The academy will be developed through a partnership between the Albanese Government, the Crisafulli Government and Central Queensland University, focusing on preparing high-achieving regional students for careers in medicine, nursing, paramedicine and allied health.

The Albanese Government is contributing $80 million towards the $95 million project.

The academy will be built at 550–554 Yaamba Road in Norman Gardens, next to Central Queensland University’s Rockhampton North campus.

Students in Years 10 to 12 will be able to undertake advanced health sciences studies while completing school and earn credit towards university health degrees through the academy’s partnership with CQUniversity.

The model is intended to give regional students a more direct pathway into health professions while allowing them to remain close to their families and communities.

The federal government says the project is aimed at strengthening the regional health workforce and increasing the number of doctors, nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals trained in Central Queensland.

Education Minister Jason Clare said securing the site was an important step towards delivering the academy.

“Securing this site is another important step towards making the Rockhampton Health Sciences Academy a reality,” Mr Clare said.

“This Academy will help more young people in Central Queensland become the doctors, nurses, paramedics and other health professionals the region needs.

“We’re putting in $80 million to help make that happen. And up to a quarter of a billion more to help more people from Central Queensland get a crack at uni.”

The federal government also has legislation before the Senate that could provide Central Queensland University with up to $260 million in additional funding over the next decade.

The government says that funding would expand access to university education across Central Queensland and help more students study closer to home.

Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said the academy formed part of broader Commonwealth investment in the region.

“The Albanese Government is delivering the infrastructure and facilities communities in Central Queensland need,” Ms King said.

“This health sciences academy is part of our landmark investment in Central Queensland, alongside the $7.2 billion being invested by the Albanese Government in the Bruce Highway safety upgrade.”

The project was also an election commitment of Queensland’s Crisafulli Government.

Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the academy would deliver benefits beyond the students who ultimately attend it.

“This was an election-commitment and we’re proud to be delivering it,” Mr Langbroek said.

“It’s a huge investment and an exciting prospect for the students who will attend the new academy, with even broader benefits for the region.”

Mr Langbroek said the academy would work with health providers, education leaders and tertiary institutions to prepare students for health careers and help address regional Queensland’s growing demand for workers.

The academy is expected to provide an accelerated education pathway for academically strong students interested in health-related professions, allowing them to begin university-level study while still completing secondary school.

Its location beside CQUniversity’s Rockhampton campus is intended to strengthen links between secondary schooling, university education and local health services.

Governments have increasingly focused on growing the health workforce outside major metropolitan areas as regional communities face ongoing challenges recruiting and retaining medical and allied health professionals.

The Rockhampton academy is scheduled to open to students in 2028.

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McGrath and Moore were holidaying in India with close friends when what appeared to be a stomach illness took a devastating turn. Several members of the group had developed stomach problems, and Moore’s nausea, fatigue and lethargy were initially attributed to what they feared was “Delhi belly”.

But Moore’s condition deteriorated. After skipping meals and becoming increasingly tired, he woke one morning with severe chest pain and was rushed to hospital in Agra.

He had suffered a major heart attack.

Despite receiving medical treatment, Moore could not be saved.

McGrath has since reflected on the warning signs the group missed, saying they had no idea his symptoms could be linked to his heart.

“If we’d recognised Richard’s symptoms, I believe he’d still be alive,” she said.

An Australian cardiologist who happened to be travelling with the group attended the hospital and helped reassure McGrath that Moore was receiving appropriate care. An Indian doctor later asked why the couple had waited so long before seeking help.

For McGrath, the question has stayed with her.

“The answer: we simply had no idea that it was Richard’s heart,” she said.

The couple had undergone heart checks before travelling to India, with tests showing calcium build-up in their arteries, but McGrath said they did not fully understand what the findings could mean.

After Moore’s death, McGrath returned alone to the Taj Mahal, where the couple had visited together shortly before his heart attack.

“I needed to go back to the last place we had been together,” she said.

Now, more than a year after Moore’s death, McGrath is using her journalism experience to tell his story and raise awareness about heart disease.

Her story forms the first instalment of 7NEWS’ four-part Heart of It series, produced in partnership with the Heart Foundation. The series examines heart health, warning signs, risk factors and the importance of seeking medical attention early.

The special begins on 7NEWS Queensland and 7plus on Sunday, 30 August.

McGrath hopes sharing her experience will help others recognise symptoms that can be mistaken for less serious illnesses.

“I think it’s helping me with my grieving process, and my big hope is that it will help save other lives,” she said.

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Dr Raman was declared President-elect after voting closed at midday on Friday, 21 August 2026, and will formally take over from current RACGP President Dr Michael Wright at the College’s Annual General Meeting on 19 November 2026.

The election result shows Dr Raman received 5,386 votes, ahead of Victorian GP Dr Anita Muñoz on 3,611 and Queensland GP Dr Gavin Colthart on 869.

A total of 9,866 eligible votes were cast from 39,712 ballots issued, representing a turnout of 24.8 per cent. Because Dr Raman secured an absolute majority on first preferences, there was no need for preferences to be distributed.

Her election elevates one of Western Australia’s best-known general practice advocates to the leadership of an organisation representing more than 53,000 members across Australia.

Dr Raman said she was grateful for the confidence placed in her by fellow GPs and pledged to focus on practical changes for doctors, practices and patients.

“Thank you for the trust you have placed in me to serve as RACGP President. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent our profession,” she said in a message to members following the result.

She thanked outgoing President Dr Wright for his leadership and said members had repeatedly raised three broad concerns during the campaign — having a stronger professional voice, ensuring general practice remained financially sustainable and having a College that actively supported GPs.

“My focus will be on tangible outcomes: stronger investment in general practice, better support for practices and our workforce, less unnecessary red tape, protection of specialist GP scope, and a College that is more accountable to its members,” Dr Raman said.

She promised a “practical, collaborative and determined” approach to working with members, governments and other health-sector organisations.

The RACGP said Dr Raman’s presidency would focus on issues including access to care, the financial viability of practices, workforce sustainability, preventive health, education and training, and the longer-term strength of Australia’s primary healthcare system.

Dr Raman is already one of the College’s most senior figures, currently serving as RACGP Vice-President and Chair of RACGP Western Australia.

Originally from Orange in regional New South Wales, she completed her medical training at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle before establishing her career in Western Australia.

She is Director of The Garden Family Medical Clinic in Perth, where she leads a multidisciplinary team, and is also Discipline Head of General Practice at the University of Notre Dame’s School of Medicine in Fremantle.

Her clinical interests include women’s and children’s health, with a particular focus on perinatal health and wellbeing.

Dr Raman was named RACGP WA GP of the Year in 2020 and AMA (WA) Advocate of the Year in 2024. She was also selected as a McKinsey Raising Leaders Forum Scholar in 2022 and has worked as an RACGP clinical supervisor and examiner.

Her links with the Australia-India engagement sector have also formed part of her wider leadership work. The RACGP says Dr Raman represented Australia as a delegate to the Australian Indian Youth Dialogue in 2023.

Her rise through the College has been steady.

Dr Raman became Chair of RACGP Western Australia in November 2021 and was appointed Vice-President in November 2024, placing her alongside Dr Wright in the College’s senior national leadership team.

Dr Wright congratulated his successor, describing her as a highly respected leader with experience in advocacy and collaboration.

He said he had observed Dr Raman’s leadership closely through her work as WA Chair and as his Vice-President and was confident in her ability to lead the College.

Dr Raman will assume the presidency at a time when general practice sits at the centre of major changes to Australia’s healthcare system.

The federal government dramatically expanded bulk-billing incentives from November 2025 and introduced the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program, under which participating practices receive an additional 12.5 per cent incentive payment on eligible Medicare benefits if they bulk bill eligible services for Medicare patients.

By April this year, more than 3,700 practices had registered for the program, while the government reported the national GP bulk-billing rate had risen to 81.4 per cent.

