Featured news archive
27 Aug 2012
Changes to the sale of tobacco products
The Tobacco Plain Packaging Information Kit provides practical information on the responsibilities and obligations of retailers and other suppliers of tobacco products under the new Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011.
11 May 2012
eHealth.gov.au
eHealth.gov.au is your gateway to Australia's personally controlled electronic health record system, linking you to information about eHealth records and the system itself. Visit www.ehealth.gov.au
20 Apr 2012
Living Longer. Living Better.
On 20 April 2012, the Prime Minister and Minister Butler unveiled a comprehensive package of reforms to build a better, fairer, more sustainable and more nationally consistent aged care system.
21 Dec 2011
Privacy Impact Assessment on the PCEHR system
A detailed Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) into the PCEHR system has been undertaken by Minter Ellison Lawyers and Salinger Privacy. The PIA report made 112 recommendations.
21 Nov 2011
Plain packaging legislation receives the Royal Assent
The Australian Government's world first legislation to require all tobacco to be sold in plain packaging received the Royal Assent on 1 December 2011.
20 Nov 2011
Launch of the “Software Developers Resource Centre”
A new vendor portal has been launched by the Department of Health and Ageing (the Department) and National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA).
04 Nov 2011
Improved Aged Care Complaints Scheme
The Aged Care Complaints Scheme has been strengthened to improve its capacity to respond to complaints about Australian Government subsidised residential and community aged care services.
04 Nov 2011
New headspace sites
Fifteen new headspace sites and two new outpost sites will be set up across Australia, expanding youth focused mental health services.
04 Nov 2011
Proposed tobacco labelling (graphic health warnings)
The second round consultation paper on proposed tobacco labelling (graphic health warnings) consists of the draft Competition and Consumer (Tobacco) Information Standard 2011.
04 Nov 2011
More Medicare Locals announced
The 38 new Medicare Locals to be established in 2012 have been announced.
04 Nov 2011
National Health Performance Authority (NPHA)
The new National Health Performance Authority commenced on 21 October 2011.
04 Nov 2011
Amendments to tobacco plain packaging start date
The Government has announced revised implementation timeframes for the introduction of tobacco plain packaging legislation.
12 Sep 2011
Blueprint for PCEHR System released
Australia has moved a step closer to a national personally controlled electronic health record (PCEHR) system – an e-health initiative that will help bring Australia’s healthcare into the 21st century.
11 Sep 2011
Medicare Locals Video
The video showcases three Medicare Locals - New England, Western Sydney and Barwon. The representatives speak about how their Medicare Local will help their community, consumers and local practitioners to achieve better primary health care outcomes.
09 Sep 2011
National Health Reform Update - September 2011
It is an exciting time for national health reform implementation as many new initiatives start to become operational. The latest edition of the National Health Reform Update provides a snapshot of recent health reform activities.
07 Sep 2011
National Health Reform: Progress and Delivery
The path for implementing National Health Reform, agreed with each state and territory, is explained in detail in a new publication. Read More...
02 Aug 2011
National Health Reform Agreement
The Prime Minister has announced that all governments have agreed to a National Health Reform Agreement to deliver better health care for all Australians.
11 Jul 2011
Improving information, intake and assessment for aged care – a new front end for aged care.
The Australian Government is developing a new 'front end’ for aged care to make it easier for older Australians, their families, and carers to navigate and access aged care services.
01 Jul 2011
New after hours GP helpline
The Government has established a new after hours GP helpline. From 1 July, people who require after hours medical advice, who cannot access their usual GP and are not sure what they should do, can now speak to a GP over the telephone, when necessary.
01 Jul 2011
National Health Reform update - July 2011
Many important national health reform initiatives will start operating from today, 1 July.
28 Jun 2011
Telehealth - Modernising Medicare by providing rebates for online consultations
From 1 July 2011 people in remote, regional and outer metropolitan areas of Australia will have access to telehealth; an initiative allowing patients to have video consultations with a range of medical specialists.
17 Jun 2011
Establishing Medicare Locals in Victoria
The Victorian organisations that will become Medicare Locals from 1 July 2011 have been announced.
Medicare Locals will help to ensure that patients will have access to the right health services at the right place and time.
The announcement of the Victorian Medicare Locals finalises the first 19 areas to lead primary health care reform as part of COAG’s commitment to National Health Reform.
Full details of Medicare Locals that commence operations from 1 July 2011 are now available.
17 Jun 2011
Medicare Locals Boundaries Review
The final boundaries for all Medicare Locals, including those in Victoria have been announced, following a reassessment to ensure local responsiveness.
10 Jun 2011
Expression of Interest - National Lead Clinicians Group
Expressions of Interest for membership of the National Lead Clinicians Group are now open. Individuals with the capabilities, experience and expertise to contribute to continuous improvement in effective and quality health care, and able to contribute a "whole of system" view, are encouraged to apply.
