What is known about the topic? Rheumatic heart disease is a disease of poverty, much commoner in Indigenous than in other communities. What does this paper add? This paper briefly reviews the problems and reflects in potential solutions, known and emerging. What are the implications for practitioners? Practitioners may be interested to see where ther might be hope for a better future, for rheumatic heart disease prevention.

What is known about the topic? The context of demographic reporting and diversity within paediatric clinical trials with Australian sites, a multi-cultural nation with highly increasing numbers of migrants, remains unclear. What does this paper add? Of 262 studies included, 154 (58.8%) clinical trials did not report any of the variables of interest. Indigenous status was most reported (n = 40, 15.3%), followed by ethnicity and cultural background (n = 30, 11.5%). What are the implications for practitioners? Current levels of reporting are low, reducing the generalisability of results from these clinical trials and raising questions surrounding equity in paediatric clinical trials.

What is known about the topic? Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) cause significant morbidity and mortality. Australian treatment costs for 2016–2031 are predicted to be AU$317 million, with 60% attributed to hospitalisations. What does this paper add? We report the first ‘real-world’ hospitalisation patterns and costs associated with ARF, RHD and complications. Admissions have increased annually over 2012–2017 with costs of AU$130.6 million. What are the implications for practitioners? Successful ARF/RHD prevention would deliver significant hospital cost savings. Investment in primary and specialist health care in regional areas may reduce frequent emergency admissions and regional transfers.

What is known about the topic? There is no current evidence pertaining to what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples think of direct prescriptions from the pharmacist for six conditions: low-risk oral contraceptives, antibiotics for urinary tract infections, and four minor skin ailments. What does this paper add? This paper provides a protocol to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ perspectives are captured and amplified for policy makers. What are the implications for practitioners? Practitioners are made aware of the perspective of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples regarding pharmacists prescribing certain medications.

What is known about this topic? Access to dental care is difficult for many Australians, particularly in rural and remote regions. As the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples increase with increased remoteness, the limited access is reflected by the high prevalence of dental disease within this population. What does this paper add? This review identifies where and how oral health services are provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in rural and remote regions. What are the implications for practitioners? Future research should explore the experiences of the workforce providing these services to enhance delivery of culturally and clinically safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

What is known about the topic? Bariatric surgery is an effective intervention to treat severe obesity. Access to this service in Queensland public hospitals was limited. Access was gained only in exceptional cases; this created unmet need and inequities. What does this paper add? This paper demonstrates that a state-wide central referral hub is an effective approach to provide equitable access to bariatric surgery according to ability to benefit regardless of location or ethnicity. What are the implications for practitioners? This provides a sustainable and equitable framework for bariatric surgery services that can be extended to other specialty services and jurisdictions.

What is known about the topic? Rheumatic heart disease often presents without documented antecedent acute rheumatic fever or as advanced disease, implicating missed opportunities for early diagnosis. What does this paper add? A proportion of young persons in Australia identified with acute rheumatic fever and/or rheumatic heart disease, particularly those considered at low risk, may have had these conditions previously overlooked during emergency department or inpatient care, having received one or more prior diagnoses mimicking these conditions. What are the implications for practitioners? Clinical suspicion of acute rheumatic fever and/or rheumatic heart disease in Australian hospitals requires enhancement.

What is known about the topic? In Australia, the true burden of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is likely to be underestimated. What does this paper add? Capture–recapture method provided a measure of the undetected cases of ARF/RHD based on two data sources and characteristics of groups where under-notification occurred. What are the implications for practitioners? This study identifies a need to support clinicians to maintain an index of suspicion of ARF/RHD when working with groups that are not typically at high risk of ARF.

What is known about the topic? Little is known about the costs of the visiting subspecialist ophthalmology service (fly in-fly out or FIFO) for rural and remote communities. What does this paper add? Evidence suggests that the FIFO model implemented for residents in Darwin, Australia, provides excellent clinical outcomes and a minimal insignificant difference in costs. What are the implications for practitioners? The visiting subspecialist ophthalmology service (FIFO) is a useful model to provide eye services to Darwin, and further research involving other rural and remote areas should be undertaken to further build the evidence base.