Meningococcal peak season begins, experts warn
Published 14 July 2025, 9:09 am
Experts are warning young adults and parents of young children to be aware of early symptoms of meningococcal disease, as Australia enters its peak season. The bacterial infection can accelerate rapidly, in many cases causing death or leading to life-changing complications.
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ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Woman's heart surgery at Flinders Medical Centre delayed for months
A South Australian woman who feared she might not make it while waiting for heart surgery has been told her life-saving procedure has been scheduled for next week. Bek Batt told ABC Radio Adelaide on Tuesday morning that she was told in January that she needed a pacemaker and two stents in her heart, as well as a cardiac ablation, to treat an irregular heartbeat. The Victor Harbor woman said she had met a surgeon and was told she would be waiting for no more than a month. "He said if he had his way I'd be in within two weeks, I was promised it would be no more than two weeks, no more than four weeks, I'm still waiting," she said. "I think I'll be gone before I get the heart surgery." She said she was worried she would have a stroke while waiting for the treatment at Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) but understood the significant demand on healthcare workers. "They're all under pressure and there's no way around it," Ms Batt said. After speaking with the ABC, Ms Batt was told her surgery had been scheduled for next week. The woman said she was "very relieved" to have a booked-in date. Earlier today, SA Health chief executive Robyn Lawrence said the health system was facing "unprecedented demand" in some areas because of "a really bad flu season this year". "It's not a crisis but it's definitely extremely busy right across our system," Dr Lawrence said. "We also have 261 patients waiting for residential aged care, which is a 40 per cent uplift since last year." She said the decision to postpone category 1 elective surgery was up to doctors at individual hospitals. "If the hospital needs to make that call and they can do it safely, they will make the appropriate decision," she said. The FMC, the biggest hospital in Adelaide's southern suburbs, is where ambulances spend more time waiting to offload patients — also known as being "ramped" — than any other Adelaide hospital excluding the Royal Adelaide, according to government data which dates back to 2017. The number of hours ambulances spent ramped outside the FMC increased from 876 in February to 1,121 in March — the biggest spike of any Adelaide hospital. In June, the SA Salaried Medical Officers Association (SASMOA) said the level of violence has increased in the hospital's emergency department where several patients have threatened doctors and caused property damage.
SBS Australia
3 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Hundreds more families to be contacted after new revelations over accused childcare worker
This article contains reference to child abuse. Four additional Melbourne childcare centres have been identified as locations where alleged sex offender Joshua Dale Brown was employed. Authorities are working to contact the families whose children attended the centres during Brown's employment between August 2024 and February this year. The newly listed locations, all operated by Affinity Education, include Kids Academy Waratah Estate in Mickleham, as well as Milestones Early Learning centres in Tarneit, Greensborough, and Braybrook. Brown has been charged with more than 70 sex offences against eight alleged victims younger than two at a centre at Point Cook, in south-west Melbourne, between April 2022 and January 2023. Police believe Brown has worked at 23 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025. Alongside the amended list of dates and locations, police confirmed that Brown did not work at Papilio Early Learning in Hoppers Crossing between 22 August 2024 and 12 March 2025. "Where additional dates have been identified, impacted families will be contacted by the Department of Health from 15 July, 2025," Victoria Police said in a statement. "A key focus of the investigation has been establishing a complete work history for Brown. "This has been extremely complex due to Childcare Approved providers not having centralised records, requiring detectives to execute search warrants to obtain handwritten records, shift rosters and other critical information." Since the charges came to light on 1 July, police have received more than 270 Crime Stoppers reports. Victoria's Chief Health Officer Dr Christian McGrath said the department was contacting around 830 families to offer support and provide testing recommendations. "This is obviously a highly distressing situation, and I want to reassure all families being contacted that the potential exposure risk to an infectious disease for their child remains low," McGrath said. "Our recommendation for testing is a precaution and the test results we've received to date as part of this investigation reaffirms that the risk is low." McGrath said there remains no wider public health risk, and the diseases being tested for can be treated with antibiotics. Parents 'furious' over earlier allegations It was revealed on Sunday that Brown was the subject of two separate internal investigations at G8 Education, both unrelated to sexual abuse and occurring after the alleged incidents he has been charged over. The two events were substantiated and reported to state authorities but Brown's working with children certificate remained in place. Melody Glaister's daughter, now six, attended the Creative Garden Early Learning Centre Point Cook during Brown's employment at the centre. She told AAP she was "furious" to learn of the earlier abuse allegations, and outraged that he was allowed to retain his approval to work with children despite them. "If the appropriate action had been taken, it's very likely there would be hundreds of parents right now that wouldn't be in the same situation," she said. The first investigation in April 2023 found Brown had aggressively handled an upset child without offering emotional support. He received a formal warning and was placed on a performance plan before taking three months' leave. In January 2024, Brown was suspended and later resigned following new allegations, including raising his voice at three children and forcibly grabbing one child's arm, another's leg, and pulling off a child's shoe. The company confirmed the allegations were substantiated. Brown was later employed by Affinity Education, which only became aware of the recent allegations through recent media reports. Victoria's acting premier Jaclyn Symes was asked on Monday why the complaints had not triggered Brown to lose his working with children check. Symes declined to comment on why Brown was allowed to continue working with children, citing the ongoing police investigation. Victoria's rapid child safety review would consider if a complaint or allegation should trigger the permit to be suspended or cancelled, Symes said. Glaister called it a "systemic failure", saying multiple parties must be held accountable. She described the past two weeks as a whirlwind, adding she never imagined her child would have to undergo testing. "I can't fathom how I'm in a situation where I've had to get my six-year-old tested for sexually transmitted infections," she said. "It's not something that any parent should ever have to go through ... this should never have happened." Readers seeking support can ring Lifeline crisis support on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25). More information is available at and . Anyone seeking information or support relating to sexual abuse can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 or Blue Knot on 1300 657 380.
SBS Australia
3 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Mushrooms are beneficial for health, but beware of poisonous ones.
LISTEN TO SBS Urdu 15/07/2025 10:41 Urdu According to nutritionist Sania Kiyani, mushrooms are an important part of our daily diet, used in a variety of dishes from home kitchens to restaurants. They are not only an excellent source of vitamins but are also used medicinally to treat various illnesses. She says that although mushrooms are beneficial for health, it is essential to ensure they are not poisonous before consumption — because toxic mushrooms often appear beautiful and resemble regular edible ones, making them hard to identify. Sania Kiyani explains that there are some signs that can help with initial identification, but she advises not to pick or touch wild mushrooms growing along footpaths, in backyards, or open safe use, she recommends buying only mushrooms with verified labels. More details can be heard in the podcast. ___________ Listen Wednesday or Friday program at this link. SBS Urdu is on Instagram , Facebook and YouTube. Our SBS Audio app is available for Apple and Android devices. Listen on Spotify Podcast or Apple Podcast. Listen Wednesday or Friday program at this link. SBS Urdu is on Instagram , Facebook and YouTube. Our SBS Audio app is available for Apple and Android devices. Listen on Spotify Podcast or Apple Podcast.
