Media Hub

December 2008

30 December 2008

More than 250,000 benefit from teen dental plan

The Acting Minister for Health and Ageing, Justine Elliot, announced today that 258,203 teenagers have received a dental check up under the Rudd Government’s Medicare Teen Dental Plan.

23 December 2008

Medicare Rebate for Breast MRI

A Medicare rebate for an MRI breast scan will be available to women under 50 at high risk of breast cancer and with no symptoms from 1 February 2009.

18 December 2008

Health technology assessment processes

Procedures for approving the use of new health technology in Australia will be examined to make it easier for new devices and services to be adopted, while maintaining patient safety.

16 December 2008

Towards a New National Women’s Health Policy

The development of a new National Women’s Health Policy moved a step closer with the Australian Government’s release of a paper outlining the aims of the policy.

16 December 2008

Benefits of Fresh Food Demonstrated in Schools

Primary school children in Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales and the ACT will soon enjoy the benefits of growing, preparing and sharing fresh food, with a demonstration school in these states and territory to be established as part of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.

12 December 2008

Grants Help to Market Medical Discoveries

A miniature, remote-controlled microcatheter to be used in operations on stroke victims, a mask that allows samples to be collected from people with lung infections and a wound dressing that promotes faster healing and reduced scarring are among 23 National Health and Medical Research Council development grants announced today by the Rudd Government.

12 December 2008

Supporting youth mental health - new funding and new chair for headspace

The Rudd Government will provide $35.6 million funding to headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, to continue its vital work on youth mental health.

11 December 2008

Urgent need for a Commonwealth Dental Health Program

Public dental patients are far more likely to have fewer teeth, more decay and serious gum disease than the broader Australian population.

10 December 2008

$14 million for Cancer Research – New Grants

Forty-two projects will receive funding totalling over $14 million to help in the fight against cancer. By bringing together cancer charities and Government, research funding is maximized to directly benefit cancer research. This innovative approach to funding research is an Australian first in the field of cancer.

10 December 2008

New Indigenous Campaign to focus on Healthy Living

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon today launched the national Tomorrow People Starts Today campaign to tackle obesity and chronic disease amongst Indigenous Australians. Tomorrow People Starts Today aims to empower individuals to take action in relation to their health and make changes to ensure they can lead a longer and healthier life.

09 December 2008

Medicare-Eligible MRI Unit for Bundaburg

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon announced that a Medicare-eligible magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) service will be provided in Bundaberg, Queensland.

09 December 2008

Medicare – Slashing Red Tape and Boosting Prevention

Prevention will be given a boost, and red tape for doctors will be slashed in a review of Medicare items due to be finalised by March 2009.

09 December 2008

Maternity Services Review Update

Over 900 submissions to the Rudd Government’s Maternity Services Review have been received.

09 December 2008

Expansion of Indigenous Child and Maternal Health Services

The Rudd Government has announced $43 million in grants to expand Indigenous child and maternal health services in 32 locations around Australia.

05 December 2008

Redland Hospital Emergency Department set for $7 million boost

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon and Queensland Health Minister Stephen Robertson have announced the first Queensland project to proceed under the new Australian Health Care Agreement negotiated between the Prime Minister and the Premiers last weekend.

05 December 2008

Rudd Government Expands Nurse Workforce Initiative

The Australian Government is expanding its Bringing Nurses Back into the Workforce Program to include community settings, community-based aged care and day surgery hospitals.

05 December 2008

Bundaberg Residents Encouraged To Help Shape Their Super Clinic

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, encouraged local residents in Bundaberg to attend the upcoming GP Super Clinic community consultation session she is hosting on Tuesday December 9.

05 December 2008

Mt Isa Residents Encouraged To Help Shape Their Super Clinic

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, encouraged local residents in Mt Isa to attend the upcoming GP Super Clinic community consultation session she is hosting on Wednesday December 10.

02 December 2008

Boost for rural health workforce

The Australian Government will boost the rural health workforce with $2.7 million in grants to help support, train and educate health professionals.

01 December 2008

Government Boosts Chronic Illness Prescriptions

From 1 December 2008, more medicines for chronic illnesses will be subsidised by the Australian Government through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for up to 12 months.

01 December 2008

Medicare-Eligible MRI Unit for Sutherland Shire

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon today announced that an additional Medicare-eligible magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) service will be provided in the Sutherland Shire, New South Wales, by PB Imaging Pty Ltd as an agent for Southern Radiology.

01 December 2008

20th anniversary of World Aids Day

1 December 2008 is the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day – one of the world’s most recognised commemorative days.

01 December 2008

Reimbursements now available for breast prostheses

Australian women who have had a mastectomy as a result of breast cancer will be reimbursed for the cost of breast prostheses up to $400.