Four minutes a day: Aussie adults fail to break a sweat
Australia may be a nation of walkers rather than runners, as a national study finds adults complete less strenuous exercise than many would expect.
health
Art and creativity tackle taboos in remote communities
Public health advocates say long term funding and commitment is needed to achieve Closing the Gap targets and improve outcomes for Indigenous people.
Medicinal cannabis concerns half-baked, advocates say
An analysis has found no evidence medicinal cannabis is effective for treating many illnesses but advocates say more data is needed to make a definitive call.
Royals celebrate another Danish-Australian star pairing
King Frederik and Queen Mary have admired the work of another Danish-Australian duo as the royals headed to an art exhibition at a trendy converted warehouse.
Women judges hold the line against gender justice gap
A small Pacific nation is leading others when it comes to female judiciary representation but disparities around the world affect how justice is delivered.
‘I am so sorry’: diabetic driver speaks over pub crash
A diabetic says he made some "very stupid decisions" as he became hypoglycaemic and did not eat before driving into and killing five people including kids.
Mack Horton trades speedos for ‘butt cream’ and Lycra
A decade after winning gold, former Olympic swimmer Mack Horton will chase hills, not medals, on a days-long cycling tour to raise millions for cancer research.
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.
GPs disturbed by latest contraceptive pill ‘shortcut’
Australia's top doctors' group has lashed a state government's move to allow women seeking the contraceptive pill to bypass general practitioners.
High steaks: dwindling industry threatens food security
Farmers are having to send their livestock up to four hours' drive away to be processed, as limited access to local abattoirs raises food security concerns.
Big trucks and buses drive a heavy healthcare burden
Premature deaths and childhood asthma are among the health risks of allowing high-polluting heavy vehicles to travel on populated routes.
Homicide cops probe ‘distressing’ mental hospital death
A union is renewing its calls for action on staffing and safety concerns as police investigate the death of a patient at a mental hospital.
‘Horrified’: childcare giant’s abuse scandal response
Australia's largest for-profit childcare operator began overhauling hiring even before a former worker was charged with sexual abuse, an inquiry has been told.
Child safety system no place for kids: abuse survivor
A female survivor removed from an abusive home has told a child safety inquiry that she only experienced further abuse while in state care.
Illegal ciggies tipped to soon stub out retail sales
One of Australia's biggest retailers has warned nine in 10 cigarettes will be bought illegally by the end of the decade unless the tobacco excise is cut.
Zuckerberg denies at trial that Instagram targets kids
Mark Zuckerberg has sparred with lawyers in a Los Angeles courtroom as he defended Meta's practices in an unprecedented trial over youth social media addiction.
Insurer’s ‘failing’ health system warning as costs soar
Health insurer Medibank Private has lifted its interim bottom-line net profit after the number of Australians taking out policies increased.
‘Simple’ tax solution dismissed as illegal tobacco cure
Australia's surging illegal tobacco trade has sparked calls for changes to the cigarette excise but a leading bureaucrat says it's not the solution.
‘Game-changing’: ADHD sufferers to get diagnosis relief
Hundreds of thousands of people with ADHD will be able to bypass expensive psychologist visits to get a life-changing diagnosis under a new training scheme.
‘Time to deliver’: blame shifted on hospital bed block
While thousands of older Australians lie stranded in hospitals, the federal government has put responsibility for aged care squarely on states and territories.
Solo, queer parents-to-be facing donor sperm ‘drought’
Australians are facing a shortage of donor sperm, with advocates saying more consistent regulation is vital to keep would-be parents and children safe.
Not a real doctor: AI struggles to treat human patients
Tasked with identifying common medical conditions and recommending treatment, artificial intelligence can deliver deadly advice.
‘Too long’: green light for more GPs to tackle ADHD
States are continuing to shake up the way a prevalent developmental disorder is treated by allowing more health professionals to diagnose the condition.
Farmers sue mining giant over alleged ‘toxic trifecta’
Neighbours of Australia's biggest gold and copper mine allege dust from its tailings dam has poisoned their land, in a "disaster" for health and agriculture.
New headgear to be tested in world-first study
A world-first concussion and head impact study will assess the efficacy of a specially designed headgear during elite and community AFL and rugby games.
Rural water supplies struggling to cope after heatwave
Locals in one rural town are lining up in a pub car park to receive free bottled water, as parts of country Australia get a reprieve from an intense heatwave.
Towns deserted as locals seek relief from roasting heat
As parts of Australia bake under a relentless heatwave, locals have backup plans to keep cool as temperatures nudge record levels.
Cooling greenery overlooked lever to blunt heatwaves
Australia's southern states are facing unprecedented heat that researchers say could be tempered with a focus on revegetation and urban greening.
Locals dive for swim and shade as heatwave keeps grip
Australians are doing their best to stay safe indoors as a heatwave drags on, but for those on the land, work doesn't stop because it's too hot.
Alarm raised over vaccination rates in twin pregnancy
Pregnant women expecting twins are being encouraged to get the flu and whooping cough vaccines as they do not increase the risk of birth complications.
‘Long overdue’: states sign off on $25b hospital deal
An eleventh-hour agreement means states and territories will receive extra funding for public hospitals but health experts are calling for more reforms.