Proof: plain packaging really did cut smoking rates Monday February 29, 2016 By David Donaldson Health The Australian government had to fight every step of the way for its tobacco plain packaging regulation since it was introduced in 2012. But it…
myHealth pilots begin in Qld, brand confusion looms in NSW Monday February 1, 2016 By Stephen Easton News Pilots of the myHealth records project beginning in Queensland encourage collaboration across state and federal boundaries and the health system. But potential brand confusion looms…
Applications open for tough gig as new e-health chief Wednesday January 20, 2016 By Stephen Easton News Public service CEO wanted: must be able to pull the federal government's shambolic efforts to create universal electronic health records out of the fire.
Webinar: lessons from My Aged Care pilot Thursday January 14, 2016 By The Mandarin Health The federal Department of Health is hosting a panel discussion next week with aged care assessment teams from the early implementation and pilot sites of the…
Aged care complaints at arms length from department Monday January 4, 2016 By Stephen Easton Jurisdiction Complaints about aged care services will now be entirely handled and investigated by an independent commission, as recommended by the Productivity Commission in its far-reaching…
Martin Bowles: using health information to improve care Friday December 4, 2015 By Martin Bowles Features Australia's chief health bureaucrat is excited by the opportunities for technology in healthcare. My Health Record "can improve treatment decisions, reduce adverse events, avoidable hospital…
HIV, drug policy and the problem of blaming the customer Wednesday December 2, 2015 By Harley Dennett Features NSW's crowd-pleasing act of belligerence on World AIDS Day showcased why the push to dump unhelpful bureaucratic ways is urgent — even in areas where…
Martin Bowles: understanding health as a system Tuesday December 1, 2015 By The Mandarin Features SECRETARY'S MESSAGE: When Martin Bowles came to the federal Health Department he found fragmentation and disconnect across the healthcare system. Here he discusses the…
How the Health Department can fix electronic records system Monday November 16, 2015 By David Donaldson Health The government faces a host of challenges in its plan to shift its national ehealth platform, My Health Record, to an opt-out system, including the…
Big data: big benefits to public service, big risks to public? Tuesday November 3, 2015 By Stephen Easton Career Advice Public service leaders are increasingly enamoured with what big data can do. They need to build the capability, but also avoid putting the public at…
Case study to watch: how to improve ehealth record take-up Tuesday October 6, 2015 By David Donaldson Features An opt-out system could arrest continued low engagement with the government's My Health Record system. The deputy secretary in charge says having critical mass will…
Get involved: whole-of-government 'innovation hub' trial open for ideas Wednesday July 15, 2015 By Stephen Easton Features Commonwealth public servants attending last week's Innovation Month Summit were encouraged to start using a new central platform to register fresh ideas and novel solutions…
Martin Bowles: we're changing the culture at Health Wednesday July 8, 2015 By Stephen Easton News The public service needs open-minded leaders, ready to listen and brave enough to try new things, Health mandarin Martin Bowles told the 2015 Innovation Month…
Publishing tips for government bodies going digital by design Thursday June 11, 2015 By Stephen Easton News Everyone knows that going 'digital by design' can cut printing costs massively, but communications teams should play to the format's strengths and keep improving quality…
John Menadue: making health reform possible Wednesday June 3, 2015 By John Menadue Features Health ministers may be in office but they are seldom in power, says John Menadue. The former head of the Australian Public Service, who also…
