MJA Editor-in-Chief
LightNews LightNews
banner
editor.mja.com.au
MJA Editor-in-Chief
@editor.mja.com.au
840 followers 1K following 75 posts
Ginny Barbour, Editor-in-Chief, Medical Journal of Australia. Haematologist originally, Open Science advocate, editor.
See @mja.com.au for MJA & InSight+ posts
https://www.mja.com.au/ https://insightplus.mja.com.au/
Posts Replies Media Videos
editor.mja.com.au
Great discussion at launch today of 2030 Healthy Countdown Supplement, published in the MJA www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Sharon Goldfeld, Kate Lycett, Pasi Sahlberb, Planning Saw & Prue Warrilow
Very proud at @mja.com.au to publish from this important project www.aracy.org.au/future-healt...
Four speakers
November 10, 2025 at 1:02 AM
editor.mja.com.au
Last week, at a ceremony on the University of Wollongong campus on the beautiful lands of the Wandi Wandian and Dharawal Peoples @mja.com.au were honoured to receive a walking stick from Uncle Paul Scott who carved it for the 2025 Special Issue on Indigenous Health. www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
EiC Ginny Barbour receiving the stick from Uncle Paul Scott The story of the walking stick written by Uncle Paul Scott The cover of the 2025 MJA Special issue on Indigenous Health
September 30, 2025 at 10:51 PM
editor.mja.com.au
Key finding: "Extreme heat, floods, bushfires, poor air quality &
communicable diseases will escalate health risks.
Those with pre-existing health conditions, including mental ill-health, are most at risk. This includes the very young & our older populations... www.acs.gov.au/pages/nation...
Cover of Australia's first National Climate Risk Assessment
September 15, 2025 at 4:21 AM
editor.mja.com.au
Very proud that the current issue of @mja.com.au focuses on #healthy #ageing - one of today's most important societal health challenges. buff.ly/s3JLbtv
Articles on: fall prevention; indicators of quality & safety of long term aged care; models of care across settings supporting ageing in place
Cover of MJA issue on healthy ageing
August 18, 2025 at 6:30 AM
editor.mja.com.au
Some fascinating history here including reference to the 1934 account in @mja.com.au of Weil's disease in cane workers in Northern Queensland. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
Image of cane burning Map showing cases of Weil's disease
August 18, 2025 at 1:03 AM
editor.mja.com.au
Heard the news about the UK lowering the voting age to 16?
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Here's the rationale for this in Australia - published last year as part of VicHealth Future Healthy Countdown 2030 supplement in @mja.com.au
www.mja.com.au/journal/2024...
www.mja.com.au/journal/2024...
Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash
July 17, 2025 at 10:47 PM
editor.mja.com.au
The final paper is from Stephen McDonald and colleagues "Am I on the list? Clinician‐reported factors for kidney transplantation non‐waitlisting among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with kidney failure: a cross‐sectional study" www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Quote from this paper "Am I on the list? Clinician‐reported factors for kidney transplantation non‐waitlisting among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with kidney failure: a cross‐sectional study" https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/223/1/am-i-list-clinician-reported-factors-kidney-transplantation-non-waitlisting
July 11, 2025 at 5:50 AM
editor.mja.com.au
The next research paper is by Tanika Ridgeway and colleagues "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices on the National Lung Cancer Screening Program: a qualitative study from Worimi and Awabakal country"
www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Image plus tex from research paper is by Tanika Ridgeway and colleagues "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices on the National Lung Cancer Screening Program: a qualitative study from Worimi and Awabakal country" https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/223/1/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-voices-national-lung-cancer-screening
July 11, 2025 at 5:50 AM
editor.mja.com.au
The first research paper is by Edith Waugh and colleagues "What do Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory value during the operation journey? A qualitative study" www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Image plus text from research paper is by Edith Waugh and colleagues "What do Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory value during the operation journey? A qualitative study" https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/223/1/what-do-aboriginal-people-northern-territory-value-during-operation-journey
July 11, 2025 at 5:50 AM
editor.mja.com.au
The next perspective is from Paul Saunders and colleagues "Fulfilling First Nations health, cultural safety and equity accreditation standards in primary medical education: reflections from a First Nations desktop review team"
www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Image plus text from perspective is from Paul Saunders and colleagues "Fulfilling First Nations health, cultural safety and equity accreditation standards in primary medical education: reflections from a First Nations desktop review team" https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/223/1/fulfilling-first-nations-health-cultural-safety-and-equity-accreditation
July 11, 2025 at 5:50 AM
editor.mja.com.au
The next perspective is from Mollie Wilson and colleagues "Core components of a best practice First Nations cancer coordinator role"
www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Image plus text from perspective is from Mollie Wilson and colleagues "Core components of a best practice First Nations cancer coordinator role" https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/223/1/core-components-best-practice-first-nations-cancer-coordinator-role
July 11, 2025 at 5:50 AM
editor.mja.com.au
The next perspective is from Georgia Tongs and colleagues "Climate and environmental crisis: effects on ear and hearing health in Australia and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples" www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Image plus text from perspective is from Georgia Tongs and colleagues "Climate and environmental crisis: effects on ear and hearing health in Australia and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples" https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/223/1/climate-and-environmental-crisis-effects-ear-and-hearing-health-australia-and
July 11, 2025 at 5:50 AM
editor.mja.com.au
The next perspective is from Tamara Mackean and colleagues "Decolonising primary health care practice: a definition and its importance" www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Image plue text from perspective is from Tamara J Mackean and colleagues "Decolonising primary health care practice: a definition and its importance" https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/223/1/decolonising-primary-health-care-practice-definition-and-its-importance
July 11, 2025 at 5:50 AM
editor.mja.com.au
The first perspective is by Prof Chelsea Watego and colleagues from Carumba Institute, QUT "Taking up the challenge of eliminating racism in health care through talking about race (and culture)"
www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Image plus text from perspective is by Prof Chelsea Watego and colleagues from Carumba Institute, QUT "Taking up the challenge of eliminating racism in health care through talking about race (and culture)" https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/223/1/taking-challenge-eliminating-racism-health-care-through-talking-about-race-and
July 11, 2025 at 5:50 AM
editor.mja.com.au
The editorial "Indigenous Health Special Issue 2025: carving our path with spirit, strength and solidarity" was led by Dr Paul Saunders from University of Wollongong and frames the whole issue
www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Image plus text from "Indigenous Health Special Issue 2025: carving our path with spirit, strength and solidarity" was led by Dr Paul Saunders from University of Wollongong and frames the whole issue https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2025/223/1/indigenous-health-special-issue-2025-carving-our-path-spirit-strength-and
July 11, 2025 at 5:50 AM
editor.mja.com.au
We were very honoured to work with the Guest Editors, who were generous with their time & expertise.
Don't miss the podcast with Dr Paul Saunders www.mja.com.au/podcast/223/...

