Australian Health Care Reform Alliance

17/11/2025

Australia's public mental health system is in crisis.

A new report from the Australian Medical Association reveals that patients in urgent need of mental health care are waiting an average of seven hours in busy emergency departments.

These bright, noisy, and overstimulating environments are the worst possible place for someone in crisis, often worsening their symptoms and leading to increased distress.

Why is this happening? The system is buckling under:
- Record-high demand
- A critical shortage of inpatient beds
- A lack of investment in community mental health
- A severe workforce shortage

As one expert put it, the emergency department has become a "last resort," leading to missed opportunities for early intervention and longer recovery times.

This isn't just a number—it's our friends, family, and neighbours. It's a national issue that demands a national solution.

Get the full story and understand the depth of this crisis here.https://www.ama.com.au/sites/default/files/2025-11/AMA_Public_Hospital_Report_Card_Mental_Health_Edition_2025_0.pdf

11/11/2025

The growing cost of delayed climate action

The Lancet sets out a chilling scenario for climate change but offers glimmers of hope if resolute action is taken.

The Lancet, 8 (2025) . doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01919-1

11/11/2025

Australian CDC legislation passed

This week has seen the passage of a law to create the Australian Centre for Disease Control following the Senate debate and voting on several amendments.

The final law now includes some new rules. The CDC must:
- Report on how prepared Australia is for a pandemic.
- Report on how climate change affects people's health.
- Include a person with a disability on its main advisory board.
- Have a leader who can advise and work with workplace safety and disability groups.

There were disagreements and missed opportunities on the focus to be placed on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.

Changes were proposed to make the CDC specifically focus on improving health for Indigenous Australians and addressing the root causes of health inequality. Both the Government and the LNP voted together to reject these changes. This is seen as a major missed opportunity.

Changes were also proposed to make the hiring of the CDC's boss and its advisory board more independent, using expert panels to prevent partisan selection of appointees. The Government and the Greens voted together to reject these changes.

Another proposal was for the CDC's 5-year review to be done by a panel of acknowledged experts (like public health professionals, economists, etc.) and not by politicians or related political party staff. This amendment was also rejected.

The article points out that the debate was rushed. The government limited the speaking time, so many politicians didn't get a proper chance to discuss the proposed changes before voting on them.

In summary, while the new CDC will focus on pandemics and climate change, critics argue it missed the chance to be more independent from political influence and to directly tackle the serious health inequalities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Introduction by Croakey: The Federal Government and Opposition voted together to oppose amendments to the Australian Centre for Disease Control

11/11/2025

Why AHCRA supports climate action - it's a significant health issue

A study of 217 tropical cyclones globally to see how people died unearthed findings that might surprise you.

To reduce the health impacts of tropical cyclones, disaster planning must look beyond immediate injuries and infrastructure damage. Governments at all levels need to prepare for a surge in medical needs across a range of diseases.

Tropical cyclones can be even more deadly – and for a wider range of reasons – than we ever thought.

19/10/2025

UTS proposal to disestablish the School of Public Health

Daniel Demant is an Associate Professor of Social Epidemiology with the School of Public Health at UTS and writes about the proposal. https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2025/38/uts-plans-to-cut-public-health-at-the-worst-possible-time/

He opines that the proposed closures are more than a university decision and that they are a public health issue. At a time when Australia urgently needs more expert workers, UTS is proposing to educate fewer. The pandemic taught us, at extraordinary cost, that public health is not expendable.

Australia has just emerged from one of the worst global health crises in living memory.

17/10/2025

Ahpra warns on superannuation access

The inherent accountability embodied in professionalism and health practitioner regulation has been highlighted as Australians continue to access their superannuation on compassionate grounds more than ever before.

63,300 people were approved to withdraw a combined $1.37 billion from their superannuation for medical costs last financial year, according to data from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

The tax office and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) are concerned that some businesses are "inappropriately supporting" patients to access their super for unnecessary cosmetic procedures. https://tinyurl.com/26dwkszu

Regulators are now sounding the alarm. They warn that some businesses and health practitioners are encouraging people to use their super for "overly expensive or unnecessary treatments," leaving patients out of pocket and with a smaller retirement nest egg.

