Australia’s 2011 National Health Reform Agreement set out the intention of the Australian Government and state and territory governments to work in partnership to improve patient access to services, public hospital efficiency and system transparency by moving toward activity-based funding and away from block funding.

This briefing looks at contracting private hospitals to treat public patients how contracting arrangements are developed, what works and doesn't, and what changes to policy and practice have been made over time.

Factors influencing obesity are not confined to the health portfolio, argues this paper. Instead the factors occur across portfolios including housing, education, employment, social welfare and community development. Executive summary What is the problem? Obesity rates are higher among Indigenous, compared to non-Indigenous, Australians, and this problem begins in early childhood. If this trend of...

Executive summary Rural Australians generally experience poorer health than their city counterparts. Rural Australia is a vast geographical region, with significant diversity, where there is good health and prosperity, as well as disadvantage. The purpose of this issue brief is to provide evidence on how the health of rural Australians can be improved through community...

Executive summary Does antibiotic resistance exist? Yes. It is a worsening phenomenon seen all over the world, including Australia. What are the implications of antibiotic resistance? Infection with antibiotic-resistant bacteria is associated with longer length of stay in hospitals and higher death rates. This amounts to significant financial costs; the European Union, for example, spends...