Editors Picks
29 December 2024
WHY WE RATE SEEING OVER HEARING
A SURVEY by Audika Hearing Clinic reveals Australians prioritize sight over hearing, with 73% admitting hearing is the most neglected sense. Stigma and lack of understanding contribute to this, with 59% perceiving a negative stigma around hearing loss. Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold shares her journey of overcoming stigma, encouraging early checks. Audika urges. Australians over 26 to prioritize hearing health with free or online checks to improve quality of life
29 December 2024
THE APP THAT GUIDES FIRST RESPONDERS
THE GoodSAM app connects trains responders to nearby cardiac arrest incidents, guiding them to perform CPR and locate AEDs from the NSW public access defibrillator registry. With over 4,300 AEDs registered and 30 lives saved, including 12 with AEDs, this life-saving tool enhances survival rates while paramedics are en route. Registration is open to willing CPR-capable adults.
29 December 2024
THE NOT-SO-NICE DATA ABOUT HORSE RACING
AS Australia gears up for another year of horse racing, the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses' Deathwatch 2024 Report reveals 151 racehorse deaths on track in 2023/24, equating to three weekly fatalities. CPR warns the true toll is higher, with hidden euthanasia and exploitation rife. Campaigners urge awareness of the industry's cruelty and low profitability for owners.
29 December 2024
CHARITY SECTOR RELEASES REVIEW DATA
THE Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) 2023–2024 annual report highlights significant achievements, including 19 million Charity Register searches and 3.8 million website views. The ACNC conducted 250 charity reviews, addressed 2,309 concerns, and revoked nine charity statuses. Key focuses included compliance, cyber security, and transparency. For 2024–2025, priorities include protecting vulnerable people, preventing fraud, and tackling misuse of complex structures to conceal non-compliance or financial mismanagement.
29 December 2024
GPS CALL FOR FUNDED AFTER HOURS CARE
THE Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) is urging reforms to after-hours care, highlighting the need for improved funding and GP involvement to ensure accessibility and continuity of care. The RACGP advocates after-hours rebates, multidisciplinary teams, and tailored services for rural and vulnerable populations. President Dr. Nicole Higgins stresses the importance of redesigning funding models to keep practices open longer and improve patient outcomes.
29 December 2024
SPECIALIST TRAINING IS NOT SO HEALTHY
THE AMA’s 2023 Specialist Trainee Experience Health Check highlights challenges in medical training, with no program rated above a C+. Key concerns include inadequate exam feedback, low confidence in reporting harassment, and limited rural training opportunities. Only 34% of metropolitan trainees consider rural practice, compared to 78% of rural-based trainees wanting to stay. The AMA urges reforms to improve support, feedback, and rural training options to address workforce shortages and trainee wellbeing.
29 December 2024
WHY DENTIST WORRY ABOUT KIDS' HEALTH
DENTISTS are urging parents to prioritise regular dental check-ups as the 2024 Oral Health Tracker Report revealed a surge in preventable hospitalisations for children due to dental issues. Tooth decay affects over 27% of kids aged 5–10, contributing to hospital pressures. Initiatives like Bupa’s Members First Ultimate and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule offer cost-effective options for families to maintain oral health, reduce hospital demand, and prevent long-term dental problems.
