Media Releases

The latest media releases from ACT Medicare Local are listed below.

For media enquires please email media@actml.com.au or phone (02) 6287 8099.

18 June 2013

ACT Medicare Local: long-term planning for local health benefits

Joining Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek today at the launch of the Government’s Medicare Local website at Parliament House, ACT Medicare Local Chair, Dr Rashmi Sharma showcased the many practical benefits resulting from ACTML coordinating primary health care locally.

04 June 2013

ACT Budget: Limited primary health care investment

ACTML is disappointed that the health decisions announced in today’s ACT Budget 2013/14 are heavily skewed towards spending money to treat people in hospital.

30 May 2013

Kick the habit on World No Tobacco Day

ACTML says tomorrow’s World No Tobacco Day (31 May 2013) is an excellent opportunity for Canberrans who struggle to kick the habit to talk to their family doctor about local quit smoking services.

21 May 2013

Start the conversation: End of life care plan

ACTML is encouraging Canberrans during National Palliative Care Week (19 – 25 May 2013) to complete an Advance Care Plan (ACP) detailing their wishes for end of life medical treatment.

16 April 2013

ACT Preparing for a Busy Winter

ACT Chief Health Officer, Dr Paul Kelly, advises that the ACT health sector is preparing for a busy winter season and recommends that Canberrans take steps to protect themselves and their families from common infectious diseases over the upcoming winter months.

11 April 2013

ACT a leader in childhood immunisation

ACT Medicare Local says the ACT remains a national leader in childhood immunisation.

10 April 2013

Significant assistance for Canberra’s most vulnerable

ACTML has led a consortium to successfully secure significant funding to support Canberra’s most vulnerable community members who are living with a severe and persistent mental health issue.

09 April 2013

New report shows poor health for some young Canberrans

ACT Medicare Local CEO, Ms Leanne Wells said a new report has raised alarm bells about the physical health and wellbeing of young Canberrans.

04 April 2013

World Health Day: Know your blood pressure

In the lead up to World Health Day on 7 April 2013, ACTML is encouraging Canberrans to get their blood pressure checked.

21 March 2013

Good health – a priority for Canberra’s seniors

ACTML is supporting a suite of Centenary of Canberra celebrations, including sponsoring this week's Seniors Week.

21 March 2013

National Close the Gap Day: Improving Indigenous health

During today’s National Close the Gap Day, ACTML is highlighting their ongoing initiatives to help improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the ACT.

08 March 2013

HEALTHY INPUT TO CENTENARY ACTIVITIES (Canberra 100 Media Release)

HEALTHY INPUT TO CENTENARY ACTIVITIES

ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is supporting Centenary of Canberra celebrations as a Presenting Partner of Parties at the Shops activities on Canberra’s Birthday.

07 March 2013

Healthy Communities: Canberrans self-report good health

ACTML Chair, Dr Rashmi Sharma, today announced that the National Health Performance Authority released the first Healthy Communities report on Australians’ experience with primary health care.

04 March 2013

Ms Gai Brodtmann MP signs up for eHealth record

ACTML hosted Member for Canberra, Ms Gai Brodtmann MP, at the Isabella Plains Medical Centre this morning where Ms Brodtmann signed up to an eHealth record and met home-grown locally trained general practice workforce.

28 February 2013

ACT Budget: ACT Medicare Local calls for different - not more

ACTML’s submission to the ACT Budget 2013/14 today focuses on three key areas which aim to improve the health and wellbeing of Canberrans.

21 February 2013

ACT Medicare Local: Listening and acting to improve our health

ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is listening to health professionals, key stakeholders and the community about how best to improve primary health care services in the ACT to promote the wellbeing of Canberrans.

21 February 2013

Supporting Indigenous health: It’s great to be alive

ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is helping to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the ACT.

06 February 2013

ACT Medicare Local: connecting clinicians to connect care

ACTML is supporting and improving primary health care services in the ACT to promote the wellbeing of Canberrans.

04 February 2013

Are you a healthy role model?

As school returns, ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is encouraging Canberrans to consider if they are healthy role models for their kids.

22 January 2013

Starting school – ensure your child is fully immunised

ACTML encourages parents of children starting school this year to have their four year old vaccinations completed before their first day.

18 January 2013

Canberra firestorm 10 years on: communities that care

On today’s 10 year anniversary of the Canberra firestorm, ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is encouraging Canberrans to ask their family and friends impacted by the fire ‘how are you coping?’.

20 December 2012

Health tips when travelling this ‘silly season’

ACTML encourages Canberrans to plan ahead when travelling over the Christmas period to reduce adverse affects on their health and wellbeing caused by medication issues.

19 December 2012

Canberra Pharmacy students studying in general practice surgeries

ACTML says in a ‘Canberra-first’ University of Canberra’s (UC) Pharmacy students are currently doing a one-week rotation in a local general practices.

11 December 2012

Partners in Recovery

ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is leading a group of mental health and consumer peak bodies to support Canberra’s most vulnerable community members who are living with a severe and persistent mental health issue.

10 December 2012

Know your options: Canberra after hours health care

ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is urging Canberrans to “know your options” launching a consumer awareness campaign to help increase the knowledge of after hours health care options in the Capital.

30 November 2012

World AIDS Day 2012

ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is encouraging Canberrans to show their support for people living with HIV/AIDS.