At the same time, concerns remain about whether general practice is attracting and retaining enough doctors to meet the needs of a growing and ageing population, particularly outside major metropolitan centres.

The Commonwealth has committed $606.3 million over four years to expand the GP training pipeline. An additional 200 Commonwealth-funded GP and rural generalist training places commenced in 2026, rising to 300 additional places in 2027 and 400 from 2028. The government says more than 2,000 Commonwealth-funded GP training places will commence annually from 2028.

Those changes mean debates over funding, workforce numbers, Medicare, practice viability and the boundaries of GP practice are likely to dominate Dr Raman’s term.

She has already been an outspoken advocate on questions involving the scope of general practice.

In Western Australia, Dr Raman backed reforms allowing suitably trained GPs to play a larger role in diagnosing and prescribing for ADHD, arguing that patients need better access to ongoing care and calling for greater national consistency between states and territories.

She has also raised concerns about expanding prescribing responsibilities to pharmacists without what she considers sufficient safeguards, particularly in women’s healthcare, arguing that access reforms should not come at the expense of continuity and clinical oversight.

Those positions align closely with one of the promises she made to RACGP members during the presidential campaign — protecting the scope and standing of specialist general practitioners.

The RACGP itself occupies an influential position in Australian healthcare. It sets professional and education standards, delivers GP training, supports doctors through continuing professional development and represents general practice in negotiations and policy debates with federal, state and territory governments.

Its president is therefore one of the most visible national advocates for primary healthcare and regularly deals directly with ministers, government departments, regulators and other medical bodies.

The College’s current advocacy plan identifies the president as the person responsible for leading national advocacy to the federal government, departments, Ahpra, the Medical Board of Australia and other national bodies.

Dr Raman said she wants members to be able to see the practical impact of that advocacy.

“Above all, I want members to see and feel the difference our advocacy makes for your practices, our profession and the patients you care for,” she told colleagues.

Her election also represents a leadership transition after Dr Wright’s two-year presidency, which began in November 2024.

Dr Raman acknowledged that period of reform and said she intended to build on his work while pushing for stronger investment and support for general practice.

The RACGP announcement quoted her describing general practice as the foundation of Australia’s healthcare system and saying GPs needed to be properly valued, funded and supported.

For Dr Raman, the election now shifts the challenge from campaigning among fellow doctors to representing them nationally.

When she assumes office in November, her stated test for the presidency will be a practical one: whether Australia’s GPs believe their College has become a stronger advocate for their practices, their profession and the patients who rely on them.

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Dr Simerdeep Dhillon, a senior research fellow at the University of Auckland, has been awarded a Senior Research Fellowship and a Project Grant from the Neurological Foundation.

The funding will support Dr Dhillon in establishing an independent research programme focused on improving outcomes for babies affected by brain injury, while the Project Grant will support research into new treatments for brain bleeds in premature infants.

“I was delighted and extremely grateful to receive the support of the Neurological Foundation,” Dr Dhillon told The Indian Weekender.

“Research of this scale relies on sustained funding support, and these grants provide an important opportunity to address questions that could improve outcomes for babies affected by brain injury.”

In New Zealand, about 173 babies born before 32 weeks of pregnancy are diagnosed with brain bleeds each year, according to Dr Dhillon.

Known medically as intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), the condition occurs when fragile blood vessels in the developing brain rupture.

While some babies recover, brain bleeds can trigger secondary injury and inflammation, increasing the risk of lifelong neurological complications, including cerebral palsy and cognitive, motor, visual and hearing impairments.

“There are currently no treatments that directly protect the brain after IVH,” Dr Dhillon said.

“Our research aims to better understand how injury develops after a brain bleed and to investigate new approaches that may reduce that damage.”

One part of the research will examine whether a drug already used clinically to treat iron overload could help protect the developing brain.

When blood breaks down following a brain bleed, excess iron can accumulate in the brain and contribute to inflammation and secondary injury.

Dr Dhillon and her team will investigate whether removing this excess iron could reduce damage and improve recovery.

The researchers will also examine new physiological warning signs that could help clinicians identify brain bleeds and subsequent injury earlier, potentially allowing treatment to begin sooner.

The research will use a sheep model that closely reflects aspects of human infant development to test potential treatments, including strategies involving the reduction of harmful iron and the use of growth factors to support brain repair.

Dr Dhillon said preclinical research was an essential step before any potential treatment could be tested in babies.

“This step allows us to understand how brain injury develops, identify the best treatment timing, and gather the evidence needed before moving into clinical trials,” she said.

The three-year research programme will focus on establishing the safety and effectiveness of potential interventions and determining the most effective treatment window.

“Over the next three years, we will investigate whether this clinically available drug can safely reduce brain injury after a brain bleed and determine the most effective treatment window,” Dr Dhillon said.

“We will also examine early warning signs that may help clinicians detect these injuries sooner.”

Born and schooled in India, Dr Dhillon moved to New Zealand to pursue a Bachelor of Science and later a Master of Biomedical Science at the University of Auckland.

She subsequently completed her PhD at the university, researching how brain injuries develop and progress in the developing brain.

Dr Dhillon said her interest in science began during childhood, when her parents encouraged curiosity and learning.

“Curiosity and learning were always encouraged in our family. My parents were incredibly supportive of us exploring our interests and asking questions about the world around us,” she said.

Some of her strongest childhood memories involve family trips during which her parents taught her about the natural environment.

“They would explain why different tree and crop species were grown in different regions and encourage us to identify animal footprints on our farmland,” she recalled.

Those experiences helped develop her fascination with how living things adapt to their surroundings.

“Looking back, that curiosity and enjoyment of understanding how things work played an important role in shaping my interest in science and research,” she said.

Her later fascination with fetal physiology and neuroscience led her towards research focused on how babies respond to challenges before and around birth and how the developing brain can adapt and recover following injury.

Dr Dhillon completed her PhD under the mentorship of Professors Laura Bennet and Alistair Gunn and Associate Professor Joanne Davidson.

She said working alongside researchers who have made significant contributions to newborn health reinforced her commitment to the field.

Dr Dhillon said the possibility of improving outcomes for babies and families was a key motivation behind her work.

“The possibility of contributing even a small step towards better outcomes for these babies is what drives my research,” she said.

She also emphasised the importance of collaboration in scientific research.

“Scientific progress comes from teamwork, and I am grateful to be part of a collaborative environment where people are committed to tackling challenging and important problems together.”

Although any potential treatment could take years to reach clinical trials, the researchers say the current phase is critical for building the evidence required to establish safety, effectiveness and appropriate treatment timing.

The ultimate goal is to generate evidence that can support future clinical studies and, eventually, contribute to more effective treatments for premature babies affected by brain bleeds.

“By building a strong scientific foundation now, we hope to support the development of treatments that can improve outcomes for New Zealand families in the years ahead,” Dr Dhillon said.

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The Victorian Government says the delays are affecting children’s ability to attend school, spend time with friends and progress through key stages of development, prompting a major funding response in the 2026/27 Budget.

Premier Jacinta Allan announced a multi-million-dollar package aimed at cutting wait times and expanding access to care, including $50.1 million to deliver 4,000 additional planned surgeries for children and young people across the state.

“This is personal for me,” Allan said.

“I know how scary it can be to have a sick child in hospital… the endless wait until they are home safe.”

She said the investment would help children return to normal life sooner.

“More surgery for children and young people will help kids get back to school – and get back to being kids.”

The additional surgeries will cover a range of procedures, including general and specialist operations such as orthopaedics, with major health services including the Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Health, Western Health, Barwon Health and Bendigo Health set to benefit.

The government also plans to increase capacity during school holidays to minimise disruption to learning.

Alongside this, nearly $16 million will fund an additional 45,000 specialist clinic appointments for children, aimed at reducing long waits for initial consultations, including those for serious conditions such as neurological disorders.

Health Minister Harriet Shing said the expansion would ensure families receive timely care.

“We’re making sure children and families right across Victoria can access the surgical and specialist care and treatment they need.”

