Virtual learning before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed methods study of Pharmacy students

Background It is a challenge for pharmacy courses worldwide to combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills to equip students for their future practice. Computer-based simulation offers a way of building a bridge between theory and practice. In recent years, digital simulation has expanded rapidly as a new technique of virtual learning. The digital platform ''Pharmacy Simulator'' proposes computer-based encounters with virtual patients to train clinical and communication skills in a community pharmacy setting. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, while students were digitally resilient and endured the endless challenges of online lectures, many were dealing with Zoom and screen fatigue. Purpose To investigate pharmacy students' acceptance of Pharmacy Simulator before and during a pandemic situation. This focuses on students' self-assessment and confidence in counselling after playing the scenarios on Pharmacy Simulator. Method Two cohorts of Master of Pharmacy students at The University of Western Australia played two scenarios on Pharmacy Simulator in 2019 (anaphylaxis and salbutamol) and 2021 (anaphylaxis and vaccination). A mixed-method analysis was performed with data from (i) qualitative semi-structured interviews carried out in 2019 pertaining to participants' acceptance of Pharmacy Simulator and in 2021 (ii) a questionnaire with 25 items derived from the interviews. The interviews were transcribed verbatim into electronic format with the data management assistance MAXQDA and analyzed inductively using the Framework Method. Questionnaire responses were analyzed in Microsoft Excel using descriptive statistics. Openended questions were evaluated inductively. Findings Data were collected from 20 interviews and 31 answered questionnaires. In 2019, participants reported that Pharmacy Simulator was a fun, engaging, and straightforward learning tool and, therefore, user-friendly. They reported the feedback at the end of the session to be most valuable. The platform was perceived to fill the gap between the theory from lectures and community pharmacy practice. In 2021, participants ''agreed'' (median: 4, on a 5-point Likert scale) with seven statements about Pharmacy Simulator's usability, such as it being a helpful tool for acquiring new knowledge. Participants' confidence in counselling regarding the scenario topics improved. One participant stated, ''It taught me more through trial and error''. Conclusion Pharmacy students reported similar acceptance levels of Pharmacy Simulator before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of simulation during virtual patient encounters seems to facilitate the transfer from theory to practice, independently of learning conditions that were predominantly screen-based.

Graduate Nurse Education Programs: Transition Pathway for Registered Nurse Employment

(20171 purported that "increased nursing education enrolments to cater for possible future nursing shortages, (ii) decreased state expenditure on health services and, (iii) graduate employment dictated by staff vacancies rather than ensuring sustainability of the future workforce" (p. 251) are contributing factors. Sample and Data Collection Convenience sampling technique was used, and to ensure sufficient data sampling, two cohorts of graduating students were Invited to participate. The online survey data collection Incorporated closed and opened ended questions about participant engagement with the profession of nursing. All study participants, including the graduates with a previous Diploma of Nursing, provided a 100% response rate to their intention to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board as a registered nurse (RN).

COVID-19 disease modifying treatment guideline adherence in Western Australia

Introduction/Aim: Western Australia had its first wave of COVID-19 cases in March 2022. This retrospective study assessed the adherence to guidelines for prescribing COVID-19 disease modifying therapies (DMT), based on the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Australian guidelines for the clinical care of people with COVID-19. Method(s): The first 100 cases admitted to the respiratory ward at Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) with confirmed COVID-19 were reviewed. Data was collected from the hospital Digital Medical Record to determine clinical severity on presentation and the need for DMT. Prescribing of DMT was assessed for adherence against the National guidelines and/or whether it was recommended by the infectious diseases (ID) team. Disease progression, length of stay, mortality and readmission rates were assessed within 28 days of admission. Result(s): During the audit period (11.03.2022 - 19.04.2022), the National guidelines underwent six updates. In the first 100 cases of COVID-19, the median (IQR) age was 65.11 years, the median (IQR) length of stay was 4 days and the mortality rate was 1%. There was a 7% readmission rate with 6% of patients treated with DMT having disease progression. 16% of patients were immunocompromised and 58% were partially vaccinated or unvaccinated. 63% of unvaccinated patients had severe disease. 84% of patients were recommended a DMT, of which, 63% received the correct combination of DMT. 14% of cases were recommended and not prescribed a DMT, though 71% of these cases were recommended budesonide alone. 12% were not recommended and not prescribed a DMT and 4% were not recommended, yet prescribed a DMT. Conclusion(s): Overall adherence with the National guidelines/ID advice for DMT was >80% excluding inhaled budesonide. The continually evolving nature of the National guidelines added complexity to prescribing. A dedicated medical proforma would aid with risk stratification and DMT prescribing for patients with COVID-19.

