Research highlights

Experiencing a severe illness can adversely affect people’s health, ability to work and income. Our study investigates these effects and how they vary across education groups.
RESEARCH BITES

A battle between private hospitals and private health insurers is playing out in public. But are private hospitals really in trouble? And if so, is more public funding the answer?

Children from disadvantaged families experience worse academic and mental health outcomes – but the key to improving these odds could lie in their after-school routine.
RESEARCH BITES

Parents need support and information to raise children. Imagine the added stress for an immigrant speaking limited English, with limited social connections and language barriers preventing them from accessing needed support.
RESEARCH BITES

Extremely hot weather, which is occurring more frequently, can negatively affect our behaviour. Our study reveals how extreme heat can impair our ability to think clearly, making us more impatient and prone to making irrational choices.
RESEARCH BITES

Hospital markets around the world are experiencing significant transformation, with increasing consolidation into hospital chains, often accompanied by increases in for-profit ownership. How do these changes affect the quality of healthcare?
RESEARCH BITES

Increased levels of air pollution threaten the long-term health of vulnerable populations, including unborn babies. To estimate their future health risks, we travelled back 71 years.
RESEARCH BITES

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the healthcare industry. What do the public, patients, and healthcare professionals think of the use of AI in healthcare?
RESEARCH BITES

Deciding whether to wait and see if your health condition improves or go to a GP can be a difficult task. You might be unsure about where to go, whom to see, how much it will cost and whether you’ll need to take time off work.

Increasing income support could help keep women and children safe according to new work demonstrating strong links between financial insecurity and domestic violence.

Medical practices have been changing from small entities managed by GPs to large corporate entities, with implications for costs, access to care, and healthcare services quality.
RESEARCH BITES

Understanding what young people see as important to their wellbeing has implications for their life and those of future generations.
RESEARCH BITES

This report addresses the roles of administrative data in guiding rapid pandemic responses and internet access in preparing for unprecedented health emergencies.

Rising prices obviously affect your finances, but our research shows they can also have a profound effect on your physical and mental wellbeing - and lower income households are impacted more than others.

This paper summarises findings from key research that demonstrates the pathways through which high inflation may influence health.

The shock of being diagnosed with cancer, a stroke or a heart attack causes major disruptions to our health, how we work and how we use our time. It also changes how we donate.
RESEARCH BITES

Global temperature increases are reshaping our work environments with profound implications. Our study shows the dangerous impact of these changes on workers’ health.
RESEARCH BITES

As Medicare turns 40 years old, it’s important to reflect on its achievements, and also what needs to be done to remodel it.

New cancer drugs can be lifesaving. However, funding decisions are often based on limited evidence about their long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.
RESEARCH BITES

Primary aldosteronism is underdiagnosed in Australia. Yet screening from age 40 is simple, cost-effective and would prevent health complications.
RESEARCH BITES

Despite global health improvements in recent years, developing countries still lag behind developed economies in health indices. In some of these countries, the disparity in economic development across ethnic groups bears heavily on the state of public health.
RESEARCH BITES

International development aid has the power to change the lives of billions of people. Yet, despite larger-than-ever payments, these payments may not be meeting the needs of recipients.
RESEARCH BITES

Many factors cause some people to successfully quit smoking while others relapse. One factor was overlooked: Smoking loves company.
RESEARCH BITES

As the voluntary patient enrolment scheme MyMedicare was rolled out on October 1st, 2023, here is what you need to know.

As Australia undertakes the biggest overhaul of Medicare in its 40-year history, asking whether free access to healthcare would prevent healthcare delays or cost more than it is worth is a fair question.
RESEARCH BITES

Osteoarthritis impacts quality of life, healthcare costs, and economic activity. Results from a recent randomised trial offer hope for both patients and insurers.
RESEARCH BITES

In the 1970s, the Indonesian Government constructed about 60,000 new primary schools to address low rates of schooling and education. Fifty years on, are those who benefitted from the program better off health-wise?
RESEARCH BITES

What appeared to be a logical response to contain the costs of a surging number of Disability Income Insurance recipients worsened recipient mental health and actually increased healthcare spending.
RESEARCH BITES

Though the detrimental effects of child marriage on girls’ education, career opportunities, physical health and safety are well documented, the deep impacts it can have on the emotional and mental health of women are often overlooked.

