Colostrum alternative to formula feeding in hospital
Antenatal colostrum expression is on the rise, with Western Australian research showing that around half of pregnant mums in Perth are giving it a go. Antenatal colostrum expression (ACE) involves hand expressing of colostrum in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Any colostrum that can be expressed can be stored and frozen and used in […]
Coalition’s plan to reinstate childcare subsidy activity test slammed
The Coalition’s plan if elected, to reinstate the abolished childcare subsidy Activity Test has been slammed as poor policy that would see Australian parents lose guaranteed subsidised access to childcare. Reinstatement of the Activity Test could set Australian families back by restricting over 126,000 children, mostly from vulnerable backgrounds from accessing early learning. The Activity […]
Federal Labor pledges to address paid parental leave gap for grieving parents
A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will legislate to guarantee that working parents dealing with stillbirth and early infant death can continue to access their employer-paid paid parental leave (PPL). The action comes off the back of advocacy from Priya’s parents who brought attention to an issue not adequately addressed in existing workplace laws. Priya was […]
NEW ERA: Australian registered nurses empowered to prescribe
In December 2024, Health Ministers approved a new Registration standard: Endorsement for scheduled medicines – designated registered nurse prescriber, paving the way for qualified registered nurses to prescribe Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 8 medicines in partnership with an authorised health practitioner who is an independent prescriber. This landmark change will take effect mid-2025. REGISTERED […]
Virtual reality gives older people access to memories
A Western Australian project is using virtual reality (VR) in residential aged care for residents to engage with memories and familiar surroundings in the digital space. Edith Cowan University has partnered with Western Australia creative artists to develop visual content on areas where residents from a residential care home grew up and lived, incorporating their […]
Skillset and preparedness resource for rural and remote: A research project
A Queensland rural and remote nurse is undertaking research to help establish the essential skills required for all nurses new to rural and remote to help in their preparedness, along with support. “I’m hoping the research will support new RNs to stay. A lot of metropolitan nurses, post Covid have decided to get out of […]
Ending nuclear weapons, before they end us
This May, the World Health Assembly (WHA) will vote on re-establishing a mandate for the World Health Organization (WHO) to address the health consequences of nuclear weapons and war (1). Health professionals and their associations should urge their governments to support such a mandate and support the new UN comprehensive study on the effects of […]
Kids in chronic pain: A neglected issue
Chronic pain in children is a significant yet under recognised global public health problem, with prevalence studies estimating that between 11% and 38% (mean 20.8%) of children live with chronic pain (pain lasting longer than three months).1,2 The prevalence of chronic paediatric pain in Australia mirrors these statistics, with Chronic Pain Australia (CPA) concurring that […]
Subsidised childcare to ease cost-of-living for nurses and midwives
Naomi Riley is in her 11th year of having children under five and juggling part-time work with paid and unpaid childcare. “My youngest is in two days of kindergarten a week that is fully funded whereas my husband and I paid for our two girls to go to kindergarten and childcare,” said Naomi, a midwife […]
A midwife’s experience in frontline care during a flood emergency
The 2024 report Climate-Driven Extreme Weather Events: Australian Nurses’ and Midwives’ Experiences highlights the extraordinary leadership of nurses and midwives during some of Australia’s most severe climate-driven disasters.1 This three-part ANMJ series presents case studies that showcase how these incredible healthcare professionals lead responses in times of crisis, demonstrating resilience, adaptability, and compassion when their […]