Anxiety and depression in adolescents with cystic fibrosis

Introduction/Aim: Anxiety and depression in adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) is 2-3 times higher than those in the general community. The COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to increase levels of distress and difficulties in secondary students in Western Australia (WA). We aimed to examine the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in adolescents with CF living in WA during the pandemic and investigate associations with respiratory symptoms, lung function and quality of life. Method(s): Adolescents with CF aged between 12 and 18 years old were followed at Perth Children's Hospital (Western Australia) between October 2020 and October 2022. Adolescents completed the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) for anxiety and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression when clinically stable. We assessed associations between depression and anxiety scores with respiratory symptoms from the Cystic Fibrosis Respiratory Symptoms Diary and Cystic Fibrosis Respiratory Infection Symptoms Scale (CFRSD-CRISS), lung function outcomes (forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV 1) and lung clearance index (LCI)), and quality of life outcomes from the health-related quality of life questionnaire (CFQ-R). Result(s): In 28 adolescents with CF, 39% had an elevated anxiety score (mild and above) and 28% had an elevated depression score (mild and above). No difference in scores was observed between males and females. Both the anxiety and depression scores correlated with the severity of respiratory symptoms from the CFRSD-CRISS questionnaire. Anxiety and depressions scores were not associated with either FEV 1 or LCI. Depressions scores were associated with most CFQ-R domains whilst anxiety scores were only associated with the social CFQ-R domain. Conclusion(s): Depression and anxiety were common in adolescents with CF in our centre. The results demonstrate the importance of depression/anxiety screening and psychological support for adolescents with CF and their families.

Climate Change in Western Australia and Its Impact on Human Health

Climate change is real and here. Climate change has a wide range of effects on the environment – increasing global temperatures and extreme weather events, which in turn are impacting human health. Changes in weather and man-made pollution affect the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat, resulting in a serious threat to our planet and our health. By examining the current literature, using a systematic review process, we explore the current and potential impact that climate change has on human health with particular relevance to the Western Australian population. There is overwhelming evidence for climate change and how it is affecting the people of planet Earth. The environmental impact will affect human health and may result in increases in cardiovascular respiratory, neurological disorders (including neurodegeneration), vector-borne illnesses (malaria, COVID-19, Ross River Virus) and lead to a detriment in the mental health of Western Australians. Natural diseases and crises complicate healthcare. The COVD-19 pandemic revealed inadequacies in healthcare systems—shortage of healthcare workers and resources—which will compromise the ability to manage climate change induced diseases. Bushfires and raised environmental temperatures, which are particular problems for Western Australia, can impact upon climate change. Mental health may be affected through illness, drought and food insecurity. Those socially disadvantaged, individuals in remote regions and First Nations peoples will be vulnerable. An urgent response to climate change is necessary. Western Australia is particularly vulnerable to the deleterious impacts of climate change.

Development of a Novel in-Vitro Hcov-Oc43 Screening Method

Aim: To develop a simple, inexpensive antiviral screening assay, applicable to SARS-CoV-2, using a plate-based bioassay approach to assess the in-vitro activity of compounds against HCoV-OC43. Background(s): Despite the successful deployment of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 there remains a need for effective antivirals for acute infection treatment. A distinct problem facing the search for new anti-coronavirus compounds is the cost of antiviral screening, compounded by the biosecurity concerns of live SARSCoV- 2 culture. In concert with low pathogenic surrogate virus use, the resazurin reduction assay, which is often employed for compound cytotoxicity assessments can be employed for safe, rapid and inexpensive antiviral screening. Method(s): In-vitro cell based resazurin reduction assays were optimised using remdesivir as a control compound for the assessment of anti-HCoV-OC43 activity. Following optimisation, 246 purified natural compounds from the University of Western Australia's compound collection,were screened using the resazurin bioassay as a primary screen, under pre-treatment and cotreatment conditions. Five compounds, which demonstrated anti- HCoV-OC43 activity, were chosen for secondary screening with dose responses determined using qRT-PCR. Result(s): Primary screens of the 246 compounds using the resazurin bioassay identified five compounds with a relative viral inhibition >60% and a relative cell viability >70% (Table 1). The Z factor of the pre-treatment and co-treatment assays was >0.5 (average +/- SD;0.85 +/- 0.07, 0.91 +/- 0.03 respectively). Further dose response analysis of the top five compounds identified one compound with an IC50 value <10 muM. Conclusion(s): The method developed is an appropriate primary screening tool for the identification of novel compounds with anti-HCoV-OC43 activity.Copyright © 2023 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.