and InSight+
insightplus.mja.com.au/2025/26/carv...

Thank you to everyone who worked on this issue
Image of Dr Paul Saunders Volume 223, Issue 1 - 7 Jul 2025 MJA Podcasts 2025 Episode 13: Hearing Indigenous voices in medical education It’s NAIDOC week and the MJA’s – special issue on Indigenous Health “The MJA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we live and work across Australia. This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people and pay my respects to their Elders past and present.” Associate Professor Paul Saunders is a proud BIR up eye man whose family comes from the mid north coast of New South Wales. He is the associate professor and academic lead for Indigenous Health in the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Wollongong. He is one of the Guest editorial team and is our special guest today.
July 11, 2025 at 5:50 AM
editor.mja.com.au
For the end of #NAIDOC week, here's a round up of the articles in @mja.com.au Special Issue on Indigenous Health titled “Carving our path with spirit, strength and solidarity”
The beautiful cover features The Red Belly Black Snake Walking Stick, a powerful carving by Uncle Paul Scott.
#NAIDOC2025
MJA cover with The Red Belly Black Snake Walking Stick, a powerful carving by Uncle Paul Scott Image and story about The Red Belly Black Snake Walking Stick, a powerful carving by Uncle Paul Scott
July 11, 2025 at 5:50 AM
editor.mja.com.au
This issue of @mja.com.au has 2024 @racgp.bsky.social & Healthy Bones Australia guideline for osteoporosis management & fracture prevention www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Great podcast with Prof Peter Wong from @westmeadinst.bsky.social & Healthy Bones Australia www.mja.com.au/podcast/222/...
Osteoporosis risk assessment, diagnosis and management MJA Podcasts 2025 Episode 8 - 2024 Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Healthy Bones Australia guideline for osteoporosis
May 19, 2025 at 6:48 AM
editor.mja.com.au
There's medical interest in #mushrooms right now & and not a lot published from Australia. @mja.com.au has published various papers on the toxicity of #Amanita species, including a case series in 2013 doi.org/10.5694/mja1... and descriptions from 1943 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.5694/...
Screenshot of 1943 paper on poisonous plant Screenshot of paper on Amanita phalloides poisoning andtreatment with silibinin in the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales
May 14, 2025 at 9:24 AM
editor.mja.com.au
Turns out @mja.com.au has published quite a lot on Irukandji jellyfish - illustration below of its size...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/doSea...
A scale illustration of an Irukandji jellyfish and its tentacles. Below the jelly's medusa bell are two polyp forms of the species. By Anynobody - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2850104
May 14, 2025 at 9:02 AM
editor.mja.com.au
The fabulous people from Australian National CPAS, including Dr Will Grant, pointed me to this podcast featuring an alarming 1964 @mja.com.au paper on Irukandji jellyfish irukandji jellyfish onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.5694/j.1326-5377.1964.tb114424.x

podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/t...
Paper on Irukandji jellyfish in MJA
May 14, 2025 at 9:02 AM
editor.mja.com.au
At @mja.com.au we were intrigued by this case of what happens if you are unlucky enough to get on the wrong side of a platypus. They may look cute but the hind leg spur is fearsome and their venom packs a punch. Best admired from a distance. www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Platypus spur with 1 cm markings at base of photo for scale The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is an aquatic monotreme native to eastern Australia and Tasmania
May 5, 2025 at 9:34 PM
editor.mja.com.au
Important set of climate related papers in @mja.com.au this week - relevant to policy across Australia
The 2024 report of the MJA–Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Australia emerging as a hotspot for litigation
www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
#ClimateCrisis
#ClimateHealth
#ClimateAction
Cover of MJA with planes and turbines against red sky
April 7, 2025 at 6:50 AM
editor.mja.com.au
Michael Skilton writes on inequality of health care in this week's Editor's Choice @mja.com.au specifically discussing inequalities in allocation & use of NDIS support
Editor's choice:
www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Article: www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Editorial: www.mja.com.au/journal/2025...
Person holding up inequality sign on cover of MJA
February 17, 2025 at 6:33 AM
editor.mja.com.au
Given global events, it's critical to monitor whether official guidelines in Australia include the impact of sex and gender on health care.

Paper in @mja.com.au onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.5694/...

Explanation of its importance @aunz.theconversation.com
theconversation.com/australias-c...
Screenshot saying Australia’s clinical guidelines shape our health care. Why do so many still ignore sex and gender?
February 11, 2025 at 11:56 PM