions to the PBAC or listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or the National Immunisation Program.

Multilingual translations of Ageing and Aged Care Division publications into community languages.

• Ageing
• Aged care services

The National Guidelines for the Prevention, Management and Control of vector-borne diseases in Australia are a series of guidelines that describe an Australian strategic approach for an arbovirus outbreak. The aims of the Guidelines are to define the steps in identifying an outbreak of arbovirus disease and detail the appropriate information to enable an effective response. This document contains the guidelines for Murray Valley encephalitis virus.

• Communicable diseases

Complicated grief is grief that involves the presentation of certain grief-related symptoms at a time beyond what is considered adaptive. The 88 studies analysed in this review were selected because they were evidence based, published in an English-language peer-review journal between 1990 and 2005, and originated in a country with a comparative health system and social and cultural similarities to Australia.

• Palliative care

A flipchart to raise awareness of the effects of petrol sniffing and inhalant abuse.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Drugs and substance abuse

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED. Final report of The Aged Care Nurse Practitioner Pilot Project (ACNPPP) that was developed by the ACT Government.

This issue contains an annual report on surveillance of adverse events following immunisation in Australia, a peer-reviewed article on the changing epidemiology of bloodstream infection pathogens, a short report on a decision support tool for vectorborne disease in Queensland, as well as the regular quarterly data reports.

• Communicable diseases
• Diseases and conditions

These guidelines have been produced by the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) and detail recommendations to ensure consistent trachoma screening, control measures and data collection in Australia.

• Eye health

These guidelines explain the operation of the Divisions Network Nursing in General Practice Program.

• Nursing

The University of Melbourne undertakes ongoing national monitoring and review of Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS).

• Mental health

This diagram depicts the steps that should be taken for screening refugees arriving from Africa and is current as of February 2006.

An external evaluation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health) Djirruwang Program.

Aged Care GP Panels Initiative

• Aged care services
• Primary health care

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

• Primary health care

The regulatory plan deals with changes within the Department's area of responsibility and contains information about changes to business regulation; and activities planned which could lead to changes to business regulation.

This section of the website contains information on the 2006 and 2002 surveys.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

This written asthma action plan will help you to manage your asthma.

• Asthma
• Chronic disease

This paper considers the role of relapse prevention within the recovery process for people who have been seriously affected by mental illness.

• Mental health

This document presents a framework to inform policy, programs and practice for continuing care to prevent further episodes of mental illness for people who have been seriously affected by mental illness. The basic elements of the framework are the 4As: awareness, anticipation, alternatives and access.

• Mental health

The Guidelines for the use and interpretation of nucleic acid detection tests for Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Australia have been developed and endorsed by the Public Health Laboratory Network.

This is the ninth report in a series that has monitored the progress in mental health reform under the National Mental Health Strategy from 1993 to 2003.

• Mental health

Report of the Stakeholder Consultations to support the project for the evaluation of the impact of accreditation on the delivery of quality of care and quality of life to residents in Australian Government subsidised residential aged care homes

• Aged care services
• Ageing

This report proposes a set of key performance indicators for use in Australia's public sector mental health services that is based on the National Health Performance Framework and linked to the strategic directions of the National Mental Health Plan 2003-2008.

• Mental health

Report of the stakeholder workshop to discuss the priorities and opportunities for training and support for nursing in general practice, and to elicit information which may inform the development of the training and support component of the Additional Practice Nurses for Rural Australia and Other Areas of Need budget measure for the years 2005-06 to 2008-09.

• General practice
• Nursing

This booklet provides answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about needle and syringe programs. It is part of the needle and syringe programs information kit.

• Drugs and substance abuse

This booklet summarises, in a quick-reference format, the literature on needle and syringe programs. It is part of the needle and syringe programs information kit.

• Drugs and substance abuse

This evaluation considers whether general practice training is being delivered to the right people, whether it is of a high standard, and whether the current training arrangements provide optimal benefit to the Australian community.

• General practice

A book of stories celebrating the contributions of older Australians.

• Ageing

This plan provides national direction in identifying, avoiding and reducing harm across all environments in which care of people with mental health disorders is provided.

• Mental health

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

• Injury prevention

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide national best practice guidelines for staff of public health units for preventing, defining and managing outbreaks of influenza in Residential Care Facilities in Australia during interpandemic periods.

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide national best practice guidelines for staff of public health units for preventing, defining and managing outbreaks of influenza in Residential Care Facilities in Australia during interpandemic periods.

• Influenza

Statistical data related to Medicare for the June Quarter 2005 together with data for earlier quarters and financial years.

• Medicare
• Statistics

Statistical data related to Medicare for the December Quarter 2005 together with data for earlier quarters and financial years.

• Medicare
• Statistics

Statistical data related to Medicare for the March Quarter 2006 together with data for earlier quarters and financial years.

• Medicare
• Statistics

This report sets out the key outcomes of the forum, including settings and population groups considered high priorities to be progressed until June 2006.

• Mental health
• Suicide prevention

These reports consider youth smoking behaviours and the processes of uptake, addiction and cessation.

• Tobacco

The Final Report of the Health and Medical Research Strategic Review has now been released.

An overview of the clinical status of people with diabetes attending specialist diabetes services in October 2004.

• Diabetes
• Chronic disease

The DASR provides unique and valuable information that OATSIH and the sector can use in formulating policy, in planning and to profile the work of stand-alone Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander substance use services

The DASR provides unique and valuable information that OATSIH and the sector can use in formulating policy, in planning and to profile the work of stand-alone Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander substance use services.

The National Hepatitis C Strategy provides a foundation for national action that will guide Australia’s response to hepatitis C over the next three years.

• Communicable diseases
• Diseases and conditions
• Hepatitis C

The Sharing Health Care Initiative demonstration projects were implemented in order to test how various intervention models of chronic condition self-management could be used in the community.

• Chronic disease

Mid-term evaluation of the Retractable Needle and Syringe Technology Initiative.

• Drugs and substance abuse

This report is in two parts. The first part is a review of state and territory legislation on the disposal of needles and syringes. The second part provides an overview of national and international literature on this subject.

• Drugs and substance abuse

These recommendations provide a guide to strategies that can be implemented at the local level to address inappropriate disposal of needles and syringes.

• Drugs and substance abuse

This manual assists general practices to integrate lifestyle interventions into routine practice to prevent chronic disease and promote health and wellbeing.

• Health promotion

This kit has been provided to assist care managers to implement influenza control planning.

• Influenza
• Aged care services
• Ageing

This document consists of a set of fact sheets about mentoring nurses in general practice.

• General practice
• Nursing

A study of the key issues and a proposed framework for mentoring for nurses in general practice.

