Editors Picks
10 April 2026
MORE AGED CARE BEDS WELCOMED
AGEING Australia has welcomed the Albanese Government’s $115M investment to expand aged care beds, targeting key regions to ease hospital pressure. The funding supports faster delivery of new capacity, but leaders warn it falls short of demand. With Australia’s ageing population growing rapidly, far more beds are needed annually. The initiative is seen as a positive first step, but not a complete solution to the looming aged care shortfall.
10 April 2026
SUPPORT FOR TRAVELLERS IN CONFLICT ZONES
TRAVEL insurers are providing 24/7 support to Australians affected by the Middle East conflict, including medical assistance and help with disruptions. Policies may be extended due to airport closures, and travellers are urged to contact insurers or lodge claims. While war-related losses are typically excluded, other claims remain covered. The Insurance Council of Australia has declared the conflict a Significant Event, coordinating industry, government, and response efforts.
27 March 2026
SUPPORT FOR PENRITH SPORTS CLUBS
THE NSW Government is supporting safer community sport by delivering new lifesaving equipment to clubs in Penrith among 190 sporting organisations across NSW to have received new defibrillators.
The Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program provides up to $3,000 to eligible sport and active recreation organisations for the purchase of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at sports facilities.
Since the Program commenced, more than 2,500 defibrillators have been awarded for use at sport and recreation facilities across NSW. Penrith recipients include:
- Penrith Baseball Club.
- Penrith Rowing Club Incorporated.
The Program is part of a major investment by the NSW Government to improve safety at NSW sport and recreation facilities which includes a $150,000 grant to the Heartbeat of Football Foundation to conduct research to identify which sports facilities have AEDs installed.
The findings of the research, which commenced in September 2025, will provide vital insight and guide future government investment in the equipment.
For further information on the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program, including the list of recipients,visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/local-sport-defibrillator-grant-program
Member for Penrith, Karen McKeown OAM MP said: “This vitally important grant program is helping to save lives in Penrith, as when both CPR is performed and an AED is used within the first 3 to 5 minutes of a cardiac arrest survival rates increase by up to 60–70 per cent. This equipment will make a significant difference to safety at our Penrith sports facilities.”
Featured
20 March 2026
AUSSIES ANXIOUS ABOUT FUEL SUPPLIES
Surey reveals extent of conflict concerns
RESEARCH conducted over the weekend (14–15 March) by market research and strategic advisory firm Nature with support from Pure Profile reveals 9 in 10 Australians are anxious about potential repercussions, particularly fuel supply and price hikes, of the Middle East conflict.
RESEARCH conducted over the weekend (14–15 March) by market research and strategic advisory firm Nature with support from Pure Profile reveals 9 in 10 Australians are anxious about potential repercussions, particularly fuel supply and price hikes, of the Middle East conflict.
10 March 2026
PERSONALISED CANCER TREATMENT COMING SOON
ARTIFICIAL Intelligence (AI) is rapidly accelerating the shift towards personalised cancer treatments, says an RMIT expert explains how these advances are improving treatment options and what challenges still need to be overcome.
Associate Professor Jessica Holien, School of Science says: "Because of the powerful combination of biology, technology and AI, we are moving beyond standard chemotherapy and one-size-fits-all therapies toward approaches guided by the unique genetic and molecular features of each patient’s cancer.
"For many cancers, advances in standard chemotherapy have led to outstanding results. However, side effects can be significant, and some cancers have become resistant to these treatments over time.
"This shift, driven by AI, has the potential to deliver treatments that are not only more effective, but also less toxic and better aligned with individual patients.
"At the same time, I am keenly aware of the challenges. Cancer is highly adaptive, and resistance to therapy remains a major barrier.
"This is why early-stage research is so critical and sustained investment in discovery science is essential if we are to continue advancing personalised cancer care and turn today’s breakthroughs into tomorrow’s standard treatments."
Jessica Holien is a research leader who bridges the chemistry-biology divide, specialising in computational drug discovery and molecular modelling across both academia and industry. Jessica leads research programs focused on hard-to-treat diseases, including rare and drug-resistant cancers and neurological disorders.
06 March 2026
CALL FOR UNDER-18 SUPERANNUATION
THE Super Members Council wants to scrap rules denying most under-18 workers super, saying 119,000 NSW teens will miss out on $98 million in 2025/26. Current laws require under-18s to work over 30 hours weekly to qualify. The council argues the rule is outdated, worsens the gender super gap, and unfairly excludes part-time workers. It says reform would boost retirement savings, simplify compliance, and has minimal impact on businesses.
06 March 2026
SALVOS URGE USING MONYCARE
THE Salvation Army is urging Australians to use Moneycare, its free financial counselling service, as new research shows 44% will start 2026 in debt and many feel growing financial stress. Despite delivering over 48,000 sessions last year, awareness remains low. Moneycare helps with budgeting, debt and financial planning. Survey results show widespread money pressures and discomfort discussing finances, with the Salvos encouraging people to seek support and reduce financial stress.