Millions of RATs due to expire
Millions of RATs are due to expire in coming months, prompting debate about what to do with the excess tests.
Health
COVID-19 cases continue to slide
The number of average daily COVID-19 cases in Australia is still trending downwards, federal government data shows.
Omicron jab gets provisional green light
A Pfizer booster that specifically tackles two Omicron COVID-19 variants has been given provisional approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
COVID-19 risks ease as cases keep falling
The latest Australian COVID-19 data on cases, hospitalisations and deaths shows the number of cases are still decreasing.
Drunken arrests decision sparks division
The Victorian government will press ahead with decriminalising public drunkenness without giving police new powers in a decision that has divided organisations.
AMA urges action on elective surgery
The Australian Medical Association is urging governments to provide extra funding to address a huge backlog of patients waiting for elective surgery.
Virus cases in post-Christmas decline
The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 went into steep decline in the weeks following Christmas after peaking just before the holiday break.
Redo for bowel tests after surgery failure
Colonoscopy patients in Victoria and NSW may need to have the diagnostic procedure redone after a review found the surgeon involved had left some incomplete.
Melanoma vaccine ‘not one size fits all’
Clinical trial results for a new melanoma vaccine are promising, but UNSW Sydney experts say key questions still need to be answered.
Division over China travel test rule
Travellers arriving from China are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test after restrictions came into effect.
Deaths from virus spike amid call for calm
Australia's weekly COVID-19 data shows cases falling in Victoria and NSW while deaths rise, but health experts say it's too early for major concern.
Top 10 tips to keep cool this summer
How do you keep cool on a budget? Here are our top ten tips:
Minister defends COVID travel advice snub
Mark Butler says he is taking an abundance of caution in requiring travellers from China to record a negative COVID-19 test despite advice against the measure.
Urgent need for blood donations
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood urgently needs 8000 Australians to give blood over the next five days to meet demand over the New Year long weekend.
Fears mount over any China virus variants
Australian health authorities are being urged to keep a close eye on possible new COVID-19 variants coming out of China as cases spike.
Chinese travellers to face COVID tests
Travellers from China will need to undergo mandatory testing for COVID-19 before boarding a flight to Australia, the health minister has announced.
Miracle twins born four months early home in time for Christmas
The family of Queensland twins born four months early are set to enjoy a magical Christmas at home for the first time with their little miracles.
Call to roll out ‘e-bikes for clunkers’
Electric bicycles should be heavily discounted to help Australia meet its 2030 climate target, experts say.
Probe identifies spinach contaminant
A weed believed to be responsible for causing almost 200 Australians to become sick has been identified as thornapple.
Virus cases dip in lead-up to Christmas
The latest peaks of COVID-19 cases are falling around the country, but one state is battling a surge in infections.
Rural people more likely to die on roads
A review of 2.5 million head trauma patients shows rural people are more likely to suffer severe injuries in road crashes than their urban counterparts.
Mix of drugs to blame for man’s death
A mixture of prescription medication has been identified as suppressing the central nervous system of a man who died after a troubled life.
Brisbane patients with dementia keep minds active with fiddle boards
A local community-based men's group has donated several new fiddle boards to Mater Hospital Brisbane, which will help patients living with dementia to keep their minds active and maintain their motor skills.
Brisbane nurses create memories for mum battling incurable cancer
After receiving the devastating news that her cancer is incurable, a nurse and mother of two from Brisbane is striving to create lasting memories with her partner and two young sons.
Kids open wide for tooth decay study
The dental health of Australian children will be examined in a four-year study of more than 30,000 kids that has won the support of state health authorities.
Alerts linger as COVID-19 hits NSW peak
Infections of COVID-19 are likely to fall in Australia's most populous state, NSW, but experts warn the national health emergency is far from over.
COVID wave nears pre-Christmas peak
Health Minister Mark Butler warns Australia's latest COVID-19 wave still has a way to go despite case numbers starting to plateau as Christmas approaches.
Everyday racism is half the burden: ANU
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience intense psychological distress almost three times more than non-Indigenous people, a new study says.
COVID case rise slows, peak on horizon
Weekly COVID-19 infections have risen six per cent in the past week as new data shows Australia experienced higher-than-average deaths from January to August.
Healius shake-up: $140m day hospitals sold
A leading Australian healthcare company has shifted focus, selling its consortium of day hospitals and appointing a new CEO.
Scarlet Fever alert follows UK deaths
Parents are warned to be alert but not alarmed following numerous deaths linked to children contracting Scarlet Fever in the United Kingdom.