To help cut costs and risks, doctors created guidelines for managing patients' blood during surgery. This study looks at whether these guidelines worked and if they saved money.
RESEARCH BITES

Our recent research shows people’s wellbeing deteriorates when their supports are threatened. We need to learn from their experiences before putting them in that same position again.

Delivering high-quality health care with limited funding is increasingly difficult for many GPs. Could the solution be as simple as giving patients more say in what to pay?

Workers will feel the impact of rising temperatures not only through dehydration and heat stroke, but from a wide range of accidents due to attention lapses and environmental hazards.

With average temperatures rising rapidly, some places might soon be too hot for inhabitants to make optimal economic decisions.

If you are a man identifying as a sexual minority, the postcode in which you live can have a surprising impact on your health, research mapping our attitudes to same-sex marriage reveals.

While public health issues have been foremost in the global fight against COVID-19, public policies are only now exposing the full consequences of this international scourge. And for more than a third of older Australians, isolation – not health concerns – was the biggest problem.

Using the sector-wide approach (SWAp) to coordinate global health aid delivers substantial improvements in population health.

Just living close to a gaming venue increases the likelihood that you will gamble, face an increased risk of bankruptcy and experience poor mental health.

The most detailed picture yet of those most affected by economic downturns shows young women suffer the greatest increase in psychological distress.

The sector-wide approach (SWAp) has been a prominent way to operationalise principles for aid effectiveness. A health SWAp is a formal agreement between an aid-recipient government and its donors.

Loneliness has an economic cost.  As a new study reveals its link with mental health in Australia, what can be done?

Less than half of all young adults facing mental health issues access professional help. Instead, they turn to friends and family for help with personal and emotional problems. Why?

Changes to patient blood management guidelines have lowered health risks for patients and reduced costs with fewer blood transfusions and less time spent in the hospital.

Heavier primary school children are given less favourable academic assessments by their teachers.

Women in their early-20's and mid-40's are more affected by local economic downturns than men.

'She'll be right mate' is Australia's version of Britain's 'Keep calm and carry on'. But what determines our ability to bounce back when life deals a heavy blow?

COVID-19 has made women reluctant to attend routine breast cancer screening, but there is a compelling reason not to put it off: cost.

Financial hardship from the COVID-19 lockdown will broaden the gap between rich and poor, with children faring worst.

Our governments spend less than $400 a year per person on mental health services. That has to change. But what's the best approach?

Unemployment-related stress leads to an increase in prescription opioid deaths; so does economic uncertainty.

Mental health issues can have little-understood but long-reaching consequences for individuals, families, neighbourhoods. Developing a mental health policy that best utilises our economic resources is crucial for all Australians.

As the Federal Government's inquiry into the obesity epidemic gets underway, new research shows the overall cost of childhood obesity may be much higher than previously thought.

The ‘Americanisation’ of our health system; pharmaceutical protectionism; a regulator for health – Professor Jeff Richardson has been at the coalface of these policy debates for more than 30 years.

The 'Americanisation' of our health system; pharmaceutical protectionism; a regulator for health – Professor Jeff Richardson has been at the coalface of these policy debates for more than 30 years.

Just how long does it take a community to get back on its feet following a natural disaster? And how much do we really know about the long-term effects on people's living standards, job prospects, educational outcomes and health?

Obesity is a global epidemic. The number of obese adults has more than doubled to 600 million worldwide since 1980, according to the World Health Organization.

Children from disadvantaged families experience worse academic and mental health outcomes – but the key to improving these odds could lie in their after-school routine.
RESEARCH BITES

Parents need support and information to raise children. Imagine the added stress for an immigrant speaking limited English, with limited social connections and language barriers preventing them from accessing needed support.
RESEARCH BITES

Increasing income support could help keep women and children safe according to new work demonstrating strong links between financial insecurity and domestic violence.

Understanding what young people see as important to their wellbeing has implications for their life and those of future generations.
RESEARCH BITES

This report addresses the roles of administrative data in guiding rapid pandemic responses and internet access in preparing for unprecedented health emergencies.

Rising prices obviously affect your finances, but our research shows they can also have a profound effect on your physical and mental wellbeing - and lower income households are impacted more than others.

This paper summarises findings from key research that demonstrates the pathways through which high inflation may influence health.