The Budget also includes $8 million for a new pilot program, Specialist Advice Now, designed to give general practitioners faster access to specialist input without requiring formal referrals.

The initiative builds on evidence from Queensland suggesting many cases can be resolved without hospital appointments.

A further $33.3 million will be invested to expand VicKey, a digital platform that helps hospitals manage patient information and waitlists more efficiently.

The government says the system has already reduced waiting times for some specialist appointments by up to 38 per cent.

In response to rising rates of bowel cancer among younger Australians, the Budget also allocates $27 million to improve access to endoscopy services, including new equipment and dedicated teams across 26 health services.

Allan said the measures were designed to address immediate pressures while strengthening the broader system.

“Above all, we are a government that believes in improving our public health system, so families have somewhere to turn when they need it.”

The announcement comes amid ongoing debate over health system performance, with the government highlighting its record on hospital investment while criticising the opposition’s past policies.

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The “Queensland Macadamia Soft Serve: A Summer Special” is being hosted at Food Square in Bandra from 21–27 April, in a collaboration between Trade and Investment Queensland and Handful of Health. The in-store experience is designed to showcase macadamias in a format that is both accessible and indulgent for Indian audiences.

At the centre of the activation is a layered dessert featuring a date-based ice cream, blended with macadamia butter and topped with salted caramelised macadamia brittle. Organisers say the concept is intended to highlight the nut’s creamy texture and versatility in a format familiar to local consumers.

The initiative builds on Australia’s broader push to grow awareness of macadamias in India, where familiarity with the product remains relatively low despite positive perceptions among those who have tried it.

Industry-led campaigns have been expanding in recent years. In 2023, Mumbai hosted the first Australian Macadamia Festival, a two-week series of events supported by the Queensland Government that engaged chefs, media and food influencers to promote the ingredient’s origin and culinary applications.

Momentum has continued into 2025 through collaborations with Indian brands, including a partnership with premium chocolate maker Paul and Mike. The collaboration introduced limited-edition products such as milk chocolate with macadamias and cranberries, coffee-infused macadamia cobbles, and a macadamia chocolate spread.

Organisers say the latest Mumbai activation is part of a long-term strategy to position Australian macadamias as a premium ingredient in India’s growing food and beverage market, particularly among urban consumers seeking new and high-quality flavours.

Content from the Bandra pop-up is also being captured for social media distribution, as part of efforts to extend the campaign’s reach beyond in-store visitors.

With India’s appetite for global flavours continuing to grow, industry stakeholders are betting that macadamias, long associated with Australian agriculture, can carve out a niche in the country’s evolving premium food segment.

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The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has told a parliamentary review that criminal groups are not only stealing from the scheme but embedding themselves within it. In some cases, gangs are allegedly paying cash kickbacks to participants and families in exchange for access to funding, while in more disturbing instances, intimidation and threats of violence are being used to control vulnerable individuals and their plans.

Officials say the fraud is difficult to measure fully but is clearly “significant” and, in parts of the system, “systemic”. The abuse includes inflated or completely fabricated claims for services, billing for supports while participants are hospitalised or incarcerated, and repeated charging against expired or inactive plans. Once funds are accessed, they are often quickly moved through cash withdrawals, asset purchases, or layered transactions designed to obscure their origin.

A key concern raised by the ACIC is the role of “trusted intermediaries” within the system. Allied health professionals and other service providers are alleged, in some cases, to have enabled fraud by producing false documentation or exaggerating care needs, thereby allowing inflated payments to be approved. This has raised concerns that criminal influence is not limited to external actors but is penetrating professional parts of the disability support sector.

The most vulnerable participants are those with limited support networks, cognitive or physical impairments, or those from non-English-speaking backgrounds. According to officials, these individuals are often less able to challenge irregular billing or identify misuse of their funding, making them prime targets for exploitation.

There are also concerns about repeat offending. Even when providers are banned or suspended, weak oversight and fragmented data systems can allow them to re-enter the sector or operate under different identities. The ACIC argues that better use of government data and stronger national registration requirements for providers would significantly reduce this risk.

The warning comes as the federal government moves to rein in rapid growth in the scheme. Annual spending is increasing at more than 10 per cent, with projections suggesting costs could reach $63 billion within a few years unless reforms are implemented. Ministers have flagged tighter controls on providers, revised pricing rules, and new assessment systems as part of upcoming changes.

A multi-agency Fraud Fusion Taskforce is already conducting raids and investigations across Australia, targeting alleged syndicates believed to have stolen tens of millions of dollars through coordinated NDIS fraud. Early operations have resulted in arrests, business closures, and the suspension or banning of multiple providers.

Officials say the challenge now is balancing stronger enforcement with preserving the integrity of a system designed to support people with disabilities. As one senior figure noted, the risk is not just financial loss, but the erosion of trust in a program intended to deliver essential care and independence.

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Until then, her life with cerebral palsy had been supported by a system built around children. There were specialist teams, coordinated appointments and healthcare workers who understood the condition. But as soon as she aged out of paediatric care, that structure began to fall away.

“Suddenly, I was told adult services were limited,” she says.

“It felt like the system expected my development to just stop.”

For Jerusha, that moment was not just deeply personal. It exposed a problem affecting thousands of Australians living with cerebral palsy.

Although adults now make up 58 per cent of Australians with CP, support systems and healthcare pathways remain heavily focused on childhood. Once young people turn 18, many are left to navigate a far more fragmented system, often with fewer specialist services, longer waits and limited support designed for the realities of adult life.

“Adulthood with CP is dynamic,” she says.

“We’re pursuing higher education, careers and independence. The healthcare system should reflect that.”

Rather than quietly accepting that gap, Jerusha chose to challenge it.

Now a PhD researcher at Monash University, she is investigating neuromodulation in adults with cerebral palsy. But her drive comes from somewhere more personal than academic interest.

Jerusha knows what it means to live inside the system she is studying.

That lived experience shapes the way she approaches research, especially in a field where disabled people have often been studied from the outside rather than leading the work themselves.

“In research, participants can sometimes be treated like data points,” she says.

“But they’re people managing work, study, fatigue and complex systems.”

Her contribution has already earned recognition. She has received the Bridge Create Change Award, joined the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science mentoring program, and been named by the Australian Academy of Science as a STEM changemaker. Her portrait also hangs in Questacon, recognising female role models in medicine.

But the barriers she studied did not disappear when she entered academia.

During postgraduate study, Jerusha found herself dealing with the same kind of bureaucratic strain many disabled students know too well. Different departments handled academic adjustments, disability services and funding support, but they did not work together. The burden of chasing each one, repeatedly explaining her needs and trying to make the pieces connect became exhausting.

“There were moments where the fragmentation felt overwhelming,” she says.

She says the Disability Gateway, a federal government service designed to provide a single starting point for disability information and support, helped cut through some of that confusion.

“It didn’t remove every barrier,” she says.

“But it reduced the overwhelm and gave me direction.”

Outside the lab, Jerusha’s life is far bigger than the narrow expectations systems often place on disabled people. She trains at the gym to manage her CP, writes poetry, stays grounded in her faith and works as a fashion model signed with inclusive agency Zebedee Talent.

Her poetry collection, Burnt Bones and Beautiful Butterflies, reflects on resilience, disability and identity. Her modelling work, too, is tied to a deeper purpose.

“For me, modelling isn’t just about imagery,” she says.

“It’s about representation and expanding the narrative of what strength and beauty look like.”

She has also spoken out on accessibility in everyday life, including inaccessible packaging that many people without disability rarely stop to think about. Her campaign on the issue attracted more than 13,000 signatures, tapping into a wider frustration over how ordinary design can shut people out.

Still, her long-term focus remains fixed on something bigger than individual advocacy. She wants a healthcare system that does not stop seeing possibilities once a disabled person becomes an adult.

Jerusha’s story is not simply about resilience. It is about what happens when people are forced to build futures that institutions never properly planned for. And it is also about what can change when those same people begin leading the conversation themselves.

