This Newsletter covers Federal and State policy and legislative developments in the area of health. Copies of documents referred to can be obtained by clicking on the reference in this Newsletter or through Capital Monitor's collection at www.capitalmonitor.com.au or from the source quoted.

Major Announcements

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

9 September

Vaccine Operations Centre - Weekly Operational Update - 6 September 2021
More than 450,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine have arrived from the United Kingdom as part of a dose-sharing agreement between the two countries. The doses, the first of four million to arrive from the UK this month, will be batch-tested by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and immediately distributed across the country on a per capita basis. Australia will send four million doses from its supplies to the UK in December.
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Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) weekly COVID-19 meeting on 9 September 2021 update
ATAGI met on Wednesday 8 September 2021 to review the latest developments relating to COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccine safety. In addition, ATAGI continues to monitor COVID-19 epidemiology in Australia including current COVID-19 outbreaks involving the Delta variant, including in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. ATAGI stresses that vaccination is a key public health intervention to prevent infection, transmission and severe disease due to SARS-CoV-2. ATAGI recommends COVID-19 vaccination for all Australians from 12 years of age.
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NSW must release updated modelling showing impact of easing COVID restrictions on health system
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) said the New South Wales Government's plan to start reopening from the COVID-19 lockdown lacked sufficient detail, including any modelling of future case numbers and health system impacts. AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid and NSW State President Dr Danielle McMullen said that although the NSW Government stated it was following the Doherty modelling prepared for National Cabinet, it seemed to have ignored warnings that easing restrictions when contact tracing systems were already overwhelmed would lead to higher case numbers and a greater burden on the health system.
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Australia finally backs COVID-19 vaccine IP waiver
Australia will officially back the scrapping of COVID-19 vaccine intellectual property rules to assist developing nations in accessing cheaper vaccines following months of campaigning and protests against the Federal government's stance, said InnovationAus. Led by India and South Africa, there has been a push this year for a waiver of the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) agreement in relation to COVID-19 vaccines and other health products.
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Guild welcomes arrival of Moderna vaccine
Confirmation that community pharmacies are expected to begin receiving supplies of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from have been welcomed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. NSW Branch Director of the Guild Caroline Argent said the arrival of the vaccine in pharmacies would give Australians across the country greater access to protection against COVID-19.
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Guild welcomes Labor's commitments
Community pharmacists have strong capacity to expand their Scope of Practice and have welcomed new encouragement from the Federal Opposition to help boost their services. Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, warmly welcomed Federal Labor Leader Anthony Albanese's commitment to work in close collaboration with community pharmacists on challenges during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Albanese has addressed a national webinar hosted by the Pharmacy Guild.
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Third First Nations person dies from COVID-19
A third First Nations person has died from COVID-19 in less than two-weeks. This comes as infections in western New South Wales have ballooned to 885 and 63% of cases are First Nations people. Senator Lidia Thorpe, the Greens First Nations Spokesperson said that: 'First Nations people are in mourning because the Morrison government failed to follow their own guidelines and treat First Nations vaccinations as a priority. This level of incompetence and neglect is having devastating impacts on our communities.'
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ACT: COVID-19 Update - 9 September 2021
There have been 15 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in the ACT. Of these cases, 13 are linked to known cases or ongoing clusters and two (2) remain under early investigation. Five (5) were in quarantine during their infectious period, eight (8) in the community for part of their infectious period and two (2) still under investigation. There are now 212 cases who have recovered, which means there are now 227 active cases associated with this outbreak, said ACT Health.
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QLD: New vaccination hub for Toowoomba
Toowoomba residents will have greater access to the COVID-19 vaccine with the opening of a new community-based vaccination centre. Queensland Minister for Health Yvette D'Ath said the new centre in a converted undercover carpark at Clifford Gardens Shopping Centre will offer increased capacity in response to growing demand for vaccinations across the state. 'As more Queenslanders come forward for vaccination and supply increases, we're able to move to larger venues,' Minister D'Ath said.
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TAS: Vaccination blitz hits target ahead of schedule
More than 63 per cent of eligible Tasmanians have now received a first COVID-19 vaccination, meeting the Tasmanian Government's vaccination blitz target ahead of schedule. Announced as part of Operation Delta Shield on 13 August, the super six-week vaccination campaign had aimed to reach this target by mid-September, but it has been passed ahead of time, thanks to record vaccination rates. With more than 120,000 doses administered since the start of the campaign, Tasmania continues to track well against other states and territories, said Tasmanian Minister for Health Jeremy Rockliff.
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WA: COVID-19 update 9 September 2021
WA Health is reporting one new case of COVID-19 - a returned traveller in her 60s who remains in hotel quarantine. The State's total now stands at 1088. To date, 1077 people have recovered from the virus in WA. WA Health is monitoring two active COVID-19 cases in hotel quarantine.
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8 September

