Archived News for Health Sector Professionals
Legislation to establish the $118 million National Health Performance Authority has passed through the lower house. The Authority will report on the performance of local hospital networks; public hospitals; private hospitals; primary healthcare organisations; and other bodies or organisations that provide health care services. It will be required to deliver performance reports to the parliament on an annual basis.
Under the inter-governmental agreement, state and territory governments will be given 45 days notice of assessment results before they are released to the public
Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon said the National Health Performance Authority and the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority are to be established without any increase in the number of federal bureaucrats.
Discussion paper aims to boost medical workforce in rural NSW
The New South Wales Government has released a discussion paper titled Securing a Stable Medical Workforce for NSW Rural Communities which sets out the framework to support a rural generalist training program and rural pathway for GP training in NSW.
Conference to investigate new health research funding models
Senior medical researchers and those responsible for sourcing private medical funding will meet later this month with community and business leaders to discuss new ways for health and medical research to be funded.
CSIRO eye technology collects award
Research that will allow the production of a low cost, high quality eye screening system that will facilitate significantly greater areas of screening in rural and regional Australia has been awarded the Victorian Government Inspiration Award at the national iAwards information and communications technology event.
E-health IT development contract awarded
A consortium led by Accenture has been awarded the contract to deliver IT infrastructure for the Federal Government’s $466 million e-health records system.
Melbourne Brain Centre launched
The new Melbourne Brain Centre has been officially opened at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, bringing together research and clinical facilities to help ensure that research is effectively translated into improved clinical outcomes.
Employers and unions sign up to Healthy Workers Initiative
Peak employer and union bodies have signed a Joint Statement of Commitment with the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon to promote healthier workplaces and healthier workers.
Acting Director appointed to Professional Services Review
Dr William Coote has been appointed the Acting Director of the Professional Services Review, replacing Dr Tony Webber who has been in the position for the past six years
New membership of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Equality Council announced
The new membership of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Equality Council (formerly the National Indigenous Health Equality Council) has been announced.
Nursing federation disappointed by aged care report
The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) has expressed its disappointment with the findings of the final Productivity Commission (PC) report into aged care, saying that the findings fail to address the systemic problems of the industry.
Rural and Remote Health Workforce Innovation and Reform Strategy to be developed
Health Workforce Australia is developing a Rural and Remote Health Workforce Innovation and Reform (RRHWIR) Strategy that will provide national guidance on future needs, reforms and initiatives to improve the health care services in rural and remote communities.
New Local Health Networks to guide WA's health system
The Western Australian Government has established five Local Health Networks to guide and oversee hospitals and health services across the State.
National Disability Insurance Scheme to be introduced
The Federal Government has announced that it will start work immediately with states and territories on measures that will build the foundations for a National Disability Insurance Scheme, following the release of the Productivity Commission's final report into the matter.
New measures announced to achieve Tasmanian health budget cuts
The Tasmanian Minister for Health, Michelle O’Byrne, has announced a further $25 million in health budget savings measures as part of the $100 million of required savings from the state’s 2011 $1.7 billion health and human services budget. The latest cost cutting takes the the savings announced since the State Budget to more than $70 million.
Aged care a focus in new National Workforce Development Fund
The Federal Government's new $558 million National Workforce Development Fund will target training for the aged care workforce as one of its priorities in the 2011-12 funding round.
Public consultation on Tasmanian Health Organisations
A public consultation process has been opened on a draft bill to set up three Tasmanian Health Organisations (THO), local hospital networks which are being delivered under the National Health Reform.
Productivity Commission releases aged care report
The Productivity Commission has released its report into aged care, suggesting a range of reforms that would allow for greater choices and flexibility for the elderly.
New hope for infectious disease treatments
A University of Newcastle scientist has developed a technique to stop viruses and bacteria multiplying in the human body, paving the way for new drugs to treat infectious disease, cancer and neurological disorders.
Report sets reform agenda for elective surgery and emergency access
The report of the Expert Panel Review of Elective Surgery and Emergency Access has been released, outlining a program of investment and whole-of-hospital change that would be necessary to achieve the targets set out in the Targets National Partnership Agreement on Improving Public Hospital Services.
Report shows some improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
A report on the health of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, released by the Australian Health Ministers Conference, has shown a narrowing of the gap for all cause mortality and avoidable mortality, and improvements in some health performance measures.
The third report against Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework (HPF) is designed to measure progress on closing the gap in Indigenous health and to stimulate debate and policy innovation in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.