See more details

As the Australian Federal Budget approaches in May 2025, members within Australia are warmly encouraged to feedback on the draft funding recommendations we intend to put forward to represent your interests within the upcoming RACP Pre-Budget submission to Federal Treasury. Read the full Workforce and Health Care Reform recommendations (PDF) for more details.

Your feedback will help shape and augment the recommendations we intend to propose in the Pre- Budget submission and potential future funding asks. Please spare five to 10 minutes to review the adequacy of the recommendations for you and your patients. You will be asked only two questions in this consultation process. All feedback received will be deidentified per the RACP Privacy Policy.

Please note that the funding recommendations have been aligned to the current specific Australian budget and political context, noting expected Budget constraints, the Government’s primary concern with economic inflation, costs of living, a likely upcoming election, and delivery of the Budget in caretaker mode. As such, the pitch and nature of the Budget recommendations have been scaled to the current context and its constraints.

See more details

Members are asked to indicate whether they support RACP endorsement of the National Guideline for Newborn Screening in Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Guideline, Technical and Administrative Report, Summary of feedback from public consultation, and Fact sheet can be found on the UNSW website.

Members are asked to provide advice regarding RACP endorsement by COB Wednesday 29 January 2025.

The Guideline:

• outlines how health professionals can provide a child and family-focused approach to newborn screening, and ensure children have equitable access to diagnosis and care for SMA
• is intended to span the entire healthcare journey of the newborn, from screening, through to diagnosis and immediate post-diagnosis assessment and care for the newborn and their family
• is considered essential to give children with SMA equitable access to an expedient diagnosis of SMA and best care based on evidence
• has been developed in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council's standards. Research was primarily carried out through the University of New South Wales (UNSW), with the Guideline Development Group comprised of a broad range of 37 experts in screening, diagnostics, clinical care, advocacy, and patient representation across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
• underwent public consultation between August and September 2024

If you have any queries, contact RACPConsult@racp.edu.au.