The current bushfire crisis that is impacting large parts of Australia has devastated individuals and communities. The Australian Government is taking action on this significant public health problem. The medium-term health effects of the recent bushfires will be studied under two major research streams commissioned by the Government. The Government will provide $5…
E&OE… Topics: Mental health support for people affected by bushfires. MATT DORAN: Joining us from Canberra now is the Health Minister, Greg Hunt. Minister, thank you for your time. A wonderful initiative. Obviously it is great to see the focus being directed not just to the rebuild of buildings but to the…
E&OE… Topics: Mental health support for people affected by bushfires. JAYNE AZZOPARDI: Well as fire conditions ease on the fire front for the moment, the Federal Government is this morning turning its attention to the heavy emotional toll for those on the ground. It’s announced $76 million for mental health services in…
More mental health support services will be immediately provided to firefighters, emergency personnel, individuals and communities impacted by the ongoing bushfire disaster. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said an initial $76 million would fund free counselling sessions, extra Medicare and tele-health consultations, an expansion of headspace services for young Australians, and community recovery initiatives. “These bushfires…
The Australian Government is providing an additional 576,000 P2 masks to South Australia, Tasmania and Australian Defence Force personnel to support bushfire-affected communities. An additional 505,000 masks have been reserved for New South Wales and 505,600 masks have been reserved for Victoria, following a request from these states. The Government has already provided…
The Morrison Government is implementing temporary, emergency measures to ensure people affected by the current bushfire situation are able to continue to receive Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidised medicines when a doctor’s prescription is not immediately available. These changes will help people with ongoing medical needs including those with asthma, lung disease, diabetes, heart disease…
The Morrison/McCormack Government has put in place emergency protocols to expedite the process of getting GPs and allied health workers to bushfire-affected communities where they are needed most. The Department of Health and Department of Human Services will prioritise all applications from doctors who want to work in medical practices in bushfire-affected communities. …
The Australian Government is now supplying more than 1.8 million P2 face masks to assist frontline workers and those at risk in communities affected by the bushfires. The Government is providing more than 1 million masks to NSW, 455,400 to Victoria, approximately 400,000 to the ACT, 19,200 to Australia Post, and 3000 to the…
The Australian Government has, for the first time, deployed Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) specialists in a domestic setting to provide medical support to people evacuated from bushfire-affected communities. The eight specialists – two doctors, two nurses, two paramedics and two logisticians – have been deployed to RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria to…
The Morrison Government has delivered on its election commitment, significantly lowering the threshold for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Safety Net from 1 January 2020. This means from today, more than 1.6 million concessional and general patients will get earlier access each year to free or significantly cheaper PBS medicines. The PBS Safety…