20 May 2020 — Blog

‘Iso’ – a spur to think about social prescribing

The mental health impacts of COVID-19 are a challenge worldwide as fear and anxiety about the disease are compounded for many by isolation, housing insecurity and financial worries. However, one potential benefit of this challenge could be that it highlights the need for our health care system to...
19 May 2020 — Blog

Survey to identify barriers to health care

Fifteen national organisations, including CHF, have joined the Continuity of Care Collaboration to support those living with chronic health conditions to ensure they get the treatment and preventive care they need during the COVID-19 pandemic. A vital part of this campaign is a national survey...
12 May 2020 — Blog

Values guide our response to COVID-19

Australia’s eight leading universities have joined to produce a document impressive in scope and detail to provide a guide out of our crisis. It’s COVID-19 Roadmap to Recovery. A Report for the Nation . The report describes the medical and health options in depth and the myriad health, social and...
1 April 2020 — Blog

Health care rush may guide future of care

The rush of developments in health care triggered by COVID-19 is opening up significant changes in the health workforce which could bode well for health consumers not only now but in a post-COVID world. The accelerating demand for urgent health services, doctors, nurses and paramedics is imposing...
26 March 2020 — Blog

Understanding the youth mentality about COVID-19 – Focus on social norms, not fear

In a few short weeks, Australians’ response to COVID-19 has ramped up significantly. We have moved from messages that told the community to continue life as normal to declaring states of emergency, closing borders, travel bans and lockdowns. These measures were introduced after too many people...
4 March 2020 — Blog

Keeping body and mind together with Medicare

The recent letter sent to GPs warning against co-billing Medicare for physical and mental health issues is as concerning for health consumers as it is for doctors. We expect Medicare funding to be used appropriately to deliver high-value care and for waste to be avoided, but the treatment of...
27 February 2020 — Blog

Why consumers must help remedy overdiagnosis

Jan Donovan The risks and costs of overdiagnosis pose an important and complex issue for health consumers in Australia and many other countries. An international conference on Preventing Overdiagnosis held in Sydney recently shone light on the varied issues raised by overdiagnosis that demand...
24 January 2020 — Blog

Diana Aspinall, champion of health consumers

Health consumers everywhere have lost a true champion with the passing of Diana Aspinall, at age 80. A leading figure in the development of the health consumer movement in the Blue Mountains of NSW, Diana set a wonderful example over 45 years of the way consumer advocates can make a lasting...
20 January 2020 — Blog

Climate, health and saving life as we know it

The consequences of the terrible bushfires which have swept Australia in recent days bring together two systemic challenges impacting on life as we know it: climate change and an outmoded health system. The fires make increasingly urgent the need for remastered health and environment approaches...
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13 January 2020 — Blog

Sign up to Australia’s Health Panel and help shape a healthier future

The bushfires ravaging Australia are taking our environmental health challenges into uncertain territory, making it more vital that we are kept up to date about the health consequences and for there to be a proactive, comprehensive plan for prevention and management. Today Australia’s Health Panel...

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