Category: Australian News

More Australian families are vaccinating their children, with new figures showing four quarters of growth in all childhood coverage rates to September 2020, the highest on record.
Each year, the Morrison Government invests more than $400 million in the National Immunisation Program to protect young and vulnerable Australians.
The highest rates of vaccination are among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at five years, at more than 97 per cent.
The coverage rate for all five-year-olds continues to grow towards the aspirational 95 per cent target. In the year to September 2020, it reached 94.9 per cent.
Among all two-year-old children, the coverage rate has risen to almost 92.4 per cent, which is the first time it has climbed above 92 per cent since 2014. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander two-year-old vaccination rate has also risen to almost 91.2 per cent in the current quarter.
The overall vaccination rate for one-year-olds has also increased in the last twelve months, reaching 94.7 per cent, while Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander one-year-old vaccination rate increased to 93.5 per cent.
The positive results are a clear indication that the Morrison Government’s Childhood Immunisation Education Campaign is getting results. The most recent phase of the campaign specifically target parents of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 0-5 years.
As we remain focused on COVID-19, it’s important that we don’t lose sight of the other preventable diseases with which Australian families must contend.
Our vaccines in the National Immunisation Program are safe, effective and provide a key national response to save and protect young lives.
More information is available on the Department of Health website.

The Australian Government will roll out a COVID-19 mental health campaign How’s your head today? to urge people to prioritise their mental health, raise awareness about how to identify when something is wrong, and encourage people to seek help.
The campaign will be launched on TV, radio, in shopping centres and venues, online and through social media from Sunday and will continue through to next year.
How’s your head today? encourages all Australians to check in with how they are feeling. Through animated characters, the campaign recognises the emotions many people are feeling and illustrates the actions they can take to help themselves feel better.
The campaign will be provided in 15 languages across radio and print including Vietnamese, Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Greek, Italian, Korean, Spanish, Punjabi, Hindi, Khmer, Thai, Turkish, Persian and Macedonian.
COVID-19 has had a significant effect on the mental health and wellbeing of many people across the country. Victorians in particular have had it tough.
The pandemic has caused isolation, job losses and financial stress for many families, with crisis organisations and suicide prevention services experiencing higher demand.
Lifeline and Beyond Blue are reporting a significant increase in the number of people seeking help, and for more complex issues. The mental health impact of the pandemic is also borne out by Medicare statistics, which show a significant uptake of mental health telehealth services.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, said, “Through this campaign, Australians are encouraged to make their mental health and wellbeing a priority. We want them to know support is available, when and where they need it.”
“I encourage all Australians to seek help if experiencing mental ill-health. Talk to your GP, reach out to Beyond Blue or Lifeline, or visit the Headtohealth.gov.au,” Minister Hunt said.
“Ten additional Medicare subsidised psychological therapy sessions are available for people subjected to further restrictions in areas impacted by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Victorians can also access free-of-charge 15 HeadtoHelp centres across the state, or visit Headtohelp.org.au.”
National Mental Health Commission CEO, Christine Morgan encouraged Australians to stay connected, and “walk together, side by side over the coming months.”
“Everyone has and may continue to have their mental health and wellbeing impacted by the pandemic. Whether you have an existing mental illness or have had your mental health challenged, it is important to seek support and treatment as a priority for your overall wellbeing – the support and treatment is available,” Ms Morgan said.
“Staying connected to your loved ones and your community is fundamental to your mental health and wellbeing at the moment. It is one of the proactive tasks that is important for all of us to do each and every day.
“If you notice that someone has disconnected, reach out and ask them how they are doing as we walk together, side by side over the coming months.”
The Head to Health website has information, advice and links to free and low cost phone and online mental health services from some of Australia’s most trusted mental health organisations.
Head to Health has been an important resource supporting Australians especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and significant increased traffic has continued since March when a dedicated COVID area was introduced.
Between 20 March when the COVID-19 Support page went live and 26 October, there were 380,308 unique page views of the COVID-19 support pages on Head to Health.
On 26 October 2020, for example, there were 2,873 total sessions on HeadtoHealth, well above the average sessions of around 1,200 a day. Of these, 460 (16%) were unique page views of the COVID-19 support pages.
The Australian Government has allocated $10 million to support the How’s your head today? campaign, and will continue to prioritise mental health and suicide prevention services.
Since March 2020, the Government has made available more than $500 million in funding for direct supports to respond to the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with $10 million allocated to this national mental health communications campaign.
For information, advice and support services visit headtohealth.gov.au

