Health

The healthcare industry is rapidly evolving, and its importance has only been magnified in recent years. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for healthcare professionals continues to surge, with Australia’s healthcare and social assistance sector expected to grow by 14.9% over the next four years. This expansion presents a wealth of opportunities…

In a bold move to reshape the aged care landscape in Australia, the federal government has announced a comprehensive set of reforms to improve the quality and accessibility of services for older Australians. These changes come in response to the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, signalling a new era…

The Department of Health and Aged Care and Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) have identified unprecedented challenges to Australia’s health workforce. These challenges encompass current issues and anticipated impacts that are reshaping the future of healthcare professionals nationwide.     Increasing Demand for Health Workforce  The demand for healthcare professionals in Australia continues to rise,…

In a bid to foster greater understanding and empathy among disability support workers, Advocacy WA, in collaboration with VALiD in Victoria, has launched a groundbreaking video titled “Stay Off your Phone!” The 15-minute video sheds light on the expectations of people with disabilities regarding the conduct of their support workers, particularly when navigating community settings.…

In a significant step towards advancing disability employment opportunities, the Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, has announced a substantial funding injection of $26 million. This allocation will support various initiatives to enhance employment prospects for individuals with high support needs within the disability community.  The funding encompasses several key programs, including the first round…

Following the groundbreaking decision by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to grant aged care workers a substantial wage increase of up to 28.5 per cent, Brighten Institute Australia (BIA) reiterates its commitment to empowering the aged care workforce through comprehensive training and certification programs.  The long-awaited victory for aged care workers follows years of advocacy…

There are around 420,000 nurses registered in Australia – this is more than 40% of the total health workforce. However, there has never been a national strategic approach to nursing policy and investment. Nurses are a highly qualified and skilled workforce. This strategy will set out a vision for the future of nursing in Australia…

  The Australian Government is seeking input on how to improve the alignment and coordination between the MRFF and the MREA. The government provides more than $1.5 billion each year from these funds for health and medical research grants. We are consulting with stakeholders to improve the alignment and coordination between the MRFF and the…

Reducing unneeded antibiotics for children with lower respiratory tract infection The most common reason for children under 5 to visit hospital emergency departments is a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) like pneumonia or bronchiolitis. Dr Parveen Fathima’s team is developing a decision support tool to help doctors treat these infections. Respiratory infections are usually caused…

If you are a family member or carer for an older person, you may be interested in new free online modules about aged care. The Equip Aged Care Learning Packages, developed by the University of Tasmania’s Wicking Dementia Centre, provides practical and relevant information to carers or family members of older people. The learning packages…