Natasha Robinson

Natasha Robinson is The Australian’s health editor and writes across medicine, science, health policy, research, and lifestyle. Natasha has been a journalist for more than 20 years in newspapers and broadcasting, has been recognised as the National Press Club’s health journalist of the year and is a Walkley awards finalist and a Kennedy Awards winner. She is a former Northern Territory correspondent for The Australian with a special interest in Indigenous health. Natasha is also a graduate of the NSW Legal Profession Admission Board’s Diploma of Law and has been accepted as a doctoral candidate at QUT’s Australian Centre for Health Law Research, researching involuntary mental health treatment and patient autonomy.

Natasha Robinson

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EXCLUSIVEHealth

Severe mental illnesses can shorten lives by 18 years in Australia. Picture: Getty Images

Shocking life expectancy gap has not shifted in a century

The huge gap in life expectancy between those with severe mental illness and the rest of the population is growing in Australia, with no improvement in sight.

Natasha Robinson

cast adriftHealth

Young Adelaide man Patrick Leunig suffered schitzo-affective disorder and died on Easter Sunday, 2024

‘As a father I’m heartbroken, as a taxpayer I’m appalled’

Patrick Leunig went to a top private school and was set to study law. Then his life spiralled downwards. His grief-stricken father tells of how our system failed his son.

Natasha Robinson

InquirerHealth

Freedom fight: Locked up and invisible in the heart of Australia

A young Aboriginal man’s escape from hell charts a community win for one of the many cognitively impaired and mentally troubled First Nations offenders who languish in our prison system.

Natasha Robinson

EXCLUSIVEHealth

Billie (a pseudonym), pictured as a child, is now 29 and has schizophrenia. She spent 1200 days in hospital before she turned 18. Pictured - Supplied

‘The mental health ward became my prison cell’: a patient’s plea for change

Billie spent more than 1000 days in hospital before she turned 18. Damaged but determined, she is now speaking out for mental health reform.

Natasha Robinson

EXCLUSIVEHealth

There are chronic shortages of public inpatient mental health beds. Picture: Getty Images

Australia has a chance to fix its mental health system. Will we take it?

Australia’s broken mental health system has failed hundreds of thousands of people with severe illness with ineffective care – and that’s if they can access any at all. But one initiative may shift the dial.

Natasha Robinson

Moderna factoryHealth

Vaccine doubt still lingers as plant opens

Australia finally has sovereign manufacture of mRNA vaccines as new analysis reveals six in ten of all parents are feeling distressed since the pandemic over vaccinating their children.

Natasha Robinson

EXCLUSIVEHealth

BiVACOR titanium heart Inventor Daniel Timms PHD is running a clinical trial of the artificial heart with US heart surgeons which may provide a long-awaited breakthrough for people with heart failure. Jane Dempster/The Australian.

Heart surgery’s Manhattan Project an Australian success story

After a 25-year quest by a Brisbane-born biomedical engineer, the first Australian patient has been implanted with a groundbreaking artificial heart that can keep a patient alive even without a pulse.

Natasha Robinson

AUSTRALIA’S DNA TESTHealth

3D rendering of DNA digital data storage concept.

‘Scratching surface’ of research into rare childhood diseases

It’s one of the great promises of genomic medicine – all children with a rare disease will have their genetic disorder pinpointed and treated.

Natasha Robinson

Needle in a haystackHealth

03-11-2024 - Genomics. Josie Fishwick, 12, has the rare genetic condition FOXG1 which leads to multiple developmental difficulties. Pictured with her parents Scott & Sara Fishwick, aunt Natasha Robinson (author of this story), and sisters Alice, 8, and Isabelle (in pink), 4, at home in Penshurst. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers / The Australian

Josie’s story: from rare condition to ray of hope

When my niece Josie was born, genomics was not ready to diagnose her condition. Now my selfless, capable sister has hope there will one day be a treatment for Josie’s incredibly rare syndrome.

Natasha Robinson

cutting-edge scienceHealth

14-year old Yuna (C), the daughter of genetic researchers and neuroscientists Dr Soo-Kyung Lee (L) and Jae Lee (R), was diagnosed FOXG1 Syndrome. Eldest brother Joon (Far left). The couple are now developing a therapy for the rare condition, and will open the world's first institute dedicated to FOXG1 research at the University of Buffalo in the United States. Picture: Supplied

Twist of fate leads scientist on a quest for a cure

The birth of American geneticist Soo-Kyung Lee’s daughter Yuna changed not only the scientist’s personal life, but launched her career as the world’s foremost scientist researching FOXG1.

Natasha Robinson

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/natasha-robinson/page/3