NSW SDPR Faces Budget Risks and Cost Overruns
The NSW government’s single digital patient record project, SDPR, faces a significant budget risk. The NSW Audit Office found that the original business case from 2021 did not include all project cost...
Digital Health
Digital Wellbeing Platform for Children in School Care
The Digital Health CRC, University of Sydney, and Uniting NSW.ACT launched a new digital platform called CP3 for children in school aged care. It’s based on an existing face-to-face wellbeing program...
Rahma Health Wins Top Award for Arabic Community Health
Rahma Health, a charity focused on Arabic-speaking families, won the 2025 Telstra Business of the Year award. It was founded by Dr Naba Alfayadh in 2020 after she noticed a lack of health information...
Australia Lacks AI Regulation: Healthtech Risks Rise
The Australian government has released a National AI Plan focused on promoting AI for economic growth. It does not include specific regulations or enforceable standards for AI safety. Instead, it esta...
Optometrists Seek Oral Prescribing Rights in Australia
Australian optometrists are seeking approval to prescribe oral medicines for eye conditions. The Optometry Board of Australia (OBA) proposed this change in October. Currently, endorsed optometrists ca...
Bulk-billing Incentives Risk Practice Survival in Australia
The Australian government increased bulk-billing incentives for GPs, leading to a rise in bulk-billing rates from about 77.7% to over 81% in one month. More practices claimed incentives, and some shif...
Rural GPs Call for Better Funding and Support
A rural GP describes a typical day in her practice. She treats a range of patients, from a girl with a neck fracture to a woman struggling with infertility and a teenager with anxiety. She also admits...
Australia Calls for Stronger AI Rules in Healthcare
The Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) welcomed the Australian Government’s new National AI Plan but called for stronger rules around AI in healthcare. The plan highlights AI’s benefits b...
NSW Expands Hospital in the Home with Remote Monitoring
NSW has announced a $31.4 million expansion of the Hospital in the Home program. Starting December 2025, the program will be available across Bega Valley, Eurobodalla, Goulburn, and Queanbeyan. It aim...
Australia Hospital Funding Dispute Continues
The Australian government is trying to negotiate a new funding deal for public hospitals before the end of the year. States and territories control hospital operations but rely on federal funding, whi...
Australia launches plan to boost allied health digital skills
The Australian Digital Health Agency and the Department of Health have launched the National Allied Health Digital Uplift Plan. It aims to improve digital skills and tools for allied health profession...
Victoria Launches Virtual Hospital Pilot for Home Care
Victoria’s Virtual Hospital has treated its first patient, an 89-year-old man with heart failure, at home through virtual consultations. The six-month pilot is led by Austin Health and the Royal Melbo...
Blood Cancer in Women in Australia: Growing Impact
Blood cancer is a major health issue for women in Australia. It has a higher diagnosis rate than ovarian and cervical cancers combined. Blood cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the m...
Australia Bans Social Media for Under 16s to Protect Youth
The Australian government will ban social media use for children under 16 starting this Wednesday. The move aims to reduce online anxiety and bullying among adolescents. Health experts, including the...
Cohealth Service Cuts Face Community Backlash Before Review
Cohealth plans to cut counselling and pharmacy services for vulnerable communities before an independent review is finished. The review was announced last week and will look into why general practices...
Australian Medical Conferences: Improving Diversity and Content
A Melbourne GP reflects on her experiences attending medical conferences. She highlights the importance of good food, diverse speakers, and valuable material. She notes that conferences are tiring but...
Australia’s AI Plan Lacks Bold Moves and Energy Focus
The Australian government announced its National AI Plan this week. The plan focuses on building domestic AI infrastructure and capabilities but is criticised for lacking ambition and urgency. Experts...
Health Review Targets Funding and Sustainability of Melbourne Clinics
Professor Stephen Duckett has been appointed to lead a review of cohealth, a community health organisation in Melbourne. The review will examine the organisation’s service model, governance, and finan...
Australian Experts Warn US Hepatitis B Vaccine Change Risks Progress
Australian health leaders have responded strongly to the US advisory panel's decision to stop recommending universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns. In Australia, the vaccination program has sig...
Eli Lilly Prepares to Submit Oral GLP1 for Australian Approval
Eli Lilly Australia is preparing to submit orforglipron, an oral GLP-1 agonist, to the TGA. The drug was tested in the ATTAIN-2 trial, which involved over 1600 adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes...