MJA in 2026: New Processes And a New Look
2026 marks an inflection point for the MJA in a number of ways. During 2025 we spent time considering how best to position the journal for the future.
Opinions
We must invest now in digital health interventions for adolescents
The current health status of Australian adolescents is concerning. Over 80% are not meeting national dietary or physical activity guidelines. Rates of mental ill-health are also rising, with around three quarters of Australian adolescents experiencing depression or anxiety symptoms. Yet as a nation adolescent health is not invested in enough.
Thunderstorm asthma: causes, risks, and mitigation
As climate change drives increased aeroallergen prevalence and more extreme weather, incidence of thunderstorm asthma could become more frequent and unpredictable.
Vaping can help disadvantaged Australians quit smoking. What now for clinical practice?
Vaping has shown promise as an effective quit smoking aid in the general population, but prior to this clinical trial vaping’s role in helping those experiencing socio-economic hardship to quit was unknown.
Why estate and succession planning matter for medical professionals
As a medical practitioner, you pride yourself on being meticulous, analytical, and aware of risks vs outcomes. Qualities that define your profession. Yet without an estate plan, everything you’ve built remains vulnerable. Your business, your assets, and your legacy deserve the same level of diligence as being a clinician.
A stronger focus on prevention could help governments rein in health care and social spending
At the start of the new year, many of us will commit to joining a gym, eating healthier or cutting back on drinking and smoking. We do this knowing that investing in our health today will pay off into to the future – that prevention is better (and cheaper) than the cure.
Diagnosing and managing bleeding disorders in regional and remote Australia
Patients in regional and remote Australia face major barriers to bleeding disorder diagnosis and management due to limited expertise, transport delays, and lack of specialised testing. These challenges disproportionately affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Don’t get burned: make sun safety a school rule
Despite the success of sun-safe policies amongst primary school children, there are no such policies for sun safety in secondary schools in New South Wales.
Taming the predator that stalks my family
As pancreas cancer rates rise, Professor Steve Robson reflects on his personal ties to the disease, and his hopes for future screening and treatment.
