Leading into Budget week in Canberra this week, was a journey in planning, months in advance by member based groups, to advocate for new policy and funding changes in the Australian Health System.
Some paths are taken because of new crises to be addressed in the workforce, others in considering new models of care to treat patients, or simply to get new medications onto the PBS.
Australian Health Journal met with a number of industry heads after the budget on their journeys so far in lobbying for change, their achievements, some of the disappointments and their thoughts on the road ahead, with an election round the corner.
Skip ahead:
00:35 Tegan Carrison, Executive Director Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi)
03:12 John Bruning, CEO Australasian College of Paramedicine (ACP)
09:09 Paul Sadler, CEO Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA)
12:06 Karen Booth, President Australian Primary Health Care Association (APNA)
19:45 Jo Armstrong, CEO Cystic Fibrosis Australia
23:25 Elizabeth de Somer, CEO Medicines Australia
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Maximising benefits, minimising harms in population health screening
Population screening is an important contributor to advancing health outcomes through the early detection of and successful intervention for chronic disease. The evolution of science, technology and evidence relating to diseases which are or may be amenable to a population screening approach deserve broad discussion and the sharing of expertise and evidence. They also warrant close scrutiny in context of health policy and health resource allocation considerations.
In March, Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) convened Screening Conference Conference 2025 with the theme of ‘Population Screening for Chronic Disease – Maximising Benefits, Minimising Harms’.
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Substantial increase in allied health funding for veterans through DVA
The Australian Federal 2026–27 Budget included several significant announcements relating to allied health services for veterans, largely tied to the Government’s response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
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Funding roadblocks creating digital health inequity
Helen Souris, CEO and Executive Director of Cardihab and Chair of the Digital Health Advisory Group at the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), highlights the significant gap in cardiac rehabilitation access across Australia. Despite the proven benefits of cardiac rehabilitation in improving survival, quality of life, and reducing hospital admissions, around 80% of eligible patients do not receive this care, with access rates even lower in regional and rural communities.