• General practice
• Nursing

An evaluation of the Additional Practice Nurses in Rural Australia and Other Areas of Need budget measure (known as the Nursing in General Practice initiative).

• General practice
• Nursing

This treatment clinical practice guideline is for adolescents and adults who have anorexia nervosa or who believe they are at risk of developing it. The guide contains research on anorexia nervosa and recommendations from recovered consumers to assist you to choose the best kind of treatment.

• Nutrition
• Mental health

This discussion paper provides information on what has been achieved nationally in improving the quality of Australian public specialised mental health services over the first decade of the National Mental Health Strategy.

• Mental health

This guide is intended to help you find the right care and treatment for panic disorder and agoraphobia.

• Mental health

This guide was developed for adults and young people who have, or suspect they have, schizophrenia. It covers early treatment, support and recovery.

• Mental health

This guide was written by consumers and mental health professionals to answer the priority questions consumers have about treatments for bipolar disorder and living with the condition. Its purpose is to provide consumers with information on best practice in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder.

• Mental health

This guide is for adults who have engaged in self-harm. It informs them of assessment, treatment and support options and what to expect of services intended to reduce self-harm and its related suffering.

• Mental health

The purpose of this guide is to clarify for consumers and carers the symptoms of depression and where to get help, the treatment options and an estimate of the costs, as well as advice on where to find further information and support.

• Mental health

This publication outlines priorities to guide the development of national mental health information over the period of the National Mental Health Plan 2003-2008 and beyond.

• Mental health

This literature review concentrates on evidence relating to linkages between the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program, mental health and other service sectors as they respond to the needs of people who are homeless and living with a mental illness.

• Mental health

Statistical data related to Medicare for the March Quarter 2005 together with data for earlier quarters and financial years.

• Medicare
• Statistics

The Review was commissioned by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in accordance with commitments made under the National Competition Policy. It provided a Preliminary Report to COAG in November 1999, and a Final Report in February 2000.

• Councils
• Pharmacy

The Final Report was publicly released by the Council of Australian Governments on 18 February 1999. It contains the Review's analysis, findings and recommendations on its Terms of Reference. It also includes assessments of each State and Territory Act referred to it against the framework of the Review's recommendations.

• Councils
• Pharmacy

The Review was given the task under the National Competition Policy to examine collectively specified Commonwealth, State and Territory legislation. It was asked particularly to assess effects of that legislation on competition in the regulatory areas of the ownership of pharmacies, the location of pharmacies for the purposes of the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and the registration of pharmacists.

• Councils
• Pharmacy

This report is a synthesis of reports provided by Nganampa Health Council, Townsville Aboriginal and Islanders Health Services and Durri Aboriginal Medical Service under the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child and Maternal Health Exemplar Site Initiative. The report has been compiled by the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH), in consultation with each of the Exemplar Sites.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Child health

The National Aged Care Workforce Strategy is an informed reliable framework for long-term structural reforms of the aged care workforce.

• Ageing
• Aged care services
• Health workforce

The Communicable Diseases Network Australia advises that this first report in the Communicable Diseases Intelligence Technical Report series is no longer current.

• Communicable diseases

The Residential Care Manual has been updated and revised to help approved providers comply with their responsibilities under the Aged Care Act 1997 and the Aged Care Principles (the Principles); and to assist staff of aged care services understand the regulation of residential aged care.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

This report discusses the alcohol consumption patterns of teenagers aged 15 to 17 years.

Previously known as the Draft National Framework for Documenting Care in Residential Aged Care Services

• Aged care services
• Ageing

Annual report on the minimum data set

• Aged care services

A document outlining Aged Care residents rights and responsibilities

• Ageing
• Aged care services

This report is only in respect of provisionally allocated residential care places.

A blueprint for national efforts to improve the health-related quality of life for people living with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, reduce the cost and prevalence of these conditions, and reduce the impact on individuals, their carers and communities within Australia.

• Arthritis
• Chronic disease

To help encourage older Australians to be physically active, the Department of Health and Ageing and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs have jointly produced a resource called Choose Health: Be Active.

• Ageing
• Nutrition
• Physical activity

A free and confidential service promoting the rights of people receiving aged care services

• Ageing

On 9 December 2004, the report of the Investment Review of Health and Medical Research was released.

• Research and development

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

• Injury prevention

Evidence, ideas and resources from Australia and overseas to assist government and non-government agencies in developing their own tobacco action plans.

• Tobacco

The Department of Health and Ageing's 2004-05 Regulatory Plan

Also known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Palliative Care Resource Kit, this publication provides strategies and training material to support staff in mainstream health services to provide culturally appropriate palliative care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Research and development
• Palliative care

The primary purpose of the Annual Report is to provide Members of Parliament and Senators with a detailed description of the Department's activities during 2003-04 against the performance targets presented in the 2003-04 Portfolio Budget Statements and the 2003-04 Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements, for the Health and Ageing Portfolio.

• Annual reports

Standards and guidelines reflecting the quality management and services expected of a residential aged care service. The Manual has been developed to assist service providers to comply with their obligations under the Aged Care Act 1997.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

A collection of Information Sheets covering care options, financial information and information for special needs groups.

The Commonwealth Aged Care Assessment Program Operational Guidelines outline the Commonwealth's policy and operational requirements for the Aged Care Assessment Program into the future.

• Ageing
• Nursing
• Aged care services

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

• Research and development
• Legislation
• Child health
• Injury prevention

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED - A booklet to help mothers breastfeeding their babies

• Women's health
• Child health
• Nutrition

This report is the first to clearly identify the national economic impact of falls and falls related injury for older Australians as a result of population change. As such, it provides an invaluable tool for the planning of effective interventions and resource requirements at national and jurisdictional levels.

• Ageing
• Injury prevention

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED - Poster

• Health workforce
• Women's health
• Child health
• Nutrition

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED - Breastfeeding hints brochure

• Women's health
• Child health
• Nutrition

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

• Research and development
• Suicide prevention
• Injury prevention

This page contains introductory information on the aims and accessibility of the Communicable Diseases Intelligence journal.

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED - Poster

• Women's health
• Child health
• Nutrition

This report is an update of a literature review completed in 2000. The report describes published research and studies on falls prevention for older people.

• Ageing
• Injury prevention

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

• Health education
• Research and development

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED - This booklet provides information for employers and employees on how and why women should be encouraged to breastfeed and to continue to breastfeed when they return to work.

• Health workforce
• Women's health
• Child health
• Nutrition

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED - This handbook is part of a resource package of research-based, innovative materials specifically designed for antenatal educators. The package aims to improve breastfeeding education in the antenatal period.

• Child health
• Infant Health
• Women's health

This page provides links to documents relevant to PHERP reviews and other relevant review reports.