Despite global health improvements in recent years, developing countries still lag behind developed economies in health indices. In some of these countries, the disparity in economic development across ethnic groups bears heavily on the state of public health.
RESEARCH BITES

International development aid has the power to change the lives of billions of people. Yet, despite larger-than-ever payments, these payments may not be meeting the needs of recipients.
RESEARCH BITES

Many factors cause some people to successfully quit smoking while others relapse. One factor was overlooked: Smoking loves company.
RESEARCH BITES

What appeared to be a logical response to contain the costs of a surging number of Disability Income Insurance recipients worsened recipient mental health and actually increased healthcare spending.
RESEARCH BITES

Though the detrimental effects of child marriage on girls’ education, career opportunities, physical health and safety are well documented, the deep impacts it can have on the emotional and mental health of women are often overlooked.

Work isn’t just about getting paid. Employment can provide a number of benefits for people in terms of health, wellbeing, social, economic and financial inclusion. It can also reduce reliance on government income supports. Arguably, work is even more important for people with disability, who are more likely to be in lower socioeconomic groups and socially isolated.

Our recent research shows people’s wellbeing deteriorates when their supports are threatened. We need to learn from their experiences before putting them in that same position again.

If you are a man identifying as a sexual minority, the postcode in which you live can have a surprising impact on your health, research mapping our attitudes to same-sex marriage reveals.

While public health issues have been foremost in the global fight against COVID-19, public policies are only now exposing the full consequences of this international scourge. And for more than a third of older Australians, isolation – not health concerns – was the biggest problem.

Just living close to a gaming venue increases the likelihood that you will gamble, face an increased risk of bankruptcy and experience poor mental health.

The most detailed picture yet of those most affected by economic downturns shows young women suffer the greatest increase in psychological distress.

Loneliness has an economic cost.  As a new study reveals its link with mental health in Australia, what can be done?

Heavier primary school children are given less favourable academic assessments by their teachers.

Women in their early-20's and mid-40's are more affected by local economic downturns than men.

'She'll be right mate' is Australia's version of Britain's 'Keep calm and carry on'. But what determines our ability to bounce back when life deals a heavy blow?

Financial hardship from the COVID-19 lockdown will broaden the gap between rich and poor, with children faring worst.

Our governments spend less than $400 a year per person on mental health services. That has to change. But what's the best approach?

Unemployment-related stress leads to an increase in prescription opioid deaths; so does economic uncertainty.

Mental health issues can have little-understood but long-reaching consequences for individuals, families, neighbourhoods. Developing a mental health policy that best utilises our economic resources is crucial for all Australians.

As the Federal Government's inquiry into the obesity epidemic gets underway, new research shows the overall cost of childhood obesity may be much higher than previously thought.

Obesity is a global epidemic. The number of obese adults has more than doubled to 600 million worldwide since 1980, according to the World Health Organization.

Extremely hot weather, which is occurring more frequently, can negatively affect our behaviour. Our study reveals how extreme heat can impair our ability to think clearly, making us more impatient and prone to making irrational choices.
RESEARCH BITES

Increased levels of air pollution threaten the long-term health of vulnerable populations, including unborn babies. To estimate their future health risks, we travelled back 71 years.
RESEARCH BITES

Global temperature increases are reshaping our work environments with profound implications. Our study shows the dangerous impact of these changes on workers’ health.
RESEARCH BITES

International development aid has the power to change the lives of billions of people. Yet, despite larger-than-ever payments, these payments may not be meeting the needs of recipients.
RESEARCH BITES

In the 1970s, the Indonesian Government constructed about 60,000 new primary schools to address low rates of schooling and education. Fifty years on, are those who benefitted from the program better off health-wise?
RESEARCH BITES

Workers will feel the impact of rising temperatures not only through dehydration and heat stroke, but from a wide range of accidents due to attention lapses and environmental hazards.

With average temperatures rising rapidly, some places might soon be too hot for inhabitants to make optimal economic decisions.

Using the sector-wide approach (SWAp) to coordinate global health aid delivers substantial improvements in population health.

The sector-wide approach (SWAp) has been a prominent way to operationalise principles for aid effectiveness. A health SWAp is a formal agreement between an aid-recipient government and its donors.

Just how long does it take a community to get back on its feet following a natural disaster? And how much do we really know about the long-term effects on people's living standards, job prospects, educational outcomes and health?