The Morrison Government is backing Australia’s efforts to bring the 2027 Rugby World Cup Down Under, with an $8.8 million funding injection to support our bid to host the event and provide a major economic and tourism boost.
It’s estimated hosting the 2027 Rugby World Cup will bring over 200,000 international visitors to Australia, generate an estimated $2.2 billion in economic activity and create 12,000 jobs.
Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said the Rugby World Cup was the second largest single-sport event in the world, and hosting it would be a major shot in the arm for the Australian tourism industry, paving the way for new infrastructure projects and jobs.
“Australia has a proud history of hosting major international sporting events and winning this bid would be another vote of confidence in our ability to host big-ticket events as well as provide a major economic boost for our tourism industry and the broader economy,” Minister Birmingham said.
“Australia’s hosting of the 2027 Rugby World Cup would bring visitors from all around the globe to our shores, inject millions into the local economy and support thousands of jobs across the country.
“Events of this magnitude have huge flow-on effects through the entire economy – whether it be accommodation providers, tourism operators, car hire companies, restaurants and bars or the retail sector.
“While we are not in a position to welcome international visitors right now, any in-roads we can make to secure large-events that will bring more tourists to Australia will be critical to the overall rebound of our tourism industry.”
Minister Colbeck said the funding will help Rugby Australia develop the best possible bid with the greatest chance of success, and further cement Australia as a world-leading sporting nation.
“As a country, we have an incredible track record of successfully hosting sporting events on a global scale. An event of this size is expected to have a national footprint and regional benefits, so all Australians can feel part of the excitement.”
“It’s been a challenging time for the Australian sporting community, with the rescheduling of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to 2021, and a number of other high-profile sporting events cancelled or postponed,” Minister Colbeck said.
“A successful bid will bolster the community spirit, and significantly contribute to the country’s long-term recovery from COVID-19, with Rugby Australia projecting over $2 billion in economic and social benefits from hosting the event.”
This funding injection builds on the initial funding of $1 million provided in 2019 to scope the viability of the bid, bringing Rugby Australia’s funding to almost $10 million.
Hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2027 will complement the FIFA Women’s World Cup which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2023. It will create a pipeline of two of the world’s largest international sporting events to lead into a possible 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Queensland.
It will also promote the game of Rugby, and build on its growing participation rates, particularly among women.
It’s expected the bid deadline will be the end of 2021, with a decision on successful host by mid-2022.

On 30 October 2020, the Australian Government is urging everyone to wear a bandanna to support young people living with, and recovering from cancer.
Now in its 26^th year, CanTeen’s National Bandanna Day raises awareness and supports young people and their families through exceptionally challenging times.
Since it began, CanTeen’s flagship fundraising and awareness campaign has raised more than $33 million to support young people by providing access to programs, counselling and peer support.
The Morrison Government is supporting CanTeen through ongoing investment of $22 million over four years for their Youth Cancer Services (YCS) program.
The YCS program brings together expert multidisciplinary teams to support cancer patients aged 15 to 25. The teams work together to plan and provide high quality treatment and management, as well as social and emotional support.
Services are provided through five state-wide YCS hubs based in major hospitals in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, which work with a network of more than 25 hospitals and health services across Australia.
It is estimated some 6,300 young people with cancer will benefit from this funding over the coming four years.
The Morrison Government is committed to ending cancer in adolescents and young adults.
Thanks to the Commonwealth’s $54.8 million investment to the Zero Childhood Cancer National Precision Medicine Program, all Australian children and young adults diagnosed with cancer will now have access to genomically guided, precision treatments through world leading collaborative research.
The Morrison Government provided $9 million through the Medical Research Future Fund to support research into the causes, biology and progression of cancer among children and young adults.
A further $5 million has been provided to CanTeen through the Medical Research Future Fund Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research initiative.
This funding is improving care and outcomes for young people via new clinical trials and greater access to innovative, cutting edge approaches, with the aim of making life saving breakthroughs.
I’d like to thank CanTeen for their tireless work for young Australians impacted by cancer, and I urge everyone to wear a bandanna and show their support this National Bandanna Day.
For more information, visit: bandannaday.org.au