For Australians with disability and their carers, support information is available through the Disability Gateway website or by calling 1800 643 787.

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Twinkle, the campaign founder, writes.

“As an ambulatory walker and wheelchair user, I know how exhausting it is to attend inspections for properties that turn out to be completely unsuitable—all because the images online were misleading.”

The petition claims that real estate platforms such as Domain and realestate.com.au often use AI-generated or digitally altered photos, creating false impressions of accessibility and safety.

It adds that for people with mobility challenges, elderly Australians, and those recovering from injuries, arriving at a property with steps, narrow hallways, or other barriers can be more than an inconvenience—it can prevent independent living altogether.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, about 4.4 million Australians live with a disability, many of whom rely on accurate listings to find suitable housing for work, family, or personal reasons.

The petition calls for real estate platforms to adopt policies requiring genuine, unaltered photographs of properties, and to clearly show access points, driveways, entrances, and pathways.

Advocates say this will not only make housing safer and more accessible but also save time and build trust between platforms and the communities they serve.

“Together, we can push for change,” Twinkle said, urging Australians to sign the petition to ensure “honest, transparent, and accessibility-aware property listings for everyone.”

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The launch was unveiled at “Plates with Purpose,” held on the sidelines of AAHAR 2026, India’s major food and hospitality trade fair.

Hosted by Australia’s High Commissioner to India and Bhutan, Philip Green, the event brought together representatives from government, hospitality, academia and the social-impact sector. A centrepiece of the evening was a discussion between Australian chef and Saveful ambassador Matt Moran and Indian chef Sanjeev Kapoor on how chefs, technology and governments can work together to create more resilient and sustainable food systems.

Students from the Butterflies School of Culinary and Catering also helped curate the menu, giving the event a practical community dimension alongside its diplomatic and commercial focus.

The India launch marks a major step in Saveful’s international expansion. Saveful says its platform is designed to help households and businesses get more value from ingredients they already have by combining smart technology, behavioural insights and culinary ideas to reduce waste, save time and lower grocery costs.

In Australia, the app has already been rolled out with government backing, including support from Green Industries South Australia, which said the platform helps families turn food already in the fridge, freezer and pantry into usable meals rather than waste.

Green framed the launch as part of a broader Australia-India partnership around sustainable food systems. He said Australia and India shared a strong interest in building resilient food supply chains and described Saveful as an example of how innovation and culinary expertise could deliver practical benefits for households in both countries.

Saveful co-founder and chief executive Kim McDonnell said the move into India was about making smarter food systems more accessible.

“Food is too valuable to be overlooked,” she said.

“Around the world, households and businesses are looking for smarter ways to manage food, save money and make the most of what they already have. Saveful is designed to make that easy.”

The choice of India is significant. The company is entering one of the world’s largest and most varied food markets through a partnership with Centurion University of Technology and Management, which Saveful describes as India’s largest skills-training university and a leader in sustainability-led innovation.

According to the company, the first phase of the rollout will focus on partnerships with universities, chefs and community organisations, before expanding to brands, retailers and food-service operators.

Moran said chefs had an important role in helping people reconnect with the value of ingredients, arguing that good cooking had always been about respect for food. Kapoor said the concept should resonate in India, where home kitchens have long relied on adaptability, thrift and making the most of what is available. His comments suggest Saveful is betting that its core message will fit naturally into Indian cooking culture, rather than requiring a major change in consumer habits.

The launch also comes at a time when food waste is attracting greater global attention. Saveful says about one-third of all food produced worldwide is lost or wasted, costing the global economy hundreds of billions of dollars each year, with much of that loss occurring in homes. While the company’s India plans are still in an early phase, its backers are clearly pitching the platform as both a consumer tool and a broader sustainability product that could appeal to institutions, food businesses and policymakers.

For Australia, the event also served a trade and diplomatic purpose. AAHAR 2026, held in New Delhi from 10 to 14 March, is billed as India’s largest and longest-running food and beverage trade show, and this year marks its 40th edition.

Australian officials used the High Commission event to showcase the breadth of Australian food and beverage products in Indian cuisine and to underline the role of innovation in the broader bilateral relationship.

The India launch gives Saveful exposure in a market where food, technology and sustainability increasingly overlap. The bigger test will come next: whether an app built to help people waste less food in Australian homes can scale in India through partnerships strong enough to turn a diplomatic launch into everyday use.

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If you live with pelvic pain, period pain, sex or bowel symptoms, you may have been told you could have endometriosis, and that surgery is the “gold standard” for diagnosis and treatment.

But over the past few weeks, questions have been raised about whether surgery is actually necessary for women to detect and treat endometriosis.

This week’s ABC Four Corners highlights stories of women undergoing repeated unnecessary surgeries for endometriosis which caused significant harm and left some women unable to have have children.

So where does that leave people who have or suspect they have endometriosis?

Surgery is not always necessary but can be helpful in some instances. But it’s never a simple yes-or-no decision. Let’s look at what the evidence says about who might benefit from surgery and when it’s unnecessary.

What is endometriosis and what is surgery for?

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (womb) grows outside the uterus – usually in the pelvis or other areas. It affects about one in seven women and those presumed female at birth.

Surgery for endometriosis has two roles:

• diagnosis: seeing whether endometriosis lesions are present
• treatment: removing or destroying visible disease.

Surgery is no longer needed for diagnosis

Historically, laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) with biopsy was considered best to diagnose endometriosis. If tissue removed at surgery showed endometrial-type cells under the microscope (histology), diagnosis was confirmed.

However, endometriosis care is evolving with imaging and our understanding of pain science is improving. Australian and international guidelines now allow clinicians to diagnose endometriosis based on symptoms.

Deep and ovarian endometriosis can often be diagnosed with specialised ultrasound or MRI. This imaging can also help guide decisions about whether or not to undergo surgery.

So surgery is no longer required to “prove” a person has the condition.

When else might surgery be unnecessary?

Surgery shouldn’t be the first and only treatment option for endometriosis.

Surgery may not be needed if symptoms are manageable with hormonal therapy, allied and complementary health therapies, and lifestyle modification, or the risks of surgery outweigh the benefits.

Just because endometriosis is there, does not mean it causes the symptoms. Adenomyosis (a condition where endometrial-like tissue grows in the muscle wall of the uterus), irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic floor dysfunction and bladder pain syndrome can coexist with endometriosis.

Sometimes treating these other conditions can improve quality of life without surgery.

When might you consider surgery?

Surgery may an appropriate treatment when:

• pain is severe and persistent, and medical therapies have not helped
• imaging suggests deep endometriosis is affecting key organs such as the bowel, bladder or ureters, which can cause complications
• fertility is affected and other options have been explored.

In these cases, surgery is considered for treatment, not diagnosis, and should be performed by an expert clinician – especially for deep or complex disease.

Early surgery may provide symptom relief, but there is little evidence lesions rapidly worsen over time or that urgent surgery improves long-term outcomes.

Although laparoscopies are generally safe, they’re still performed under general anaesthesia, which comes with risks. Other risks from surgery include:

• bleeding or infections
• damage to bowel, bladder or ureters
• adhesion formation, where scar tissue forms and fuses to other parts of the pelvis.

Even after successful surgery, pain may return over time. This doesn’t mean surgery failed or was inappropriate. It means endometriosis and pelvic pain are chronic, complex conditions.

What if the surgeon doesn’t find anything?

Sometimes a surgeon looks inside the pelvis and doesn’t see endometriosis, or histopathology (the tissue taken for analysis in a laboratory) is negative.

This may mean the disease isn’t there, but sometimes it’s not that straightforward. Surgeons may miss a lesion that is microscopic or hidden in difficult-to-access areas such as the bowel.

Histopathology accuracy also depends on many factors. The diseased part of the lesion may be missed during analysis. If the lesions are surgically burnt away (ablated), or very tiny endometriosis lesions are cut out (excised), they may be destroyed by the surgical instruments, making pathology review impossible.

