#aushealth #Tasmania

Doctors 'alarmed' by Victoria's move to make pill accessible over counter Women getting the contraceptive pill for the first time will be able to access it from Victorian pharmacies without a prescription from July in a move that has "alarmed" GPs.

Contraceptive pill to be accessible for women in Victoria without prescription from July (article from 6 March)
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03... #springst #aushealth

28m ago18.48 EDT NSW pharmacists will be able to prescribe the pill directly to women over 18 The NSW government will invest $4.5m to make it easier for women to access the pill, allowing pharmacists to prescribe it directly to those over 18 without a GP visit. The reform, the government says, will take pressure off GPs and give women faster, easier access to care. The government will pay for the first 5,000 consultations with a trained pharmacist, but once that service is exhausted, women should only expect to pay between $20 to $60. To date, 773 pharmacies are registered to provide the resupply service in NSW. The premier, Chris Minns, said in a statement: This is basic healthcare for millions of Australian women – and this is about making it easier to get that care, without extra cost or hassle. Just because something’s always been done a certain way, it doesn’t mean it’s the best way to keep doing it – it’s not working for busy women to access a doctor to get a script. Victoria unveiled a similar program last month, which will begin in July.

The NSW government will invest $4.5m to make it easier for women to access the pill, allowing pharmacists to prescribe it directly to those over 18 without a GP visit. Victoria unveiled a similar program last month, which will begin in July.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... #nswpol #aushealth

The warning signs a health practitioner wants to exploit your superannuation The healthcare regulator and tax office are cracking down on health practitioners who help patients access their superannuation early after one Perth doctor signed off on a $20,000 withdrawal for lipo...

Fresh warning about using superannuation on health treatments after 100 complaints to regulator
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04... #auslaw #aushealth

WA children to get needle-free flu vaccine Western Australia is offering free needle-free flu vaccines for children in a bid to curb declining inoculation rates and prevent another deadly influenza season.

The West Australian government is rolling out 130,000 doses of a needle-free influenza vaccine for children aged two to 11 years old. Public health experts hope the nasal spray, called FluMist, will curb declining childhood vaccination rates.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04... #aushealth #wapol

Doctors can refuse to treat LGBTQ+ patients in several states – these religious exemption laws lead to drops in HIV testing An increasing number of laws aim to roll back LGBTQ+ people’s ability to access health care, leading to cascading effects on their well-being.

This story from the US, underscores how important it was to defeat the Morrison Government's religious freedom agenda (with the first version of the Religious Discrimination Bill including conscientious objection-style provisions). #auslaw #aushealth
theconversation.com/doctors-can-...

Regional Australia leads GP bulk-billing surge A new report shows regional and remote towns are rapidly lifting their GP bulk-billing rates while out-of-pocket costs rise across the country.

Regional Australia leads GP bulk-billing surge as costs to see doctors continue to rise
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04... #aushealth

‘I jumped at it’: Australia’s new CDC chief on trust, misinformation and never being surprised by a health threat Zoe Wainer’s parents started the country’s first public abortion clinic. Now she is making history too, as the inaugural head of the Australian Centre for Disease Control

‘I jumped at it’: Australia’s new CDC chief on trust, misinformation and never being surprised by a health threat
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... #aushealth

Darwin midwife's $1.1 million government contract under review Darwin midwife Claire Marks was under investigation by the nursing and midwifery watchdog when she was handed a $1.1 million contract by the NT government, which is now reviewing the matter, as doctor...

A $1.1 million NT govt contract awarded to Claire Marks, a midwife with conditions imposed on her registration, is being reviewed. Despite that, and concerns raised by doctors, the company she is director of recently announced its team had expanded.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04... #ntpol #aushealth

Opinion | This invention to help older adults is so right, it seems obvious A transformative tool is allowing family members to live better lives as they age.

What a great communication solution for the very many of us with older parents/relatives.

It's a big step forward from the solutions in Australia (last time I checked)

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

#eldercare. #aushealth

Australian billionaires make $67000 an hour, Oxfam says in call for tax on super-rich

Funny how Nick Coatsworth isn't advocating for billionaires to pay their way like @oxfaminternational.bsky.social do. It's as if he's in their pockets. As. If.
#disability #NDIS #AusHealth #AusPol

Australia's Inactivity Crisis Measured for First Time: What the Data Shows ABS study tracking 4,000 Australians shows just 4 minutes daily vigorous exercise, nearly 12 hours of inactivity, and rising sleep debt.

