‘More work to do’: ageing population puts clamp on EDs
More older Australians are arriving in emergency rooms, placing strain on hospitals and increasing the caseload beyond "bread and butter" work.
government health care
Questions cloud coalition plan for migrant care staff
The coalition maintains aged care workers will not be impacted by plans to slash migration, despite the sector's high reliance on temporary visa holders.
‘Makes my brain explode’: families fear NDIS changes
Families are still largely in the dark about what will happen when their kids are moved off the NDIS onto state supports as a transition period gets underway.
‘Families need clarity’ on NDIS early autism overhaul
Advocates are calling for certainty on how NDIS supports will be impacted after the first phase of a program to take children with autism off the scheme begins.
Veterans salute Labor retreat on health payment limits
A $5000 cap on allied health payments for veterans has been dumped after the parliament united against Labor over the controversial cost-saving measure.
Drawing a line: disability arts sector fears NDIS cuts
A studio for artists with intellectual disabilities has produced an Archibald finalist but cuts to the NDIS have the arts disability sector worried.
‘Eye-watering’: minister stares down health funds plea
Lobbying from state leaders has failed to unlock more money from the federal government to address the growing problem of aged care bed block .
More patients stranded as bed-block crisis worsens
A state health minister says the Commonwealth is attempting to shift its responsibility for aged care, with ballooning numbers of patients stranded in hospital.
Subsidised access to cancer-fighting drug expanded
The federal government has expanded the range of cancers a drug will be subsidised to treat as part of its discounted medicines scheme.
Coalition, One Nation revive push on abortion crackdown
Conservative politicians have joined with a Christian lobby group on the lawns of Parliament House to request healthcare for babies born alive via abortions.
Electric switch could save public hospitals millions
Upgrading all of Australia's public hospitals from gas to electricity could save millions of dollars in energy bills but only if the government acts swiftly.
‘We die’: disabled voices warn against NDIS cuts
A major overhaul of Australia's national disability program has secured bipartisan support but advocates have warned the changes could have deadly consequences.
Seat swap after son’s crash killed mum, inquest told
Tracee Grosvenor was found dead behind the wheel of a crashed car but it soon emerged someone else had been driving, an inquest has been told.
Minister accuses states of exaggerating NDIS criticism
State and territory ministers have hit out at looming reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, but the minister in charge says they're posturing.
Autistic teens caught in middle of NDIS funding dispute
A government autism support program has been applauded but questions are being raised as to what happens when participants age out at just nine years old.
Dangerous winter virus far more than ‘just a bad cold’
Health authorities are urging seniors to get a free vaccine to protect them from a common winter virus that can cause severe illness, hospitalisation and death.
Government accused of slow response to disease outbreak
Vaccine hesitancy, health staff shortages and overcrowding in remote communities could all be causes of a diphtheria outbreak, the federal health minister says.
Aged care price cap reform latest casualty of Iran war
Older Australians will have to wait longer for price limits on home care services as the government cites rising costs and volatility caused by the Iran war.
NDIS cuts not just about kicking people off: minister
The minister in charge of the NDIS has defended looming changes to the scheme that will require people with disabilities to be reassessed.
Pressure on states to get behind NDIS changes
States and territories are being lobbied by the federal treasurer to back National Disability Insurance Scheme reforms to handle more people than previously.
NDIS revamp deadline guaranteed as ‘hostages’ exposed
Anthony Albanese has offered assurances to disabled Australians as a premier warns overhauling a federal support scheme will leave the discarded worse off.
States push back on footing bill for NDIS changes
State leaders and ministers say they were kept in the dark on the extent of planned changes to the NDIS and fear they're being left to pick up the tab.
‘Cuts, cuts, cuts’: NDIS costs slashed in crack down
Tens of thousands of disabled Australians could lose access to support as the government tries to pare back the soaring cost of the NDIS.
More women set to skip the doctor to get the pill
Many women at low risk of complications will soon be able to access the contraceptive pill without a trip to their GP, but the rollout will not be swift.
‘Vaccine-fatigued’ Aussies vulnerable to big flu season
Doctors shell-shocked from 2025's record-breaking flu season are warning another significant round is on the way if vaccination rates stay low.
Needle-free vaccine rolled out after record flu season
A gentle, needle-less way to protect kids from the flu will be rolled out to hundreds of thousands of children as parents' confidence in vaccines wanes.
Safety guidelines ignored before hospital fungus deaths
Protections for some of the sickest patients at a major hospital were not implemented before a construction-induced fungal infection claimed two lives.
NDIS autism changes delayed as funding deal struck
Premiers and ministers have agreed to delay a program to get children with autism and developmental delay off the NDIS in a national cabinet meeting.
Scramble to play down fears of aged care worker crisis
Department officials have defended not telling the aged care minister about potentially massive worker shortages because their model couldn't be verified.
Psychiatrists win pay leap but system still ‘broken’
A big temporary pay boost for public psychiatrists has been handed down after scores of specialists quit an under-resourced state public system.
Aged care workers to get fourth pay bump in three years
About 400,000 employees in the aged care sector will receive an extra $60 per week as a pay rise comes into effect