Labor misleads on vaccines again
'Contrary to Labor's claims, the Australian Government was working with Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies from early in the pandemic on vaccine purchase, including direct discussions with Pfizer prior to them allowing formal commencement of negotiations. Labor is again seeking to undermine the vaccination program, just as Australians are playing their part, rolling up their sleeves and hitting key vaccination targets to bring the lock downs to an end. Mark Butler is like a broken record, trying to re-hash claims which have already been discredited,' said Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt.
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FOI confirms Government Pfizer fails
Freedom of Information documents obtained by Shadow Assistant Minister for Health Ged Kearney confirm Scott Morrison's Government failed to take up Pfizer's initial offers to secure an early supply of vaccines to Australia. While countries like the UK and the US were busy signing vaccine supply deals with Pfizer in July 2020, the Government ignored Pfizer's request for urgent meetings, said Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler.
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Government needs to end secrecy on First Nations vaccination rates
It's time for the Government to end its secrecy on First Nations vaccination data and take responsibility for vaccination rates amongst First Nations people which continue to fall further behind. The gap between First Nations and the general population vaccination rate has grown from 18.5 to 21.4 percentage points. It's now been reported that the Government is refusing to provide local vaccination rates to media, said Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney and Shadow Minister Butler.
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NSW: Targeted COVID-19 support for international students
The NSW Government is urging international students to come forward and get vaccinated, with a reminder they do not need a Medicare card to receive their free COVID-19 vaccine. Minister for Regional NSW, Industry and Trade John Barilaro launched two new measures in a bid to make it easier for international students to find the right assistance during this pandemic. 'Today we have launched a brand new purpose-built website so international students can easily find the information and help they need to get vaccinated,' Mr Barilaro said.
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NSW: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) statistics
NSW Health recorded 1,480 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19. No new cases were acquired overseas, and 23 previously reported cases have been excluded following further investigation. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is 37,535. Sadly, NSW Health has been notified of the deaths of nine people who had COVID-19. A man in his 60s from Dubbo died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
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WA: West Coast Eagles back push for WA vaccination rates to soar
Fifty West Coast Eagles players and staff, led by captain Luke Shuey, rolled up their sleeves and received a COVID-19 Pfizer vaccination in Perth. The club took the opportunity to get vaccinated at the State-run Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre Clinic after the close of the 2021 AFL season. Western Australians are urged to follow the Eagles' lead and get vaccinated as soon as possible, said WA Minister for Health Roger Cook.
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7 September