Australia's Inactivity Crisis Measured for First Time: What the Data Shows

#AusHealth #PhysicalActivity #AustralianData #PublicHealth #AusNews

thedailyperspective.org/article/2026-03-28-austr...

Birthkeeper may be forced to give evidence about influencer's freebirth death A coroner investigating the death of nutrition influencer Stacey Warnecke after a freebirth may compel her support worker to appear at the inquest.

The 2025 death of nutrition influencer Stacey Warnecke is being examined by a Victorian coroner, with an inquest to probe the circumstances around Ms Warnecke's decline and the role of a support worker, Emily Lal.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03... #aushealth #auslaw

WA's parental consent rule puts young trans Australians in a bind Western Australia requires both parents to consent before teens can access hormone therapy, creating delays even when families support treatment.

WA's parental consent rule puts young trans Australians in a bind

#TransHealth #AusHealth #WesternAustralia #AusNews

thedailyperspective.org/article/2026-03-23-was-p...

Concerns health insurers creeping towards US-style managed care Health insurers increasingly partnering with GP centres and telehealth services has raised concerns that it could create a two-tier system in which privately insured patients have more affordable acce...

Health insurers increasingly partnering with GP centres and telehealth services has raised concerns that it could create a two-tier system in which privately insured patients have more affordable access to GP consults.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03... #aushealth

‘These are avoidable’: Dozens of babies dead or permanently injured after freebirths Data has uncovered the catastrophic consequences of a rise in women choosing to give birth without the aid of medically trained professionals.

‘These are avoidable’: Dozens of babies dead or permanently injured after freebirths in Victoria
www.theage.com.au/national/vic... #aushealth
archive version: archive.is/1bxiD

Medical body seeks external rescue as internal divisions deepen Australian Medical Association requests charity regulator intervention as members prepare to vote on ousting the president, signalling serious institutional turmoil.

Medical body seeks external rescue as internal divisions deepen

#AMA #Governance #HealthcareLeadership #InstitutionalAccountability #AusHealth #AusNews

thedailyperspective.org/article/2026-03-20-medic...

Cost of Living Fuels Mental Health Crisis as Help-Seeking Lags 83% of Australians report cost of living damaging mental health. New early intervention service launches, but workforce shortages persist.

Cost of Living Fuels Mental Health Crisis as Help-Seeking Lags

#MentalHealth #CostOfLiving #AusHealth #MentalWellness #AusNews

thedailyperspective.org/article/2026-03-18-cost-...

Medicinal Cannabis Boom Obscures Lack of Mental Health Evidence New University of Sydney research finds no evidence medicinal cannabis treats anxiety or depression despite rising prescriptions.

Medicinal Cannabis Boom Obscures Lack of Mental Health Evidence

#MedicinalCannabis #MentalHealth #AusHealth #AusNews

thedailyperspective.org/article/2026-03-17-medic...

121 Health Policies, Zero Strategy: Why Australia's Healthcare Crisis Deepens Australia has 121 fragmented health workforce policies but no unified strategy. Psychiatrist shortages forecast to reach 20% by 2048. Opinion analysis of systemic governance failure.

121 Health Policies, Zero Strategy: Why Australia's Healthcare Crisis Deepens

#HealthWorkforce #MentalHealth #AgedCare #AusHealth #AusNews

thedailyperspective.org/article/2026-03-15-121-h...

Why IV drips are surging in popularity in Australia's wellness space Some advocates say vitamin IV drips can promote clearer thinking, immunity, beauty and even anti-aging, but health experts say there is little research to back the claims.

Why IV drips are surging in popularity in Australia's wellness space
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03... #aushealth
Australian Medical Association president Danielle McMullen said IV drip therapy was "rarely useful". "You'd be just as well off drinking a glass of water." Infusions can also carry risks.

Perth Cardiac Surgery Unit Buckles Under Staff Shortage Freedom of Information documents reveal severe staffing challenges at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital's cardiothoracic surgery unit in Perth during 2024-2025.

