NDIS Overhaul in Australia Sparks Alarm as Children with Autism Face Diversion to New Scheme
A wave of significant legislative reforms across multiple Australian states is set to dramatically improve access to diagnosis and treatment for the estimated one million-plus Australians living with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The changes focus on granting trained General Practitioners (GPs) the authority to diagnose ADHD and prescribe stimulant medication, a role historically restricted to paediatricians […]
Australian Scientists Pursue ‘Waking Up’ Sleeping Genes for Potential Prader-Willi Syndrome Cure
Melbourne, Australia — Australian researchers are at the forefront of genetic science, pursuing a groundbreaking approach that aims to correct the root cause of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), a rare, complex genetic disorder associated with insatiable hunger (hyperphagia) and developmental challenges. Scientists at institutions like the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) are […]
Australians with Disability Take Part in UN Conference, Amplify Voices on Global Stage
Canberra – A cohort of Australians with lived experience of disability have stepped into the spotlight at one of the world’s pre-eminent forums for disability rights — the 18th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP18), held from 10-12 June 2025 at the United […]
Australia Commits to Historic Reform Following Royal Commission into Disability Violence and Abuse
The Australian Government has formally released its initial response to the final report of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, committing to a major, phased program of reform that will reshape disability rights, policy, and services across the country. The Royal Commission, which concluded in September 2023, delivered […]
Australia Launches 10-Year Roadmap to Combat Health Inequities for Autistic People
The Australian Government has released the National Roadmap to Improve the Health and Mental Health of Autistic People 2025–2035, a critical, co-designed plan aimed at addressing the serious health inequities and higher rates of early mortality and mental health issues faced by the nation’s growing Autistic population. The 10-year plan forms the fourth core pillar […]
Australia Launches ‘Inclusive Employment Australia’ Program, Ending Time Limits for Job Seekers with Disability
November 2025 — The Australian Government has officially launched Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA), a major reform to the country’s specialist disability employment services. Replacing the former Disability Employment Services (DES) program, the IEA is designed to remove significant barriers and provide more consistent, long-term support for people with disability, injury, or a health condition looking […]
Federal Government Backs National Rules for ADHD Prescriptions to End Australia’s ‘Postcode Lottery’ of Care
December 2024 — The Australian Federal Government has delivered its official response to the 2023 Senate Inquiry into Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), fully endorsing a critical recommendation to establish nationally consistent rules for prescribing ADHD medication. The Inquiry’s report highlighted that the fragmented, state-by-state regulations for stimulant medication have created a “postcode lottery” of care, leading […]
Australian States Empower GPs to Tackle ADHD Care Crisis Amid Drug Shortages
October 2025 — Australia is in the midst of dual crises concerning Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) care: a persistent nationwide medication shortage and a struggle for patients to access timely diagnosis and treatment due to exorbitant costs and long waitlists for specialists. In a move to alleviate pressure on paediatricians and psychiatrists, several Australian state governments, […]
Major Reforms to Australia’s NDIS Introduced as Government Seeks Financial Sustainability
October 2025 — Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is undergoing one of its most significant shake-ups since its inception, as the Federal Government begins implementing a raft of reforms based on the findings of the Independent Review into the Scheme. The primary focus of the changes is to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of […]
Disability Accommodation Crisis ‘Strands’ Patients in NSW Hospitals, Straining Health System
October 2025 — A recent report on Australia’s healthcare system has highlighted a critical bottleneck in New South Wales (NSW) hospitals, where up to one in ten public beds are reportedly occupied by patients who are medically fit for discharge but have nowhere to go. These individuals are primarily participants in the National Disability Insurance […]