News

A new website is available to help parents find independent reliable information about childhood immunisations.

Young people aged approximately 12 and 13 can get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine free at school as part of the National Immunisation Program. Find out more about getting the HPV vaccine for your child, including what diseases it protects against and what to do if a dose is missed.

The Australian Government is investing $3 million to examine the benefits of medicinal cannabis for pain, symptom and side effect management for cancer patients.

The Australian Government has commissioned the Australian Academy of Science to develop a suite of educational and promotional materials to raise awareness about measles.

Cheaper medicine is on the way for more than 500,000 patients from October 1, with price reductions for common scripts and new medicines added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), in some cases saving more than $100,000 per patient.

1 October is International Day of Older Persons and this year's theme is "The Journey to Age Equality".

The 2019–20 Federal Budget details the Australian Government's commitment to supporting lifesaving medical research. The Budget includes a $5 billion 10-year investment plan from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).  

The Australian Government’s $32 million investment in health research will support innovative solutions to our most pressing health issues. The Medical Research Future Fund’s Investigator Grants will back projects that deliver medical discoveries and ultimately save lives.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released the Causes of Death data which includes the number of Australians who we have sadly lost to suicide. In 2018, 3,046 Australians died by suicide, a slight reduction from 3,128 in 2017. This equates to more than 8 people per day.

The ABS’ Causes of Death, Australia, 2018 report notes suicide dropped one place to 14th leading cause of death overall. Rates of mortality due to heart disease and cerebrovascular disease also decreased, however these remain among the leading causes of death in Australia.​​​​​​​

Patients with intestinal failure associated with Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS), and those suffering spasticity in the upper limbs, will soon have access to greater medicinal support, thanks to new and amended listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

A delegation from Australia, including the Prime Minister’s Suicide Prevention Adviser, Ms Christine Morgan, attended a major international suicide prevention conference in Northern Ireland last week.

The Home Care Packages Program Data Report 4th Quarter 2018-19 has been released.

The National Dust Disease Taskforce has released a consultation paper and is seeking submissions from the community and stakeholders.

The Australian Government is delivering $150 million over 3 years to enable more senior Australians to access entry-level home support.

Statement from the Chief Medical Officer and State and Territory Chief Health Officers about e-cigarettes and an emerging link between their use and lung disease.

The Australian Government has agreed to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety’s request for an extension of six months to continue to hear evidence from Australians and conduct its deliberations.

The Australian Government is working proactively to find solutions to support patients following an unexpected shortage of nuclear medicine scans in hospitals and medical centres.

The Prime Minister’s National Suicide Prevention Adviser works across government and with relevant Ministers to improve the coordination and delivery of suicide prevention activities.

The Australian Government is investing up to $15 million in targeted clinical trials to improve treatments and discover cures for reproductive and gynaecological cancers such as ovarian, cervical and fallopian tube cancer.

The Australian Government will invest $27 million to provide affordable access to 3 new medicine listings through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 September 2019.

The Australian Government will establish an expert National Taskforce, and commission a National Action Plan to improve diagnosis, treatment and the understanding of blood cancers.

A new medicinal cannabis manufacturing facility in Southport, Queensland will help meet growing demand in Australia, and secure export opportunities.

The Chair of the Inquiry into the events at Earle Haven Retirement Village on 11 July 2019 has called for public submissions to inform her investigation.