The Greens have called the Government’s decision to recommence ‘debt raising’ against income support recipients a disgrace.
We are in a recession and a pandemic and instead of giving Australians certainty about their future and ensuring they won’t be living on $40 a day come December this Government is choosing to create more anxiety and fear in our community by chasing people for debts at a time in their life when many are at their most vulnerable.
This Government has an ideological obsession with punishing people on income support.
In the middle of a recession, it is obscene that the Government has fast-tracked tax cuts for millionaires and now the Government is chasing money from people doing it tough.
The Government should sort out their own illegal robodebt mess.

The Minister for Social Services has confirmed today during an Estimates hearing that the Government plans to extend the Jobseeker coronavirus supplement past December but would not confirm the amount and when we will see the legislation.
The Government needs to be clear about what they have planned for the Jobseeker payment and supplement.
It’s unfair that Australians have had to wait to know whether there will be an extension and now uncertainty about the rate post December 31 will cause a huge amount of concern.
The Government needs to get the legislation drafted ASAP, and there needs to be time for proper scrutiny.
The Government has used the excuse of the pandemic to reduce the scrutiny of so much legislation this year and that needs to stop.
There are three sitting weeks left before Parliament finishes for the year and there is no excuse for this to be rushed through at the last minute with a take it or leave it approach.
There has to be time for a Senate inquiry with experts from the sector and economists given the opportunity to give advice.
This does not take away from the need for a permanent increase to Jobseeker. Australians are sick of people stuck in this limbo.
There are absolutely no circumstances in which it would be feasible for Jobseeker to go back to $40 a day.

Australian Greens Peace and Disarmament spokesperson Jordon Steele-John has called for Defence to make both the Crompvoets report, and the Department’s response, public amid disturbing and shameful allegations of murder and torture were reported today in the nine newspapers.
“These are war crimes and there must be full disclosure by the Department of Defence about the veracity of these incredibly disturbing allegations,” Steele-John said.
“It does not matter whether Defence thinks the full story should be kept a secret or not – Australians deserve to know what our defence forces are doing in foreign conflict zones in our name.
“As evidenced by the rolling allegations that have leaked from this inquiry into Australia’s engagement in Afghanistan, this abhorrent behaviour does not happen in isolation.
“What is becoming increasingly clear is that Australia’s Special Air Service Regiment has very serious structural and cultural problems that run much deeper than just a handful of individual commandos, or a rogue unit.
“These shameful allegations are in the public interest and must be uncovered so that Australians can once again trust that our defence force personnel are acting respectfully and lawfully in our name.”

The Greens have announced they’ll move for a moratorium on koala habitat clearing to save the national treasure from extinction.
The legislative move would block decisions by Environment Minister Ley like the approval yesterday of a quarry at Pt Stephens which will destroy 52ha of critical habitat for the endangered species.
Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“Koalas are a national treasure and yet we have an Environment Minister not just failing to save them but signing their death warrant.
“Unless habitat clearing is stopped, koalas will soon be extinct.
“The Greens will move in the Parliament for a moratorium on habitat clearing to save the koala from extinction.
“Off the back of the worst bushfires in history which killed a third of NSW’s koala population and destroyed millions of hectares of habitat across the country, no approvals for developments on koala land should be given.
“The Environment Minister has one job and killing koalas isn’t it. If she won’t protect them then the Parliament must, because right now our environment laws are failing.
“Australia is a world leader in extinction and without urgent action we’ll have killed off the koala too and that will be an international shame.
“Australians don’t want the only koalas we have left to be in zoos.”

