Archived News for Health Sector Professionals
Researchers are an important step closer to finding a vaccine that protects against a wide range of strains of meningococcal B - the most common cause of meningococcal disease in Western Australia.
New research published Online First in The Lancet Infectious Diseases showed the trials of the potential vaccine had found it to be safe and that it stimulated an effective immune response.
The report's author, Associate Professor Peter Richmond, from The University of Western Australia,\ School of Paediatrics and Child Health heads the Vaccine Trials Group, a collaboration between the UWA-affiliated Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and Princess Margaret Hospital.
Blood test could detect breast cancer years before it develops
The Imperial College of London has announced a breakthrough in breast cancer research, detailing findings that reveal a strong connection between molecular, or ‘epigenetic’, changes and the risk of blood cancer, meaning that early detection of the disease could be only a blood test away.
Government announces dental blitz
The Federal Government has outlined a $515.3 million spending initiative in the 2012-13 Budget aimed at significantly reducing times on public dental waiting lists.
Consultation paper released for reform of Victorian mental health services
The Victorian Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge has released a consultation paper to drive the reform of Victoria's community-based mental health services.
Government invests $490 million in teen dental plan
The Federal Government ihas announced it will provide $490 million over five years for the Medicare Teen Dental Plan.
Bionic eye research facility launched at UNSW
The fabrication of implantable electronics has begun at the University of New South Wales ahead of planned patient tests of a functional bionic eye next year.
Medical bionics research program launched
The University of Wollongong’s newly appointed Australian Laureate Fellow Professor Gordon Wallace has launched a new $4.7 million medical bionics research program to develop ways to regenerate damaged nerves and muscles and ground-breaking brain implants for epilepsy patients.
Research shows complexity of body clock
International travellers, shift workers and even people suffering from obesity-related conditions stand to benefit from a key discovery about the functioning of the body's internal clock.
Researchers call for open sharing of clinical trial data
Australian researchers are calling for the open sharing of clinical trial data in the medical research community, saying it would be instrumental in eliminating bottlenecks and duplication, and lead to faster and more trustworthy evidence for many of our most pressing health problems.
New blood processing facility opened in Melbourne
A new $213 million blood processing facility has been opened in Melbourne which will manufacture about 30 per cent of Australia’s national fresh blood supply.
The new centre, the largest in Australia, replaces an older facility that was no longer fit for purpose.
The Australian Government is contributing more than half of the cost of the new facility and its future running costs, with the remainder funded by the state governments.
The Australian Government contribution is through its $5 billion Health and Hospital Fund established in 2009.
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service will operate the new Melbourne centre under a funding agreement with the National Blood Authority.
New National Manager for TGA
The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) has appointed Dr John Skerritt as the new National Manager of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
Nursing research centre launched
Australia’s first National Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing has been launched at Griffith University's South Bank campus.
Griffith University Vice Chancellor, Professor Ian O'Connor, described nursing at Griffith University as a major teaching and research strength and said NCREN was a platform for the further development of clinical nursing research expertise in Australia.
More than 10,000 nurses have graduated from Griffith University.
NCREN has received $2.5 million funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council for an initial five-year program of research focused on skin integrity and symptom management.
Ten chief investigators, among them eight nurses, are leading the research which is building an unprecedented body of evidence to inform nursing practices into the future.
The centre is partnered with the Gold Coast, Princess Alexandra and Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospitals in southeast Queensland, and the partnerships have already also extended to the Prince Charles and Royal Children's hospitals in Brisbane.
Universities funded to improve Canberra medical care infrastructure
The Australian National University, the University of Canberra and the Southern General Practice Network have received joint funding of $31 million to improve medical care infrastructure in the Canberra region.
Mental health survey open for feedback
Australians are now able to have their say on the nation’s first Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, through a new online survey available at http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/report_card
The release of the online survey follows a series of four Roundtable discussions, with over 140 prominent Australians from across the mental health and related sectors, which were held in Sydney.
Government forms expert groups to help form NDIS
The Federal Government has announced the formation of three expert groups to help inform the design of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Smoking in cars with children now illegal in ACT
ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Health Katy Gallagher MLA welcomed the start of the ban on smoking in cars with children under the age of 16.
World first Huntington study
Edith Cowan University (ECU) researchers are leading a world-first study which could change the way Huntington’s disease is treated.
AIHW publishes cervical screening results
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has published the results of the mass cervical screening program involving 3.6 million women throughout the country.
CHF hits out at 'horrifying' dental crisis
The Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) has stressed the Federal Government to take action to avert an imminent dental health catastrophe after it released figures that show the public waiting list for dental health services has stretched out to 650,000 across the nation.
Health researcher wins Humboldt Award
A Monash University researcher who is designing the next generation of medical implants using nanotechnology has been awarded the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Award for the second time.
Move to curb resistance now or face the consequences say NPS
The National Prescribing Service (NPS) has urged the Federal Government to act on the growing “anti-biotic-resistance crisis” facing the Australian community.