• Research and development
• Health education

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED: Pamphlet

• Infant Health
• Women's health

The Highly Specialised Drugs Working Party is a non-statutory body established by the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC) in 1991.

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED - Promotional poster for breastfeeding

• Child health
• Nutrition
• Annual reports

This report describes Australia's progress over the course of the National Mental Health Strategy between 1993 and 2002.

• Mental health

Flipchart providing information to assist smokers to quit.

• General practice
• Tobacco

Information that general practitioners and other practice staff can apply to identify smokers and assist them to quit.

• Tobacco
• General practice

Policy issues regarding reduced-ignition propensity (RIP, fire safe or reduced fire risk) cigarettes.

• Tobacco

Smoking chop-chop has the potential to induce illness and possible fatality in those who use it.

• Tobacco

The third and final report in a series reporting on the National Tobacco Campaign. It focuses on research conducted from November 1998 to November 2000.

• Tobacco

The National Tobacco Strategy is a statement of resolve by the Australian Government and state and territory governments to work together and in collaboration with non-government agencies to reduce tobacco uptake and exposure.

• Tobacco

Learning resources to assist frontline workers address the needs of young people on issues relating to illicit drugs.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Alcohol
• Youth health

• Nutrition

• Nutrition

• Nutrition

• Nutrition

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

This page contains links to the publication 'The Prevention of Substance Use, Risk and Harm in Australia - a review of the evidence'.

• Drugs
• Illegal drugs

The $2.2 billion package, Investing in Australia's Aged Care: More Places, Better Care, builds on previous reforms by providing further support for older Australians needing care, while encouraging aged care providers to become more flexible, accountable and innovative in the delivery of care.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

These evidence based guidelines are intended to help practitioners in applying a palliative approach in a residential aged care facility. The document is a general guide to appropriate practice, to be followed subject to the clinician's judgement and the patient's preference in each individual case.

• Aged care services
• Ageing
• Carers
• Palliative care

This monograph documents the prevalence and risks associated with psychostimulant use, describes the pharmacology of psychostimulants, and identifies best practice in detoxification and clinical interventions for psychostimulant use.

• Drugs and substance abuse

The pricing review of residential aged care examines the longer term prospects of residential aged care services with particular respect to future arrangements for private and public funding, performance improvement in the industry and longer term financing.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

The pricing review of residential aged care examines the longer term prospects of residential aged care services with particular respect to future arrangements for private and public funding, performance improvement in the industry and longer term financing

This brochure will help you to become aware of the warning signs of mental health problems, the importance of seeking early help and the ways you can help support your child or young person.

• Child health
• Carers
• Youth health
• Mental health

Development and maintenance of standards and guidelines for pathology laboratories.

The Pathology Services Table (PST) lists the pathology tests for which Medicare benefits are available, their Schedule fees and conditions for use.

Commonwealth legislation that establishes the regulatory framework for pathology services provided under Medicare.

• Legislation
• Medicare
• Pathology

For the purposes of the General Practice trial, PoCT was defined as pathology testing performed by or on behalf of a medical practitioner at the time of consultation, allowing the results to be used to make immediate, informed decisions about patient care.

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED. Prepared by School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology

• Ageing
• Nursing
• Aged care services

This strategy provides a blueprint for improving the cardiovascular health of Australians and reducing the prevalence of heart, stroke and vascular disease.

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Chronic disease

This paper identifies the important mental health needs of young people aged 16–25 years and barriers to that age group accessing mental health services.

• Mental health
• Youth health

This workshop focussed on identifying and considering information priorities and strategies under the National Mental Health Plan 2003-2008.

• Mental health

This resource provides an overview of key health and medical issues arising from the use of alcohol and other drugs.

• Alcohol
• Drugs
• Health education
• Illegal drugs

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED.

• Communicable diseases

This project targeted people with continence problems who live in rural and remote areas of Australia, providing them with access to the expertise of major metropolitan continence services. It also offered continence clinicians working in these areas the opportunity to update their skills and expertise in continence management by providing education sessions via videoconferencing.

• Continence
• Rural health services

This project is part of a group of research projects that have been funded by the Commonwealth Government’s National Continence Management Strategy. One of the aims of the National Continence Management Strategy is to reduce admission to aged care homes by improving the treatment and management of incontinence in older Australians.

• Aged care services
• Ageing
• Continence

Patient and Carer Self-reported Incontinence and Evaluation

• Ageing
• Aged care services
• Continence

This manual helps projects funded under the LIFE framework to identify indicators and measures that could be used to evaluate their activities.

• Suicide prevention
• Mental health

The Review of Lifetime Health Cover Scheme presents an independent review of the Lifetime Health Cover Scheme, as required by section 4 of the National Health Amendment (Lifetime Health Cover) Act 1999.

• Private Health Insurance

Application forms for Residential, Community, and Flexible Care.

In the opinion of the Far West Area Health Service, the evaluation report represents a fair and comprehensive assessment of the Integrated Mental Health Project.

• Mental health

This summary report has been prepared to inform health policy and planning decision-makers about the critical factors which have contributed to successful health initiatives.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

An evaluation of the effectiveness of a four-session cognitive behavioural intervention among a sample of regular amphetamine users.

• Drugs and substance abuse

The primary purpose of the Annual Report is to provide Members of Parliament and Senators with a detailed description of the Department's activities during 2002-03 against the performance targets presented in the 2002-03 Portfolio Budget Statements and the 2002-03 Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements, for the Health and Ageing Portfolio.

• Annual reports

The 2002 Reviews of the National HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C Strategies evaluated two of the key public health strategies in Australia. The Australian Government Response to the 2002 Reviews of the National HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C Strategies addresses the recommendations of the Reviews and outlines Government policy in relation to HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and related issues.

• HIV & AIDS
• Communicable diseases
• Hepatitis C

These guidelines for adults are the result of a comprehensive assessment of the current scientific evidence. They provide detailed evidence-based guidance for assessing and managing overweight and obesity in Australia. They also highlight important health concerns associated with overweight and obesity and, through the provision of clinical practice information for at-risk groups, aim to improve health outcomes for people with conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. The evidence has been reviewed in detail up to January 2002.

• Diseases and conditions
• Obesity

NHMRC Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Overweight and Obesity - General Practitioner's guide

• General practice
• Obesity
• Women's health

This report examines recent trends in suicide around the world and across the lifespan. It identifies patterns in suicide mortality, examines the possible impact of national suicide prevention strategies and mental health plans and substance use policies on suicide rates, and considers other factors that may impact on suicide trends, such as unemployment, increased use of antidepressant medications, and cohort effects.

• Suicide prevention
• Mental health

This is an evaluation of the Illawarra Mental Health Integration Project. The aim of the project was to develop an integrated mental health network for the Illawarra that would provide a more comprehensive, coordinated system of mental health care for a broad range of consumers.

