The Latest Breaking News from the National Health and Medical Research Council

Promotional techniques on junk food packaging are a problem for children's health – Australia could do better

Too many Australian children are eating diets high in added sugars, saturated fats, salt, energy and ultra-processed foods. And often they’re not getting enough fruits, vegetables and wholegrains.

The Conversation · Nov 14, 2023

TV can be educational but social media likely harms mental health: what 70 years of research tells us about children and screens

Ask any parent and it’s likely they’ll tell you they’re worried about their kids’ screen time. A 2021 poll found it was Australian parents’ number one health concern for their kids – ahead of cyberbullying and unhealthy diets. But how worried should parents be?

The Conversation · Nov 13, 2023

We're in a new COVID wave. What can we expect this time?

Australia is now into its next COVID wave. We’ve seen hints of this for a while. Case numbers and indicators of severe disease began rising in Victoria in August. But it has taken several months for a consistent pattern to emerge across Australia.

The Conversation · Nov 10, 2023

What is cognitive functional therapy? How can it reduce low back pain and get you moving?

If you haven’t had lower back pain, it’s likely you know someone who has. It affects around 40% of adults in any year, ranging from adolescents to those in later life. While most people recover, around 20% go on to develop chronic low back pain (lasting more than three months).

The Conversation · Sep 7, 2023

With COVID now endemic, modelling suggests targeted protection will be more effective than blanket measures

Interventions designed to limit the spread of COVID have been rolled back around the world. In New Zealand, the government removed all remaining public health measures last week.

The Conversation · Aug 23, 2023

The rental housing crisis is hurting our most vulnerable and demands a range of solutions (but capping rents isn't one of them)

Roughly one in three Australians rent their homes. It’s Australia’s fastest-growing tenure, but renting is increasingly unaffordable. From 2020 to 2022, our research found a large increase in the proportion of renters who said their housing was unaffordable.

The Conversation · Aug 15, 2023

Medical Research Future Fund has $20 billion to spend. Here’s how we prioritise who gets what

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) is a A$20 billion fund to support Australian health and medical research. It was set up in 2015 to deliver practical benefits from medical research and innovation to as many Australians as possible.

The Conversation · Jul 20, 2023

Talking about eating less red and processed meat provokes strong feelings. That's why this new evidence-based report is welcome

Emotions can run high when the topic of how much red and processed meat to eat is raised. For many of us, eating these foods is culturally important – often tied to specific dishes and traditions.

The Conversation · Jul 16, 2023

Eggs are so expensive right now. What else can I use?

The price of eggs is rising. So many of us may be looking for cheaper alternatives.

The Conversation · Jul 6, 2023

Voluntary assisted dying is legal in Victoria, but you may not be able to access it

Voluntary assisted dying is legal in five Australian states with the sixth, New South Wales, following in November 2023. The territories are now permitted to legalise voluntary assisted dying, with the Australian Capital Territory intending to do so by the end of 2023.

The Conversation · Jul 3, 2023