Senator David Fawcett

1 day ago

TELEHEALTH CHANGES AND MORE PPE TO ENSURE CONTINUED SAFETY OF GPs, SERVICE PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITYThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth services have offered Australians reliable access to GPs, allied health providers and specialists from the safety of their own home – and continue to be a fundamental part of the health response.With Omicron case numbers growing, the Coalition Government has made temporary changes to Telehealth to give GPs and specialists additional flexibility to support their patients safely, including the continued supply of PPE and online support. More information: bit.ly/3FzcAOsAn additional $24 million has been committed to fund these changes and builds on the $34 billion provided since the pandemic began.The Government will introduce temporary specialist inpatient telehealth MBS items (video and phone) and initial and complex specialist telephone consultation items, and longer telephone consultations for GP’s (level C) until 30 June 2022 – enabling Australians to see specialist medical practitioners, consult their GP, renew scripts, and seek mental health support online or over the phone.Over the next 3 months, over 20 million units of PPE are being provided for primary care, including 9 million p2/n95 masks for GPs and 3 million for pharmacists across Australia. These are being prioritised for rural, regional and remote areas where access to PPE can be challenging. Shipments began before Christmas and are continuing nationwide.In December 2021, Health Minister Greg Hunt MP announced that the Morrison Government is delivering telehealth on an ongoing basis, as part of a $308.6 million investment in strengthening Australia’s primary care health system. In addition to telehealth, the $308.6 million investment includes, among other measures, 58.8 million to support Australians' mental health, $77 million to improve access to Medicare, and $41.2 million to deliver better health services in regional and rural Australia. More information: bit.ly/3ITJnk4 ... See MoreSee Less

Senator David Fawcett

3 days ago

INVESTMENT IN RARE CANCER AND DISEASE RESEARCH Through the Morrison Government’s $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), we’re providing 27 research projects with a combined $63.4 million for research into rare cancers and diseases.Rare cancers and rare diseases are specific, life threatening or chronically debilitating health conditions that affect fewer than 1 in 2,000 people and for many Australians, there are limited treatment options and patient outcomes. Almost $2 billion in ground-breaking medical research has been funded through the MRFF to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians.Through the 2021 Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need Grant Opportunity, 2 SA universities – The University of Adelaide and Flinders University – received a combined $11,357,341 for 5 research projects. More information and a full list of grant recipients: bit.ly/33svPvPMedical research is 1 of 4 pillars of our Government’s Long Term National Health Plan. More information: bit.ly/3o01mxvOur Government’s 2021/22 Federal Budget guarantees essential health services that Australians rely on with record funding for Medicare, mental health, aged care, and hospitals. In 2021/22, SA’s hospitals and health system benefit from $1.6 billion in Federal funding. More information on health funding in this year’s Budget: bit.ly/2SBJ9Fw ... See MoreSee Less

Senator David Fawcett

4 days ago

DRAFT NATIONAL PLAN RELEASED FOR CONSULTATIONThe Morrison Government has today released the draft National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-32 for public comment.The draft National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 outlines a shared long-term commitment to a future free from all forms of gender-based violence in Australia built on 4 pillars: Prevention, Intervention, Response and Recovery.This draft National Plan builds on the Morrison Government’s commitment to a future free of gender violence, which is supported by the more than $2 billion investment in women’s safety since 2013. Ministers Senator Anne Ruston and Marise Payne announced that the Morrison Government is also investing $1 million to ensure ongoing engagement with victim-survivors throughout the life of the next National Plan in support of the foundation principle. The development of this draft National Plan was informed by the first National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022, the National Summit on Women’s Safety, the Parliamentary Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence, the [email protected] report, among other reports and inquiries.Evaluations of the first National Plan found that it helped bring family, domestic and sexual violence to the nation’s attention, demonstrated a collective commitment to address it and supported a positive shift in levels of collaboration including between the Commonwealth, states and territories, government departments, organisations and services.To give your feedback on the draft, via the online survey: bit.ly/3Gr0Uyw Feedback is open until 31st January 2022.To read the draft plan: bit.ly/3I4LnVGIf you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au ... See MoreSee Less

Senator David Fawcett

6 days ago

$6 MILLION COMMITTED TO COMMEMORATE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF AUSTRALIAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE VIETNAM WARIn 2023, Australia will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War and the Australian Government is investing $6 million to ensure this national milestone is marked appropriately.Between 1962 and 1975, nearly 60,000 Australians fought in an attempt to keep the Vietnamese people free from the tyranny of communism. 521 service personnel made the ultimate sacrifice. More than 3,000 were wounded and many continue to feel the effects of these wounds to this day.Australia's participation was formally declared at an end when Governor-General Sir Paul Hasluck issued a proclamation on 11 January 1973.The service and sacrifice of Australian service personnel throughout the Vietnam War and beyond, reminds us that freedom has to be fought for and will always come at a price.Over 102,000 Australian service men and women have paid the ultimate price for us to live in liberty.Lest we forget.As part of the 50th anniversary, events will take place across the country including a national commemorative service at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra. Preparations for these events are underway.The 2021/22 Federal Budget added an additional $702.6 million for veterans and their families, with a focus on wellbeing, suicide prevention and more funding for critical departmental services – building on the Government’s annual commitment of over $11.5 billion for Australian veterans. Investment to support Australia’s 325,000 veterans and their families includes $98.5 million over 2 years to reduce claim times and make it easier and faster to access support; $138.3 million over 4 years for targeted financial, physical and mental support services; and $62.1 million to improve long-term data capability and examine all aspects of Defence members’ service – from enlistment to transition.More information: bit.ly/33mgSLM ... See MoreSee Less