Skip to content

Dr Hamish Black

Dr Hamish Black has been a medical practitioner for more than 25 years. In addition to his role as nib group medical advisor, he still spends two days a week practising as a GP. He has spent many years working in emergency departments and in rural Australia, including a stint with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Hamish also loves karaoke and dancing (though not that well at either, he says!), with Play that Funky Music by Wild Cherry being his karaoke favourite.

Mental Wellbeing
A young woman resting her face on her palm as she stares out a window

6 ways to get help for mental health – and you won’t have to pay a thing!

Keep on top of your mental health with these free programs

Read article 4 minute read
Managing Health
Close up of ibuprofen in one hand and a glass of water in the other

Paracetamol vs ibuprofen: Is there a difference?

What’s the difference and how do you know which one to take?

Read article 6 minute read
Woman yawning and can't wake up in morning. Sitting in bed covered with blanket.

Understanding long COVID

How long does long COVID last? What are the health impacts?

Read article 7 minute read
Mother helping son to blow his nose

Avoiding common childhood illnesses this winter

Handy steps to keep the whole family healthy this winter.

Read article 3 minute read
A woman sitting at a glass table. She is rubbing her eyes as if she is tired.

Using melatonin for sleep: everything you need to know

Could melatonin help you sleep better?

Read article 5 minute read
Managing Health
A mum rubs sunscreen on her young daughter's face while on the beach

How to check your skin for skin cancer

Understanding your skin cancer risk factors can pay off

Read article 5 minute read
Managing Health
 Close up photo of a person holding CBD oil bottle.

Guidance for using CBD oil in Australia

Everything you need to know about safely using CBD oil.

Read article 3 minute read
Managing Health
A person adding prescribed CBD oil to their tea.

Getting a prescription for CBD Oil

What do you need to know before talking to your doctor about a prescription for CBD Oil?

Read article 3 minute read
Managing Health
CBD oil in a glass dropper bottle on a metal tray, photographed against a beige background.

Is CBD Oil legal in my state?

Is it legal to access CBD oil in your state or territory?

Read article 3 minute read
Managing Health
CBD oil and medicinal cannabis products on a wooden tray, situated on a beige background.

What you need to know about CBD Oil

Dr Hamish Black answers some of your biggest questions about CBD oil.

Read article 3 minute read
Managing Health
Younger man getting a vaccination from a nurse in a clinical setting

Everything you need to know about the 2024 flu vaccine 

nib Medical Advisor, Dr Hamish Black, explains why it's important to consider the flu vaccine this year.

Read article 5 minute read
Managing Health
A father giving his son cough medicine as they both lay in bed with another son close by

11 flu myths debunked

As soon as the weather gets colder, the flu myths return

Read article 3 minute read
Health Checks
A woman having her heart listened to by a doctor

How a heart health check can save your life

Most heart attacks and strokes are preventable

Read article 5 minute read
Managing Health
Young man with dark hair getting vaccination in a clinical setting from a female clinician in pink scrubs

The whooping cough vaccine: what you need to know

Here's what you need to know about the whooping cough vaccine

Read article 8 minute read
Managing Health
 Smiling man with bandage on arm showing vaccination certificate while sitting at examination room

The Shingles Vaccine: What You Need To Know

Getting vaccinated against shingles is an effective way to prevent serious illness caused by the shingles virus. Here are the facts around the vaccine.

Read article 5 minute read
Managing Health
Dark haired young women getting a job from a male clinician

The HPV vaccine: What you need to know

Here's what you need to know about the vaccine and how it protects you

Read article 5 minute read
Managing Health
man smiling showing his vaccinated arm

The MMR vaccine

The MMR vaccine offers protection against three illnesses: measles, mumps and rubella. Here's what you need to know about the MMR vaccine.

Read article 4 minute read
Managing Health
doctor and child high fiving for vaccination

The pneumococcal vaccine

Here's what you need to know about the pneumococcal vaccine

Read article 4 minute read
Managing Health
child getting vaccinated

The meningococcal vaccine: What you need to know

Here's what you need to know about the meningococcal vaccine.

Read article 4 minute read
Managing Health
Welts on forearm from Jellyfish sting

What to do when you've been stung by a jellyfish

Dr Hamish Black shares his tips on what to do if you’re stung by a jellyfish.

Read article 5 minute read
Managing Health
Bluebottle lying on sand

Spotting and treating a bluebottle sting

Make sure you're prepared in case you come across the dreaded bluebottle

Read article 5 minute read
Managing Health
A child getting calamine lotion applied to their chickenpox

Everything you need to know about the chickenpox vaccine

nib Medical Advisor Dr Hamish Black shares everything you need to know about the chickenpox vaccine and why it’s important.

Read article 6 minute read
Managing Health
Person rubbing balm onto hand

Spotting and treating a march fly bite

Do you know how to spot a march fly? Fret no more, here's a guide on what to look out for and how to treat a march fly bite.

Read article 5 minute read
Life
Man lying in bed scratching arm after being bitten by a mosquito

How to avoid being bitten by mosquitos

Read article 4 minute read
Managing Health
Young male bushwalker with his shirt off after a swim in a freshwater creek

Signs and treatments for leech bites

Knowing how to treat a leech bite can avoid infections

Read article 3 minute read
Managing Health
Man camping in the bush wearing a flanno shirt and hat

Spotting and treating tick bites

Everything you need to know about tick bites

Read article 3 minute read
Managing Health
Primary-school aged boys in the back of their car feeling motion sickness

The causes, symptoms and treatments of motion sickness

The inside word on how to avoid and treat motion sickness!

