More affordable contraception with new PBS listing

Australian women will soon have subsidised access to more affordable contraceptive with the addition of NuvaRing to the PBS this weekend. From this Saturday 1 November 2025, NuvaRing, a long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC), will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), giving women access to more choice and lower cost. Medicare item numbers are […]
New grad registered nurse: Navigating the world of mental health

As a newly registered nurse fresh out of university, I was thrilled to be accepted into the specialist Mental Health GradStart program at the Lower North Shore Assertive Outreach Team (LNS AOT). Beginning my career in LNS AOT of the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol (MHDA) service was an exciting and enriching experience. The AOT […]
Queensland nurses and midwives vote in favour of new $1.8 billion pay deal

After months of negotiations and protected industrial action, Queensland’s public sector nurses and midwives have voted to accept a new pay deal, which includes an 11% pay rise over three years and overtime paid at double time for all shift workers. QNMU Secretary Sarah Beaman commended thousands of frontline union members who stood strong and […]
‘We need to talk about productivity’: ANMF 17th National Biennial Conference round-up

More than a hundred delegates gathered on the Gold Coast to help shape the ANMF’s focus and action for the next two years.
Addressing disordered eating among Aboriginal youth

A new research project will examine how social media influences body image and disordered eating behaviours among Aboriginal young people. The Edith Cowan University (ECU) study aims to better understand how disordered eating affects Aboriginal youth aged 13 to 25 in the Perth metropolitan area. Disordered eating relates to irregular eating habits or symptoms that […]
Nurses and midwives urged to sign petition to protect healthcare workers in conflict zones

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has launched a new petition calling on the Australian Government to take stronger action to protect healthcare workers in war zones, where they are increasingly under attack. The petition is the latest step in the ANMF’s Nurses and Midwives for Peace campaign to stand in solidarity with nurses, […]
Ahpra and ATO issue warning about extracting super early

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) have issued a joint warning against inappropriate access to superannuation to pay for overly expensive or unnecessary medical treatments. New data released by the ATO yesterday shows significant growth in applications for compassionate release of super, particularly for dental services with the […]
ANMF to conduct ‘pulse check’ of Australia’s aged care system

The ANMF has launched a comprehensive national review of Australia’s aged care system.
New asthma educational resources for health professionals

Health professionals can now download a comprehensive new suite of resources to encourage the use of spacers with pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs). Developed by the National Asthma Council Australia (NAC), the resources include a new spacer chart and information sheet for health professionals and an accompanying how-to-video. Only about one in 10 patients can […]
Protecting Skin Integrity in Continence Care

One in four people with incontinence do nothing to prevent skin issues, and one in three never seek medical care for dermatitis. Clinicians are therefore the critical touchpoint for prevention, education, and product selection (Dynata-Ontex, 2025) Maintaining skin integrity is one of the most important pressing clinical challenges in continence care. Prolonged exposure to moisture, […]