• Mental health

This document is the final evaluation report of the Far West Mental Health Integration Project (MHIP) addressing key issues on the Commonwealth policy agenda and state concerns.

• Mental health

NHMRC Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents

• Child health
• Obesity
• Youth health

A study of the frequency and characterisics of smoking incidences in a variety of media popular with 18-30 year olds.

• Tobacco

Abbreviated version of guidelines to aid medical practitioners in the selection and management of patients seeking methadone maintenance treatment for opioid dependence.

• Drugs and substance abuse

Guidelines to aid medical practitioners in the selection and management of patients seeking methadone maintenance treatment for opioid dependence.

• Drugs and substance abuse

This report is the result of research undertaken in 1999 to assist with the identification of mental health data items and data sets to determine useful performance indicators and benchmarks for mental health services.

• Mental health

This bulletin provides information on the work of the National Practice Standards Implementation Group, promotes good practice in the uptake of the National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce, and responds to questions and ideas from the mental health community.

• Mental health

This page contains a PDF version of the NSFATSIH Context

This paper explores the patient casemix of a number of known trends. That is, it uses the Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (AR-DRG) v4 classification to investigate trends in the utilisation of admitted patient services; the average length of stay (ALOS); the public/private balance (both in terms of patients and hospitals); and, finally, the use of hospitals by older people.

• Hospitals

Goal: To ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples enjoy a healthy life equal to that of the general population that is enriched by a strong living culture, dignity and justice. Includes links to the earlier national Aboriginal health strategy documents.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Goal: To ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples enjoy a healthy life equal to that of the general population that is enriched by a strong living culture, dignity and justice. Includes links to the earlier national Aboriginal health strategy documents.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

This report analyses reports of infections with drug-resistant microorganisms that are included in the National Hospital Morbidity Database at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and was published as part of the Communicable Diseases Intelligence supplement on Antimicrobial resistance in Australia, (Volume 27, Suppl, May 2003).

• 2003

The National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health 2003 was endorsed by the Australian and State/Territory governments through their respective Cabinet processes and signed by all Health Ministers in July 2003.

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

This plan, which preceded the Fourth national mental health plan, identified four priority themes: mental health promotion and prevention; increasing responsiveness to consumers and carers across all mental health and related services; strengthening quality; and fostering research and innovation across the sector for sustainable programs and services.

• Mental health

In February 2002, Senator the Hon Kay Patterson, the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing, requested independent reviews of the National HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C Strategies to be undertaken concurrently with the quinquennial reviews of the NationalCentres in HIV Research.

• Communicable diseases
• Hepatitis C
• HIV & AIDS

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED. The Aged Care Enrolled Nurses Working Party was appointed to examine an enhanced scope of practice for enrolled nurses and the preparation of enrolled nurses for that practice especially for medication administration and the existing barriers to this preparation.

• Ageing
• Nursing
• Aged care services

A workshop on the implications of the internet and related technologies for mental health policy was conducted at the Centre for Mental Health Research, ANU in June 2001. A major outcome was the discussion paper 'e-Mental health in Australia: implications of the internet and related technologies for policy'. This report evaluates that discussion paper.

• Mental health

This booklet will help you, your carer, your family or friends to understand what residential aged care is, why you might want or need it,and how to go about arranging it.

This booklet will help you, your carer, your family or friends to understand what residential aged care is, why you might want or need it, and how to go about arranging it.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

Advisory Panel's Interpretations on the Marketing in Australia of Infant Formula on the MAIF Agreement

• Child health
• Nutrition

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED - These guidelines are currently being reviewed to make their implementation more effective.

• Child health
• Nutrition

A package of materials designed to assist residential aged care services to gain and use views of residents. The materials in the package complement major aspects of the aged care reform strategy and provide a practical way for services to learn more about residents’ needs and concerns.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

This 2003 evaluation report considered whether Australia had continued to make progress in implementing the objectives of the National Mental Health Strategy, including three additional priority themes identified in the Second National Mental Health Plan.

• Mental health

This paper was developed to promote discussion and debate about the directions which should be pursued in mental health reform in Australia over the years 2003-2008.

• Mental health

The Caring Experience is a book that provides carers of people with dementia with information, advice and support. The carer information, stories and ideas in this book come directly from carers and service providers throughout Australia.

• Carers
• Mental health

The report describes an epidemiological and economic analysis of five public health programs, namely: programs to reduce tobacco consumption, coronary heart disease, HIV/AIDS, measles and Hib-related diseases and road trauma. The report details the financial and economic return on investment of past public health programs associated with these areas.

• Health care systems
• Statistics

This report focuses on some key topics in Australia's health over the 2001-2002 financial year from the perspective of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and the Department of Health and Ageing.

• Annual reports

This report provides an overview of the clinical status of people with diabetes attending specialist diabetes services in July 2002.

This picture guide will help you to manage your asthma.

• Asthma
• Chronic disease

This document outlines the response to the Final Evaluation Report from the perspective of the Project Steering Committee and project team, comments on key lessons learnt in implementing this demonstration project and discusses suggested next steps.

• Mental health

This document evaluates the Partnership Project which aimed to improve the effectiveness of mental health services within the catchment area of St Vincent’s Mental Health Service in inner Melbourne.

• Mental health

This monograph provides the evidence base and the beginning of a common language to address the complex issues around comorbidity.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Mental health

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED - A series of community consultations was undertaken by the Hon Kevin Andrews MP, the Minister for Ageing, in 2002 to engage the community on ageing matters and encourage action at the local level on the themes and directions of the National Strategy for an Ageing Australia. The consultations covered both rural and metropolitan regions across all States and Territories. Participants were drawn from a wide cross section of Australian society, including community groups, local business, the health industry and local government.

The review was initiated to ensure that the application of Part IV of the Trade Practices Act (TPA) was not reducing the capacity of rural communities to recruit and retain medical practitioners.

• Health workforce
• Rural health services

This document summarises the findings of the Consumer Perceptions of Nursing and Nurses in General Practice report which explored consumers' perceptions, expectations and misconceptions of nurses and nursing in general practice.

• General practice
• Nursing

This report explores consumers' perceptions, expectations and misconceptions of nurses and nursing in general practice.

• General practice
• Nursing

This study was carried out to identify gaps in Australia's mental health research effort. It did this by investigating the current state of mental health research, identifying research priorities of important stakeholders, and comparing the current state of mental health research with a number of standards.

• Research and development
• Mental health

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED. Kit of resource materials to support residential aged care homes initiate or improve internal complaints handling. This free resource Kit has been developed in consultation with aged care providers, industry peaks and consumer groups.