NSW: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) statistics
NSW Health recorded 1,220 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19. Two new cases were acquired overseas, and 17 previously reported cases have been excluded following further investigation. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is 36,078. Sadly, NSW Health has been notified of the deaths of eight people who had COVID-19. The death of a woman in her 70s from western NSW at Dubbo Hospital.
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VIC: Capacity boost as vaccine centres prepare for more supply
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley said that Victoria's state-run vaccination centres are being supercharged, allowing us to deliver more vaccines into the arms of Victorians as soon as more supply is provided by the Commonwealth. Victorians are coming out in force to protect themselves and their communities, with more than 650,000 vaccines administered since Victoria announced a plan to vaccinate 1 million Victorians in five weeks, through state run centres alone. This brings the total number of Victorians vaccinated to over 5.3 million - including more than 2.6 million through state run centres.
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ACT: COVID-19 Update
There have been 19 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in the ACT. Of these cases, 13 are linked to known cases or ongoing clusters and six (6) remain under early investigation. 11 were in quarantine during their infectious period, six (6) in the community for part of their infectious period and two (2) still under investigation. There are now 174 cases who have recovered, which means there are now 230 active cases associated with this outbreak. ACT Health continues to work with over 1,400 people who have self-identified as close contacts of ACT outbreaks. There are currently eight (8) patients in ACT hospitals, including one (1) in intensive care requiring ventilation.
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6 September

Four million Pfizer doses arrive to supercharge vaccine roll out
Minister Hunt said that four million extra Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) vaccine doses will begin arriving in Australia in days following a historic partnership between the Australian and United Kingdom governments. The doses will be batch tested and immediately distributed across the country on an equal population basis. The dose sharing partnership benefits both countries and will see Australia receive four million Pfizer doses from UK supplies in September, with Australia sending four million Pfizer doses to the UK from Australian supplies in late 2021. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said no stone was left unturned in the global search to find additional vaccines and urged Australians to step up and get vaccinated.
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Aboriginal Christian leadership unite on COVID messaging
Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt and National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) Chief Executive Officer, Pat Turner AM, met with religious and medical leaders from across the country on Friday as part of efforts to increase Indigenous vaccination rates. The group of respected pastors and remote medical professionals confirmed conspiracies and misinformation were circulating in vulnerable communities, spreading fear of COVID-19 vaccines. 'The meeting was about getting the advice of religious leaders on how to talk in a way that is respectful of people's beliefs while keeping people safe from serious illness and death,' Minister Wyatt said.
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Registration of interest
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) progressed work that would allow the provision of self-tests for COVID-19 in the future. Any change to the current prohibition on the supply of self or 'home' tests will require regulatory change. The timing of introduction of self-testing is critically dependent on achieving specific higher vaccination rates as outlined in the National Plan to Australia's COVID-19 response, and for the states and territories having established systems for reporting positive self-test results and directing individuals to have immediate PCR confirmatory tests. Government will determine the timing of introduction of self-testing.
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Immigration detention guard tested positive for COVID-19 shows the need to immediately release refugees
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) said that refugees and people seeking asylum held in Australia's network of immigration detention centres must be immediately released as at least one guard has tested positive for COVID-19. This news comes despite numerous warnings about the inadequacy and danger of the immigration detention regime, especially during a pandemic. Victorian COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar confirmed on Sunday that a security guard working at a Melbourne detention centre has contracted COVID- 19. Later reports confirmed that this guard worked at the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation (MITA) and the adjacent Broadmeadows Residential Precinct (BRP).
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NSW: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) statistics
NSW Health recorded 1,281 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19. One new case was acquired overseas, and 12 previously reported cases have been excluded following further investigation. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is 34,873. Sadly, NSW Health has been notified of the deaths of five people who had COVID-19. A man in his 90s from south east Sydney died at St George Hospital. He was a resident of St George Aged Care Facility in Bexley and acquired his infection there.
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ACT: The ACT Government is offering more dedicated COVID-19 vaccination and testing for people with a disability
The Territory Minister for Health Rachel-Stephen Smith said the Access and Sensory Vaccination Clinic at the Garran Surge Centre had been a popular option for people with disability and their support workers and carers since it opened in May. 'Following the transition of mass vaccination from Garran to the AIS Arena, the Access and Sensory Clinic is now moving to a dedicated space at the Weston Creek Community Health Centre. This will also enable it to expand from two days a week to five days a week from Monday 13 September,' Minister Stephen-Smith said.
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WA: New Midland clinic boosts opportunities to get vaccinated
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan and WA Minister Cook said that Western Australia's COVID-19 vaccination program is offering greater convenience for people in Perth's eastern suburbs, with the former Redcliffe clinic moving to a shopping centre in Midland. The new Midland clinic is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Sunday at Centrepoint Shopping Centre, 307 Great Eastern Highway, Midland. The shopping centre has four-hour free parking and is close to the Midland Train Station. Community vaccination clinics are now open at Midland, Claremont, Kwinana, Perth CBD and Joondalup.
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4 September