Experiencing a severe illness can adversely affect people’s health, ability to work and income. Our study investigates these effects and how they vary across education groups.
RESEARCH BITES

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the healthcare industry. What do the public, patients, and healthcare professionals think of the use of AI in healthcare?
RESEARCH BITES

Understanding what young people see as important to their wellbeing has implications for their life and those of future generations.
RESEARCH BITES

The shock of being diagnosed with cancer, a stroke or a heart attack causes major disruptions to our health, how we work and how we use our time. It also changes how we donate.
RESEARCH BITES

International development aid has the power to change the lives of billions of people. Yet, despite larger-than-ever payments, these payments may not be meeting the needs of recipients.
RESEARCH BITES

Many factors cause some people to successfully quit smoking while others relapse. One factor was overlooked: Smoking loves company.
RESEARCH BITES

As Australia undertakes the biggest overhaul of Medicare in its 40-year history, asking whether free access to healthcare would prevent healthcare delays or cost more than it is worth is a fair question.
RESEARCH BITES

Delivering high-quality health care with limited funding is increasingly difficult for many GPs. Could the solution be as simple as giving patients more say in what to pay?

With average temperatures rising rapidly, some places might soon be too hot for inhabitants to make optimal economic decisions.

While public health issues have been foremost in the global fight against COVID-19, public policies are only now exposing the full consequences of this international scourge. And for more than a third of older Australians, isolation – not health concerns – was the biggest problem.

Using the sector-wide approach (SWAp) to coordinate global health aid delivers substantial improvements in population health.

Just living close to a gaming venue increases the likelihood that you will gamble, face an increased risk of bankruptcy and experience poor mental health.

Less than half of all young adults facing mental health issues access professional help. Instead, they turn to friends and family for help with personal and emotional problems. Why?

Changes to patient blood management guidelines have lowered health risks for patients and reduced costs with fewer blood transfusions and less time spent in the hospital.

Unemployment-related stress leads to an increase in prescription opioid deaths; so does economic uncertainty.

The ‘Americanisation’ of our health system; pharmaceutical protectionism; a regulator for health – Professor Jeff Richardson has been at the coalface of these policy debates for more than 30 years.

A battle between private hospitals and private health insurers is playing out in public. But are private hospitals really in trouble? And if so, is more public funding the answer?

Hospital markets around the world are experiencing significant transformation, with increasing consolidation into hospital chains, often accompanied by increases in for-profit ownership. How do these changes affect the quality of healthcare?
RESEARCH BITES

Deciding whether to wait and see if your health condition improves or go to a GP can be a difficult task. You might be unsure about where to go, whom to see, how much it will cost and whether you’ll need to take time off work.

Primary care practices have been changing from small, privately-owned entities managed by GPs to large corporate entities. How did these changes affect costs, access to care, and healthcare services quality?
RESEARCH BITES

As Medicare turns 40 years old, it’s important to reflect on its achievements, and also what needs to be done to remodel it.

New cancer drugs can be lifesaving. However, funding decisions are often based on limited evidence about their long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.
RESEARCH BITES

Primary aldosteronism is underdiagnosed in Australia. Yet screening from age 40 is simple, cost-effective and would prevent health complications.
RESEARCH BITES

As the voluntary patient enrolment scheme MyMedicare was rolled out on October 1st, 2023, here is what you need to know.

Osteoarthritis impacts quality of life, healthcare costs, and economic activity. Results from a recent randomised trial offer hopes for both patients and insurers.
RESEARCH BITES

To help cut costs and risks, doctors created guidelines for managing patients' blood during surgery. This study looks at whether these guidelines worked and if they saved money.
RESEARCH BITES

Less than half of all young adults facing mental health issues access professional help. Instead, they turn to friends and family for help with personal and emotional problems. Why?

Changes to patient blood management guidelines have lowered health risks for patients and reduced costs with fewer blood transfusions and less time spent in the hospital.

COVID-19 has made women reluctant to attend routine breast cancer screening, but there is a compelling reason not to put it off: cost.

Mental health issues can have little-understood but long-reaching consequences for individuals, families, neighbourhoods. Developing a mental health policy that best utilises our economic resources is crucial for all Australians.

As the Federal Government's inquiry into the obesity epidemic gets underway, new research shows the overall cost of childhood obesity may be much higher than previously thought.

Obesity is a global epidemic. The number of obese adults has more than doubled to 600 million worldwide since 1980, according to the World Health Organization.