A senate motion has called on the health minister to facilitate access and admitting rights for privately practicing midwives to Australia’s public hospitals. The senate has passed a motion calling for immediate action on the obstacles facing privately practicing midwives ...

A $1.2 billion workforce compact between government, providers and unions hopes to turn around the poor wages and working conditions in Australian aged care. By Darragh O Keeffe and Natasha Egan. The federal government’s aged care reforms are a victory ...

Fifteen countries have or are about to grant nurses prescribing rights. Marieke Kroezen traces the path to reform and asks whether the diversity in prescribing internationally will endure. When nurse practitioners here were given the authority to prescribe medicines in ...

It is worth investigating if there are compelling health and financial benefits from mandatory flu vaccinations for aged care staff, writes Robert Booy. Residential aged care staff are a major potential source of infection, yet research shows that only about ...

An alliance of health and consumer groups will begin another round of government lobbying to introduce food labels. Health groups are still pushing for front-of-pack labels on foods to be colour-coded despite their preferred "traffic light" system being rejected late ...

NSW govt has dismissed reports that hospitals have experienced a jump in violent incidents. NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner says there are no plans to boost powers for hospital security following reports that assaults on nurses are on the rise. ...

The Queensland Nurses Union is seeking to finalise an EBA for thousands of nurses and midwives before Saturday. The new Liberal National Party (LNP) government will meet with Queensland public-sector unions this week, with nurses expected to push for a ...

Advertising targeting youth will be the focus of a new independent review board. A new national health body has been established to "name and shame" irresponsible alcohol advertising. Chaired by former Australian of the Year and children's health advocate Fiona ...

Bowel and breast cancer are the most avoidable through diet and exercise, research shows. Improving the nation's diet and increasing physical activity could prevent almost 43,000 new cancer cases and save $674 million in healthcare costs, medical research shows. It's ...

Aged care providers hope a boost in government funding will be an opportunity for nurse practitioners to showcase their value. Darragh O Keeffe reports. Nieves Murray is pretty excited about her next staff appointment. Her organisation, IRT, was one of ...