TGA approves Moderna vaccine for 12 to 17-year-olds
The Government has welcomed the decision by Australia's medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), to provisionally approve the use of the Moderna (Spikevax) COVID-19 vaccine for adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. The approval by the TGA to allow the 12 to 17-year-old age group to be vaccinated with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine follows the approval last month of its use in adults aged 18 years and older. Australia has an advance purchase agreement with Moderna to secure 25 million doses of the vaccine - 10 million this year and 15 million of booster vaccines in 2022, with the first doses arriving later this month, said Minister Hunt.
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NSW: Super Sunday vaccination blitz
A Super Sunday vaccination blitz has been organised for all police, fire and emergency services personnel who live or work in LGAs of concern. Eligible workers can log in and book a priority Pfizer vaccination appointment for Sunday 5 September 2021. NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said police and emergency workers have been in the frontline of the COVID battle for more than 20 months and eligible workers need to come forward.
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3 September

Four million Pfizer doses arrive to super-charge vaccine roll out
Four million extra Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) vaccine doses will begin arriving in Australia in days following a historic partnership between the Australian and United Kingdom governments. The doses will be batch tested and immediately distributed across the country on an equal population basis. The dose sharing partnership benefits both countries and will see Australia receive four million Pfizer doses from UK supplies in September, with Australia sending four million Pfizer doses to the UK from Australian supplies in late 2021, said Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Minister Hunt and Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne.
Download

Statement on ongoing COVID crisis
'We've seen new and concerning numbers in Western and Far West NSW - the vast majority of which will no doubt be First Nations Australians,' said Shadow Minister Burney and Shadow Minister Butler. 'The Deputy Premier is talking about now the need to fly people to Sydney hospitals, which are already struggling. We have said from the beginning, the Government needs to outline the plan for local hospital capacities servicing remote and regional communities out west.'
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TAS: Vaccination to be mandatory for health care workers
'Our number one priority since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic has been to keep Tasmanians safe and secure,' said Tasmanian Acting Premier Jeremy Rockliff. 'Vaccination remains a key step towards a COVID normal way of living, and Tasmanians continue to do the right thing and roll up their sleeves as we reach the end of week three of Operation Delta Shield's Super Six Vaccination Blitz. We passed 60 per cent of eligible Tasmanians having had a first dose, and we are on schedule to pass our target of more than 63 per cent of Tasmanians having a first dose by 12 September.'
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Aged Care

8 September

Invest challenge change - Oceanic Palliative Care Conference impacted and informed by COVID-19 pandemic
The Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt has paid homage to palliative care staff, volunteers, medical professionals, researchers and carers, for their efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic, praising them for providing care to 'our most vulnerable Australians at their most vulnerable time.' Minister Hunt officially opened the 2021 Oceanic Palliative Care Conference (21OPCC). Held virtually for the first time, 21OPCC, the official conference of Palliative Care Australia, is the pre-eminent event for all those passionate about palliative and end-of-life care in Australia, New Zealand, and throughout the wider Oceanic region.
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7 September

Government attempts to privatise aged care assessments
Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler said that the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has criticised the Government's renewed attempt to privatise the aged care assessment process - a plan Scott Morrison was embarrassingly forced to abandon in early 2020 after pressure from Labor, unions and state and territory governments. Unlike lifting aged care workers' wages and ensuring aged care facilities have nurses on staff 24/7, privatising the assessment workforce was not a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. But rather than deliver the Royal Commission recommendations designed to fix the staffing crisis in aged care, the Government has chosen to sneak privatising assessments into their response.
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Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

None this edition.

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Allied Health

None this edition.