06 Jun 2011
Improving Primary Health Care for All Australians – Establishing Medicare Locals
The first of Australia’s new network of primary health care organisations – Medicare Locals – will be up and running from 1 July 2011.
04 Jun 2011
25 years of HACC - a time to think about the past, the present and the future
On 5-7 April 2011, the Australian Government and state and territory governments hosted the National HACC Conference – Innovation and Integration into the Future in Brisbane. Over 1,000 HACC service providers from across Australia attended the Conference.
03 Jun 2011
National Health Reform Full Steam Ahead
It’s full steam ahead for national health reform in the lead-up to the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) finalisation of the national health reform agreement next month.
Releasing the Government’s report card on national health reform implementation today, Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon said the vast majority of the Government’s health reform initiatives are well and truly on track.
03 Jun 2011
Submission date extended for Concept of Operations consultation
The consulation period for the PCEHR Concept of Operations has been extended for one week until midnight, 7 June 2011.
02 Jun 2011
New website for the Aged Care Complaints Scheme
The Aged Care Complaints Scheme has launched the Aged Care Complaints Scheme News website, the main source for the latest information about the Aged Care Complaints Scheme and the reforms to strengthen the Scheme.
25 May 2011
Update from COAG's Expert Panel
The Expert Panel has met to begin formulating advice on the Elective Surgery Targets and National Access Guarantee and the Four Hour National Access Emergency Department Target.
The Expert Panel held its first meeting on 12 May 2011 and agreed to a consultation process that will include visits to each state and territory to meet with departmental officials and key stakeholders between Tuesday 24 May and Friday 10 June.
The Expert Panel’s first newsletter is available.
How can you be involved?
The Panel is encouraging individuals and organisations to provide their views through the written submission process which is open until COB 10 June 2011.
Please contact the Expert Panel secretariat at expertpanel@health.gov.au if you need any further information.
29 Mar 2011
Wave 2 eHealth Sites
Personally controlled electronic health records (PCEHR) moved a step closer with the announcement of an additional nine eHealth sites to drive the development and implementation of the Government’s PCEHR program.
28 Mar 2011
Medicare Locals: improving primary health care in local communities
A key component of the Australian Government’s National Health Reforms is the establishment of a new nation-wide network of Medicare Locals to be locally responsive, to address local needs, to improve access to services and to drive integration across the health care system. Learn more about Medicare Locals
22 Mar 2011
The new approach to aged care complaints: A Department and industry dialogue
Presentation to the Tri-State Conference on 28 February 2011 by First Assistant Secretary, Iain Scott and Assistant Secretary, Lucelle Veneros
22 Feb 2011
Are you interested in becoming a Medicare Local?
A key component of the Australian Government’s National Health Reforms is the establishment of a new nation-wide network of Medicare Locals to be locally responsive, to address local needs, to improve access to services and to drive integration across the health care system.
The Medicare Local Guidelines and Information for Applicants is also available for public download for information purposes only
22 Feb 2011
A new booklet Improving Primary Health Care for All Australians is now available
This booklet explains why primary health care is important; why it needs to be improved and what the changes will mean. It also provides further details on Medicare Locals, and their central role in improving the primary health care system.
18 Feb 2011
National Infrastructure Partner required for Australia’s e-health revolution
The Department of Health and Ageing is seeking a National Infrastructure Partner for the personally controlled electronic health record (PCEHR) system. View the National Infrastructure Partner tender documentation
14 Feb 2011
Prime Minister, Minister for Health announce National Health Reform
The Prime Minister and the Minister for Health have announced a new deal delivering national health reform that will last, built on a genuine partnership between the Commonwealth and the States and Territories.
11 Feb 2011
A better deal for patients
Prime Minister Julia Gillard today announced the key aspects of the health deal the Government will aim to finalise at COAG on Sunday – aimed at delivering a better deal for patients.
02 Feb 2011
Medicare Locals invitation to apply
The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing now invites applications for the establishment of Medicare Locals across Australia. Medicare Locals may be formed by a single organisation or a group of organisations, a partnership, joint venture or consortium.
02 Feb 2011
Current e-health tenders and grants - Benefit and Evaluation Partner (BEP) Industry Briefing
The Department held an industry briefing for all potential BEP tenderers on Monday 17th January 2011 in Canberra. The BEP will develop and deliver the benefits realisation and evaluation aspects of the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) system.
01 Jan 2011
Medicare Locals and Local Hospital Networks - Boundaries
The boundaries for Medicare Locals and Local Hospital Networks have now been agreed through a process of community and government consultation. The maps for Medicare Local and Local Hospital Network boundaries are now available.
28 Oct 2010
E-health Conference 2010 – Revolutionising Australia’s Health Care
The e-health Conference on 30th November and 1 December is an opportunity for leading health experts, clinicians, consumer representatives, health administrators and industry specialists to explore the future of e-health in Australia. Following the conference there will be further consultation opportunities that will engage the broader community in the personally controlled electronic health record system.
