Primary Health Reform Steering Group Established

The Morrison Government has appointed a team of experts to provide independent advice on the development of the Primary Health Care 10-Year Plan.   The 10-Year Plan will set a vision and path to guide future primary health care reform, as part of the Government’s Long Term National Health Plan.   Under the Long Term…

Speech – Medicines Australia PharmAus 2019

E&OE…                       Topics: PharmAus 2019; Medicines listings; Mental health; Clinical Trials.   GREG HUNT: Thanks very much to Liz and to Anna for your leadership of Medicines Australia; to all of you who are involved in the great stages and processes of bringing new medicines to Australia, whether on the research side, whether on the…

Safer Baby Bundle to reduce stillbirths

A package of education and awareness measures designed to reduce rates of stillbirth, will soon be available for health professionals and pregnant women across Australia.   The Safer Baby Bundle, developed principally by the Centre for Research Excellence (CRE) in Stillbirth at the University of Queensland, will be provided to hospitals in selected areas.  …

ABC Radio interview with Cathy Van Extel

E&OE…                       Topics: Mental Health; Antibiotics repeats; Legalising Euthanasia; Turkish Offensive in Syria.   CATHY VAN EXTEL: Nearly half the Australian population will have a mental health condition in their lifetime and in any one year, about a million adult suffer depression.   Today marks World Mental Health Day. Greg Hunt is the Federal Health…

World Mental Health Day 2019

Today is World Mental Health Day. It is an opportunity to talk and think about how we perceive mental illness in Australia, including removing any stigma around it.   One in five Australians is affected by mental illness each year, yet many don’t seek help because of stigma.   Supporting mental health and suicide prevention…

New 3D printing laboratory at the forefront of facial surgery

A new 3D printing laboratory officially opened today in Melbourne has the potential to revolutionise how we repair and augment bones in the head, skull and face.   Australian company Anatomics opened its 3D printing polymer laboratory, where it will develop its new porous plastic implant material, known as ‘StarPore’ – the first synthetic product…

National headspace Day 2019

Today is National headspace Day, which puts the issue of young Australians’ mental health in the spotlight.   The day draws attention to a significant national issue and encourages young people to discuss their mental health, and take steps to improve their wellbeing.   About 560,000 Australian children and adolescents are estimated to have a…

$3 million for research into medicinal cannabis benefits

The Morrison Government is investing $3 million from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to examine the benefits of medicinal cannabis for pain, symptom and side effect management for cancer patients.   Since her own battle, Ms Olivia Newton-John has been an advocate for breast cancer awareness and research, and through her personal experience and…

$8 million for ground-breaking clinical trials

The Morrison Government is investing $8 million in world-class clinical trials focusing on conditions affecting the heart, preterm baby lungs, the brain, infection control and dementia. Five Australian-led trials will receive funding from the Government’s Medical Research Future Fund International Clinical Trial Collaborations program. Researchers at the University of Western Australia will receive $1.8 million…