Attracting healthcare workers to regional communities is vital. New accommodation on Kangaroo Island will help visiting doctors, nurses and other health professionals live and work locally, strengthening services and improving access to care for local residents. It's part of a $17.5 million upgrade of the Kangaroo Island Health Service, delivering improved hospital facilities and support services. This is all about strengthening local healthcare, while ensuring that KI residents can access quality care closer to home. With Senator Charlotte Walker + Jenni Mitton MP

An update on the aged-care crisis.

Our $20 million expansion of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is now complete ✅ We've increased capacity of the unit to 16 beds, which is helping more critically ill children access life-saving specialist care. This investment strengthens care for children and their families right now, while the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital will deliver an even larger intensive care unit for the future.

We’re establishing a Chief Paramedic Officer to give our paramedics a dedicated voice at the highest levels of our health system. This role, which has been strongly advocated for by the Ambulance Employees Association, will sit alongside our other chief clinical officers providing leadership for paramedicine, driving improvements in workforce development, clinical practice, service delivery and patient safety.

Vaccines save lives. But don't just take my word for it - this is Madeline's story.

There are currently 488 older South Australians ready to be discharged, but are waiting in our health system for a Federal aged care bed. That's down from 497 last week.

We're introducing the toughest illicit tobacco laws in the nation. Restricting access to tobacco related products and increasing enforcement will have positive long-term benefits on both our health system, and for young people. 2 out of every 3 people who keep smoking will die from tobacco-related diseases. While smoking rates in South Australia are the lowest ever, we'll keep doing what is needed to reduce it even further. Because the health impacts on South Australians are too damaging to sit back and let it continue.

An update on the aged-care crisis. For the third week in a row, the number of people waiting for a federal aged-care bed in our state has reached a new high. That's why our hospitals are under increased pressure, despite record investment. But let me be clear once again - there is absolutely no blame to be worn by older South Australians. They are the victims here. And we are fighting for them.

Recovery starts with having somewhere safe to call home. South Australia's first Haven Foundation Australia residence has opened in Clearview, delivering 16 supported homes for people living with psychosocial disability, helping them out of hospital and back into the community.

Today I stood with experts from our health system, urging South Australians to roll up their sleeves, and to get vaccinated. I pledged to stand up in support of vaccinations, and to call out anti-vax rhetoric. Will the Liberals, One Nation and Greens also sign the pledge?

Work has started on the $65m Burnside Hospital Health Precinct 🏗️ This is an important piece of health infrastructure for our state - so we elevated its approval to the State Planning Commission. Meaning that more people in Adelaide's east can get the care they need, sooner.

As of yesterday, SA Health has detected another case of measles. This again highlights the need for all South Australians to ensure we are up to date with vaccinations to not only protect ourselves, but also our loved ones from preventable diseases.

For those with hay fever and asthma, knowing what’s in the air matters. For the first time since 2017, South Australians can now check local pollen forecasts, helping them prepare for high pollen days, while strengthening our preparedness for thunderstorm asthma.

There are currently 488 older South Australians ready to be discharged, but are waiting in our health system for a Federal aged care bed. That's up from 484 last week - and it’s the highest number ever.

Toxic metals like uranium and cadmium have been found in illicit tobacco products in NZ. Some of these products have been seized in SA, so we’re investigating whether they contain similar toxic metals, to further protect South Australians from tobacco-related harm.