Darren J Katz, Liza O’Donnell, Robert I McLachlan, Tim J Moss, Clare V Boothroyd, Veena Jayadev, Sarah R Catford
{"title":"The first Australian evidence-based guidelines on male infertility","authors":"Darren J Katz, Liza O’Donnell, Robert I McLachlan, Tim J Moss, Clare V Boothroyd, Veena Jayadev, Sarah R Catford","doi":"10.5694/mja2.70080","DOIUrl":"10.5694/mja2.70080","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Infertility affects about one in six couples and a male factor may contribute to 50% of cases. Until recently, no Australian-based clinical guidelines for the management of male infertility had been published. A panel of experts was assembled to formulate the first Australian evidence-based guidelines on male infertility.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main recommendations</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <div>\u0000 \u0000 <ul>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <li>The initial evaluation of male fertility should include a reproductive and medical history, physical (including scrotal) examination and semen analysis, and simultaneous evaluation of the female partner.</li>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <li>Further evaluation of men with suspected infertility should be guided by an expert in male reproduction and include hormonal evaluation and an estimate of testicular volume. Extra tests according to clinical indication are sperm DNA testing, somatic genetic testing and imaging.</li>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <li>Varicocele treatment should be considered in men with infertility who have a clinical varicocele(s) and associated clinical indications.</li>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <li>Men with azoospermia should be evaluated to differentiate between obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia.</li>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <li>Micro testicular sperm extraction is the preferred method of sperm retrieval in men with non-obstructive azoospermia and prior diagnostic biopsy or fine needle aspiration is not required.</li>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <li>The management of male infertility should include counselling men regarding potentially modifiable risk factors, associated health conditions, and implications for their future health and offspring.</li>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <li>Surgical management of infertility includes retrieval of sperm for use in assisted reproductive technology and treatment of varicocele, and non-surgical management includes management of hormonal disorders.</li>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <li>Specific guidelines are included for men with cryptorchidism, varicoceles and Klinefelter syndrome and cancer and male infertility.</li>\u0000 </ul>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Changes in management as a result of the guidelines</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These first Australian evidence-based g","PeriodicalId":18214,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Australia","volume":"223 11","pages":"653-663"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.5694/mja2.70080","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145482396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The impact of the BreastScreen NSW transition from film to digital mammography, 2002–2016: a linked population health data analysis","authors":"David M Roder","doi":"10.5694/mja2.70106","DOIUrl":"10.5694/mja2.70106","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18214,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Australia","volume":"223 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145452368","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Charlotte K Bainomugisa, Jessica Cameron, Paramita Dasgupta, Peter Baade
{"title":"The number of cancer-related deaths that could be attributable to spatial disparities in survival in Australia, 2010–2019: a retrospective population-based cohort study","authors":"Charlotte K Bainomugisa, Jessica Cameron, Paramita Dasgupta, Peter Baade","doi":"10.5694/mja2.70102","DOIUrl":"10.5694/mja2.70102","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To estimate the number of cancer-related deaths that could be attributed to spatial disparities in survival.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Design</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cohort study of cancer registry data.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Setting</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Australia, 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2019.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main outcome measures</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The numbers and percentages of cancer-related deaths attributable to spatial disparities in survival were estimated by calculating the numbers of cancer-related deaths that would have occurred if all areas in Australia met or exceeded a benchmark 5-year survival rate. This benchmark corresponded to the survival rate of the area with survival better than 80% of all areas, with “area” referring to residential location at diagnosis.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Of all 289 075 cancer-related deaths in Australia in 2010–2019, 33 892 (11.7%) were attributable to spatial disparities in survival. Although numbers were greatest in major cities, as remoteness and area disadvantage increased, the percentages of cancer-related deaths attributable to spatial disparities in survival increased. Of all cancer-related deaths in remote areas and the most socio-economically disadvantaged areas, 1569 of 5208 (30.1%) and 13 469 of 66 775 (20.2%) deaths were attributable to survival disparities, respectively. The highest numbers and percentages of attributable cancer deaths in remote areas were for rare cancers (529/1809 [29.3%]), lung cancer (300/1298 [23.1%]) and head and neck cancers (162/370 [43.8%]). In the most disadvantaged areas, rare cancers (3070/20 512 [15.0%]) and lung cancer (2640/18 057 [14.6%]) had the highest numbers of attributable cancer deaths.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings quantify the impact of spatial disparities in survival and highlight the need for equitable access to diagnostic and treatment services across Australia.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":18214,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Australia","volume":"223 11","pages":"593-601"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.5694/mja2.70102","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145459237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Shifting focus to adolescent wellbeing and inclusive participation in the digital age","authors":"Allyson R Todd, Elena Wang, Stephanie R Partridge","doi":"10.5694/mja2.70104","DOIUrl":"10.5694/mja2.70104","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18214,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Australia","volume":"223 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145452359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jodie Bailie, Helen Dickinson, Briony Lipton, Marissa Shields