Life in a time of COVID: retrospective examination of the association between physical activity and mental well-being in western Australians during and after lockdown.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine physical activity and sedentary behaviours during Western Australia's COVID-19 lockdown and their association with mental well-being. METHODS: Participants completed activity related questions approximately two months after a three-month lockdown (which formed part of a larger cross-sectional study from August to October 2020) as part of a 25-minute questionnaire adapted from the Western Australia Health and Well-being Surveillance system. Open-ended questions explored key issues relating to physical activity behaviours. RESULTS: During the lockdown period, 463 participants (female, n = 347; 75.3%) reported lower number of active days (W = 4.47 p < .001), higher non-work-related screen hours per week (W = 11.8 p < .001), and higher levels of sitting time (χ2=28.4 p < .001). Post lockdown body mass index was higher (U = 3.0 p = .003), with obese individuals reporting the highest non-work-related screen hours per week (Wald χ2= 8.9 p = .012). Inverse associations were found for mental well-being where higher lockdown scores of Kessler-10 (p = .011), Dass-21 anxiety (p = .027) and Dass-21 depression (p = .011) were associated with lower physical activity levels. A key qualitative message from participants was wanting to know how to stay healthy during lockdown. CONCLUSIONS: Lockdown was associated with lower physical activity, higher non-work-related screen time and more sitting time compared to post lockdown which also reported higher body mass index. Lower levels of mental well-being were associated with lower physical activity levels during lockdown. Given the known positive affect of physical activity on mental well-being and obesity, and the detrimental associations shown in this study, a key public health message should be considered in an attempt to maintain healthy activity behaviours in future lockdowns and similar emergency situations to promote and maintain positive well-being. Furthermore, consideration should be given to the isolation of a community due to infectious disease outbreaks and to recognise the important role physical activity plays in maintaining weight and supporting good mental health.

Adverse event reports of anaphylaxis after Comirnaty and Vaxzevria COVID-19 vaccinations, Western Australia, 22 February to 30 June 2021.

Within the first 4 months of the Western Australian COVID-19 immunisation programme, 49 suspected anaphylaxis cases were reported to the vaccine safety surveillance system. Twelve reports met Brighton Collaboration case definition, corresponding to rates of 15.9 and 17.7 per million doses of Vaxzevria and Comirnaty administered respectively.

Vasculitis post COVID-19 vaccinations in an infection naive population: A temporal association?

Background/Purpose: To date, isolated cases of vasculitis linked to COVID-19 vaccinations have been reported. Western Australia (WA), a state of 2.8 million habitants, had largely been shielded initially from COVID-19 infections with only 3.7 cases/1,000 people identified prior to March 2022. In addition, there were only 3.4 cases/1,000 people detected between July 2021 and March 2022(1). Vaccination rates during this period were high with an adult double vaccination rate recorded at over 95%(2). The combination of these has led to a unique study population. We describe a case-series of patients who developed a medium or large vessel vasculitis post-COVID- 19 vaccination. Method(s): Patients who developed a medium or large vessel vasculitis with symptom onset within four weeks of a COVID-19 vaccine were identified from public and private Rheumatology departments in WA between July 2021 and March 2022. Result(s): The clinical features and diagnosis of 10 identified patients are presented in Table 1. Ages ranged between 41-83 and a various subtypes of vasculitis were observed. Nine patients had symptom onset within two weeks post vaccine. All patients received high dose corticosteroids and seven received steroid-sparing therapies with initial good outcomes. Conclusion(s): The link between vaccinations and induction of autoimmunity remains disputed. It must be emphasised that COVID-19 vaccinations have been critical in this pandemic. The reporting of such cases serves to expand the literature base and generate discussion. Biases (recall and observer) and coincidence could account for these observations. However, the time interval between symptom onset and characteristic features of certain cases in an infection naive population should raise further questions. (Table Presented).

