National Condom Day (NCD) is a state-wide health promotion campaign designed to raise awareness of safe sex practices and encourage condom use. NCD falls on Valentines Day, a time when the focus is on romance and passion, and is a good reminder for people to take responsibility for their sexual health and show partners how much they care by always using condoms.
FPWA Sexual Health Services will be taking a different approach to NCD in 2010. Inline with the organisation's new strategic plan, NCD will focus on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) populations in Western Australia. http://www.fpwa.org.au/news/events/ncd/

In 2010 the Health Networks will focus on connecting with health professionals in prevention, primary, community and hospital sectors to develop and implement models of care to improve health care delivery in Western Australia.
To find out more about Health Networks and models of care go to: http://www.healthnetworks.health.wa.gov.au/home/
If you have an enquiry you want answered either phone Health Networks Branch on 9489-2800 or email healthpolicy@health.wa.gov.au.

Silver Chain Home Hospital has been well received over the last few months and is now operational in the north, east and south metropolitan areas. The new Priority Response Assessment service is being embraced by General Practitioners and Residential Aged Care Facilities alike and positive feedback is flowing in following care interventions. Since commencing on 1 September 2009, many patients have been treated for acute and complex care needs including, laceration repair, treatment for infectious conditions including chest infections and cellulitis, hydration therapy, vomiting, diarrhoea, stoma care, peg re-insertion etc, cases that would have otherwise required treatment at an Emergency Department.
General Practitioners are still encouraged to register with Silver Chain Home Hospital . By registering your interest in the program you will be kept up to date on the development of Silver Chain Home Hospital services. You can register your “at risk” patients, who may present regularly to emergency departments, by providing a medical summary for each patient; this information will be attached to the patient’s record on Silver Chain’s client management system. If you’d like a more “hands on” role in the care of acutely ill patients in the community, you can also register your interest in being part of the Silver Chain medical team and become involved in the medical governance of the HITH patients.

Registration benefits are available:
• $125 payment for each GP who registers interest in the program
• A payment of $15 for each “at risk” patient registered (maximum 20 per GP)
A tax invoice is required so that we can process your payment promptly.

Download a Silver Chain Home Hospital Registration brochure here also for more information visit www.homehospital.org.au/. You can refer your patient by contacting the Silver Chain Home Hospital referral line on 9242 0347.

This workshop brings together a range of specialists in the field, to provide GPs with practical methods for the early identification and evidence based management of high risk cases. Strategies to be presented will include screening tools, referral options, dispute resolution and cooperative management approaches.

Date: Saturday 20 February 2010
Time: 8.30 am - 4.30 pm
Venue: RACGP Office, 328 Stirling Highway, Claremont WA 6010
Fee: RACGP Member $100 and Non-member $150
QA&CPD: This ALM has been approved by the RACGP QA&CPD program for 40 Category 1 points

For more information contact Jasmin Flori-Hess at the RACGP WA Faculty on 08 9489 9555.
Registration form can be found at http://www.racgp.org.au/wa/events

The Vocational Graduate Diploma of Women’s Health (VGDWH) is a nationally recognized training program that was presented for the first time in 2004. Each theme consists of ten evening sessions.
What does the program cover?
The program covers three themes:
1. Family planning and sexual health (9/2/10 - 27/4/10)
2. Office gynaecology (11/5/10 - 27/7/10)
3. Non-procedural obstetrics (10/8/10 - 26/10/10) More information…

Are you a registered or enrolled nurse who has left nursing but maintained your registration?
General Practice Nursing is a rapidly evolving and rewarding style of practice that makes a difference in patients’ lives and may include:

• Flexible hours
• Opportunity for professional development
• Variety of roles

Osborne GP Network is offering a 2 day (5 ½ hours per day) Introduction to General Practice Program. 3 and 4 February 2010 from 9:00am to 2:45pm
Note: This program does not ensure employment in general practice but provides an opportunity to be networked with practices wishing to employ a practice nurse. For further information and to register your interest contact Jennifer Hughes on 9208 9510 or email: jenniferh@ogpn.com.au
This opportunity is offered free-of-charge. Places are limited so registration is essential.