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Children's Health

6 September

A fair go for kids: National Child Protection Week 2021
Federal Assistant Minister for Children and Families Michelle Landry welcomed the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect's (NAPCAN) annual National Child Protection Week (5-11 September). 'The theme of this year's National Child Protection Week is Every child, in every community, needs a fair go,' Assistant Minister Landry said. 'To achieve this goal, we need to make sure that every family in Australia has access to the support that kids need to thrive and be healthy.'
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Clinical Governance

None this edition.

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Construction and Health Infrastructure

None this edition.

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Dental

None this edition.

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Disabilities

9 September

Consultation opens on National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) legislation reforms
Public feedback is now invited on draft legislation to deliver a better experience for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants. Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Linda Reynolds said that this was a major milestone in the Government's 2019 promise to set up the scheme for the future, and embed an NDIS which works for everyone. 'In recent months, I have consulted widely and listened to the concerns raised by participants, their families and the disability sector. We have a shared goal to ensure the NDIS is the best it can be, and sustainable for many generations to come,' Minister Reynolds said.
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WA: New Office of Disability to promote rights and interests of sector in WA
The WA Government will establish the State's first Office of Disability ('the Office'), to promote the rights and interests of people with disability and the broader disability sector. The Office will act as a vital conduit of information and knowledge on the range and quality of services people with disability require. It will sit within the Department of Communities and provide disability sector stewardship, advice on State and Commonwealth systems, and drive work and innovation to advance inclusion and participation of people with disability in Western Australia, said WA Minister for Disability Services Don Punch.
Download

8 September

Disability advocates condemn use of 'underlying health conditions' as COVID death explainer
Disability advocates are lashing government ministers and bureaucrats for victim blaming people dying from COVID-19 by saying they died with 'underlying health conditions'. People with Disability Australia (PWDA) President Samantha Connor highlighted the need for data to not be conflated with public messaging. 'The disability sector has been clear about our need for more public information about the people with disability who have died, including statistics about deaths and contributing conditions, so that we can assess our individual risk,' Ms Connor said.
Download

7 September

Additional vaccination support for eligible NDIS workers in NSW LGAs of concern
Minister for the NDIS Linda Reynolds said that Eligible National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers, with workers who live or work within 12 Sydney local government areas, can now claim a payment to support their disability workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The LGAs included are: Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury- Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield and some suburbs of Penrith. Minister for the NDIS, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, said the initiative supported a recent public health order from the NSW Government that all eligible disability support workers in the 12 LGAs would need one dose of the vaccine by 9 September 2021 - or evidence of an appointment to be vaccinated by 19 September.
Download

6 September

ACT: The ACT Government is offering more dedicated COVID-19 vaccination and testing for people with a disability
The Territory Minister for Health Rachel-Stephen Smith said the Access and Sensory Vaccination Clinic at the Garran Surge Centre had been a popular option for people with disability and their support workers and carers since it opened in May. 'Following the transition of mass vaccination from Garran to the AIS Arena, the Access and Sensory Clinic is now moving to a dedicated space at the Weston Creek Community Health Centre. This will also enable it to expand from two days a week to five days a week from Monday 13 September,' Minister Stephen-Smith said.
Download

QLD: Queensland achieves nation-leading recognition of Torres Strait Islander traditional child rearing practice
Queensland marks the historic milestone of the opening of applications to recognise Torres Strait Islander traditional child rearing practice under new law that translates as 'for our children's children''. It follows more than 30 years of advocacy by Kupai Omasker Elders to allow Torres Strait Islanders raised by extended family to transfer their legal identity from birth parents to cultural parents. Queensland Minister for Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Craig Crawford will officially open applications for Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa Cultural Recognition Orders at a ceremony in Cairns.
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Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

None this edition.