• Ageing
• Aged care services

The primary purpose of the Annual Report is to provide Members of Parliament and Senators with a detailed description of the Department's activities during 2001-02 against the performance targets presented in the 2001-02 Portfolio Budget Statements and the 2001-02 Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements, for the Health and Ageing Portfolio.

• Annual reports

This report represents the findings of an independent national review of tele and web counselling services. It also identifies future policy and practice directions aimed at enhancing the tele and web counselling sectors.

• Mental health

This is a summary of a report which considers the economic effectiveness of needle and syringe programs in Australia.

• Drugs and substance abuse

This report considers the economic effectiveness of needle and syringe programs in Australia.

• Drugs and substance abuse

Stigma against people who have experienced a mental illness is deeply entrenched in our culture. This report presents the nature of the problems associated with stigma and through its recommendations suggests positive strategies to genuinely impact on stigma in our society.

• Mental health

In a society where emphasis is placed on employment as a means of social inclusion, it is imperative that people with psychiatric disabilities are given an opportunity to participate in the labour market. This report draws on information from the Collaborative Study on Low-Prevalence (Psychotic) Disorders to make 20 recommendations for how access to employment can be improved.

• Mental health

This bulletin considers the functioning, housing and social relationships of people living with psychosis in Australia.

• Mental health

This bulletin analyses self-reported data from the National Study of Low Prevalence (Psychotic) Disorders, providing information about the effectiveness and side effects of treatments for psychotic disorders.

• Mental health

The 'Lessons Learned from Accreditation Working Group' of the National Aged Care Forum was established to examine the first round of accreditation of residential aged care homes.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

This document contains the twelve practice standards for those who work in mental health services within the professions of psychiatry, nursing, social work, psychology and occupational therapy.

• Nursing
• Mental health

This report describes progress made in the National Mental Health Strategy reform agenda set by all Australian Health Ministers in 1992. Particular emphasis is given to developments under the Second National Mental Health Plan.

• Mental health

This publication is a support and resource document for the "National Action Plan for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health 2000". It includes indicators, measurement tools and databases relevant to assessing the implementation of the outcomes and strategies identified in the action plan.

• Mental health

This report by the Indigenous Nursing Education Working Group for the Commonwealth focusses on the inclusion of indigenous health in nursing curricula and recruitment and retention of indigenous nurses in the workforce.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Nursing

A review of the feasibility, cost effectiveness and public health benefits of registration and licensing schemes for tobacco outlets in Australia.

• Tobacco

A review of existing Australian research on community attitudes and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, with recommendations on strategies for effectively eliminating or reducing community exposure.

• Tobacco

This document reports on the extent of drug use among traffic detainees, the characteristics of these detainees, potential legislative approaches to drug driving, and options for monitoring and research.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

A-Z listing of publications relevant to National Medicines Policy (NMP).

Results of the fourth national census of clients of treatment service agencies (COTSA). This report identifies the characteristics of clients attending drug and alcohol treatment services and compares the drug and alcohol problems being treated over the eleven years since the first census.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

Many people with drug or alcohol problems also experience a range of other psychiatric and psychological problems. This document provides updated information on screening and diagnostic instruments that may be used to assess comorbidity.

• Alcohol
• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs
• Mental health

This bulletin estimates the costs associated with the treatment and care of persons with psychosis in Australia based on data obtained from the Low Prevalence (Psychotic) Disorders Study.

• Mental health

This literature review evaluates and interprets current research relating to improving mental health literacy, in order to identify the most effective communication strategies and tools to improve mental health literacy among target audiences in the Australian population.

• Mental health

The report of a national study to align national mental health expenditure with need for services at the local government area level.

• Mental health

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

• Primary health care

As the third paper in the Information Strategy Committee discussion paper series, this report addresses the important emerging area of electronic mental health and aims to generate discussion about these developments as well as highlighting possible strategic areas for action by governments and other interested parties.

• Mental health

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED. Report into the quality of working life issues that result in job satisfaction or dissatisfaction for nurses in the aged care sector. The analysis of this report is drawn from a range of focus group sessions with aged care nurses in Victoria and New South Wales.

• Aged care services
• Nursing

This report examines the retention and recruitment of nurses in the residential aged care sector; and the issues surrounding nurse re-entry training in the sector.

• Ageing
• Nursing
• Aged care services

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED. Report into the quality of working life issues that result in job satisfaction or dissatisfaction for nurses in the aged care sector. The analysis of this report is drawn from a range of focus group sessions with aged care nurses in Victoria and New South Wales.

• Aged care services
• Nursing

This report examines the retention and recruitment of nurses in the residential aged care sector; and the issues surrounding nurse re-entry training in the sector.

• Ageing
• Nursing
• Aged care services

The outcomes and decisions of the Future Directions in Practice Nursing Workshop held in July 2001 to discuss the ways forward for practice nursing.

• General practice
• Nursing

The National Strategic Plan for TB Control in Australia Beyond 2000 was developed by the National Tuberculosis Advisory Committee (NTAC) of CDNA as a statement of directions and priorities. It is the result of extensive collaboration between relevant health authorities across the country and consultation with a range of specialist groups.

• Communicable diseases

The purpose of these guidelines is to allow the necessary on-site testing for other possible causes of the illness, and other testing required for the immediate and ongoing management of the patient.

• Communicable diseases

An assessment of access to and use of electronic resources on HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and other blood borne viruses

• Communicable diseases
• Hepatitis C
• HIV & AIDS

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED. This report, commissioned by the AHMAC Working Party to research issues relevant to specialist medical training outside teaching hospitals, presents for discussion issues surrounding the increasingly limited opportunities for specialist training in teaching hospitals.

This report presents estimates of the costs of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs for the financial year 1998-99. It is the third report in a series of estimates of the social costs of drug abuse in Australia.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs
• Tobacco
• Alcohol

This report focuses on some key topics in Australia's health over the 2000-2001 financial year from the perspective of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and the Department of Health and Aged Care.

This review presents an analysis of the major achievements of the Second National Mental Health Plan to date, outlines some remaining obstacles in achieving the plan's objectives, and presents ways forward for mental health policy and services.

• Mental health

The Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia, sponsored by the Department of Health and Aged Care, uses accessibility by road to services to develop a standard classification and index of remoteness.This revised edition was released in October 2001.

• Rural health services

This is the first systematic and comprehensive examination of suicides in Aboriginal communities in Queensland based on community records and available mortality figures. The data provides a picture which is notably different from that for suicide generally, in Queensland and across Australia.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Suicide prevention
• Mental health

This booklet is a practical guide to designing and implementing evaluation for a wide range of promotion and prevention initiatives. It outlines how people can work with each other, their stakeholders, clients and community to develop relevant, affordable and achievable evaluations for their initiatives. It also demonstrates how these evaluation processes can become part of day-to-day practice.