Perth Cardiac Surgery Unit Buckles Under Staff Shortage

#AusHealth #HealthcareWorkforce #WA #AusNews

thedailyperspective.org/article/2026-03-09-perth...

Australia's Flu Vaccine Overhaul: What the 2026 Season Holds ATAGI has redesigned Australia's 2026 flu vaccine, removing one strain and updating two others after the severe 2025 H3N2 subclade K season.

Australia's Flu Vaccine Overhaul: What the 2026 Season Holds

#FluVaccine #PublicHealth #AusHealth #AusNews

thedailyperspective.org/article/2026-03-08-austr...

I don't know who created this graphic but Hawke would never have said we'd all be bulk billed.

It's doctors who choose not to charge a co-payment not governments (though governments can encourage it).
#Auspol #Medicare #AusHealth

AI Reaches New Milestone in Breast Cancer Detection: What Australia Should Know New AI tool BRAIx shows promise predicting breast cancer risk better than traditional methods. Victoria trials underway.

AI Reaches New Milestone in Breast Cancer Detection: What Australia Should Know

#BreastCancer #AI #AusHealth #MedicalResearch #AusNews

thedailyperspective.org/article/2026-03-07-ai-re...

Victorian pharmacists to provide the pill without doctor’s script Benita Kolovos Benita Kolovos Victorian women will soon be able to get the contraceptive pill from the chemist without a prescription, the premier, Jacinta Allan, has announced. At a press conference this morning, she announced from July, Victoria’s Chemist Care Now program will be expanded to allow access to the oral contraceptive pill without a prescription at 850 pharmacies across the state. The program currently allows pharmacists to provide only a month’s supply of oral contraceptives if the patient presents an old prescription or the medication box they used previously. Allan said pharmacists involved in the program will need to complete a postgraduate training module. They will also be required to undertake a thorough consultation with patients, outline any risks and provide advice about other options, including long-acting reversible contraception. She said the expansion of the program would make it easier for women – particularly those in the outer suburbs and regions – to access contraceptives, as well as save them time and money. The premier told reporters: "When women have run out of the pill – and many women would know what this feels like – having the hassle of having to shop around, get a bulk billing GP appointment … reorganising your whole day around that appointment that takes time out of women’s days."

Victorian women will soon be able to get the contraceptive pill from the chemist without a prescription, the premier, Jacinta Allan, has announced.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... #springst #aushealth

Bureaucratic Barrier Blocks Life-Saving Cancer Care for Two-Year-Old An Australian family's request for life-saving cancer treatment for their two-year-old daughter has been rejected, raising questions about the country's drug approval framework.

Bureaucratic Barrier Blocks Life-Saving Cancer Care for Two-Year-Old

#ChildhoodCancer #PBS #HealthcareAccess #PaediatricCancer #AusHealth #AusNews

thedailyperspective.org/article/2026-03-04-burea...

Peak Health Bodies Take Long-Consult Funding Fight to Parliament The RACGP and 20+ patient groups have delivered an open letter to Parliament demanding a 40% Medicare rebate increase for longer GP consultations.

Peak Health Bodies Take Long-Consult Funding Fight to Parliament

#Medicare #BulkBilling #GPCare #AusHealth #AusPol #AusNews

thedailyperspective.org/article/2026-03-04-peak-...

Laptop-Sized Device Could Slash Days Off Melbourne STI Test Results A laptop-sized Melbourne device using genetic 'barcodes' could cut days off STI test results and deliver more accurate diagnoses at the point of care.

Laptop-Sized Device Could Slash Days Off Melbourne STI Test Results

#SexualHealth #STITesting #MedTech #AusHealth #AusNews #PublicHealth

thedailyperspective.org/article/2026-03-03-lapto...

Home Blood Pressure Monitors Are Everywhere, But Are They Getting It Right? From arm cuffs to Apple Watch, Australians have more blood pressure monitoring options than ever. Here's what the evidence says about each of them.

Home Blood Pressure Monitors Are Everywhere, But Are They Getting It Right?

#Hypertension #BloodPressure #DigitalHealth #HeartHealth #AusHealth #AusNews

thedailyperspective.org/article/2026-03-03-home-...