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E-Health

9 September

Extension to Digital Image Prescriptions
Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, has welcomed extension of Digital Image Prescriptions from end September to end December 2021. Digital Image Prescriptions have been an option providing Australians with prompt access to their PBS medicines during COVID and allowing timely claiming by pharmacies. This has been particularly valuable when people have been in lockdown, as well as part of prescriber telehealth arrangements.
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8 September

TAS: Busy year for Health ICT
'Technology is a key part of modern healthcare, playing an important role in improving patient care in our health system. Today, I am releasing the annual highlight report from our dedicated Tasmanian Health Information and Communications Technology team. Our Health ICT team is a diverse and dedicated group of local technology professionals committed to helping their frontline clinical colleagues to meet the state's healthcare needs,' said Tasmanian Minister for Health Jeremy Rockliff.
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Education and Training

None this edition.

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Funding

9 September

Massive funding boost for health in State Budget
The WA Government is investing significantly in Western Australia's health and mental health hospital services as part of the 2021-22 State Budget that has been handed down. The State Budget includes a $3.1 billion allocation to expand WA's health system, with $1.3 billion towards improving health infrastructure, major hospital redevelopments and expansions underway across metropolitan and regional WA, said WA Premier Mark McGowan and WA Minister for Health Roger Cook.
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Health Professionals

8 September

Rapid Antigen Testing needed to keep pharmacy doors open
The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) calls on the NSW Government to introduce funded Rapid Antigen Testing for pharmacists and their staff to ensure the vital care they offer to the community can continue. As frontline healthcare workers, the welfare of pharmacists affects the health and welfare of the community. By introducing Rapid Antigen Testing for pharmacists and their staff, pharmacists will be able to monitor their workforce more closely and get back-to-work sooner after a potential workplace COVID-19 exposure, ensuring access to medicines is not disrupted.
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3 September

Government finally bows to pressure and agrees to review GP classification system
'After months of inaction, the Government has finally bowed to pressure and agreed to review its classification system for GPs across Australia,' said Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler, Shadow Assistant Minister for Health Ged Kearney and Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health Emma McBride. 'Changes to the Distribution Priority Area Indicator under this Government have left many outer-suburbs, rural and regional communities with a critical lack of GPs. Labor has fought hard for these changes, which make it much harder to recruit doctors, to be reviewed.'
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TAS: Vaccination to be mandatory for health care workers
'Our number one priority since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic has been to keep Tasmanians safe and secure,' said Tasmanian Acting Premier Jeremy Rockliff. 'Vaccination remains a key step towards a COVID normal way of living, and Tasmanians continue to do the right thing and roll up their sleeves as we reach the end of week three of Operation Delta Shield's Super Six Vaccination Blitz. We passed 60 per cent of eligible Tasmanians having had a first dose, and we are on schedule to pass our target of more than 63 per cent of Tasmanians having a first dose by 12 September.'
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Hospitals

9 September

DEPT OF HEALTH: PHI 61/21 Private Hospital Revocation - Notice of new or amended hospital declaration status and/or second-tier default benefit eligibility - Following private hospital have had their declaration revoked

8 September

DEPT OF HEALTH: PHI 60/21 Hospital and Second-tier Updates - Hospital update and second-tier benefits eligibility announcement - The second-tier eligibility for the following hospitals have expired

7 September

VIC: New designs revealed for Bendigo Rehabilitation Centre
New designs have been unveiled for a $59.5 million day rehabilitation facility at Bendigo Hospital - giving Central Victorians access to world-class facilities to support their health and physical wellbeing and creating more than one hundred new jobs. Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley, Victorian Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan and Victorian Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards unveiled designs for the state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility and announced Alchemy Construct as the contractor to complete the project's early construction works. The designs reveal a first look at the exterior, grounds, hydrotherapy pool, and internal fit outs of the multimillion-dollar facility - creating a welcoming, safe and healing atmosphere for patients, their carers and families.
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Insurance

None this edition.

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Medicare

None this edition.

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Men's Health

None this edition.