Read the full Ahpra guidance here: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/News/2025-10-16-Warning-about-extracting-super-early.aspx

Key takeaways:
- Dental procedures are the #1 reason, with $817 million approved.
- People aged 31-55 are the most affected.
- Women, who already retire with less super, are accessing it more than men.
- 30% of applications are rejected for not meeting the requirements.

This isn't just about individual choices – it also highlights a bigger problem. As one expert said, "We have a healthcare system that doesn't cover many dental costs."
AHCRA agrees. https://tinyurl.com/av6euntt

15/10/2025

What is health policy, anyway? KFF launches an updated resource

One of the first challenges for those interested in health policy is that there's no single agreed-upon definition of the field. In Australia we have several policy and advocacy bodies, albeit one is currently being closed. https://tinyurl.com/44ns4yyp

At KFF, their work focuses on the role of government, public programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and the financing and coverage of health care, largely based around the U.S. They have now organised their core materials into a new, living "textbook" to share that perspective.

KFF provides important updates on health policy changes such as Medicaid cuts and new work requirements; major shifts in vaccine policies; the restructuring of the health agencies; reduced federal support and changes to the U.S. public health infrastructure; Supreme Court decisions on access to reproductive health care; the elimination of federal diversity and disparities-related initiatives, and more.

As the health policy landscape changes rapidly, these chapters will be updated in real-time to combat misinformation and provide independent, factual analysis. https://tinyurl.com/3vrxzuk2

10/10/2025

Impending closure of AHHA - what next?

The Australian Health Care Reform Alliance (AHCRA) shares the concern at the loss of another independent national peak body for public and non-profit hospitals and healthcare providers. AHHA has contributed policy and advocacy work for many years across the spectrum of health.

Jason Staines writes: The impending closure of the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA), the national peak body for public

08/10/2025

Learning from each other

The Opportunity for Canada and Australia to learn from one another’s health systems. https://tinyurl.com/4wx85kzw

A related lesson is that some jurisdictions show us what not to do.

06/10/2025

Healthy Systems - Technology driving sustainable healthcare

A healthcare crisis is on our doorstep and we can learn from New Zealand's pivotal moment. We're all feeling the pressure – waiting lists are growing, costs are rising, and our incredible healthcare workers are stretched thin. Sound familiar?

A new whitepaper from across the ditch by Deloitte New Zealand highlights that New Zealand is at a pivotal juncture, facing near-identical challenges: an aging population, rising chronic disease, and a system struggling with long-term sustainability.

But within this crisis lie crucial lessons for Australia. The paper argues that the old ways of thinking won't fix these 21st-century problems. Instead, we must reimagine our health systems from the ground up.

So, what are the key takeaways for Australia?

1. It's all connected: We can't just look at cost or quality or wait times in isolation. The paper shows that sustainability comes from balancing quality, cost, supply, and demand together.

2, Technology is a non-negotiable lever: The future isn't just more hospitals and more staff. It's about strategically integrating workforce resources, AI, telemedicine, and digital platforms to work smarter, not just harder. Think AI for faster diagnoses, telehealth for rural access, and automation to free up our frontline workers.

3. "Future-proofing" is urgent: We have a limited window in which to act. By investing in technology now, we can build a more resilient system that can serve our children and grandchildren.

The message is clear: The transformation of healthcare is inevitable. The question is, will Australia be a leader or laggar

This is a conversation we need to have. What do you think should be the top priority for creating a sustainable healthcare system in Australia?

Read the full whitepaper here: https://tinyurl.com/r66ea4fm

25/09/2025

Evidence is what really counts

Given the confusion caused by media reports about various drugs and vaccinations, and the risks posed by preventable diseases, AHCRA posts the following information, which should be self-explanatory.

We believe in following the advice gleaned from independent research and evidence, verified by extensive peer review.https://aahms.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AAHMS-Autism-Evidence-Brief.pdf

16/09/2025

National Health and Climate Strategy

A pair of government reports has delivered a confronting wake-up call: climate change is a full-blown health crisis that threatens the wellbeing of millions of Australians. The scientific evidence is clear and disconcerting. Climate change is a threat multiplier that will exacerbate almost every existing health vulnerability in Australia.

