One third of Australia’s aged care residents are estimated to be living with depression. Figures showing nursing home residents are experiencing high rates of depression is a reminder that the aged care sector needs more skilled staff, such as nurse ...

Study shows socioeconomically disadvantaged women are less likely to use Medicare Access Initiative for mental health. Women who are socioeconomically disadvantaged are less likely to access Medicare Benefits Schedule items for recently introduced mental health services, despite their mental condition, ...

The new funding deal will put an end to the blame game, says Prime Minister. State premiers have embraced a new hospital funding deal that the federal opposition says will do nothing to help Australia's ailing public health system. Prime ...

Calls continue for competitive pay for aged care workers to improve the industry. Aged care reform relies on the wages of carers and nurses being increased, with nurses working in aged care earning up to $300 a week less than ...

Despite limited funding, the quality of nursing and midwifery research remains high. The quality of research undertaken by Australian nursing and midwifery researchers is ‘on par’ if not better than many of their international counterparts, shows the recent ERA assessment. ...

Researchers will look at what challenges CALD communities face in seeking help for dementia. The barriers facing Australian dementia sufferers from non-English speaking backgrounds will be the subject of a new study from The Australian National University, which seeks to ...

A fast track service is now available for practitioners who have lapsed of the register. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is contacting health practitioners whose registration has lapsed because they did not renew their registration on time. There ...

The GST health reform deal is now in question. Federal Labor says it is still committed to health reform but it's back-pedalling from its pledge to overhaul funding to put the nation's hospitals on a more sustainable footing. Prime Minister ...

Negotiations on state government nurse staffing offer are drawing to an end. At least an extra 1400 full-time equivalent nurses could begin working in NSW hospitals if a state government offer to the NSW Nurses' Association (NSWNA) is accepted. The ...

New education campaigns targeted to specific communities to reduce tobacco smoking are being developed. Fewer indigenous people are smoking today compared to eight years ago but Aborigines are still lighting up at almost three times the rate of other Australians. ...