• Mental health

This paper evolved from a collaborative data-linking project between the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care and the Health Department of Western Australia. The aim of the project was to create a linked resource from three administrative data sets which record services provided to state hospital inpatients as well as under the Medical and Pharmaceutical Benefits Schemes (MBS and PBS). A series of analyses was then undertaken based on the linked data set examining a number of health conditions for various geographically defined population groups.

Challenging or disruptive child behaviours that persist or become severe can cause major problems for families or communities. This guide provides coping strategies and where to get help if parents or carers are concerned about their child's behaviour.

• Child health
• Mental health

This publication, which is part of the Media Monitoring Project, contains five case studies that look at aspects of the Australian media’s coverage of suicide, and of mental health and illness.

• Mental health
• Suicide prevention

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED: This manual has been developed as as a concise source of standardised information about hepatitis C to assist health care workers.

• Communicable diseases

This paper discusses the changing nature of the aged care environment, in relation to both providers and recipients. The nature of the nursing workforce has changed, and staffing in some areas is not meeting demand. It discusses the viability of an enhanced and more consistent scope of practice among Enrolled Nurses.

• Ageing
• Aged care services
• Carers
• Hospitals
• Nursing

This paper discusses the changing nature of the aged care environment, in relation to both providers and recipients. The nature of the nursing workforce has changed, and staffing in some areas is not meeting demand. It discusses the viability of an enhanced and more consistent scope of practice among Enrolled Nurses.

• Ageing
• Aged care services
• Carers
• Hospitals
• Nursing

In considering the Australian medical workforce this paper describes its context, characteristics and significant trends. It reviews its geographic and structural distribution problems, analyses government workforce policy and planning, and outlines recent initiatives by the Commonwealth to influence workforce outcomes. For comparative purposes, the paper describes the workforce characteristics and policies of four broadly similar countries, and the final chapter highlights key issues and questions for future workforce planning.

• Health personnel

The main findings of the Australian diabetes, obesity and lifestyle study.

• Diabetes
• Chronic disease

The paper seeks to establish firstly, that any comprehensive perspective on health care financing has to include consideration of the role of population health services and programs, and secondly that consideration of population health financing has to be in the context of financing for the health system as a whole.

This Guide, divided into twelve modules, covers all aspects of implementing occupational health and safety in residential aged care.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

This is the executive summary of a report which considers whether media portrayals of suicide can lead to imitation. The report reviews studies of a variety of media (newspaper, film, television, music and books) and both fictional and non-fictional portrayals of suicide.

• Mental health
• Suicide prevention

This report considers whether media portrayals of suicide can lead to imitation. It reviews studies of a variety of media (newspaper, film, television, music and books) and both fictional and non-fictional portrayals of suicide.

• Mental health
• Suicide prevention

The Private Patients' Hospital Charter is a guide to what it means to be a private patient in a public hospital, a private hospital or day hospital facility.

• Private Health Insurance

This document synthesises existing work on the interrelations of social capital with health and mental health, and recommends areas for further research.

• Mental health

This report describes the results of the sixth national survey on the use of alcohol by secondary students. This includes the prevalence of alcohol use in 1999, changes in use between 1996 and 1999, and changes in prevalence of current and hazardous drinking between 1984 and 1999.

• Alcohol
• Youth health

This report describes the results of the second national survey on the use of over-the-counter and illicit substances by secondary students. This includes the use of specific substances such as analgesics & cannabis, poly-substance use, comparisons of types of substances used, and changes in use between 1996 and 1999.

• Illegal drugs
• Prescribed drugs
• Youth health
• Drugs and substance abuse

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

• Primary health care

This publication provides a broad policy context and a framework for state and territory policies and guidelines. The policy outlines treatment issues in regard to the prescribing and dispensing of buprenorphine.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED - The aim of this report is to provide a summary of all the projects funded under the National Breastfeeding Strategy.

• Women's health
• Child health
• Nutrition

Comorbidity (co-occurence) of mental disorders and substance use disorders is widespread and often associated with poor treatment outcome, severe illness course and high service use. This report documents the first stage of the National Comorbidity Project, a national workshop on comorbidity.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs
• Mental health

This report is the Government's response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs inquiry into the health status of Indigenous Australians. The Government responds to each of the 36 recommendations made by the inquiry's 'Health is Life' report.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

This report is the Government's response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs inquiry into the health status of Indigenous Australians. The Government responds to each of the 36 recommendations made by the inquiry's 'Health is Life' report.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

This report focuses on some key topics in Australia's health over the 1999-2000 financial year from the perspective of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and the Department of Health and Aged Care.

• Annual reports

Professor Gray's report on the Two Year Review of Aged Care Reforms was released on 16 May 2001, together with the Government's Response to the Review and its recommendations

• Aged care services
• Ageing

This report provides suicide statistics for all age groups both internationally and in Australia, followed by more detailed consideration of ageing and suicide.

• Ageing
• Suicide prevention

This monograph reviews the literature on the health and psychological effects of cannabis. This includes a description of cannabis as a drug, patterns of use, acute effects, adverse health and psychological effects of chronic use, possible consequenses of adolescent use, therapeutic benefits, and adverse effects when used with alcohol and tobacco.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED

• Primary health care

The primary purpose of the Annual Report is to provide Members of Parliament and Senators with a detailed description of the Department's activities during 2000-01 against the performance targets presented in the 2000-01 Portfolio Budget Statements and the 2000-01 Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements, for the Health and Aged Care Portfolio.

• Annual reports

This document constitutes a joint response to the JETACAR report by the Australian Goverment Departments of Health and Aged Care and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia.

• Health categories

The National Palliative Care Strategy guides palliative care policy development and service delivery across Australia.

• Palliative care

This report shows that there has been improvement in state and territory mental health legislation, both in terms of human rights protection and in consistency across jurisdictions.

• Legislation
• Mental health

This paper represents the start of a national process to work collaboratively towards comprehensive and effective services to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

• Child health
• Youth health
• Mental health

This report represents the findings of the child and adolescent component of the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. It provides the first reliable, national information on mental illness in children and adolescents aged 4 to 17.

• Child health
• Youth health
• Mental health

The principal goal of this study was to identify the most appropriate nature of information on falls and their prevention when communicating with older people and their carers.

• Statistics
• Research and development
• Aged care services
• Injury prevention

This report summarises the role of the Australian police in alcohol and drug diversion processes, identifies the barriers to the use of discretion by police officers, and provides a set of recommendations to address those barriers.

• Alcohol
• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

This document provides the theoretical and conceptual framework and background for the National Action Plan for Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention for Mental Health.

• Mental health
• Suicide prevention

This publication outlines a strategic framework and plan for action to address the promotion, prevention and early intervention priorities and outcomes outlined in the Second National Mental Health Plan.