Other times, abnormal-looking areas are removed, when these are in fact not endometriosis.

Questions to help you decide

If you are considering surgery for endometriosis, it can help to ask your doctor:

• what is the goal of surgery?
• what does my imaging show?
• what are the alternatives?
• what other conditions do I have that may contribute to my symptoms?
• how might surgery alleviate these symptoms?
• what is your experience with complex endometriosis?
• what improvements in pain can I realistically expect?
• what are potential complications in my case?

A good surgical consultation should discuss your symptoms, priorities, past experiences and treatments, discuss benefits, limitations and uncertainties around diagnostic tests, and treatment options.

If you feel pressured into surgery, or your surgeon quickly suggests booking surgery without offering other options, seek a second opinion.

If you decide on surgery to manage pelvic pain, your clinician should offer other treatments, such as pelvic physiotherapy and/or medication, which can be used in conjunction.

For those who aren’t planning a pregnancy, evidence shows people who use a hormonal medication to suppress oestrogen after surgery have lower rates of recurrence than those who do not.

For some, surgery is transformative. For others, it offers limited relief. Individualised care is key. The goal is to improve quality of life, not simply to find endometriosis. That decision should be made with you, not for you.

Thanks to Adelaide University Adjunct Lecturer in Gynaecology Mathew Leonardi and Endometriosis Group Leader at Adelaide University’s Robinson Research Institute Louise Hull for their input into this article.

Jodie Avery, Research Co-Lead, Chronic Reproductive Health Conditions, Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide University and Alison Deslandes, PhD Candidate, Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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The post Is surgery necessary for my endometriosis or ‘suspected’ endo? first appeared on The Australia Today.

Speaking in Melbourne alongside Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on Thursday, Albanese said Victoria had been among the first states to sign up to full and fair public school funding, with Commonwealth money already being delivered.

He also pointed to a newly signed National Health and Hospitals Agreement that will inject an additional $25 billion into the health system over the next five years.

“That funding has started to flow,” the Prime Minister said, highlighting expanded Urgent Care Clinics, the tripling of the bulk billing incentive and cheaper medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Under the changes, most PBS medicines will cost $25, or $7.70 for concession card holders.

Albanese said the reforms were part of a broader effort to strengthen primary health care and ease pressure on families amid ongoing cost-of-living strains.

He contrasted the current arrangements with what he described as years of underinvestment in Victoria by previous Commonwealth governments.

“Victoria missed out for a long while,” he said, noting that at one stage the state received just 8 per cent of national budget spending despite rapid population growth in Melbourne.

Premier Allan welcomed the renewed federal backing, saying it marked a clear shift from “lean years” for the state.

“It makes a real and meaningful difference to Victorians that we’ve got a partner in the Federal Government that doesn’t just understand us, but wants to back this great state.”

The Premier pointed to major joint projects including Melbourne Airport Rail, the North East Link and the Suburban Rail Loop, describing them as critical to supporting the city’s growth as it moves towards becoming Australia’s largest by population.

Beyond infrastructure, Allan said both governments shared a common focus on health, education and cost-of-living relief – from free TAFE places to expanded Medicare services and virtual emergency departments. “Cost of living is real,” she said.

“And cost of living isn’t just money, as real as that is, it’s also time. So how do we ease the pressure? Make it easier to see a GP, saving families time and stress during their days.”

Both leaders emphasised that closer co-operation between Canberra and Spring Street was delivering tangible outcomes for Victorians, with the Prime Minister thanking the Premier for what he described as a strong and productive partnership.

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Since moving to Shepparton from India in 1999, Dr Bhat has played a pivotal role in strengthening mental health services and fostering a sustainable rural workforce. He is one of just two psychiatrists nationally to be appointed as an inaugural Rural Champion under the RANZCP’s initiative, which aims to address workforce shortages in regional psychiatry and promote rural training and retention.

Reflecting on his move to Shepparton, Dr Bhat said the local community made the transition smooth for his young family.

“The community here has been extraordinarily kind; in the first year, we experienced many acts of generosity from complete strangers,” he said.

“Being a part of a strong, supportive community is what motivates me the most, both personally and professionally.”

Dr Bhat has contributed extensively to psychiatric research, including studies on delirium in older adults, suicide, and mental health service delivery in rural areas. He emphasises the importance of rural training for medical students and junior doctors, highlighting that strong community connections encourage trainees to stay, ultimately building a sustainable rural workforce.

In recognition of his service, Dr Bhat was also named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the general division, honouring his significant contributions to medicine and rural psychiatry. “I feel very honoured,” he said.

“It’s gratifying that working in a rural area has been recognised, which I think is more important than anything… and we continue to work to improve health for our rural communities.”

Dr Bhat praised his colleagues for their commitment to staying in Shepparton. “Once people decide it’s worth staying here, then you can make a bigger difference in mental health services and move forward,” he said.

He also highlighted the disparity in mental health support across rural Australia, where about one-third of Australians live, but only a fraction of psychiatrists and mental health nurses serve.

“There is a big gap between the impact of mental illness and the availability of helping professionals,” he said.

Beyond healthcare, Dr Bhat is an active member of the Shepparton community, serving on the board of Goulburn Valley Grammar School, supporting local arts, and participating in theatre initiatives.

“I hope this recognition shows that you don’t have to work in Melbourne or Sydney to achieve good outcomes — you can make a real difference working rurally,” he said.

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Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced the strengthened committee this week, saying it would ensure the state’s healthcare system works effectively for all Victorians, regardless of cultural background or language.

Victoria is one of Australia’s most diverse states, with residents representing more than 300 ancestries, speaking over 290 languages and practising more than 200 faiths. While diversity is a defining strength, government officials acknowledge many multicultural communities face challenges accessing healthcare due to language barriers, cultural differences and limited access to appropriate information.

The advisory committee brings together healthcare professionals, community leaders and representatives from key multicultural organisations, including the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria, the Victorian Multicultural Commission and the Victorian Refugee Health Network. Members bring both professional expertise and lived experience, which the government says will help identify gaps and improve engagement between communities and the health system.

The committee will be chaired by Parliamentary Secretary for Women’s Health Kat Theophanous, who said the group would play a key role in supporting fairer health outcomes and ensuring diverse voices are reflected in health policy.

One of its first tasks will be to support the rollout of the Victorian Multicultural Health Survey, expected to open in early 2026. The survey will allow multicultural and multifaith communities to share their healthcare experiences and highlight barriers, helping inform future reforms and service improvements.

The committee’s expanded role will also include advising on mental health, including the implementation of the Diverse Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing 10-Year Framework. The framework aims to ensure all Victorians can access a safe, inclusive and culturally appropriate mental health system.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt said listening to diverse communities was essential to building a respectful and inclusive healthcare system, while Minister Thomas emphasised the committee would help translate community feedback into practical action.

The government said the initiative forms part of its broader Multicultural Health Action Plan 2023-27, which seeks to improve access, equity and health outcomes across Victoria’s diverse population.

The announcement comes amid growing recognition that culturally responsive healthcare is critical to improving outcomes, particularly as Victoria’s multicultural population continues to expand.

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Dr Rattan, a Sydney-based clinical radiologist with more than a decade of service to the College, was elected by RANZCR’s board of directors and will serve a two-year term starting 1 January 2026.

Building on a long track record of service

Dr Rattan has held several leadership roles within RANZCR, including Board Member, Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Radiology and NSW Branch Education Officer. In these roles, he helped support trainees and influence education standards, particularly through RANZCR’s Clinical Radiology Training Program and governance committees.

In accepting the presidency, Dr Rattan emphasised his commitment to strengthening the College’s role in supporting its members and advancing clinical standards. According to the organisation, he is focused on member fulfilment, resilience and innovation as central priorities for his term.

Dr Rajiv Rattan said his priorities as president are centred on advocacy, training standards and collaboration, telling members: “As your President, my vision is clear. We will continue to strongly advocate for our patients and for our profession.”