THE PEOPLES OF THE STATES UNDER THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION

The political and legal reactions by governments to the challenges of COVID-19 have brought into sharp relief the way in which Australian federalism operates. State borders and state affiliations have become the bases for restrictions and privileges in a way that harks back to the significance of colonial borders prior to the enactment of the Constitution. It is thus timely to explore the constitutional category and status of the 'people of a State'. In this article the constitutional definition of the peoples of the states is addressed to demonstrate they are territorially bounded and mutually exclusive but fungible communities. The peoples of the states are shown to be the privileged constitutional 'people' because of their protected role as electors under the Constitution. Lastly, the dual federal-national nature of the constitutional people is discussed.

Using 10-year injury trends in Western Australia to inform programs and policies

Understanding injury patterns is useful for injury surveillance, policy development and program evaluation. This study explores 10-year trends in injury incidence and costs in Western Australia and implications for policy and program development.Linked administrative health data including emergency department presentations, hospital admissions and deaths relating to injury in Western Australia was used to explore changes in the patterns of injury incidence and costs over a 10-year period to 2020. Descriptive and regression analysis was applied to examine statistically significant changes. Implications for policy and program development were explored with relevant stakeholders including in government, non-government organisations and consumer groups.ResultsFalls remained the most common mechanism of unintentional injury, followed by inanimate mechanical forces and transport crashes. Patterns of injury rates by age group and gender reflected past distributions, with higher rates for males and older people. Socio-economic determinants significantly impacted injury rates. An increase in occurrence of injury over the 10-year period were disrupted by the COVID-19 lockdown, with mechanisms varying for some injury types. Consultation with stakeholders highlighted gaps in existing policies and programs and potential interventions were proposed.ConclusionCross-sectional and trend analysis of injury patterns provides an evidence base to guide targeted based approaches to injury prevention to reduce disparities in injury rates. Socio-economic inequalities remain a public health concern.

Healing Right Way RCT: Novel interventions to enhance the cultural security of rehabilitation services for Aboriginal Australians with brain injury

Background: Access to rehabilitation services for Aboriginal people following acquired brain injury (ABI) is frequently hindered by challenges navigating: i) complex medical systems, ii) geographical distances from services and iii) culturally insecure service delivery. Healing Right Way is the first randomised control trial (RCT) to address these issues in partnership with multiple health service providers across Western Australia (WA). Aims: To outline the multicomponent Healing Right Way intervention by providing case studies, and describing challenges, facilitators and implications for rehabilitation services. Method: This stepped-wedge cluster RCT involved four metropolitan and four regional sites across WA. Aboriginal adults hospitalised for ABI were recruited from 2018-2021. Intervention components comprised ABI-related cultural security training (CST) for hospital staff, and employment of Aboriginal Brain Injury Coordinators (ABICs) to support ABI survivors for six months post-injury. The primary outcome was quality of life (measured with Euro QOL-5D-3L VAS) at 26 weeks. Secondary outcomes included participants' overall function and disability, anxiety and depression, carer strain, and changes to service delivery across the 26-week follow-up period. Detailed process and cost evaluations were also undertaken. Results: 108 participants were recruited from the participating sites. The CST was delivered across all eight participating hospitals with 250 hospital staff trained. ABICs supported 61 participants, 70% residing in regional, rural or remote areas. Challenges to implementation of the intervention included impacts from COVID-19 responses, hospital staff turnover and availability, recruitment of people with traumatic brain injury and methods for maintaining contact with participants and next-of-kin across locations. Collaboration with Aboriginal health providers and community networks were invaluable to maintaining contact with participants during follow-up, as was telehealth and research partnerships. Discussion/Conclusions: This landmark trial provides a novel multicomponent intervention in an underserviced population to inform muchneeded service improvements for Aboriginal people with ABI across metropolitan and rural settings.