• Mental health

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED: Eight papers were commissioned to inform of the development of the National Hepatitis C Strategy 1999-2000 to 2003-2004. The papers span the areas of: clinical research, epidemiology, social and behavioural research, and virology and basic scientific research. This publication represents the technical core of the policy development process.

• Communicable diseases
• Diseases and conditions
• Hepatitis C

Under this agreement, tobacco companies provide annual reports on the ingredients of cigarettes.

• Tobacco

A national best practice model to reduce young people's access to tobacco.

• Tobacco

The second report to assist in the evaluation of the National Tobacco Campaign.

• Tobacco

This is the fifth volume in the series and examines the role of technology in health care in Australia. This paper does not attempt to provide a comprehensive coverage of all issues relevant to health technology. Instead, it attempts to examine some of the more significant issues in order to introduce the reader to the complexities of the area. It presents, where available, illustrative empirical information, examples and commentary from key researchers, and provides leads into the literature for further reading.

This is the sixth volume in the series and considers issues associated with the quality of Australian health care services. The paper canvasses some of the issues faced by government in intervening to best support high quality health care. A number of current Commonwealth government interventions are described across a range of regulatory, financing and research and development approaches. The range of national machinery to promote the quality of health care is also described.

This project, initiated in 1996, is a first step towards transforming isolated health data sets (such as the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) data, Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule (PBS) data and hospital morbidity data (HMD)) into information that may be used to inform policy.

• Health care systems

A national review of falls prevention programs aimed at reducing falls and falls related injuries among older Australians.

• Research and development
• Aged care services
• Injury prevention

This paper uses national hospital morbidity data and the Australian Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (AR-DRG) classification to identify the casemix of different age groups. Major Diagnostic Categories (MDCs), Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs), adjacent DRGs, DRG types and clinical profiles are all taken into account. Public and private hospitals are covered, but only acute episodes are considered in scope.

• Casemix

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED. This publication describes the many programs, organisations and governments with an interest in, or a potential overlap with, suicide prevention activities.

• Mental health
• Suicide prevention

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED. This publication sets the context for suicide prevention activity and provides a profile of the incidence of suicide and the current knowledge of risk and protective factors across different age, population and identified at risk groups.

• Mental health
• Suicide prevention

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED. This publication outlines the LIFE framework and presents six action areas for promoting mental health and preventing mental illness.

• Mental health
• Suicide prevention

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED: The National Hepatitis C Strategy 1999-2000 to 2003-2004 was launched in June 2000 by the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care. The Strategy has two primary aims to reduce the transmission of hepatitis C in Australia, and to minimise the personal and social impacts of hepatitis C infection.

• Communicable diseases
• Diseases and conditions
• Hepatitis C

The submission responds to the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry, and provides information about the Department's strategic direction and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health programs.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED: The National HIV/AIDS Strategy 1999-2000 to 2003-2004 builds on an important foundation established under previous HIV/AIDS Strategies - the partnership between and with affected communities, governments at all levels, and medical, scientific and healthcare professionals.

• HIV & AIDS
• Communicable diseases
• Diseases and conditions

The national model was developed as a mechanism capable of objectively demonstrating the quality of services provided by psychiatrists and private psychiatric hospitals.

• Mental health

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED: This report reviews the literature on illicit drug use in Australia.

• Drugs
• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

The national action plan provides an overview of the national burden of depression, focuses on ways of promoting mental health, and emphasises the prevention of depression, early intervention, treatment and access to high quality care.

• Mental health

Brochure - Quality Residential Aged Care. This brochure provides information on the standards of accommodation and care that residential aged care facilities must provide.

• Ageing
• Aged care services

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED. One in five Australians will experience a mental illness. This guide states the facts about mental illness and how myths and misunderstandings surrounding mental illness can be discouraged.

• Mental health
• Public awareness

The profile of the Australian population is ageing. Can Australia provide adequate living standards for the growing number of persons in the aged and other dependent groups without seriously undermining the living standards of the general community?

This report outlines findings and recommendations relating to information sharing between police and mental health services. Particular consideration is given to ethical and legislative issues, an information/referral network, and joint service protocols.

• Mental health

This paper proposes a population model for mental health to address the high prevalence of mental disorders in the community and the growing burden of disease. The paper is intended to assist discussion about elements of service models in mental health and the integration of these in a population health approach.

• Mental health

This research assessed whether street-level drug law enforcement encourages heroin users into methadone treatment and the extent to which it promotes unsafe injection practices.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

This report outlines a national strategic approach to education and training programs for police to promote best practice in the reduction of alcohol and other drug related harm.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

These recommendations are an outcome of the Substance Misuse Program Review. They were consensually derived to assist primary care practitioners with decisions about the management of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who present in primary care settings with alcohol related problems.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
• Alcohol

Downloadable Reports on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997.

• Aged care services
• Ageing

This publication provides an overall picture of quality in Australian mental health services.

• Mental health

This document brings together the eight discussion papers that were prepared for area mental health services, psychiatrists in private practice, non-government agencies, and consumers and carers interested in the National Mental Health Integration Projects.

• Mental health

The primary purpose of the Annual Report is to provide Members of Parliament and Senators with a detailed description of the Department's activities during 1999-2000 against the performance targets presented in the 1999-2000 Portfolio Budget Statements and the 1999-2000 Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements, for the Health and Aged Care Portfolio.

• Annual reports

This report gives an overview of the aims, methods and results of the study of Low Prevalence (Psychotic) Disorders conducted as part of the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.

• Mental health

Antibiotics are used to treat and prevent infectious bacterial diseases in humans and in domestic and food-producing animals.

• Antibiotic resistance

This summary presents the key messages of the main report, and highlights opportunities for improving the mental health of Australians, particularly in relation to depression.

• Mental health

This report, which is part of the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, provides epidemiological, clinical and social data related to the needs of people with psychotic disorders.

• Mental health

This study projects future health costs attributable to the progressive ageing of the Australian population based on extensive administrative data on medical practitioner visits (to GPs and specialists), prescription drug consumption and hospital admissions. Scenarios based on these cost data were applied to projections of the Australian population by age and sex out to 2051 — by which time the transient effects of the 'baby-boom' cohort will have worked their way through the system.

• Health care systems

This evaluation of the first phase of the National Tobacco Campaign reports on campaign reach and recognition, smoking prevalence, beliefs, attitudes and behaviour.

• Tobacco

Key information on the epidemiology of diabetes, costs and associated issues in the community together with an outline of the mission, principles and goals of the strategy.

• Diabetes
• Chronic disease

This paper explores the impact of public and private sector participation in the funding and delivery of health services and market based approaches, including competition, on the overall objectives of the health care system: good health, low cost, equity and satisfaction.