He described it as “a matter of great pride” that the College’s “training and assessment processes are amongst the best in the world.”

“We will continue to invest in training and education to ensure that our future generations continue to thrive in a world of innovation.”

RANZCR’s role in health care

Founded in 1935, RANZCR is the peak professional body representing clinical radiologists and radiation oncologists across Australia and New Zealand.

The College plays a critical role in setting standards for specialist training, professional development and clinical practice in imaging and cancer-focused therapy.

Its purpose is to “advance excellence in diagnostic, interventional and cancer care medicine” and to support practitioners throughout their careers, from early training through to ongoing professional practice.

Dr Rattan also pledged to “build on a culture of collaboration across disciplines, across borders and across the diverse communities that we serve,” while acknowledging pressure points including “the workforce pressures”, “the increasing demand for imaging as well as cancer treatment”, “the evolving models of care” and “the equity of access that we need to ensure across communities, whether a patient is in the metro or the rural or regional setting.”

He said he had seen “the strength of our community” in the way members “mentor, collaborate and celebrate each other’s successes,” and stressed member ownership of the College.

“Most importantly, I want you to be aware that this College belongs to you… Your ideas, your energy and your expertise will shape our future… All of us, we are the College.”

Training and standards at the forefront

RANZCR oversees rigorous training programmes for specialist medical practitioners, including a five-year curriculum for clinical radiology and structured pathways to fellowship status. Fellows of RANZCR (FRANZCR) are recognised as specialist radiologists and radiation oncologists, with eligibility for specialist registration in both Australia and New Zealand.

The College also sets benchmarks for clinical standards, continuing professional development and ethical practice, which are essential to maintaining high-quality diagnostic and therapeutic services across a range of healthcare settings.

Dr Rattan’s presidency begins at a time of significant technological change in imaging and cancer care, with ongoing updates to training, professional development requirements and global collaboration expected to feature prominently in RANZCR’s agenda.

His leadership will guide the organisation through developments that aim to deliver improved patient outcomes, greater educational support for specialists and continued advocacy for the radiology and oncology professions.

The College’s annual scientific meeting is scheduled for 22–24 October 2026 in Christchurch, reflecting RANZCR’s ongoing commitment to professional engagement and knowledge exchange across the region.

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Speaking to ABC Radio National, Butler said Nipah did not spread like COVID-19 or influenza because it is not typically transmitted through the air. Instead, he said it usually requires “very close personal contact” and the exchange of bodily fluids — factors that can help limit wider outbreaks if containment is swift.

India has recorded two confirmed cases in the past month, with officials pointing to “timely containment” as contact tracing and monitoring ramped up. The development has sparked precautionary steps across the region, with some airports introducing extra health checks for travellers arriving from affected areas.

Butler said Australia has not changed its settings at this stage.

He told RN, adding the government would continue to track developments closely,

“We don’t have any advice at the moment to change our existing protocols for sick travellers who arrive in Australia.”

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can spread from animals to humans. Global health authorities have previously linked outbreaks to fruit bats (flying foxes), with transmission occurring through contaminated food or close contact with infected people. Illness can range from fever and respiratory symptoms to severe encephalitis (brain inflammation).

The fatality rate has been reported at between 40 and 75 per cent in documented outbreaks, depending on factors such as healthcare access and the speed of detection. There is no vaccine currently available.

While the virus is considered less likely to spread widely than airborne diseases, public health experts treat any re-emergence seriously because small clusters can carry devastating consequences.

According to a release issued by the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has only two confirmed cases of Nipah Virus Disease from the state of West Bengal from December last year to date.

Following confirmation of these two cases, the Government of India, in close coordination with the Government of West Bengal, promptly initiated comprehensive public health measures in accordance with established protocols.

A total of 196 contacts linked to the confirmed cases have been identified, traced, monitored, and tested. All traced contacts have been found asymptomatic and have tested negative for Nipah Virus Disease, the release read.

Enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, and field investigations were undertaken through coordinated efforts by Indian Federal and State health agencies, ensuring the timely containment of cases. No additional Nipah Virus Disease cases have been detected so far.

The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare advises the public and media to rely only on verified information released by official sources and to refrain from spreading unverified or speculative reports.

Australian authorities say they will continue to watch the situation and maintain existing border and public health processes for managing unwell travellers arriving by air.

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The post Health Minister Butler says Australia is closely monitoring Nipah virus spread overseas as India reports new cases first appeared on The Australia Today.

Recognised for significant service to architecture and to people with disability, Madon has played a pivotal role in setting national benchmarks for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA). As lead author of the National Disability Insurance Scheme’s SDA Design Standard, she helped establish minimum design requirements for new housing supporting people with extreme functional impairment—standards now embedded across the sector.

Beyond policy and practice, Madon’s work has been grounded in long-term community engagement. For more than 15 years, she has volunteered as a community representative on Penrith City Council’s Access Committee, ensuring that accessibility principles are informed by lived experience rather than theory alone.

Her honour forms part of a wide-ranging Australia Day 2026 Honours List that reflects the country’s diversity and strong migrant contribution. Announced by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, the list recognises 949 Australians—more than 200 more than last year—for service across fields including science, medicine, education, public service and community leadership.

“This year’s honourees reflect Australia’s values of service, community, kindness, curiosity, tenacity and care,” the Governor-General said. “Congratulations to everyone recognised in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List, which showcases Australians giving the best of themselves in the interest of others.”

The 2026 list includes 680 recipients in the General Division of the Order of Australia, 22 awards in the Military Division, 187 meritorious awards, and 60 distinguished and conspicuous awards. Honourees will attend investiture ceremonies at Government House in their respective states and territories in the months ahead.

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The post Farah Madon awarded AM for reshaping disability-inclusive design in Australia first appeared on The Australia Today.

Dr Sadhai, a general practitioner at Bacchus Marsh Medical Centre since 2007 and a GP since 1995, has been a driving force in community health initiatives.

He founded and continues to serve as Master of Ceremonies for The Pub Clinic since 2008, and more recently, The Ladies Lounge in 2023, programmes designed to make healthcare accessible and engaging for residents.

The announcement forms part of the Australia Day 2026 Honours List, which recognises 949 Australians for their service across a range of fields, an increase of more than 200 recipients from last year.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn highlighted that the list reflects the values of service, community, kindness, curiosity, tenacity, and care that Australians embody.

Dr Sadhai, along with other honourees, will receive his award at a forthcoming investiture ceremony at Government House in Victoria.

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The post Dr Ravin Sadhai awarded OAM for contributions to community and medical service first appeared on The Australia Today.

Mr Nepal is the founding president of Australian Nepali Public Link Inc, a role he has held since 2012, and continues to serve as the organisation’s public officer and advisor. In the health sector, he has worked with NSW Health in various roles since 2003, including as a Health Education Officer, Mental Health First Aid Instructor, counsellor, researcher, and advocate. He also co-convened the South Asian Suicide Prevention Summit 2024 at Western Sydney University and serves as a Justice of the Peace.

“This year’s honourees reflect Australia’s values of service, community, kindness, curiosity, tenacity and care,” the Governor-General said. “Congratulations to everyone recognised in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List, which showcases Australians giving the best of themselves in the interest of others.”

The Australia Day 2026 Honours List includes 680 recipients in the General Division of the Order of Australia, 22 awards in the Military Division, 187 meritorious awards, and 60 distinguished and conspicuous awards. Recipients will attend investiture ceremonies at Government House in their respective states or territories in the coming months to receive their insignia.

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The post Bharat Nepal awarded OAM for championing Nepali community and mental health first appeared on The Australia Today.

Dr Kunwarjit Singh Sangla, based in Queensland, was recognised for significant service to endocrinology and to rural and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the state.

Dr Sangla is Medical Director of Medical Services at Townsville Hospital and Health Service and a pre-eminent staff specialist in internal medicine, obstetric medicine and endocrinology. Over his career, he has also held a range of senior leadership roles, including deputy executive director of medical services, medical director of rural services, and chair of multiple governance committees spanning ethics, credentialing and medication management.

