‘We support each other’: A nurse’s journey working in war-torn Ukraine
My husband and I were deployed to Ukraine to work in an Emergency Field Hospital (EFH) with International Relief Agency, Samaritan’s Purse (SP), following the full-scale invasion by Russia the previous February, 24 May 2022. The journey from Poland was eerie as our bus of aid workers was the only vehicle on the motorway headed for […]
Frailty – supporting better outcomes
Frailty is a common, yet often under-recognised, condition in older people. It is estimated that at least 11% of community dwelling older Australians, and up to 75% of residents in aged care homes are living with frailty. Frailty is an independent predictor of poor health outcomes, however it can be slowed and even reversed in […]
The Power of Starting a Green Group
Why collective action is one of the best ways to lead change in your workplace and community. It started with cold curry in my lunch box and a ward office full of nurses. Our sustainability Clinical Nurse Consultant was clicking through slides about PVC recycling while we crammed in our lunch, knowing we all had […]
Celebrating over 300 McGrath Foundation cancer nurses this Cancer Nurses Day
There are now more than 300 McGrath Cancer Care Nurses around the country, a milestone acknowledged today on Cancer Nurses Day. Cancer Nurses Day held on 14 August this year, recognises the 7,700 cancer nurses nationwide and their outstanding contributions in improving patient outcomes in Australia. The 2025 Cancer Nurses Day theme is Strong, Skilled […]
Exercise may reduce breast cancer recurrence
Exercise – both aerobic and resistance training – may potentially reduce the recurrence rate of breast cancer, according to new research. Despite the advances made in breast cancer treatment, recurrence remains common and continues to contribute to higher mortality risks. In more aggressive cancers, the risk of recurrence can be as high as between 20% […]
Poor sleep linked with neurodegeneration
Poor sleep could have an impact on brain health, according to a new study, in another blow to shift and night duty workers struggling to attain enough shuteye. The research, a review of over 100 existing studies, found that sleep characteristics like poor quality or lack of sleep, as well as sleep disorders, were linked […]
‘The accidental school nurse’: More skilled nurses needed to help students, finds study
While no formal education pathways to become a school nurse in Australia exist, nurses are stumbling into the career path via a number of ways, new research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) suggests. “The accidental school nurse; that’s almost a way to describe this career path,” says lead author, Dr Anita Moyes. “A lot of […]
Black tea and berries could contribute to healthier ageing
Higher intakes of black tea, berries, citrus fruits and apples could help promote healthy ageing, new research has found. Foods rich in flavonoids could help to lower the risk of key components of unhealthy ageing, including frailty, impaired physical function and poor mental health, according to a collaborative study involving Australian and international researchers. “Our […]
Nurses at the forefront of youth homelessness support
Amid the hustle and bustle of Melbourne’s King Street, a small team of dedicated nurses provide vital healthcare to young people aged 12 to 24 experiencing homelessness. “What I love most is that you feel like you are making a difference in young people’s lives,” says youth health nurse practitioner Dot Henning. “These are young […]
‘Eighty years is enough’: Why Australia must sign the Treaty to ban nuclear weapons
“There are no safe hands for nuclear weapons,” says activist Dimity Hawkins, co-founder of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). As the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States approaches on 6 and 9 August, the leading nuclear disarmament advocate warns that amid ongoing global conflicts, […]