Archived News for Health Sector Professionals - November, 2011
The Federal Government has announced the allocation $26.2 million in mental health research, announced in the 2011/12 Budget.
The funding will be allocated to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
In summary, the NHMRC will:
- Issue a Targeted Call for Research for up to $13 million into the prevention of, and early intervention in, mental illness in children and young people.
- Allocate up to $5 million for Centres of Research Excellence, focussing on mental health research in a collaborative team-based environment, which emphasises research translation and training clinical researchers to be future research leaders.
- Allocate up to $8 million in new NHMRC Fellowships to support leadership in the field of mental health research.
Melbourne to host international AIDS conference
Melbourne has been announced as the host city for the 2014 International AIDS Conference, which will be the largest medical conference ever held in the country.
Climate Change threatens health: report
The Climate Change Commission has released its Climate Change and Health extension to its original Critical Decade report, finding that climate change will result in prolonged and increasingly severe heatwaves, increasingly severe pandemics and mass population displacement.
Government launches whooping cough campaign
The Federal Government has launched a new public health campaign aimed at improving quality of information and advice on whooping cough.
ABS releases patient findings
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released its Patient Experiences In Australia: Summary of Findings report, showing that at least 80% of people felt their health professional always or often spent enough time with them, listened carefully to them and had shown them respect.
Bioprinter awarded Engineering Innovation Award
Start-up company Organovo and Melbourne based Invetech have been jointly awarded the Engineering Innovation Award for the development of the world’s first commercial 3D bioprinter.
Victoria to solve health problems with technology solutions
The Victorian Government is calling for healthcare professionals and community health providers to submit ideas on how technology might be better used to improve patient care and increased productivity in the sector.
Welfare spending tops $137 billion
Australian spent $137 billion on welfare in the 2008-09 period, according to research conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). With more than $113 billion of that spent on health.
Federal Government pushes immunisation incentives
The Federal Government has announced extensive reform to Australia’s childhood immunisation arrangements that will remove tax benefits from families that opt out of immunisation.
Federal Government introduces eHealth legislation
The Federal Government has tabled legislation before parliament that, if passed, will introduce a national eHealth records system starting from July 2012.
Call for input on Victorian Mental Illness Research Fund
The Victorian Government has called for input to a consultation process on its $10 million Mental Illness Research Fund.
$24 million to prevent infectious diseases
The Federal Government has outlined a $24 million commitment to assist Australia’s Asian neighbours combat the spread of infectious diseases in people and animals across the region.
Cancer researcher wins Victoria Prize
Professor Andreas Strasser has been awarded the $50,000 Victoria Prize for his research into the workings of cancer cells.
Health Collaborative Research Network director appointed
Professor Sonj Hall been recruited as Director of the new Health Collaborative Research Network, which has $5.53 million in Commonwealth funding to develop partnerships between CQUniversity and the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology and Curtin University.
CQU to open new Allied Health Clinic at Rockhampton
A new $9 million public-access Allied Health clinic is to be constructed at the Rockhampton campus of Central Queensland University as part of a $12 million investment in new allied health programs in 2012.
New president of Australian Society for Medical Research announced
CQUniversity sleep and fatigue specialist Associate Professor Naomi Rogers has been announced as President Elect of the Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR), the peak professional society representing Australian health and medical research.
AIFS finds alarming rate of smoking and drinking amongst pregnant women
The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has found that 18 per cent of surveyed pregnant women have smoked, while 38 per cent reported to have continued to consume alcohol.
Queensland announces advisory council for mental health commission
The Queensland Government has announced members of the Advisory Committee that will assist the government to establish the state’s first independent mental health commission.
Research shows Vitamin B reduces work stress
Increasing Vitamin B intake could significantly reduce work-related stress, a clinical trial conducted at Swinburne University of Technology has shown.
Federal Government announces new Stem Cells Australia research initiative
The Federal Government has announced a $21 million research initiative into stem cell research.
Bulk billing continues to grow
The Federal Government has announced record levels of bulk billing rates throughout the country, with Federal Minister for Health and Aging Nicola Roxon saying the trend supports growing demand in the sector.