Former ministers' media centre

Charles Sturt University will expand allied health student training and placements across the Riverina with a grant of $1.87 million announced today by the Australian Government.

From today, eligible Australians aged 16 and 17 years old will be able to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine, following recommendations from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

The Australian Government has implemented further measures to protect remote communities during the current COVID-19 outbreak in the Northern Territory (NT).

The unique research expertise and clinical capabilities located in Victoria have come together in a new, multi-institutional partnership to fight childhood cancer.

Read the transcript of Minister Hunt's interview with Jim Wilson of 2GB Drive, on 2 February 2022, on Scott Morrison’s leadership and aged care bonus payments.

Read the transcript of Minister Gillespie's interview with Stephen Cenatiempo of 2CC Breakfast, on 1 February 2022, on funding for OrganMatch.

The Australian Government will provide $210 million to support the aged care workforce to continue to care for older Australians during the COVID 19 pandemic.

Read the transcript of Minister Hunt with Professor Michael Kidd at the Canberra Press Conference on 31 January 2022, on Australia COVID update, vaccine booster program and Omicron BA.2 sub variant.

Over four million additional Australians are now eligible for their COVID-19 booster dose from today, with the Australian Government shortening the interval for when a person becomes eligible for their booster from four months to three months.

Regional Health Minister and Minister responsible for the Organ and Tissue Authority (OTA), Dr David Gillespie today announced $14.9 million for OrganMatch, a world-class software system helping to save the lives of more Australians waiting for an organ transplant.

From 1 February, thousands of Australians with a relapsed and/or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma will have access to a new treatment through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The Federal Government has today invested more than $5 million to boost training opportunities in rural and remote Western Australia for up-and-coming nurses and allied health professionals.

Read the transcript of Minister Hunt with Professor Alison McMillan at the Canberra Press Conference on 28 January 2022, on TGA approved Pfizer vaccine to be used as a booster for 16 and 17 year olds.

Read the transcript of Minister Hunt's interview with Natalie Barr and David Koch of Sunrise, on 28 January 2022, on TGA approved Pfizer vaccine to be used as a booster for 16 and 17 year olds.

The Australian Government welcomes the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 booster dose for young people aged 16–17 years old in Australia.

Young people in the Cardinia Shire will soon have access to additional mental health support and services, with work underway on a new youth centre in Pakenham, Victoria.

The Federal Coalition Government has today announced more than $60 million will be invested in regional and rural medical and health training in South Australia, building the capacity and viability of health services in the regions.

To continue our unprecedented investment into improving the mental health of all Australians, the Australian Government is investing a further $44 million to increase access and reduce wait times at headspace services for young people aged 12 to 25 years.

The Australian Government has welcomed the first meeting of the Aged Care Council of Elders.

The Australian Government is extending measures in place to protect remote communities during the current COVID-19 outbreak in the Northern Territory, in line with the local requirements announced by the Northern Territory Government.

Two years ago COVID arrived in Australia. In that time it has changed the world but it hasn’t changed the fundamentals of Australia. In a world with over 5.5 million lives lost officially and more likely closer to 15 million, Australia has witnessed hardship and tragedy.

St John Ambulance volunteer Valmai Dempsey is tonight recognised as the Senior Australian of the Year 2022.

The Federal Liberal and Nationals Government has today announced it will invest $3 million over 2 years through the University of Queensland (UQ) to establish a community-based demonstration, health and aged care training hub in Chinchilla to help address a gap in aged care across the Maranoa region

Read the transcript of Minister Hunt's Melbourne Press Conference, 24 January 2022, on Novavax COVID vaccine, vaccination and booster updates and supply of RATs in Australia.

Australians aged 18+ will now have access to a fourth COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid (Novavax) in coming weeks, after the Australian Government accepted advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) that it be included in the rollout program.