Alison Branley
Alison Branley is a member of the ABC's Specialist Reporting Team. Her roles include researching, producing and reporting. Alison's work appears online, on TV and on radio. She has worked for News Ltd and Fairfax as an award-winning newspaper and online reporter. She specialises in education, disability, health and social affairs journalism.
Follow Alison on Twitter: @Ally_bee
Latest by Alison Branley
After years of extreme weather, this couple would 'prefer to deal with Satan' than their insurer
After two years of floods inundating the east coast of Australia, thousands of customers are still waiting for their claims to be finalised.
Wood heater smoke estimated to kill up to 63 in Australian city each year, prompting calls for national ban
Researchers call for new wood heaters to be banned from urban areas and for existing ones to be phased out after their study shows their smoke may be killing up to 63 people a year in the ACT alone.
Dutton wants people to 'boycott Woolworths', but it's not the only company backing away from Australia Day
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is calling on Australians to "boycott Woolworths" after the retailer announced it is not going to stock Australia Day merchandise this year. But experts say the company's decision is the result of a movement that's been occurring for years.
'Health crisis' looming as series of pain relief opioid medications discontinued
Doctors hold growing concerns about a significant shortage of opioid pain medicines given to some of the sickest Australians.
Having cancer has cost Karen more than $10,000 and the monthly pharmacy bills keep adding up
Prescriptions may be subsidised but the cost of over-the-counter pharmacy products is adding up for the chronically ill.
'They should definitely ban it': Ministers contemplate future of deadly kitchen material
Australia could make a world-first decision to ban engineered stone due to the "unacceptable risk to workers", but it's too late for hundreds of people living with silicosis.
Latest COVID wave will increase risk and severity of long COVID but clinics rapidly closing
Internationally, countries such as the US are scaling up efforts to address long COVID but Australia continues to close its specialist clinics. Medical professionals in Australia and overseas say it is a move that needs an urgent rethink.
'It's not a choice': Families who have had terminations for medical reasons say they are misunderstood
Families and advocates say the stigma around terminations for medical reasons means many people don't reach out for crucial support.
NDIS access would change Peter's life, but he's locked out and says the reason is 'cruel and unfair'
A Victorian man is taking his fight to become an NDIS participant to the UN, accusing the Australian government of age discrimination and breaching his human rights.
Frances was told she'd be dead within months if she didn't stop drinking
Alcohol cost Frances her friends, family, and career. And on more than one occasion, it almost took her life.
Mental health disorders in young Australians surge by 47 per cent over 15 years, new data shows
Mental health disorders among young people have soared by nearly 50 per cent in 15 years, new data shows, as experts warn the health system is struggling to cope with the growing complexity and demand.
After waiting six hours in an emergency department, Kasey is wondering where her city's Urgent Care Clinic is
Less than half of the federal government's promised urgent care clinics have opened, months after the policy was supposed to be delivered.
How this little-known eye infection is still stealing sight in parts of Australia
For decades, an eye disease known as trachoma was stealing the sight of Indigenous Australians. Now, the disease is on its way to being eradicated.
Belinda could barely walk, but was told to lose weight for life-changing knee replacement surgery
Obesity experts and patient groups are concerned an over-reliance on body mass index (BMI) is leading to some people being abandoned by the health system and denied life-changing surgery or treatment.
Not sure if your teenager is vaping? The latest statistics may shock you about Australia's fast-growing fad
A study of more than 4,000 teenagers has found one in four have vaped, with researchers warning they are doing it in the mistaken belief it helps with stress and anxiety.
More than 400 medicines are in 'short supply' in Australia. Advocates are calling for change
The drug Natalie Sinclair takes to keep her alive is among hundreds of medications that have been in short supply in Australia, but advocates fear stockholding laws for suppliers are having little impact on the ground.
Cosmetic surgery crackdown now targeting fillers, botox and other procedures
Australia's medical regulator says it is cracking down on cosmetic procedures such as botox and fillers, but those living with the long-term impacts of botched procedures say the focus has come too late.
Lisa has found the cost of managing cancer 'debilitating'. For her brother, it was a different story
Breast cancer left Lisa Evans about $20,000 out of pocket, but the cost of monitoring her health continues. She is among patients and medical professionals who have contacted the ABC about concerns there is a gender bias in women's healthcare costs.
After Jo was diagnosed with cancer, medical bills started rolling in – and she has to pay thousands a year
Medical scans cost some patients thousands in out-of-pocket expenses, and they are increasingly not covered by bulk-billing. But it's possible to save money by shopping around.
'Simply too late': Flu season is so bad this year some experts are calling for more antiviral use
Influenza case numbers are soaring around the country, with young people and children the hardest hit. Some experts say it is time to make better of use of antivirals.
'Major breakthrough': Landmark study shows best signs yet that Alzheimer's can be slowed
Decades of research on Alzheimer's disease have started to come to fruition, with at least three new drugs demonstrating the first glimmers of promise.
'A minefield': Why the childcare subsidy policy means some parents will get more than others
The federal government is spending $5.4 billion to reduce the childcare costs of about 1.2 million families. But with high inflation and quirks in the system, there's concerns some parents won't see much savings.
Getting an urgent GP appointment can be hard, but a little-known rule means it shouldn't be
Patients who need to see a GP urgently are increasingly waiting more than 24 hours to be seen. But they may not know that general practices are meant to offer emergency bookings.
Does snot turn green when you're sick and run clear when you're well? We asked the experts
With so much sickness floating around schools and daycare centres, runny noses are a common sight. So, when do your kids need to stay at home, and when can they go to school?
Fiona has three decades of experience as a nurse but Medicare says her time is worth $12.70
Nurses outside of hospitals say they are not being used to their full capacity, with one group blaming Medicare rules for holding them back.