Beyond hospital leadership, Dr Sangla has delivered specialist care to some of Queensland’s most remote communities. He has served as a visiting specialist with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services in Mackay, Mount Isa and Townsville, supported regional hospitals in Bowen and Emerald, and worked with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in locations including Camooweal, Burketown and Dajarra.

An adjunct professor of medicine at James Cook University, Dr Sangla has also contributed at a state level through Queensland Health’s Quality Use of Medication Committee and the State-wide Diabetes Network. His professional achievements include receiving the Royal Australasian College of Physicians’ Rural Services Medal in 2015 and multiple innovation and excellence awards in recent years for digitising healthcare and improving safety and quality.

Dr Sangla’s honour was announced as part of the Australia Day 2026 Honours List, unveiled by Governor-General Sam Mostyn. The list recognises 949 Australians across the Order of Australia, meritorious awards, and distinguished and conspicuous service—an increase of more than 200 awards compared with last year.

“On my second Australia Day as your Governor-General, I am delighted to announce the Australia Day 2026 Honours List,” Ms Mostyn said. She noted that 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of the Australian honours system, celebrating Australians who “epitomise the best of Australia”.

“The qualities and accomplishments of this year’s honourees reflect Australia’s values for service, community, kindness, curiosity, tenacity and care,” she said, adding that the expanded list reflected more nominations and broader recognition of Australians contributing in the interests of others.

The 2026 honours include 680 recipients in the General Division of the Order of Australia, 22 in the Military Division, 187 meritorious awards and 60 distinguished and conspicuous awards. Recipients will attend investiture ceremonies at Government House in their respective states and territories in the coming months.

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The post Townsville endocrinologist Dr Kunwarjit Singh Sangla recognised for service to rural and Indigenous communities first appeared on The Australia Today.

Dr Jithoo, who is based in Kew, Victoria, has played a prominent role in public and private healthcare, medical education, defence medicine and international surgical outreach. He has served as a consultant neurosurgeon at Alfred Health since 2010 and previously held leadership roles including Acting Head of Neurosurgery and Surgical Training Supervisor.

His career also includes senior positions at Epworth Hospital, where he was Deputy Chair of Neurosciences and a member of the Clinical Audit Committee, as well as teaching on the Definitive Surgical Trauma Course with the International Association of Trauma Societies for two decades.

Dr Jithoo has made significant contributions to surgical standards and training through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, serving as a postgraduate examiner, audit committee member and regional representative. He is also Chief Medical Officer at Mulgrave Private Hospital and continues to practise across several Victorian and interstate hospitals, including Royal Darwin Hospital.

Beyond civilian medicine, Dr Jithoo has had a distinguished career with the Australian Defence Force. He served as a reserve combat neurosurgeon with a US Army forward surgical team during Operation OKRA in the Middle East and holds the rank of Wing Commander in the Royal Australian Air Force Specialist Reserve. His defence roles have included advisory appointments to the Chief of Army and representation at NATO medical officers’ conferences.

His national and international impact extends to health policy and diplomacy, with appointments as a statutory adviser to the Federal Health Minister on traumatic brain injury, a member of the Veterans’ Review Board, and lead neurosurgeon for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Fiji Surgical Program.

The Australia Day 2026 Honours List recognises 949 Australians — more than 200 additional recipients compared with last year — across the Order of Australia, meritorious awards and distinguished and conspicuous service honours.

“On my second Australia Day as your Governor-General, I am delighted to announce the Australia Day 2026 Honours List,” Ms Mostyn said, noting the 50th anniversary of the Australian honours system was marked throughout 2025.

“The qualities and accomplishments of this year’s honourees reflect Australia’s values for service, community, kindness, curiosity, tenacity and care.”

Recipients will attend investiture ceremonies at Government House in their respective states and territories in coming months to formally receive their insignia.

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The post Dr Rondhir Jithoo honoured with OAM or his decades-long service to neurosurgery first appeared on The Australia Today.

The honour was announced as part of the Australia Day 2026 Honours List, unveiled by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, which recognises 949 Australians for their contributions to the nation — more than 200 additional recipients compared with last year.

Mr Sanghvi has played a central leadership role at Monash Health, where he has served as a director since 2015 and chair since 2018. He currently chairs the organisation’s Aboriginal Health Strategic Partnership Committee and Remuneration Committee, and remains a member of its Community Advisory Committee.

Beyond Monash Health, Mr Sanghvi has been a board member of Ambulance Victoria since 2022 and previously chaired Musculoskeletal Australia from 2016 to 2023. His public policy experience includes advisory work on alcohol, drug and tobacco misuse for the Victorian Government.

A long-time leader in the pharmacy sector, Mr Sanghvi held senior positions with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, including Victorian branch president and national councillor, and is an honorary life member. His contribution to pharmacy also spans decades with Amcal Australia, where he was vice-chairman and is a 2019 Hall of Fame inductee.

His business leadership has included chairing Member Benefits Australia and Gold Cross Products and Services, along with board roles across health, legal and small business organisations. Within the Australian Indian community, Mr Sanghvi has served as chair of the Board of Trustees at Pushtimarg Victoria and as a trustee of the Australian Indian Benevolent and Charitable Trust, while also supporting arts and cultural organisations in Victoria.

The Governor-General said the 2026 Honours List reflected Australia’s values of “service, community, kindness, curiosity, tenacity and care”, noting the increase in awards followed a rise in nominations recognising Australians who inspire others.

In total, the Australia Day 2026 Honours List includes 680 recipients in the General Division of the Order of Australia, 22 in the Military Division, 187 meritorious awards and 60 distinguished and conspicuous awards. Recipients will attend investiture ceremonies at Government House in their respective states and territories in the coming months.

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The post Victorian leader Dipak Sanghvi awarded AM in Australia Day 2026 Honours for his significant service to community health first appeared on The Australia Today.

Work is finished, and you’re tired and hungry. Maybe you’re rushing home or to daycare pickup.

You know you should be cooking dinner from scratch for the healthiest choice but that isn’t going to happen for a variety of reasons. You just need something quick and easy.

Then, you remember those headlines about trans fats in some packaged convenience foods and you start to worry.

If this feels familiar, here’s what you need to know.

What exactly are trans fats?

Typically, we talk about two major groups of dietary fats – unsaturated and saturated.

Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature. It’s the saturated fats that are associated with health concerns as they can raise LDL (aka “bad”) cholesterol and increase inflammation.

Trans fats are technically unsaturated fats. But a slight difference in their molecular arrangement means they act more like saturated fats – in foods and the body.

Which foods have trans fats?

Small amounts of trans fats occur naturally in some animal foods, such as red meat and dairy. They can also be created when oils are heated to very high temperatures, such as with commercial deep-frying.

But most trans fats in our diets are “industrial” trans fats. These are made when unsaturated fats are deliberately turned into trans fats by a process called hydrogenation. This makes them act more like saturated fats – improving shelf life, taste and texture.

Industrial trans fats can be ingredients in pre-packaged foods such as shelf-stable cakes, pastries, fried savoury snacks and some frozen foods.

Why should we be cutting down on trans fats?

Initially, industrial trans fats were regarded as an innovation as they allowed manufacturers to replace expensive, unhealthy saturated fats.

But we now know trans fats don’t just act like saturated fats in foods. They also act like saturated fats in the body, raising LDL cholesterol and causing inflammation. This ultimately increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and strokes) even if you don’t eat much of them.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends we keep trans fats to less than 1% of our total energy intake (which is about 2.2 grams per day if you are eating a standard 8,000 kilojoule diet). That means eating less than about four 300g serves of frozen lasagne a day.

The use of trans fats in Australia has declined in recent decades and the average consumption of trans fats is below the WHO-recommended levels. But an estimated 10% or so of Australians are eating more than the WHO recommends.

