After the final whistle

Sporting careers are always relatively short, and people forced to retire from their chosen sport at an early age are at an even higher risk of feeling bereft when their days on the field are over.

On the couch online

A new online mental health service sounds good in theory, but will it work in practice? Here’s what the evidence from the UK and elsewhere shows so far.

Health care or health scare?

Women’s health has been sidelined for centuries. But now that women are finally being heard, some unscrupulous companies are cashing in on the movement and scare-mongering medical marketing may drive more women to undergo unnecessary tests or treatments.

Beware trendy weight loss solutions

The diabetes drug Semaglutide (marketed as Ozempic) is being promoted by celebrity influencers and websites as an “empowering” weight loss aid but its long-term impacts remain to be seen.

Down the plughole

Wastewater analysis shows that Australia’s consumption of a range of illicit drugs continues to climb, despite the best efforts of law enforcement and harm minimisation schemes.

Australia’s healthy health sector

New research from the Productivity Commission has found Australia’s healthcare system delivers some of the best value for money of any in the world.

Five keystones of wellbeing

The “wellness” industry offers a thousand different solutions to our modern malaise, but true wellbeing is a product of the positive things we do in our lives, and can’t be bottled in an off-the-shelf product.

Preventing the next pandemic

Could protecting one group of people from disease, and exposing another to it, be the best way to prevent as many deaths as possible and reduce the impact of a future pandemic?

Parkruns not pills

‘Social prescribing’ sees health professionals connect patients to non-medical services and physical activities to improve their health and wellbeing.

Encouraging female leadership in health care

Cultural change is needed to increase the number of women in healthcare and medical leadership in Australia, according to Australian researchers.

A lab in your pocket

Biosensing technology developed by UNSW engineers has made it possible to create gene test strips that rival conventional lab-based tests in quality.

Nurses call for more nurses

The Australian College of Nursing is calling on the Government to fund a major national campaign to promote a positive image of nursing to boost recruitment and retention.