Archived News for Health Sector Professionals
The Federal Government has announced the establishment of the National Advisory Council on Dental Health as part of the agreement between the government and the Federal Greens.
Headed by former senior public servant Ms Mary Murnane, the council will provide expert advice on dental health issues with an eye to identify areas for future reform in the field.
The council will also investigate how to improve services to ensure universal access to high quality, cost effective dental services.
$1.08 billion for NSW health infrastructure
The New South Wales State Government has unveiled a planned $1.08 billion spending package health capital works across the state to be spent over the next year.
NSW to hire 900 more nurses
The New South Wales Government has announced it is still committed to its pre-budget pledge of hiring an additional 900 nurses despite growing fears of a possible $700 million budget blowout.
National study to probe effectiveness of emergency department teams
Australian universities have joined forces with state health departments to test the effectiveness and quality of the nurse practitioner as an addition to the emergency department team.
New national Chief Medical Officer appointed
One of Australia’s foremost experts in emergency medicine, Professor Chris Baggoley, has been appointed Australia’s Chief Medical Officer by the Federal Government.
University of Melbourne signs Indian mental health MoU
The University of Melbourne has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare India to help improve India’s national mental health system.
Queensland Healthcare Improvement Award winners announced
Queensland Health’s most innovative staff were awarded for their fresh approaches to services at the recent 2011 Healthcare Improvement Awards ceremony in Brisbane.
Twelve award winners were acknowledged during the ceremony held as the showcase of Queensland Health Week 2011 from more than 300 abstracts.
Bendigo hospital construction expressions of interest open
The Victorian State Government has announced that expressions of interest for the construction of the new Bendigo Hospital can now be lodged.
Victoria releases Public Health and Wellbeing Plan
The Victorian Government has released the state's first ever Public Health and Wellbeing Plan which aims to address the state's increasing rates of chronic and preventable diseases.
Conroy touts NBN health benefits
The Federal Government has opened the first Queensland National Broadband Network site after Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Treasurer Wayne Swan launched the service.
ABS publishes gender well-being index
Women are still living longer than men, but men are closing the gap, according to a new publication released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Over the last ten years life expectancy at birth has increased at a greater rate for men (by 3 years) than for women (by 2 years). However, women continue to have a higher life expectancy at birth (now 84 years for women and 79 years for men).
The new publication, Gender Indicators, Australia, looks at the differences between males and females in the main areas of wellbeing such as economic security, education, work and family balance, health and safety and justice.
Over the past ten years women have increased their participation in the labour force, while it has remained relatively stable for men. However women earn 11% less than men per hour, on average.
Men and women also differ in how they spend their working time. While men and women both spend about the same amount of time working, whether in paid or unpaid work, men spend nearly double the amount of time than by women on employment related activities. Women spend nearly double the time on unpaid work, such as domestic activities, child care and voluntary work.
The publication also shows that in 2010, more women aged 18-24 years (31%) than men (23%) were studying towards a qualification at Bachelor's degree or above.
Men are more likely than women to have poor health risk factors, such as being overweight or obese (63% compared to 48% for women) or consuming alcohol at risky levels (15% compared to 12%). Women are more likely than men to report high or very high levels of psychological stress (14% compared to 10%).
The first issue of Gender Indicators, Australia, a new six-monthly publication, presents data from a wide range of sources to reflect the roles of men and women in Australian society, and monitors the changes that have occurred over time in their wellbeing.
To see the full range of indicators, and changes over time, see the full online product,Gender Indicators, Australia
Ambulance Victoria board replaced
The Victorian Health Minister, has sacked four members of the nine-member board of Ambulance Victoria, and announced the appointment of a new board which includes just two members of the outgoing board. Outgoing board members include former Labor MP John McQuilten, Bruce Levy, a senior executive at Medibank Private, Melbourne lawyer Jan Moffatt and Suzanne Ewart, an independent consultant who has worked with water companies and the RSPCA.
Unions campaign against privatisation of WA hospital services
In Western Australia, United Voice and the Health Services Union are continuing their campaign against the Barnett Government’s plans to privatise hospital services.
Field trials promise control of dengue fever
An international research project to eliminate dengue fever has reported successful results from a field trial in which 150,000 mosquitoes infected with a bacterium called Wolbachia that prevents the dengue virus from growing in the insect were released into two suburbs in Cairns.
Royal Darwin secures accreditation
Northern Territory’s Royal Darwin Hospital has been accredited at the same standard as a number of the country’s leading teaching hospitals.
Mesoblast posts $92.2 million profit
Mesoblast, a Melbourne based regenerative medicine company specialising in the production of off-the-shelf adult stem cell products, has recorded a $92.2 million profit last financial year.
Thermopower research could further cancer treatment
Miniaturised semi-conducting structures could be used for super-accurate treatment of cancer, researchers at Melbourne’s RMIT University have found.
NHMRC introduces new clinical practice guidelines
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has introduced its new Standard for Clinical Practice Guidelines in an attempt to streamline health professional’s access to diagnostic information and treatment.
Report shows management plans help chronically sick
A report published by the Medical Journal of Australia shows that suffering from vulnerable chronic diseases are benefiting under the use of GP management plans.
Appointments to IHPA and NHPA announced
Chairs and Deputy Chairs of two of key bodies that will oversee reforms of Australia’s national health system were announced following the meeting of the Council of Australian Governments on Friday.
COAG agrees to development of mental health reform program
Work will begin on the development of a National Partnership Agreement on Mental Health following last week’s meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).