The newly released National Climate Risk Assessment paints a grim picture of the compounding risks to our way of life, https://www.acs.gov.au/pages/ncra-climate-risks

The Assessment comes at the same time as the latest Measuring What Matters dashboard reveals alarming trends in healthcare access and social equity. This isn't about tomorrow; the impacts are being felt today. https://tinyurl.com/38259zm8

The National Adaptation Plan, released alongside the Assessment, states the Commonwealth will work with the states to develop "alternative capabilities for crisis response" so that the ADF is only used as a last resort.

The government's first National Health and Climate Strategy is a whole-of-government plan to address these impacts. Its four key objectives are:
- Build a climate-resilient health system to protect wellbeing.
- Decarbonise the health system to achieve net zero.
- International collaboration on health and climate.
- Embed "Health in All Policies" to create resilient communities.

The necessary actions include developing "climate-adapted services" for people with disabilities and chronic illness, and prioritising actions to support the most vulnerable Australians.

Soaring Heat-Related Deaths: Under a 3°C warming scenario—which is where current global commitments are projected to take us, heat-related deaths in Sydney are projected to increase by a staggering 450%. Darwin would see a 423% increase, and Melbourne a 259% increase. Even under a best-case 1.5°C scenario, these deaths would still double in major cities. It's a well-known outcome of weather extremes. https://tinyurl.com/4nsrmp58

Rise in Infectious and Chronic Diseases: The assessment warns of a rise in communicable diseases, such as dengue fever from mosquitoes, alongside worsening outcomes for cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal diseases due to extreme heat and air pollution. https://tinyurl.com/bdfmd9h4

Mental and Emotional Distress: The trauma of bushfires, floods, and droughts, coupled with the anxiety of an uncertain future, is creating a significant mental health burden. The constant barrage of bad news from overseas is also weighing on our collective psyche, with only 51% of Australians now reporting they feel safe based on world events, a sharp decline from 91% in 2005.

The crisis will not be felt equally, with disproportionate Impacts on women and vulnerable communities. The most disadvantaged communities will be hit first and hardest.

The National Climate Risk Assessment makes specific mention of the heightened risks for women. They often shoulder most of the unpaid care work during and after climate disasters. Tragically, the evidence shows that the risks of family violence also increase during these times of extreme stress.

First Nations communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, in particular, may be prevented from fulfilling traditional cultural and community roles, harming wellbeing and cultural preservation. Their deep connection to country has profound cultural health impacts.

Barriers to healthcare access: Compounding these climate threats is a healthcare system under strain. The Measuring What Matters data shows access is deteriorating rapidly. In 2023-24, 28% of patients waited longer than acceptable to see a GP (up from 16.6% in 2020-21), and 9% delayed seeing a doctor due to cost, more than triple the 2.4% share in 2020-21. For vulnerable groups like people with disabilities, 39.4% reported needing more formal assistance than they received.

These climate risks underscore the critical importance of measuring national progress beyond economic metrics like GDP, and AHCRA has welcomed the Australian Government’s Measuring What Matters framework. https://tinyurl.com/38259zm8

This is our wake-up call

The most chilling aspect about these two related issues is that the outcomes are not a future problem. As Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen stated, these impacts are coming even if emissions fell immediately tomorrow, and he added, "The cost of inaction, in lives, health, and dollars, will always outweigh the cost of action." https://tinyurl.com/b4d6b7xh

The message is clear: we must demand and support:
- Strong emissions targets for 2035 that align with the science.
- Robust investment in climate adaptation and healthcare resilience.
- Policies that prioritise equity and protect the most vulnerable among us.

Our health, our wellbeing, and our children's future depend on the choices we make now.
Access the National Climate Risk Assessment Summary here:
https://climateservice.maps.arcgis.com/.../a088c56f2.../data
Access the full National Climate Risk Assessment Report:
https://climateservice.maps.arcgis.com/.../9d4850b2d.../data
National Adaptation Plan:https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/national-adaptation-plan.pdf