Following the recent release of the national digital health skills and training plan, Australia’s largest healthcare workforce of more than 400,000 nurses and midwives can now assess their digital health knowledge and skills against a new professional development framework.
Developed by nurses and midwives, the National Nursing and Midwifery Digital Health Capability Framework outlines the core digital health skills and knowledge required for professional practice in the digital era covering patient care, leadership, advocacy, education and research.
As frontline healthcare professionals, nurses and midwives are playing a leading role in Australia’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Every Australian has benefited from the commitment and leadership of nurses and midwives.
Nurses and midwives have long been using technology to care for their patients. The first of its kind in Australia, the framework highlights the specific skills and capabilities necessary to deliver contemporary care.
In 2020, International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, the focus is on empowering nurses and midwives to lead the digital transformation of the health system, and it is expected the framework will be used as a resource to guide individuals, employers and educators in their workforce and professional development planning.
The framework focuses on digital professionalism; leadership and advocacy; data and information quality; information-enabled care; and technology.
The framework was a collaboration by the Australian Digital Health Agency and the Australasian Institute of Digital Health, in association with:

• The Australian College of Nursing.
• Australian College of Midwives.
• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.
• Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association.
• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council.
• Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
• Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives.
• Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre.
• The Queensland Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer.
• Consumer and international representatives.

This announcement follows my announcement in September of the National Digital Health Workforce and Education Roadmap to help the Australian health workforce use technology and further drive the digital transformation of health services to meet community demand.
To access the National Nursing and Midwifery Digital Health Capability Framework please visit: https://www.digitalhealth.gov.au/about-the-agency/workforce-and-education

The Australian Government, through Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport, has locked in an investment aimed at keeping our leading sports men and women on track.
Athletes will benefit from a $115 million commitment for the 2021-22 financial year aimed at reinforcing individual Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games campaigns.
As part of the investment, direct funding for Paralympic sports will increase by more than $3 million, with the majority of current funding levels for able-bodied sports also extended to the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Minister for Youth and Sport, Richard Colbeck, said the nation’s elite athletes continue to inspire Australians in what has been a challenging time for sport at every level.
“The Australian Government’s record core funding levels to support athletes builds on the recent investments to support wellbeing and pathways for young aspiring Olympians and Paralympians,” he said.
The boost for Paralympic competitors, across 13 sporting programs, marks a 40 per cent increase in funding via the Australian Sports Commission since 2012.
Paralympics Australia president Jack O’Callaghan said the funding marked a significant moment in the evolution of Paralympic sport in Australia.
“We are so proud and thankful the Federal Government recognises the value and impact of growing investment into Paralympic sport and has entrusted us with greater responsibility to lead and grow our movement even further,” Mr O’Callaghan said.
“Paralympics Australia applauds the Federal Government, Sport Australia, particularly its Chair John Wylie, and the AIS for sharing our vision for more equitable funding for Australia’s Paralympians and for acknowledging the unique and irreplaceable contribution that Paralympic sport provides the broader community.”
Minister Colbeck said the Government has been a strong supporter of Paralympics Australia and its athletes with recent investments of $8 million toward preparations for the Tokyo Paralympics and $4 million to support the construction of a Community, Education and Events Centre at Paralympic Australia’s base in Victoria.
He said given the challenging fiscal environment associated with the impact of COVID-19, Sport Australia and the AIS had also worked closely with national sporting organisations to provide greater flexibility with use of existing Commonwealth grant funding.
High performance funding allocations to national sporting organisations are determined by the AIS.  Sport Australia determine participation funding.
In March 2020, Sport Australia introduced guidelines offering flexibility within existing funding agreements to give sporting bodies the ability to redirect funding into areas of need within each organisation.
“Sport Australia will continue to provide flexibility in the release of this funding,” Minister Colbeck said.
The expenditure guidelines initially developed for the period 1 March to 31 December 2020, will be extended until 30 June 2021.
“The funding decisions of the Australian Sports Commission strike a balance in providing certainty and flexibility as athletes look ahead to the Paris 2024 Olympics,” Minister Colbeck said.
“It also underpins the Sport 2030 objective of backing our best athletes, coaches and sporting bodies to develop a high-performance culture and help ensure Australians can reach their potential on the world stage.”