This third volume of the series examines health expenditure in Australia, the drivers of growth and the tools available to manage health expenditure. A description of the changes in the sources of funding over recent decades is also provided. Other papers in the series consider a range of health financing and related issues.

This paper provides an overview of health systems in 10 countries, demonstrating the range of present funding arrangements. It compares expenditures and some selected outcome measures and describes the major reforms that have been attempted.

This paper begins with an examination of the role of government in health systems and the rationale for that involvement. It then examines the objectives of the health system, looking in more detail at the four aspects of good health, low cost, equity and satisfaction, the relationships between them and the trade-offs that arise. The paper then discusses the different perspectives and competing preferences of various stakeholders. The paper closes by noting that while there may be broad acknowledgment of the value of the four objective mentioned above, conflicting preferences make it impossible to satisfy all stakeholders in the process of reform.

Based on Western Australian hospital data covering admissions and discharges during 1994-95 and 1995-96, this study focuses on the experiences of older Australians who were admitted to hospital: how they came to be admitted and why; and where they went afterwards (including the proportion who went into a nursing home). This is only a partial picture of older Australians' use of health services because it is restricted to hospital admissions and discharges.

• Hospitals

This report is designed to inform non-government organisations, service providers and health professionals of the broad range of diabetes initiatives funded by Commonwealth and State and Territory governments.

• Diabetes

This study considers how the social impact of being apprehended for a minor cannabis offence differs between a strict prohibition model with criminal penalties (Western Australia) and a civil penalties model (South Australia).

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

This paper examines the nature of poverty and its relationship with health, including an exploration of the broad range of socio-economic factors associated with poor health and the identification of groups within the community facing particular disadvantage and vulnerability. The paper will then examine the current range of health strategies designed to counter the influence of these factors and highlight areas for futher research or policy development.

• Health care systems

The Department of Health and Aged Care submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee provides a comprehensive account of the potential impact of the Federal Government 30 per cent rebate on private health insurance on the private health insurance industry.

• Private Health Insurance

The purpose of this paper is to provide a new perspective on the use of hospital services by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is also intended to encourage greater use of casemix-based information for both research and policy purposes.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED - This module addresses quality care issues specific to maternal care services and infant care services for infants up to 12 months of age.

• Nutrition
• Child health
• Women's health

This document presents the national priorities and strategies for developing mental health information over the next five years. It outlines a proposed work program agreed to by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments.

• Mental health

The Plan provides a strategic framework for the detection and management of an influenza pandemic in Australia. It provides a national framework and direction for the development of plans at the State/Territory and local level. This is the fourth report in the Communicable Diseases Intelligence Technical Report series.

• Communicable diseases

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED: The review documents the extent of the problem posed by Hepatitis C - in terms of the prevalence and incidence of infection, the economic costs to Australia, and the social impact of the disease; assesses the performance of the National Hepatitis C Action Plan and the Nationally Coordinated Hepatitis C Education and Prevention Approach; provides a broad analysis of the current national and State- and Territory-level responses to the epidemic; and recommendations on directions and priorities for national action.

• Communicable diseases
• Diseases and conditions
• Hepatitis C

This study assesses police and other criminal justice attitudes toward the Cannabis Expiation Notice (CEN) system and documents their experience in putting it into effect.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

This study compares the social impacts of two main models found in Australia for dealing with minor cannabis offences: total prohibition, and prohibition with civil penalties. In addition, it evaluates the operation and acceptability of an existing expiation scheme for minor cannabis offences, South Australia's Cannabis Expiation Notice (CEN) scheme.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

This study investigated whether the 1987 Cannabis Expiation Notice (CEN) scheme in South Australia had produced a greater increase in the prevalence of lifetime and weekly cannabis use in South Australia than in the rest of Australia.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

An expert workshop in January 1999 drew together a series of expert papers revising the international and national literature in respect to methadone tolerance in relation to safe initiation into methadone treatment and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in clinical practice. The evidence presented formed the basis for several policy, clinical and research recommendations for induction onto methadone maintenance.

• Drugs
• Illegal drugs
• Prescribed drugs

This paper examines data on minor cannabis offences in South Australia for the period 1991 to 1997. The main focus is on data from the South Australian Police Department relating to the operation of the Cannabis Expiation Notice (CEN) scheme.

• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs

This report of the epidemiology of Hepatitis C Virus summarises the state of knowledge to the end of 1998. The report is based upon extensive literature reviews and the compilation of a research register that identifies Australian studies. This is the third report in the Communicable Diseases Intelligence Technical Report series.

• Communicable diseases

This report provides an overview of the incidence, prevalence and cost of diabetes, and gives baseline information on underlying trends in prevention and treatment.

• Diabetes

This second publication in the Occasional Papers New Series, Gambling: Is it a health hazard? was prepared as the Department’s Submission to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Australia’s Gambling Industries.

This document analyses how much the Australian population is affected by mental disorders and considers the practical implications of these findings.

• Mental health

This paper is a discussion document provided for comment and consultation. The development of a fourth National HIV/AIDS Strategy will involve extensive consultation, which will take place around Australia during the second quarter of 1999.

• Communicable diseases
• HIV & AIDS

This report provides a detailed profile on depression, outlines prevention and management issues, and highlights opportunities and future directions to address depression. It is part of a series of National Health Priority Areas reports.

• Mental health

This first paper in the series Occasional Papers: New Series, deals with Australian government involvement in health care; population health, particular challenges for the Australian health system and changing priorities.

• Health care systems

This report describes the results of the first national survey on the use of over-the-counter and illicit substances by secondary students in Australia.

• Drugs
• Drugs and substance abuse
• Illegal drugs
• Prescribed drugs
• Youth health

This report provides guidelines, information and resources to update mental health education and training to meet consumer and carer need as well as the benchmarks on quality and effectiveness provided by the Second Mental Health Plan.

• Mental health

The strategy sought to improve the health of all Australians by eliminating or reducing their exposure to tobacco in all its forms. It aimed to prevent the uptake of tobacco use, reduce numbers of those who use tobacco products and reduce exposure to harmful health consequences either from smoking or from exposure to tobacco smoke.

• Tobacco

Australia is now much better placed to describe patterns of health and health inequity than it was even five years ago. This capacity needs to be further developed especially in moving away from more traditional health indicators such as mortality, morbidity and risk factors to other dimensions of health such as community capacity, and locational disadvantage. There also needs to be more emphasis on developing process or intermediate indicators for strategies such as intersectoral action and healthy public policy goals such as improved food supply.

• Health care systems

The following papers by five prominent Australian researchers were presented at a workshop in Canberra in July 1998. The purpose of the workshop was to establish the current state of knowledge in relation to the hypothesis of ‘compression of morbidity’. The papers examine the issue from a range of viewpoints.