{"title":"Shifting focus to adolescent wellbeing and inclusive participation in the digital age","authors":"Jodie Bailie, Helen Dickinson, Briony Lipton, Marissa Shields","doi":"10.5694/mja2.70105","DOIUrl":"10.5694/mja2.70105","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18214,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Australia","volume":"223 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145452406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Early childhood learning for lifelong health impact","authors":"Melissa Wake, Jon Quach, Jacqueline Davis","doi":"10.5694/mja2.70074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.70074","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18214,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Australia","volume":"223 S9","pages":"S22-S26"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145426050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sharing custodianship of learning: development of an Indigenous Nation-led learning charter model centring self-determination and wellbeing","authors":"Hayley McQuire, Melinda Mann","doi":"10.5694/mja2.70081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.70081","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To explore how redesigning learner recognition systems can value First Nations students’ diverse knowledges and skills, facilitating systemic educational reform aligned with Indigenous definitions of success, wellbeing, and sense of belonging.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Design</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Social lab methods employing iterative co-design, guided by First Nations-led frameworks aligned with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, ensuring community accountability and Indigenous self-determination.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Setting</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study was part of the Learner’s Journey Social Lab facilitated by Learning Creates Australia, which was conducted from 1 October 2020 to 31 October 2021. The First Nations team was co-convened in partnership with the National Indigenous Youth Education Coalition.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Participants</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Seventy-two participants from First Nations communities, including students and young people (aged 14–25 years), educators, community representatives, allied health professionals, policy makers, and academics.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Process</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Development of an Indigenous Nation-led learning charter model, informed by thematic analysis of interviews and a focus group exploring First Nations students’ learning journeys, ambitions, and social and cultural determinants of wellbeing.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Values</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Recognition and validation of Indigenous learning journeys; alignment of educational practices with cultural determinants of social and emotional wellbeing through the development of an Indigenous Nation-led learning charter; and enhanced agency, belonging and First Nations-defined success in educational environments.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Indigenous Nation-led learning charter was developed to support student sense of belonging; facilitate wellbeing-centred relationships and partnerships between schools, communities, and custodians; and increase student engagement and agency through recognition of cultural, community, and identity-related learning. The charter model is supported and implemented through a place-based community of practice and learner wellbeing recognition to","PeriodicalId":18214,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Australia","volume":"223 S9","pages":"S27-S33"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.5694/mja2.70081","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145426221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pasi Sahlberg, Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis, Sharon R Goldfeld
{"title":"Addressing the unnatural divide: why health and education are the necessary foundations of equitable child outcomes","authors":"Pasi Sahlberg, Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis, Sharon R Goldfeld","doi":"10.5694/mja2.70072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.70072","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Around the world, the outlook for children and young people is troubling: health outcomes are declining, inequities are widening, and opportunities for a good life are narrowing.<span><sup>1-3</sup></span> The 2024 Australian Early Development Census shows that one in four children start school developmentally vulnerable, the highest level ever recorded. Alarmingly, 23.5% of children are developmentally vulnerable on one or more domains. There were 12.5% of children vulnerable on two or more domains, which is the highest ever recorded with substantial inequities (20.3% of children in the most socio-economically disadvantaged communities are developmentally vulnerable on two or more domains compared with 7.6% in the least disadvantaged communities).<span><sup>4</sup></span></p><p>Globally, there has been virtually no improvement in the learning outcomes of students in the Western world since 2010.<span><sup>5</sup></span> For example, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports that the average reading literacy performance of 15-year-olds has fallen by the equivalent of a year of schooling since 2018, while learning and employment gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged students continue to widen.