Health

Health coverage from Australian Capital Territory Australia Wire.

Health
Senate throws out budget plan to remove health insurance top up for older people
The Senate has rejected the government’s controversial budget measure to remove the higher private health insurance rebate for people 65 and older.
SyndicatedMichelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra14 Oct 20263 min read
Health
How the ‘digital duty of care’ bill could undermine vital sex and drug education online
This week the Australian government will introduce its landmark Digital Duty of Care Bill to parliament. The bill aims to make platforms legally responsible for creating a “safe online environment” protecting users from “seriously harmful m…
SyndicatedIsabelle Volpe, Research Fellow, National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University; UNSW14 Oct 20265 min read
Health
Doing end-of-year exams? 5 foods that are good for brain health – and what to avoid
Your brain influences your appetite, how you respond to food and whether you feel full. And the relationship also works the other way around: what you eat can directly influence how your brain works.
SyndicatedYasmine Probst, Professor, School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences. Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, University of Wollongong13 Oct 20264 min read
Health
The pope has a lung nodule. What does this mean? And what’s the risk of cancer?
Pope Leo will undergo surgery in the coming days to remove a lung nodule that was detected during a routine check up. The 71-year-old said the growth was “well contained” and spotted early.
SyndicatedSarah Diepstraten, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)12 Oct 20264 min read
Health
Why most health apps are biased even before their first lines of code are written
Many of us use digital health tools every day, such as period trackers, fitness apps or online quizzes to check our mental health.
SyndicatedMahima Kalla, Digital Health Transformation Research Fellow, Centre for Digital Transformation of Health, The University of Melbourne8 Oct 20264 min read
Health
Medicine and God: how medieval people faced the deadly pneumonic plague
There have been conflicting reports about the death of an employee at the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute in Russia, including the claim that she contracted the pneumonic plague.
SyndicatedBeth Spacey, Lecturer in Medieval History, The University of Queensland6 Oct 20264 min read
Health
Psychedelic drugs were once considered ‘revolutionary rocket fuel’, but could they be life-changing medicines?
The cover and title of Rich Haridy’s Trip Reports are reminiscent of a poster for a psychedelic rock band or a 1960s “happening”. They immediately suggest the book’s leanings.
SyndicatedMarty Branagan, Associate Professor in Peace Studies, University of New England6 Oct 20269 min read
Health
GPs can now prescribe ADHD medication – but big barriers to treatment remain
For years, adults seeking treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in New Zealand have faced a frustrating bottleneck.
SyndicatedSteven Lillis, Associate Professor, Division of Health, University of Waikato1 Oct 20264 min read
Health
Thriving Kids launches today. Here’s what will and won’t change
On October 1, the first stage of Thriving Kids begins to roll out. This new program, announced just over a year ago, is part of the federal government’s sweeping changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
SyndicatedHelen Dickinson, Professor, Public Service Research, UNSW1 Oct 20265 min read
Health
Can I still get a COVID vaccine? What you need to know about the latest updates
From October 1, COVID vaccines will only be free and recommended for those most at risk of serious illness.
SyndicatedNicholas Wood, Professor, The Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School and Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Sydney30 Sept 20264 min read
Health
Exercise before surgery improves outcomes and shortens recovery time – new research
Globally, about two in three people will need major surgery at some point in their lives.
SyndicatedKari Clifford, Senior Research Fellow in Surgical Science, University of Otago29 Sept 20264 min read
Health
Larissa Waters steps down as Greens leader due to health reasons
Greens leader Senator Larissa Waters has quit the party leadership in a surprise move due to ill health. Waters, who has been leader since former leader Adam Bandt was defeated at the 2025 election, is managing a “pre-existing kidney diseas…
SyndicatedMichelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra28 Sept 20262 min read