Australia: Healthcare

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal) has suspended a specialist surgeon’s registration for six months following serious deficiencies in her surgical care, colonoscopy procedures, post-operative management and record-keeping.

New South Wales has announced a permanent pill testing service at music festivals, marking a significant policy shift from its previous enforcement-first approach to drug use. The service will operate at up to 15 festivals annually, offering free and anonymous drug checking backed by $4.3 million in funding. While the initiative follows a promising 12-month trial that showed reduced hospital presentations and meaningful behavioral changes, the program operates within a narrow framework that leaves criminal

The Supreme Court of Victoria has authorised the Royal Children’s Hospital to administer a stem cell transplant to increase the likelihood of survival for a 15-year-old girl against the objections of both the child and her mother.

A coronial inquest into the death of Simon Gaskill reveals critical failures in hospital discharge planning for homeless patients with complex health needs. The case examines how standard discharge procedures failed to account for the practical realities of homelessness, leaving a vulnerable patient without meaningful access to follow-up care.

In Gawthrop v Bendigo Health [2026] VSC 157, the Supreme Court of Victoria examined the context surrounding informed consent. The plaintiff presenting to hospital in labour was advised to undergo a vaginal examination as part of routine care for admission to the birthing unit.

The Full Bench of the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales has awarded substantial wage increases to nurses, midwives and assistants in nursing, following a finding that their work has been historically undervalued on gender-based grounds. The decision addresses systemic pay inequities in female-dominated healthcare professions while balancing economic considerations for the New South Wales public sector.

Monash IVF's recent settlements arising from serious embryo transfer errors highlight the increasing operational, governance and risk challenges facing IVF providers as patient...

From April 2026, information about findings of sexual misconduct involving medical practitioners and other health professionals regulated by AHPRA and the National Boards will be made publicly available on the National Register across all states and territories.

Retaining experienced clinicians is critical to service continuity, patient outcomes, and operational stability.