In December 2025, Health Ministers met in Brisbane to discuss several priority areas for health system reform. As published in the follow-up Communique, Health Ministers agreed to screen female babies for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) within Australia’s newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) programs. In December 2024, Health Ministers supported adding X-ALD to NBS programs to screen male babies.
In the December 2025 Communique, Health Ministers acknowledged the Medical Services Advisory Committee’s (MSAC) advice to screen all newborns. Learn more about MSAC’s advice at the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s website.
Rare Voices Australia (RVA) acknowledges those in the leukodystrophy community and RVA Partner, Leukodystrophy Australia, who have engaged in the NBS and MSAC process for X-ALD for their tireless advocacy.
As the national peak body for Australians living with a rare disease, RVA will continue to work with the Commonwealth and state governments with a focus on achieving a nationally equitable, consistent and sustainable NBS Program.
