January 19, 2026
Extreme weather increasing health risks in rural and remote Australia
Community, Health

Extreme weather increasing health risks in rural and remote Australia

THE Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) says extreme weather across Australia is increasing health risks for rural, remote and First Nations communities and placing growing pressure on local health services. ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says prolonged and severe weather events are affecting the health of rural communities and will continue to […]

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148 volunteers in Nelson Bay and Tomaree recognised for 6,158 trips, and transporting 321 cancer patients Committee members Nev Stanfield (President / Treasurer), Richard Yeomans (Secretary/ Patient Co-Ordinator), John Stanbury, John Every (Driver Co-Ordinator) Barry Elliott (Patient Buddy), Iain Woodhill, Max Pride.
Community, Health

148 volunteers in Nelson Bay and Tomaree recognised for 6,158 trips, and transporting 321 cancer patients

TOMAREE Prostate Cancer Support Group and Nelson Bay Cancer Patient Transport Group recently came together for their combined 2025 Annual General Meeting, held at Soldiers Point Bowling Club. The two community groups, established in 2012 and 2014 respectively, work closely to support local residents affected by cancer. Driver Co-ordinator John Every, who has held the […]

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Record urgent care and surgery demand across Hunter New England Health district The number of emergency and urgent care patients is the highest since reporting began.
Government, Health

Record urgent care and surgery demand across Hunter New England Health district

THE latest Bureau of Health Information report shows increased demand for hospital care and urgent surgery across the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD). The quarterly report is based on the period between July – September 2025. There were 108,152 presentations to emergency departments (EDs) across the district, which is 2174 fewer than in […]

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Longevity expert to discuss how purpose, movement and connection are the ‘superfoods’ of healthy ageing Longevity strategist Marcus Pearce.
Community, Event, Health

Longevity expert to discuss how purpose, movement and connection are the ‘superfoods’ of healthy ageing

LONGEVITY strategist Marcus Pearce believes that the secret to a long, happy and purposeful life, lies not in genetics or miracle diets but in purpose, movement and connection – the true “superfoods” of healthy ageing. He is bringing his message of vitality and longevity to Latitude One in Anna Bay on Saturday 8 November, in […]

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North Arm Cove local walks for suicide prevention Biljana with friend and supporter Tammy on the long road into North Arm Cove. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe.
Health

North Arm Cove local walks for suicide prevention

Biljana with friend and supporter Tammy on the long road into North Arm Cove. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. Biljana’s late daughter Iskra also volunteered for Lifeline. Photo: B. Soleil. BILJANA Soleil has supported Lifeline’s suicide prevention program by undertaking the “Out Of The Shadows’ trek in North Arm Cove. The Walk was first conceived as a […]

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Hunter researcher develops breakthrough IVF technology Newcastle Permanent’s Paul Juergens, Honeysuckle Health CEO and Dr Swegen’s Program Coach Rhod McKensey, Dr Aleona Swegen, HMRI CEO and Institute Director Professor Frances Kay. Photo: supplied.
Health

Hunter researcher develops breakthrough IVF technology

UNIVERSITY of Newcastle researcher Dr Aleona Swegen, a member of the Hunter Medical Research Institute’s Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, is driving a breakthrough in fertility treatment. Dr Sewgan has secured $200,000 from the inaugural Newcastle Permanent Innovation Accelerator Program for her technology, SpermSafe. Dr Swegen created SpermSafe as a storage medium that improves survival […]

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Hunter hospitals rolling-out safe staffing in EDs Recruitment for more nurses is underway. File photo.
Community, Health

Hunter hospitals rolling-out safe staffing in EDs

TWENTY-SEVEN more hospitals across NSW are rolling-out safe staffing levels in their emergency departments. In the broader Hunter region these include Manning Base Hospital, Maitland Hospital and John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle. This brings to 40 the number of hospitals across the state that have started operating with safe staffing levels as a result of […]

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Increased rate of NSW adults getting sunburnt The report found more than 80 percent of respondents used at least one form of sun protection.
Health

Increased rate of NSW adults getting sunburnt

ALMOST one million adults across the state were sunburnt at least once over a four-week period, according to a new report from the Cancer Institute NSW. The “Sun Protection Behaviours Report”, released last week, shows 15 percent of people surveyed reported being sunburnt, up from 12 percent in the previous report. The research analyses data […]

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Process begins for urgent care clinic in Maitland Urgent care clinics provide walk-in, bulk-billed treatment for urgent but non-life-threatening emergencies.
Health

Process begins for urgent care clinic in Maitland

AN expressions of interest (EOI) process to establish a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) in Maitland closed on 15 July. The EOI was open to existing general practices, community health centres and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. Fifty new Medicare UCCs were announced in the 2025-26 Budget, set to provide walk-in, bulk-billed treatment for urgent […]

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