Melissa Sweet

1 week ago | croakey.org | Melissa Sweet

The importance of relationships between people and the environment, the latest alarming news from the United States including the push for “medical freedom”, and an update on childhood asthma are among topics covered in The Health Wrap below. The column also takes a deep dive into climate and health news, as election scorecards examine the major parties’ performance, and brings some good news from Bottle Bend Reserve on Kureinji and Barkindji Country. The quotable?

1 week ago | croakey.org | Melissa Sweet

Introduction by Croakey: When infectious diseases specialists gathered for their annual scientific meeting in Canberra recently, a senior Indigenous medico Dr Louis Peachey urged them to prioritise action on child poverty, a problem that “shames and diminishes us all”. In his presentation to the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases Annual Scientific Meeting, Peachey said the work of the new Australian Centre for Disease Control must address the impact of poverty upon illness.

1 week ago | croakey.org | Melissa Sweet

After recently doorknocking in an electorate in southern lutruwita/Tasmania, health sociologist Dr Susan Banks shares some suggestions for how policymakers might better address the needs of communities who too often miss out – even in the midst of an election cash splash. Susan Banks writes:We know that many Australians are struggling, burdened by the twin assaults of a cost-of-living crisis, and increasingly unaffordable or unavailable housing.

1 week ago | croakey.org | Melissa Sweet

Yet more condemnation of the aged care star ratings system, women’s health matters, the Coalition’s commitment to establish a $20 billion Regional Australia Future Fund, and the Trump Administration’s war on global health and health research – these are among the topics covered in The Zap this week. Our columnist also brings more updates on the sector’s election priorities, as well as oral healthcare news, and calls to grow the mental health workforce. The quotable?

1 week ago | croakey.org | Melissa Sweet

Introduction: After United States President Donald Trump’s so-called Liberation Day unleashed chaos and uncertainty upon the world, the nature and extent of his tariffs  have been shifting rapidly. Amidst all the uncertainty, however, a few things are clear. Many have lost vast sums of money, while a select few have also made windfall gains amid concerns about possible insider trading.