The sun shines brighter in the police state

Unlike the rest of the world, in Western Australia (WA), there has been no community spread of Covid-19 since April 2020. Here in Perth, the capital city, after a month-long lockdown over Easter, we emerged, at first fearfully, and then with abandon. The bottles of hand sanitizer that had been lined up on a shelf by the front door have now moved to under the kitchen sink. Every now and then I fish into a handbag, and my fingers grasp a sticky forgotten tube of the stuff. The disinfectant wipes, the bottles of bleach, the plastic gloves and N94 masks, once prizes snatched from sparse supermarket shelves, have all been relegated to the back of the laundry cupboard. Reunions and family BBQs and kids' birthday parties and Christmas concerts are celebrated with warm hugs and murmurs of gratitude. So grateful, we hum, so lucky to be here and not out there. My classes are full of relived students, the bards heave, that new Mexican place is impossible to get into. Inside this Covid-free bubble, there are no fractious anti-lockdown protests or socially distanced queues. There are no police disciplining mask wearers or strong-arming groups over three. Life is not even post-Covid normal. It's just normal.

Editorial

In our first article, entitled “Mental health patterns during COVID-19 in emergency medical services (EMS)”, Silvia Monteiro Fonseca et al. have explored the patterns of EMS personnel’s mental health regarding their levels of anxiety, depression and stress during COVID-19 pandemic. The study recommendations from this research include, but are not limited to, ensuring a more equitable distribution of protective equipment to paramedics across unevenly funded services and recognizing paramedics face unique and additional stressors in public health emergencies. The study used validated instruments such as the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) instrument, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the PSS and the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) checklist on a sample of UK police officers. In a fascinating paper, John Hylander et al. explore the collaborative challenge of emergency response to major incidents in road tunnels for the emergency services, emergency dispatch centers and local authorities next.

COVID-19 CONVICTIONS? LEARNING THE BOUNDARIES OF PSYCHIATRY THROUGH A CASE STUDY

Background: The aggressive spread of COVID-19 and its heavy societal impacts have culminated in alternative explanations around government guidelines such as vaccination programmes and quarantine facilities. Some of these theories, especially those with paranoid themes, may raise concern for psychotic illness. This confers a unique challenge to mental health (MH) clinicians when presented with these beliefs. Objectives: We discuss a case study of a patient admitted to a MH unit in Western Australia who presented with a well-systematised belief system of a conspiratorial nature related to COVID-19 that contributed to weapon collection and preparing for 'doomsday'. We look at this case in relation to current literature to establish the difference between overvalued ideas vs mental illness in the context of COVID-19. Methods: Using the keywords 'COVID' and a combination of MH keywords, we searched for relevant articles on PubMed to help identify learning points in assessments of patients with themes of uncommon ideas surrounding COVID-19. Findings: The main themes suggest that conspiracy theories are common among the general population and some aspects of the belief have overlap with persecutory delusions. Important points to distinguish include the plausibility of the belief, the tendency to find like-minded individuals and the ability to contain those thoughts during appropriate events. Conclusion: As clinicians we have a duty to reduce unnecessary detainment and stress for those who have alternative theories but are not mentally unwell. Clinicians should be equipped with the ability to distinguish between overvalued ideas and mental illness to establish valid diagnoses and management.

COVID-19 VACCINATION RATES IN AN ANTENATAL POPULATION: A SURVEY OF WOMEN'S PERCEPTIONS, FACTORS INFLUENCING VACCINE UPTAKE AND POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTORS TO VACCINE HESITANCY

Background: Pregnant women are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 and are a priority group for vaccination. The discrepancy in vaccination rates between pregnant and nonpregnant cohorts is concerning. This study aimed to assess the perceptions and intentions of pregnant women toward COVID- 19 vaccination and explored vaccine uptake and reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Methods: A cross-sectional exploratory design was performed evaluating pregnant women receiving care in two metropolitan maternity units in Western Australia. The main measurable outcomes included vaccination status, intention to be vaccinated, and reasons for delaying or declining vaccination. Results: In total, 218 women participated. Of these, 122 (56%) had not received either dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Sixty (28%) claimed that vaccination was not discussed with them and 33 (15%) reported being dissuaded from vaccination by a healthcare practitioner. Compared to vaccinated women, those who had not accepted vaccination were less likely to have had vaccination discussed by maternity staff, less aware that pregnant women are a priority group, and less aware that pregnancy increased the risk of severe illness. Unvaccinated women were concerned about the side effects of the vaccine for their newborn and their own health, felt there was inadequate information on safety during pregnancy, and felt that a lack of community transmission in Western Australia reduced the necessity to be vaccinated. Conclusion: Vaccine delay and hesitancy is common amongst pregnant women in Western Australia. Education of healthcare professionals and pregnant women on the recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy is required.