Some countries have introduced regulations to limit the levels of trans fats allowed in foods. The WHO recommends foods contain no more than 2g of trans fats per 100g of total fats. This hasn’t happened in Australia despite some calls for it.

Because “industrial” trans fats are typically found in prepackaged discretionary foods (such as shelf-stable pastries, cakes and biscuits) and convenience foods (such as frozen meals), it’s tempting to revert to the simplified “just eat fresh whole foods and cook from scratch” style of recommendation.

But cooking from scratch may not be realistic

However, for many people, cooking every meal from scratch isn’t practical, affordable or enjoyable. But there are practical and meaningful ways to eat less trans fats even when eating convenience and discretionary foods, without changing your whole lifestyle or becoming a chef.

When shopping for snacks, frozen or other pre-packaged convenience products, check the labels for trans fats. But this can be a bit tricky as they’re not always mentioned, or may be called something else.

In Australia, it’s not mandatory to include trans fats on food labels, unless a manufacturer makes nutrition or health claim about fats or cholesterol. If this is the case, trans fat needs to be listed on the nutrition information panel.

The rest of the time, the trans fat content does not have to be listed, but manufacturers might declare it voluntarily.

You can also look for “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated” in the ingredients list.

However, manufacturers only have to declare hydrogenation if a specific vegetable oil is listed. If the ingredient is generic “vegetable oil”, the manufacturer doesn’t have to specify whether that oil has been hydrogenated.

So, for certainty, look for products that specifically list the unsaturated fats they use as ingredients (for instance, canola oil, sunflower oil or olive oil), as these would have to include the extra detail.

Don’t stress about cooking with oils at home, as they don’t get hot enough to produce a meaningful amount of trans fats. Most margarines and shortenings in Australia have now been reformulated to have little to no trans fats.

If you are ordering takeaways or fast foods, deep frying at high temperatures can lead to a modest increase in trans fats. Choosing outlets that use liquid vegetable oils reduces this risk. Most fast-food chains in Australia use high-oleic canola oils or blends that don’t contain trans fats.

We don’t need to turn into chefs overnight

At the end of the day, trans fats are not necessary, nor are they health-promoting.

But we don’t need to overhaul our lives, cook every meal from scratch or track every gram of fat we eat.

With a little bit of label-reading, a few simple swaps, and a general pattern of choosing foods made with plant-based oils instead of solid fats can give you the confidence you are minimising your exposure to trans fats.

Emma Beckett, Senior Lecturer, Nutrition and Food Science, Australian Catholic University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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While period pain and heavy menstrual bleeding are common, they’re often dealt with privately. Yet they take a profound toll on a person’s health – and finances.

Now, our new study has calculated how much these menstrual symptoms cost the broader Australian economy.

Our study was based on a survey of 1,796 Australian working women and is published today in The Australian Journal of Social Issues. We found period pain and heavy bleeding costs the Australian economy about A$14 billion every year in lost productivity.

Women aged 35–44 reported significantly higher lost productivity than their younger counterparts.

Our findings highlight the substantial economic rationale for government and workplace policies to help people manage menstrual symptoms.

Periods can be debilitating

In Australia, girls experience their first period (menarche) around 12 years of age.

Periods (menstruation) typically happen every 21–34 days. Most women (and those who menstruate) have regular periods until around 45–55 years of age. Then, menstrual cycles become less regular before stopping altogether at menopause.

Most women will experience around 400–600 periods over their lifetime, unless their menstrual cycles are suppressed by hormonal contraception.

For the majority of women, periods often have significant negative impacts on overall wellbeing.

Two common causes of problematic periods are dysmenorrhea (period pain) and heavy menstrual bleeding.

The most common type of period pain (primary dysmenorrhea) affects around 90% of young women under 25 in Australia.

This type of period pain is often worst during the first two days of bleeding. It is primarily caused by high levels of prostaglandin hormones, which are responsible for cramps. Many women also feel fatigue, dizziness, back pain and headaches.

Heavy menstrual bleeding is when the period is so heavy that excessive blood loss affects health and quality of life. This affects 20–25% of women of reproductive age in Australia.

People with heavy menstrual bleeding often also experience moderate to severe period pain.

Excessive iron loss due to heavy bleeding also contributes to fatigue.

The stigma and taboo associated with menstruation means many women feel they must work very hard to conceal period problems at work. This labour is usually invisible and exhausting. Some women quit work altogether.

What we did and what we found

Our research aimed to investigate:

• how common period pain and other menstrual symptoms are for Australian women in paid employment over 18 years and
• the impact of menstruation on work productivity (via presenteeism and absenteeism).

Presenteeism accounts for productivity losses at work while an employee is present but not working at full capacity. It’s like going to work with a migraine: you might be physically present but you aren’t doing your best work.

Absenteeism is being away from work on paid or unpaid sick leave.

We collected data via an online survey of 1,796 Australian working women.

Survey participants were over 18, currently living in Australia and had had at least one period in the last three months. They were in paid employment (including self-employment) and/or volunteering for at least three months.

Our study found that 97% of women who responded had period pain in the last three months, and 75% said they always have period pain when menstruating. Previous research in Australia has found that over 90% of young women report period pain and around 71% worldwide.

Because of this we used more conservative estimates of 90% of women experiencing period pain (high) and 70% experiencing period pain (low) to calculate our range of economic figures for the population.

We estimated lost productivity in Australia associated with menstrual symptoms at A$7,176 per person annually, with an estimated total annual economic burden of $14.005 billion.

Together, presenteeism and absenteeism accounted for 46% of total productivity loss.

And remember, our study only looked at paid employment among full‑time and part‑time workers. The implications for unpaid labour, particularly women’s unpaid care work and its profound economic and social importance, demands further study (which we are progressing).

We also note that the impact of menstruation on the Australian economy is more complex than is established through our current data set, which doesn’t account for things such as the economy-wide costs of medical care and treatment.

In other words, our estimate is conservative.

Why does this matter?

Given the substantive economic impacts demonstrated through our study, menstrual symptom management in the workplace is not a private concern to be managed by individual workers.

Menstrual symptoms affect the broader economy and society. Workplace policies and guidelines are needed to support employees experiencing period pain, fatigue and associated symptoms.

At the workplace level, employers have an opportunity to start a dialogue with staff about changes to workplace conditions that could enhance employee productivity, health and wellbeing.

This could, for instance, include things such as reproductive leave (on top of the usual sick leave provisions), remote and hybrid work arrangements and flexible time management policies (including rest periods).

Our study findings also highlight the significant economic rationale for government to address this workplace issue with laws and policies.

Enshrining minimum standards for workplaces to support employees impacted by menstrual symptoms reduces the burden on individual workplaces to formulate policies and eliminates reliance on senior management’s interest.

If governments and employers want to increase productivity, our research shows the answer could be hiding in plain sight.

Michelle O’Shea, Senior Lecturer, School of Business, Western Sydney University and Mike Armour, Associate Professor at NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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The post Period pain and heavy bleeding cost the Australian economy billions every year in lost productivity: study first appeared on The Australia Today.

The hospital’s Medical Education Unit recognises first- and second-year trainees at its annual end-of-year ceremony, and Vikram, a local Gold Coast native, claimed the top prize in both 2024 and 2025—a rare achievement.

For Vikram, the key to success is simple: treat everyone with respect. “Treat everyone around you with respect, no matter who they are,” he said, highlighting the importance of kindness alongside clinical expertise.

“Although knowledge and skills are fundamental to being a doctor, it’s the soft skills that truly set a doctor apart,” he added.

“Patients tend to connect with health professionals who approach them with a smile and give them their undivided attention.”

Currently a Resident in the hospital’s Medical Decision Unit, Vikram said he felt deeply honoured by the recognition.

“Words can’t express how grateful I am—this award reflects the incredible support of my friends, family, colleagues, and supervisors at Gold Coast Health.”

Support our Journalism

No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.

The post Gold Coast doctor Vikram Nedunchezhian wins back-to-back trainee awards for kindness and care first appeared on The Australia Today.