ACTML Chair Dr Rashmi Sharma said World AIDS Day 2012 (1 December) aims to raise awareness of the continuing impact of HIV and especially AIDS.

19 November 2012

Postnatal Depression Awareness Week 2012

ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is encouraging Canberrans to ask their family and friends who are pregnant or have a young baby how they are coping.

18 October 2012

Who cares for the carers?

ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is encouraging Canberrans to acknowledge the important role carers play in caring for a family or friend.

11 October 2012

Improving after hours healthcare options through pharmacy

The ACT Branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has been granted funding through the ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) to develop a groundbreaking education program which will more fully utilise the skills and extend the knowledge of pharmacists in producing better health outcomes for the capital region.

10 October 2012

New Suicide Prevention Service to help Canberrans

ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) and CatholicCare are enabling Canberrans at-risk of suicide to receive free psychology sessions through a new service.

27 September 2012

Walk to Work Day 2012

During Walk to Work Day (28 September 2012), ACT Medicare Local is encouraging Canberrans to walk some extra steps tomorrow to start increasing their physical activity.

13 September 2012

Talking is the first step

ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is encouraging Canberrans to ask their family, friends and colleagues “R U OK?”

11 September 2012

ACT Medicare Local calls for early intervention initiatives

Today ACT Medicare Local Chair Dr Rashmi Sharma released the ACTML’s Election Platform which has been provided to the leaders of the three major parties in the ACT, ACT Labor, Canberra Liberals and the ACT Greens.

04 September 2012

ACT Medicare Local media release: Parkinson's Awareness Week 2012

During Parkinson’s Awareness Week 2012, ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is encouraging Canberrans to talk to their local family doctor if they think they are experiencing unusual symptoms including fatigue or muscle pain.

06 August 2012

ACT Medicare Local: Making a difference to our health

As ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) celebrates its first birthday, it’s an appropriate time to reflect on not only our achievements but the central role primary health care plays to safeguard the wellbeing of Canberrans.

26 July 2012

World Hepatitis Day: time to take control

In the lead up to World Hepatitis Day (28 July 2012), ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is encouraging Canberrans to talk to their local family doctor if they think they are at-risk of having Hepatitis C.

19 July 2012

Your family doctor is on your team

During AMA Family Doctor Week (16-22 July 2012), ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is encouraging Canberrans to form an ongoing relationship with a local family doctor.

27 June 2012

Canberra Health Alliance to tackle health from all angles

ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is convening a group of health-related and consumer peak bodies to establish the Canberra Health Alliance to investigate how key stakeholders, using a community-based approach, can work together to address population health issues and chronic disease risk factors, such as obesity.

21 June 2012

Chief Minister: New GP workforce study announced

ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher MLA today announced funding for research to map the ACT’s general practitioner (GP) workforce.

22 May 2012

Complete a plan for your future medical care

ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Health Katy Gallagher MLA today announced she would complete an ‘Advance Care Plan’ detailing her wishes for end of life medical treatment.

10 May 2012

Local practice nurse wins immunisation award

In the lead up to International Nurses Day (12 May 2012), ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) and the local community honour a special nurse who has won the Australian Practice Nurses Association (APNA) Best Practice Nurse Award for Immunisation.

07 May 2012

ACT Medicare Local calls for eHealth and mental health support

ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) urges the Federal Government to ensure that primary health care initiatives are sufficiently funded in the 2012/13 budget, particularly in the key areas of eHealth and mental health.

13 March 2012

Steer clear of the flu

ACT Medicare Local (ACTML) is urging Canberrans to get immunised against the next bout of flu that’s coming our way this year.

28 February 2012

Simulation to stimulate local health reform

A Health Simulation held tomorrow will focus on how successfully the national health reform can be implemented at the local level.

06 February 2012

Straight to the heart of reducing cardiovascular risk - Heartlink Launch

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher MLA will tomorrow launch the HeartLink program at 11am at Wattle Street Medical Practice, 83 Wattle Street, O’Connor.

23 January 2012

What's your health worth?

During Australia’s Healthy Weight Week (22 – 29 January 2012), ACT Medicare Local is encouraging Canberrans to look at their weight and consider if they need to reduce it.

12 January 2012

Starting school - ensure your child is fully immunised

ACT Medicare Local encourages parents of children starting school this year to have their four year old vaccinations completed before their first day.

20 December 2011

We all know what we should be doing these holidays

Use this holiday season to improve healthy habits as part of your regular routine.

14 December 2011

Chief Minister visits multi-disciplinary general practice

Viewed new infrastructure funded through the GP Development Fund.

08 November 2011

Increasing access to first-class GP services in Canberra

Welcomes the announcement of funding to general practices in the ACT for thirty projects through the fourth round of the ACT Government’s GP Development Fund

13 October 2011

Talking is the first step

During Mental Health Week, ACT Medicare Local is encouraging Canberrans to see their local family doctor if they feel anxious or depressed.

07 September 2011

ACT a leader in childhood immunisation

The Territory recorded the highest national immunisation rate for children aged 12-15 months, and the second highest for children 5 years of age.

06 September 2011

Canberra Hosts GP Convention

The national GPET Convention will be held 7 – 8 September 2011 at the National Convention Centre.

18 August 2011

Walk-in Centre model of care requires improvement

The evaluation of the WIC has identified a number of areas which require improvement.

10 August 2011

Funding to support Canberra’s GPs and increase workforce capacity

Applications for Round 4 of the GP Development Fund are now open.