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Mental Health

9 September

R U OK? Day has been happening since 2009, but this year it is more important than ever before.
Research has shown that around 22% of Australians don't reach out to check on the people around them because there hasn't been an occasion where they felt someone needed their help. However, a regular check in, or just starting the conversation - even when someone is not visibly distressed or in crisis - can make a real difference. The conversation about mental health need not be difficult, it is as simple as asking if someone is okay, listening to them, encouraging action and checking back in, said Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention David Coleman.
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TAS: Promoting good mental health and preventing suicide
'This week marks both World Suicide Prevention Day and R U OK Day, which aim to shine a light on the importance of speaking up and checking in regularly with each other, asking your friends, family members, neighbours and workmates if they are ok. Every death by suicide is a devastating loss - for children and parents, for friends, workmates, and for whole communities. It is important to recognise the reasons people take their own life are complex, and not always connected to mental illness - there can be a range of circumstances,' said Tasmanian Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Jeremy Rockliff.
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WA: Massive boost for mental health in 2021-22 State Budget
The WA Government has committed a record $495 million investment in the Mental Health Commission in the 2021-22 State Budget. The additional investment results in more than $1.114 billion allocated in 2021-22 to the Mental Health Commission to boost mental health, alcohol and other drug services - a massive 11 per cent increase from the previous year. This record investment contains an additional $311 million for community supported accommodation and supports across Western Australia to help people avoid hospitalisation and get the treatment and care they need in the community, said WA Premier Mark McGowan and WA Minister for Mental Health Stephen Dawson.
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8 September

TAS: Improving child and adolescent mental health services
The Tasmanian Government is implementing recommendations from the review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), to ensure young Tasmanians receive the best possible mental health care, said Tasmanian Minister Rockliff. The Tasmanian Government have committed $41.2 million in the 2021-22 Tasmanian Budget to implement the recommendations, which have been categorised into three areas:
1. New organisational structure to drive and maintain meaningful change
2. Changing existing functions (models of care)
3. Addressing known service gaps
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VIC: Liberal Nationals to move simple changes that could transform kids' mental health
The Government is being urged to support simple reforms that will immediately deliver hundreds of extra workers for Victoria's under-resourced mental health workforce. An anomaly in the current legislation prevents people who are qualified as counsellors from offering guidance counselling services at Victorian schools. The Liberal Nationals will introduce a Private Member's Bill in State Parliament to correct the definition of a 'mental health practitioner' under the Mental Health Act, said Victorian Shadow Minister for Mental Health Emma Kealy.
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VIC: Government must release mental health reports
'Lockdowns and other hash restrictions imposed by the Andrews Labor Government have wreaked havoc on the mental health of Victorians. That is why, today, I successfully moved a motion in the Legislative Council calling on the Government to release the secret Victorian Agency for Health Information's mental health reports that show a concerning increase in the number of mental health presentations at Victoria's health services, particularly by young people,' said Victorian Shadow Minister for Health Georgie Crozier.
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6 September

VIC Construction Safety Guide Supports Mental Health
Pro-Visual Publishing and their partnering industry associations the Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) and the National Safety Council of Australia (NSCA) Foundation have launched the updated annual safety guide for the VIC Construction Industry, an initiative aimed at increasing safety awareness and reinforcing a positive safety culture and best practice in the building industry, with a key focus this year on addressing workers' mental health and wellbeing. The Positive Plans - Positive Futures Project has been developed by CCF Victoria and supported by WorkSafe, to assist with workplace mental health action plans. It's a project aimed at building confidence in putting controls in place and to communicate a positive message about how managers and workers think about mental health.
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Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System

None this edition.

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Pharmaceuticals and Regulation

9 September

Erenumab and hypertension
Health professionals are advised that the Product Information (PI) for erenumab has been updated with a warning statement about a potential causal relationship between the drug and hypertension. Erenumab is indicated for prophylaxis of migraine in adults. It is marketed in Australia under the brand name Aimovig. The 'Special Warnings and Precautions' section (Section 4.4) of the PI for erenumab has been updated to state that development of hypertension and worsening of pre-existing hypertension have been reported following use of the drug in the post marketing setting internationally. Many of the affected patients had pre-existing hypertension or risk factors for hypertension, said Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
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