Research | Out‐of‐pocket fees for health care in Australia: implications for equity
Article examines the current provision of health care and out‐of‐pocket fees within Australia through a micro‐economic lens, identifying the access and equity implications of the dual public–private system, and considers potential systems‐level options for a way...
Designing social protection for people with disabilities: Lessons from Australia and Singapore
Our regional expert, Esabelle Yam Lo Yan, Australian National University, shares her views about social protection for people with disabilities, highlighting lessons from Australia and Singapore. The Asia and Pacific region is home to 690 million persons with...
Australia has increased travel subsidies for medical treatment
Australia has allocated an additional budget of $149 million for the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Scheme to ensure access to health services and reduce the burden of healthcare travel costs among people living in regional areas. The rebates will increase...
Australia has committed for more investment to strengthen the health system
To provide ongoing social health protection against COVID-19, the Australian government has committed to the Long Term National Health Plan through strategic investments in Australia's health system with the allocation of $132 billion for health in 2022–23. This...
Australia’s health budget tops $132bn for 2022-23
Australia's health budget will exceed $132bn for 2022-23, which increased from $62bn for a decade ago due to a rise of healthcare expenditures, the expansion of the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, the Covid-19 response and the addition of $2.3bn over four years for...
Australian Government now funds half the cost of rapid test for close contacts
To curb COVID-19 spending, the Australian Government stops providing free rapid antigen testing (RAT). However, tests are still freely provided for health reasons and partly subsidized for those who are considered close contacts. While discounted RAT for concession...
Australian Government health spending increased by 5.6 % in the first year of COVID-19
In Australia, healthcare expenditure for Fiscal Year 2019-20 follows an upwards trajectory. As reported in Health Expenditure Australia 2019–20, government health spending increased by 5.6% due to COVID-19 pandemic surveillance programs, while non-governmental health...
COVID-19 response gets funding boost in Canberra, Australia
In Canberra, Australia, the ACT government allocates approximately $90 million of the 2021-22 ACT budget to support public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic and foster the vaccine rollout. In addition, another $22.5 million will be funded for the vaccine...
COVID-19 vaccine is now mandatory for teachers in New South Wales, Australia
In Australia, the COVID-19 vaccine has become compulsory for all teachers in New South Wales from November onwards. Teaching staffs are the latest cohort of workers to be included in the state’s mandatory vaccination, aiming to curb a rise of Delta variant. They...
West Australian government spends $1.9 billion on health system in 2021-22 budget
West Australia plans to allocate $1.9 billion to improve the capacity of the public health system, especially staffing in the upcoming 2021-22 budget. Approximately $1 billion will be directed to health and hospital services. Almost $500 million will be allocated to...
Australian Government COVID-19 disaster payments
Australia provides the COVID-19 Disaster Payment divided into three different rates based on the number of hours of work lost by an eligible recipient and whether or not they are receiving an income support payment: $200 per week for those in receipt of an...
Australia approves new additional budget for mental health and suicide prevention
Australia approves $2.3 billion to mental health and suicide prevention over the next four years. $156.8 million from the federal government is funded to three months of follow-up care for people discharged from hospital after a suicide attempt. $22...
Australia approves COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 15
Australia's drug regulator has approved Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for use with children aged 12 to 15. The Therapeutic Goods Administration has thoroughly assessed the domestic and international evidence before extending its approval for the...
Australia’s Medicare Benefit Schedule changes form 1 July 2021
From July 1 this year, more than 900 Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items for rebates for private surgery are set to change as part of the MBS Review of all 5,700 Medicare rebates. The latest changes will affect rebates for orthopaedic surgery, general surgery...
Federal budget gives$2.3 billion boost to mental health services, with bulk going to diagnosis and treatment centres
The recently announced federal budget of Australia has among other healthcare initiatives, taken a special interest in mental health services, treatment centres and suicide prevention efforts. Of the $2.3 billion over 50% is going to a network of Commonwealth-funded...