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Neurology 27 April 2026

Functional neurological disorder in Australia: disabling, stigmatised, and under-served

Sarah* is 34, works in administration, and has spent two years without a diagnosis. Her symptoms began with cognitive episodes — words vanishing from her screen mid-sentence and memory lapses — followed by functional seizures and right-sided weakness requiring emergency department care. CT scans and an MRI were unremarkable. She was variously labelled with migraine and anxiety and referred back to her GP. Patients like Sarah are common, yet our health system offers no clear pathway for their care.

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Pain management 13 April 2026

Chronic low back pain in Australia and the importance of targeted rehabilitation

Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and Australia is no exception. Around 4 million Australians live with back pain and it is one of the most common reasons people see their GP or physiotherapist. The personal toll from chronic low back pain is significant and so too is the system impact with billions spent each year on health care and lost through reduced workplace productivity or early retirement.

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Public health 20 April 2026

Australia’s first population biobank a win for health research

The Australian Health Biobank is Australia’s first national general population biobank. It provides an unprecedented opportunity to capture population-level trends in disease states and/or environmental exposures, and accelerate integration of scientific discoveries into policy, clinical practice, and future health innovations.

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