Read article 4 minute read
Managing Health
Young woman with red hair checking her blood results on her phone for signs of a vitamin deficiency

Spotting a vitamin deficiency

Before you pop a vitamin pill, here's what to look for.

Read article 3 minute read
Mental Wellbeing
Young man with glasses and wearing a blue sweater in his dining room using a mental health app on his phone

Best mental health apps

Find the best mental health apps for your iPhone or android

Read article 4 minute read
Managing Health
Middle aged sweating while riding his bike in summer

The symptoms and ways to treat heatstroke

Everything you need to know about prevention & treatment

Read article 4 minute read
Managing Health
A couple in their 60s drinking their morning vitamin juice and taking their supplements

Understanding the vitamins you’re taking

We talk through 13 key vitamins and why they're important

Read article 5 minute read
Managing Health
Young woman wearing a blue singlet top laughing while looking at her phone in the loungeroom

Healthy blood pressure by age

Blood pressure is a key indicator of health.

Read article 4 minute read
Managing Health
A young woman wearing a white collared shirt and taking her morning vitamins with a glass of water

How to make vitamins work best for you

Do you need vitamins? And, if so, what ones?

Read article 4 minute read
Managing Health
A man in a gray shirt checking his heart rate while outside in the park going for a run

What is a healthy resting heart rate by age?

Resting heart rate and why you should know what it means

Read article 3 minute read
Managing Health
Young dad with brown hair and a beard checking the lymph of his 4-year-old son who is at home sick.

Common winter illnesses

Why is it that we seem to only get sick in winter?

Read article 4 minute read
Mental Wellbeing
Brunette mum hugging her blonde 12 year old daughter on a blue couch

Mental health plans: the basics

Emotional and psychological support is available

Read article 5 minute read
Managing Health
Young man with a striped white and navy shirt grabbing some hay fever tablets to help ease his allergies

Hay fever symptoms and treatment

What is hay fever and what can we do about it?

Read article 4 minute read
Health Tech
Middle aged mum with curly hair wearing her pyjamas and partaking in a telehealth GP consult on her laptop

The future of digital health

What the future of health means for you

Read article 3 minute read
Managing Health
Middle-aged man with a beard wearing a red beanie and t-shirt cracking his knuckles

Is cracking your knuckles bad for you?

What happens when you crack your knuckles?

Read article 3 minute read
Managing Health
Woman wearing glasses and warm, woolen socks, holding a steaming cup of tea.

Got cold hands or feet? This might be why

Dr Hamish gives us the facts and suggestions on how to help

Read article 4 minute read
Health Checks
A young woman examines the skin on her shoulder

How to check your skin for skin cancer

A self-check can help protect you from skin cancer

Read article 5 minute read
Health Checks
Young woman having her skin checked by a skin specialist

What happens in a skin check by a skin specialist?

Skin checks are one of the best ways to protect yourself

Read article 6 minute read
Managing Health
Hipster dad getting sunscreen applied by his 5-year old daughter who's wearing a pink shirt

Everything you need to know about sun protection

It’s important to know how to protect yourself from the sun

Read article 7 minute read
Health Checks
Middle-aged woman with dark, curly hair looking into a mirror at her skin

How early detection of skin cancer could save your life

Detecting skin cancer early can save your life

Read article 6 minute read
Managing Health
A middle-aged couple laugh as the man looks at his phone

The truth about sun exposure and premature ageing

Excessive exposure to the sun can lead to premature ageing

Read article 5 minute read
Managing Health
Man smiling with band-aid on arm after COVID-19 vaccination

What side effects to expect after a COVID-19 vaccination

Getting vaccinated? We answer your questions about COVID-19 vaccine safety and side effects

Read article 5 minute read
Managing Health
A group of young friends chat and laugh together

Is social smoking bad for you?

Even smoking occasionally is damaging your health

Read article 5 minute read
Managing Health
A senior woman laughs as she twists while holding weights

How do you know if you have diabetes?

We explore the diabetes warning signs to look out for

Read article 7 minute read
Managing Health
A woman holds onto her abdomen and winces as she lays on the couch

Constipation: What it is and how to treat it

Given how common it is, it’s definitely worth exploring

Read article 6 minute read
Using Health Cover
A male doctor fills out a form as his female patient sits across from him

How long does a referral last?

Dr Hamish Black answers your questions about referrals

Read article 3 minute read
Managing Health
A woman curled up on the couch holding her abdomen

5 things every woman should know about endometriosis

Endometriosis affects one in nine Aussie women

Read article 6 minute read
Health Checks
An unwell young man laying in bed while looking at his phone

I have a health concern, what do I do?

Get your health questions answered

Read article 5 minute read
A young woman playing netball looks towards the camera smiling

Sign up to GreenPass and get The Check Up delivered!

GreenPass is your free entry point to better health and wellbeing, with access to online health checks, tools, discounts and more. Simply enter your details, and you're ready to go!

Plus, get The Check Up delivered to your inbox each month with the latest articles on health and wellness.