Costs of falls in residential care uncovered
Fall-related injuries in aged care account for one-fifth of the cost of a resident’s care, according to new research. The University of Queensland study found that fall-related injuries in residential aged care could be costing the health system $325 million annually. The study found fall injuries accounted for 20% of annual expenditure on an aged […]
Regulator cracks down on aged care providers failing to meet care minutes
Regulatory action is being taken against residential aged care providers that have persistently failed to meet their mandatory care minute targets.
McGrath Foundation expansion provides nurse support for all cancers
The federal government kicked off 2025 with commitment for $2.3 million to the McGrath Foundation to expand an online tool that connects patients with expert cancer care nurses. Nurses take the chaos out of a cancer diagnosis, says McGrath Foundation Chief Nurse Kerry Patford, who welcomes the charity’s expansion to support patients with any type […]
Historic pay rise for aged care workers comes into effect
The first historic pay rise for aged care workers came into effect on 1 January after the Fair Work Commission approved a pay rise of between 2.3 and 13.5% in 2025. Some 340,000 aged care workers in residential and home care will receive an increase in their award wages. For some workers this is the […]
Financial and emotional strain of placement poverty: research
A new study has captured the financial and emotional strain of unpaid, mandatory placements on health and education students. The University of Wollongong (UOW) research provides a scaffold for how tertiary students could be better supported to complete mandatory professional placements during their degree. Greater access to scholarships, grants to undertake placements, subsidised transport and […]
Morning coffee better than all-day drinking
Morning-only coffee drinkers can take heart. Research shows consumption first thing is better for your health and mortality than all-day drinking. People who drink coffee in the morning have a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and a lower overall mortality risk compared to all-day coffee drinkers, according to the international research. “Given the […]
Hot tips to stay safe in summer sun: Queensland pathologist
While social media platforms share a dangerous trend of people deliberately burning their skin into tan lines, a Queensland pathologist and researcher is spreading the message of sun safety this summer. Australian deaths from non-melanoma skin cancers have almost doubled in 20 years, shows recent research from the University of the Sunshine Coast. The research […]
Mapping the carbon footprint of a patient undergoing cardiac care
New analysis on the environmental impact of two common heart procedures shows it is possible to make quality clinical choices whilst also considering the carbon footprint of care. Healthcare is a leading contributor to the world’s carbon footprint – research shows the industry accounts for 7% of carbon emissions. University of Sydney researchers, including a […]
Electric scooter warning ahead of holiday season
Queensland’s paediatric trauma service team is urging caution with electric scooters this holiday season following a spike in serious injuries and fatalities this year. An e-scooter city-hire scheme was introduced in Brisbane in November 2018. At Queensland Children’s Hospital, between 2019- 2023, 40 children were admitted following an e-scooter incident, with this rising to 11 […]
Assessing what makes a reasonable decision with AI
With the increasing impact of artificial intelligence (AI), researchers are exploring the role of technology in clinical decision-making and explanations in healthcare. “Clinicians must calibrate their judgement against a whole constellation of other factors, even if they are using an AI tool that is well validated and highly accurate,” said Dr Ian Stedman, a lawyer […]