<span><sup>6</sup></span> These findings tell the same story: children’s wellbeing is deteriorating, their sense of belonging in school is declining, and inequities are deepening.</p><p>Yet in Australia, there is still no Minister for Children, and national approaches to wellbeing and safety remain fragmented. Although there are some positive signs for a brighter future, such as commitments to properly fund all public schools and compelling public support for government action on more equitable education and health outcomes for the young, the need for greater clarity on these commitments and actions is needed for lasting change. Against this backdrop, the Future Healthy Countdown 2030 progress report<span><sup>7</sup></span> lands with urgency, showing both the cost of inaction and the opportunity for change.</p><p>We begin this <i>Medical Journal of Australia</i> (<i>MJA</i>) supplement with the first Future Healthy Countdown 2030 progress report.<span><sup>7</sup></span> This is an important culmination of effort that began with a rigorous and pragmatic approach, developed through a consensus-building process with input from academics, policy experts, and young people.<span><sup>8</sup></span> The approach has resulted in 22 outcome measures spanning seven interconnected domains, with one practical policy action recommended per domain. If implemented before 2030, these policy actions could deliver substantial and lasting improvements in the health and wellbeing of children, young people, and future generations of Australians. To align these policy actions with political reality, each one is accompanied by a measure of community sentiment to identify where momentum for change is growing.</p><p>For this Future Healthy Co","PeriodicalId":18214,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Australia","volume":"223 S9","pages":"S3-S5"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.5694/mja2.70072","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145426220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Charlie Connell-Tobin, Linh Dang, Mietta Symmons-Joyce, Annette C Cairnduff, Andrew P R Kellett, Lauren Langley, Philippa Collin
{"title":"The power of recognising more: a qualitative study of young people’s perspectives on broader recognition for learning and wellbeing","authors":"Charlie Connell-Tobin, Linh Dang, Mietta Symmons-Joyce, Annette C Cairnduff, Andrew P R Kellett, Lauren Langley, Philippa Collin","doi":"10.5694/mja2.70071","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.70071","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To investigate how young people’s experiences of recognition in learning influence their wellbeing and to identify practical strategies for a more holistic and equitable educational approach that values diverse competencies beyond traditional academic measures.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Design</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The project used a youth co-research and participatory design. Young people with recent experience of secondary education led the study alongside university and industry-based researchers.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Setting</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Data were collected between 13 May and 27 June 2024, through five participatory workshops and 10 in-depth interviews, conducted online and in person. Workshops were conducted across four contexts: two school settings (one mainstream school, one flexible learning school), one university setting (with students admitted through non-Australian Tertiary Admission Rank pathways), and one online context.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Participants</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>60 young people aged 15–29 years from Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Main outcome measures</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Subjective and qualitative expression of knowledge and skills, wellbeing, and social connection.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Young people reported that the current education system values conformity over creativity and forces them to follow prescribed pathways through learning, rather than pursue interests, curiosities and passions. This contributes considerably to poor sense of self, heightened anxiety and stress. Comparatively, when young people experience broader forms of recognition, they have greater understanding of themselves, feel safe, are engaged, can identify knowledge and skills they have acquired, have developed social connections and have a sense of subjective wellbeing. Forms of broader recognition that acknowledge non-formal learning, adopt alternative assessment and credentialing, foster supportive relationships and assert a commitment to overcoming disadvantage are essential to educational experiences that promote wellbeing.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Broader recognition of learning, through non-formal learning, trusted rela","PeriodicalId":18214,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Australia","volume":"223 S9","pages":"S34-S41"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.5694/mja2.70071","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145426171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Karen M Barlow, Jennie L Ponsford, Alice Theodom, Gill Cowen, Gavin A Davis, Vicki Anderson, Franz E Babl, David Cole, Jennifer Cullen, Stuart R Dalziel, Melinda Fitzgerald, Howard Flavell, Caroline Yates, Rebecca Kimble, John H Olver, Rhonda Orr, Mark Ralfe, Michael Rose, Nick Rushworth, Julia Treleaven, Gary Browne, Nathan Delang, Sarah Harris, Gary Mitchell, Sean Tweedy
{"title":"Mild traumatic brain injury and concussion and persisting post-concussion symptoms: new guidelines to support evidence-based assessment and management in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand","authors":"Karen M Barlow, Jennie L Ponsford, Alice Theodom, Gill Cowen, Gavin A Davis, Vicki Anderson, Franz E Babl, David Cole, Jennifer Cullen, Stuart R Dalziel, Melinda Fitzgerald, Howard Flavell, Caroline Yates, Rebecca Kimble, John H Olver, Rhonda Orr, Mark Ralfe, Michael Rose, Nick Rushworth, Julia Treleaven, Gary Browne, Nathan Delang, Sarah Harris, Gary Mitchell, Sean Tweedy","doi":"10.5694/mja2.70082","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.70082","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18214,"journal":{"name":"Medical Journal of Australia","volume":"223 9","pages":"446-449"},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145426207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}