Special Issue: Microbiologists making waves around the South Pacific. (Special Issue: Microbiologists making waves around the South Pacific.)

This special issue includes 11 articles focusing on development of container laboratories in response to COVID-19;COVID-19 in Fiji;Pacific Regional Infectious Disease Association (PRIDA) - capacity-building for microbiology and infectious disease across the Pacific;meningococcal surveillance in Southeast Asia and the Pacific;tropical fever in remote tropics;movement of arboviruses between Indonesia and Western Australia;Rotavirus surveillance informs diarrhoea disease burden in the WHO Western-Pacific region;surveillance for One Health and high consequence veterinary pathogens (Brucellosis, Coxiellosis and Foot and Mouth Disease) in Southeast Asia - Lao PDR and Cambodia in focus and the importance of international partnerships;Avian influenza H5N1.

Corporate governance and business performance of hotels in Western Australia: analysis of market orientation as a mediator

Purpose>This study examines whether corporate governance enhances the financial and social business performance of three-to five-star hotels in Western Australia (WA) through the three dimensions of market orientation (i.e. customer orientation, competitor orientation and inter-function coordination) as mediators.Design/methodology/approach>Data were collected from managers of hotels in the WA capital city of Perth and its surrounding areas using a questionnaire. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse the data.Findings>The overall result shows interesting findings of market orientation’s mediating role. It is found that corporate governance may lead to better financial business performance through competitor orientation but not through customer orientation and inter-function coordination. Complementary, corporate governance may lead to better social business performance through customer orientation and inter-function coordination but not through competitor orientation.Originality/value>This paper offers contributions to both literature and practice on what dimensions of market orientation are important to enhance the performance of hotels when corporate governance is applied.

Isolated destination: life in Western Australia in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic

Western Australia, the largest state covering a third of the landmass of Australia has escaped much of the morbidity and deaths of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was made possible due to its draconian measures in keeping the virus at bay through interstate and border closures and high vaccination rates. Domestic tourism has flourished as West Australians, unable to travel outside the state spend their dollars on visiting local attractions. Restaurants, cafes, bars and fast food outlets also do a roaring trade for the same reason.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria in Australians with cystic fibrosis: A national survey

Introduction/Aim: We are seeing the rapid emergence of a significant new threat to CF survival;chronic nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection. This study aims to understand the aetiology and epidemiology of NTM in Australians with CF. Methods: Nationally, nine adult and nine paediatric CF services prospectively collected respiratory samples from people with CF (pwCF) for acid fast bacilli (AFB) culture at regular clinic appointments (Baseline, 6 months, 1 year, then annual to 4 years);associated clinical data, geographic and social data was also collected. Sites commenced recruitment between December 2016 and August 2018. Retrospective clinical and culture data were also collected to offset the shift to a telehealth model of care during the global coronavirus pandemic. Results: 15.1% of 1322 study participants cultured NTM (NTM+) from at least one AFB culture during the study, 5.1% of study participants were M. abscessus (MABS) positive. Adolescents and young adults (11-25 years) had the highest rates of NTM infection (19%, p = 0.0004). MABS was more commonly isolated in participants <25 years (6.7%) compared to participants 25 years and older (2.5%, p < 0.001). Of NTM+ study participants, 49% were incident cases. The species of NTM recovered from participants varied depending on the Australian state of residence, with South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania having greater diversity of isolated species. Conclusion: In Australia, during this sampling period pwCF <25 years of age were more likely to be infected with MABS than older pwCF. We hypothesize that this may be due to increasing attempts at eradication of Pa in early life and/or increased exposure from environmental sources at a vulnerable age.