Australia’s 2011 National Health Reform Agreement set out the intention of the Australian Government and state and territory governments to work in partnership to improve patient access to services, public hospital efficiency and system transparency by moving toward activity-based funding and away from block funding.

Factors influencing obesity are not confined to the health portfolio, argues this paper. Instead the factors occur across portfolios including housing, education, employment, social welfare and community development. Executive summary What is the problem? Obesity rates are higher among Indigenous, compared to non-Indigenous, Australians, and this problem begins in early childhood. If this trend of...

The research evidence shows that accreditation is a useful tool for stimulating improvements in the quality and safety of health services. Accreditation programs are deployed widely to monitor and promote safety and quality in healthcare. Governments, health service organisations and accreditation agencies have invested considerable resources into accreditation programs, but to date evidence of their...

The Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guidelines recommend intensive case management for people with first-episode psychosis or an acute relapse of schizophrenia. Often initiated following discharge from hospital or transfer from community-based acute care, case management is a collaborative, community-based program designed to ensure people receive quality health care and integrated support services. Case...

Under Australian mental health laws, people with schizophrenia can only be involuntarily committed to a mental health facility if they are assessed and it is determined that their illness is making them dangerous to themselves or others.