A first of its kind national multicultural health and wellbeing conference has kicked off in Sydney. The conference is aiming to open dialogue and discuss ways of improving Australia's health system for multicultural communities.

New research from the University of Melbourne reveals refugee and migrant communities faced additional barriers accessing legal and justice services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings show increased police presence, combined with language barriers and differential treatment of largely migrant and refugee communities were all worsened by Victoria's lengthy lockdowns.

There are concerns about an increase in the amount of antibiotics being consumed in Australia. Doctors are warning the effectiveness - and supply - of antibiotics is not unlimited, and there are dire consequences potentially if new health problems emerge.

In 2020-21, hundreds of thousands of Australians were admitted to the emergency department for head injuries. But some experts say the true number of these injuries is likely being under-reported. Now a new report offers insights to inform policy, education and prevention.

New parents are revealing that they need more support to deal with the challenges of having children - according to a survey by perinatal support service, the Gidget Foundation. The gap in care has led to 56 perinatal, parenting and mental health organisations coming together to help make getting help easier for new parents.

A parliamentary inquiry has been hearing evidence about what is reasonable and necessary to include as supports for participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Advocates have told the inquiry that sexuality and sexual expression are frequently overlooked for people with a disability. They say there are damaging assumptions about what that community needs or wants.

Victoria has become the latest Australian state to decriminalise public drunkenness. The state government has launched a new health-led approach on Melbourne Cup Day - but the new system has already attracted criticism for not being ready.

A new report reveals a troublesome shift in outbreaks of bird flu. The report shows that outbreaks, previously confined largely to Asia, are now occurring in different regions of the world and affecting larger numbers of poultry. And that poses several threats to humans.

An initiative to help carers in the workplace has been officially unveiled, a year after it was flagged at Australia's jobs and skills summit. The government says it's the first step in a national strategy to better support the estimated 2.6 million people who provide unpaid care to loved ones.

The main organisation representing health-related services to LGBTIQ+ Australians is calling for more funding for its members to deal with what it says is a mental health crisis. LGBTIQ+ Health Australia says some community-controlled health organisations just don't have enough resources to help people who are in distress.