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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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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos SEPTEMBER 24 , 2024: Minister for Housing Rose Jackson speaks announcing the State Government's new Land Audit. Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns and Minister for Housing Rose Jackson announce the second tranche of the NSW Government land audit, releasing State Government owned property for housing. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

This is a sickening, inexorable slide over a cliff …

Public health systems have become a heartless, bureaucratic, mechanistic force that damages doctors and patients in its wake, a tragic phenomenon writ large in the NSW psychiatry dispute.

Natasha Robinson

exclusiveHealth

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos JANUARY 15 , 2025: Doctors and Representatives of the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (ASMOF) gather to provide a briefing on the urgent crisis facing the NSW health system from 21 January. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Mass psychiatrist resignations hit multitude of patients

Psychiatrists serve patients in public hospitals across the gamut of conditions from surgery to transplants to palliative care – all are about to be hit by the NSW mental health system crisis.

Natasha Robinson

HOMELESS SPEAK UPNation

16/01/2025. Reverend Bill Crews supports homeless people at his charity and is desperately worried about the impact of the mental health crisis in NSW. Pictured with homeless residents Joe Karadjian, 61 and Kristen Bakers, 33 at breakfast time at BillÃs restaurant Loaves and Fishes, inside his church in Ashfield, in SydneyÃs inner-west. Britta Campion / The Australian

Nation’s mental health patients’ message to minister: ‘Pull your head in’

The nation’s most vulnerable mental health patients demand psychiatrists be looked after as a charity boss urges system change.

Natasha Robinson

EXCLUSIVEHealth

15/1/24: Ariane Beetson experienced severe mental health problems as was a young mum and was admitted to a mental health hospital. She is now an author and advocate for perinatal health and says the impact on new mothers will be enormous if public mother and baby units shut beds as a result of the psychiatry dispute in NSW. John Feder/The Australian.

New mums face mental health ‘disaster’

Mother and baby mental health units are already refusing intakes as the NSW doctors’ dispute begins to hit patients and fears the shut-down of critically under-resourced services will be catastrophic rise.

Natasha Robinson

studyHealth

3D illustration of a DNA molecule with sparkling effects symbolizing complexity and genetic diversity. Futuristic concept of genomics, precision medicine, and computational life sciences.

Depression risk lurks in the genes

Researchers say it’s now beyond doubt that depression has a biological basis as well as being the result of circumstance as the world’s largest study into the genetics of the condition identifies almost 700 genes associated with risk.

Natasha Robinson

exclusiveHealth

13/1/25: Dr James Lawyer is a child and adolescent psychiatrist working in public hospitals in western Sydney and has handed in his resignation along with 200 others. He says the system is threadbare, underfunded and psychiatrists are despondent and exhausted. John Feder/The Australian.

Psychiatrist’s lament: ‘I don’t want to resign’

Psychiatrists say their dispute with the NSW government is about far more than pay. This is why one psychiatrist is walking away from the public system.

Natasha Robinson

MENTAL HEALTHHealth

Two women sitting in armchairs and talking. Female coach, psychotherapist, psychologist, advisor and patient, client, psychotherapy. Pain and heartache

Government begs psychiatrists: please don’t resign

The NSW government has escalated its brinkmanship with its psychiatry workforce, refusing to pay them more and warning of the widespread impacts of mass resignations.

Natasha Robinson

exclusiveHealth

Public mental health system teeters on brink

As 201 out of 260 staff specialist psychiatrists quit in NSW, trainees are being pushed to take up more frontline care – sparking fears for their wellbeing and that of their patients.

Natasha Robinson

HealthHealth

Close up of happy young friends having fun and toasting and celebrating with red wine during party. Photo: iStock

So alcohol causes cancer. How much is too much?

This week the outgoing US Surgeon General called for labels on alcohol to warn of cancer risk. Here’s what we know about the odds of various levels of alcohol consumption in developing cancer.

Natasha Robinson

commentaryHealth

Vital momentum for genomic medicine

Australia’s implementation of genomic medicine from the realms of research to diagnosis and clinical care for patients is beginning to be fast-tracked, but big challenges remain.

Natasha Robinson

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/natasha-robinson/page/4