Have your say on the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Clinical Care Standard

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is seeking feedback on the draft Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Clinical Care Standard. The Commission developed the draft clinical care standard in collaboration with consumers, clinicians, researchers, and healthcare services. The standard aims to improve care for people living with COPD, a serious chronic […]

Digital camera and AI algorithm can now detect facial palsy

Computer scientists have developed a new diagnostic tool using artificial intelligence (AI) and a digital camera to detect facial palsy, with 98% accuracy, including the patient’s gender and age. Researchers from Iraq and Australia say the tool can reduce diagnostic errors that often occur with the common and treatable neurological disorder, caused by an impairment […]

Further evidence on benefits of delayed cord clamping

New research lends further weight to the benefits of delayed cord clamping, finding waiting for at least two minutes to clamp the umbilical cord of premature babies at birth could decrease a child’s risk of death. Waiting for two minutes or longer to clamp the umbilical cord of a premature baby soon after birth could […]

Quicker assessment for overseas trained nurses and midwives

The assessment of clinical skills for overseas trained nurses and midwives aiming to join the Australian health workforce will now be speedier following the establishment of a second facility dedicated to carrying out examinations. Until now, internationally trained overseas nurses and midwives assessed as holding relevant but not equivalent qualifications had to travel to South […]

Queensland Government boosts free TAFE for nursing students

In a bid to increase the pipeline of the next generation of nurses, the Queensland Government has injected extra funding to bolster fee-free TAFE for nursing students. An extra 3,500 free Diploma of Nursing placements will be offered in 2024, available through TAFE Queensland, CQUniversity and Mater Education, with the Government providing an additional $40.6 […]

Western Health Breast Care Nurse Scholarship program helps nurses gain the skills and knowledge needed to be specialist breast care nurses

Breast care nurses are registered nurses who have specialist skills and knowledge about breast care nursing. Western Health, a large public health service in metropolitan Melbourne, provides care for an increasing number of breast cancer patients each year. In 2019 the Western Health Foundation and the Breast Service at Western Health created an annual scholarship […]

An Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program set to transform services

A first-of-its-kind Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program is set to receive $166 million of Government funding. The program will improve equitable access to high-quality, multidisciplinary and integrated cancer services for all people with cancer, irrespective of their type of cancer or where they live. Improving cancer outcomes for one million Australians, the program covers […]

High levels of antimicrobial use puts Australians at risk of harm

Australians are unwittingly being exposed to increased risk of harm from taking antibiotics, used to treat common infections which have no or little benefit, research shows. Australia ranks among the highest in the developed world for antimicrobial use, according to a state-of-the-nation report on antibiotic use and resistance released by the Australian Commission on Safety […]

One head injury hospitalisation every four minutes in Australia

Head injuries resulted in 142,000 hospital admissions during 2020-21 – about one hospitalisation every four minutes – according to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Injuries to the head were responsible for 406,000 emergency department presentations, and 2,400 deaths, the report revealed. In 2020-21, head injuries accounted for 21% […]