Monthly Archives: July 2022

3.6 million and counting: Victoria’s Newborn bloodspot screening program – recent innovations and future directions

Victoria’s newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) program commenced in 1966 with screening for phenylketonuria, and from the early 1970’s close to 100% of newborns were being screened. Improvements in analytical and genetic testing technologies saw the successive introduction of screening for congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis and 22 metabolic conditions. Today, Victoria’s NBS program detects about 80 babies per year with these conditions, preventing life-long debilitating outcomes and even death.

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NAIDOC Week The Uluru Statement from the Heart and the significance to children

The Uluru Statement from the Heart is an extraordinary united and unifying call and a unique opportunity for a better Australia. It will be talked about at length in the next few years as we move towards a referendum for Constitutional reform. The result will be crucial for child health in this country, so child health professionals need to be informed.    

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