2009 General Practice Survey Report outlining the findings of research commissioned by Western Australian General Practice Education and Training Ltd (WAGPET) and conducted by the Australian Medical Association of Western Australia (AMA WA) has just been released.
The report provides important up-to-date information about Western Australian medical students’ and interns’ interest in a career in general practice. More information…

General practice nurses who wish to enhance their knowledge and skills in paediatric conditions are invited to attend this educational event planned at Princess Margaret Hospital. Topics will include but are not limited to: Paediatric Asthma, Anaphylaxis and Epipens, Immunotherapy and Immunisations More information…

The package, inclusive of information, videos, activities and links to further resources, consists of five self directed learning modules:
• Culture, self and diversity
• Aboriginal history
• Working with Aboriginal people
• Providing clinical services
• Improving cultural security
You can access the Cultural Orientation Plan at http://lms.cucrh.uwa.edu.au/moodle/

The Cancer Council WA will commence the 2010 Group programs in early February. The program includes Life Now Exercise, meditation/relaxation and yoga groups, free for people living with cancer, their carers and family members. For more information on locations and times or go to www.cancerwa.asn.au

A valuable tool for patient safety education, the documentary of the recent Australian Patients for Patient Safety Workshop held in Perth, provides insight into the importance of collaborative approaches to patient safety and the benefits of incorporating patient’s experiences and perspectives into policy and systems improvement.  Bringing together 40 health consumers, health providers and policy makers from all over Australia - many of whom had experienced the impact of an adverse event in health care - the documentary illustrates that a partnership approach to learning and action, as undertaken in the Workshop, can bring about profound positive momentum and solutions otherwise not considered.    One of the key outcomes of the Workshop was the development of the Perth Declaration for Patient Safety, a united call to action for Australia for patient safety. For further information on the Workshop and the Perth Declaration for Patient Safety or copies of the 17 minute Workshop documentary please contact Health Consumers Council WA at info@hconc.org.au

Health Minister Kim Hames announced the appointment of Kim Snowball as acting Director General of the Department of Health.
Mr Snowball will act in the position for six months from January 16. Dr Hames said Mr Snowball was a highly experienced public servant and certified practising accountant, who had been chief executive of the WA Country Health Service which had an annual budget of $1billion a year.
“Mr Snowball has also worked at a national level, having developed a National Rural Health Framework for the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments,” he said. More information...

A new state-of-the-art computed tomography (CT) scanner installed at Nickol Bay Hospital is already benefiting patients in Karratha and the West Pilbara by reducing the need to travel to Port Hedland or Perth for scans.
Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls today officially launched the high calibre CT scanner at Nickol Bay Hospital - a $38.2million partnership between the State Government and major Pilbara industries to boost health services in the region.
Mr Grylls said the Pilbara Health Initiative was set up to fund urgently needed health services and equipment in the region, which had struggled to keep pace with population pressures and the needs of the growing community.
“This is part of the Government’s focus on providing improved services and facilities to people in the Pilbara,” he said. More information...

The General Practice Data Governance Council met in Canberra in December 2009 to progress the key data governance agenda related to health privacy.
The peak general practice organisations have formed the General Practice Data Governance Council, a new body to oversee the use of general practice data collected from participating practices, in August 2009.
A briefing was provided about the proposed new privacy legislation and its impact on general practice by senior staff from the office of Prime Minister and Cabinet. The major focus was on proposed reforms to the Privacy Act that will see a single set of privacy principles across the public and private sectors, and all jurisdictions. This would streamline the current situation where public organisations are covered by the Information Privacy Principles and the private sector, including general practices, by the National Privacy Principles. More information...

Obstetric services in rural and remote areas are diminishing significantly with over 130 maternity units closing down across country Australia in the last 10 years. With 29% of all babies in Australia born in rural and remote areas this now presents some difficult decisions for rural women when they become pregnant. The diminishing support for rural women to give uncomplicated birth in their local communities has meant that increasingly women are faced with having to leave their communities in pursuit of good antenatal care and a safe birthing experience. http://www.rhef.com.au/programs/program-1/?program_id=355

EPICC the Education Program in Cancer Care is a free, online cancer education and resource program designed for noncancer specialist medical practitioners (general practitioners, general physicians, gynaecologists, etc).
EPICC includes educational activities, relevant literature, resources and links to existing programs and information on general principles of cancer, diagnosis, treatment, side effects and symptoms of treatment, oncological emergencies, psychosocial care and follow up. More information…

Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot announced more than $4 million in one-off funding grants for 269 services across Australia that provide respite for carers.
Minister Elliot made the announcement at the SOS Nursing and Home Care respite house in Tamworth which will receive more than $12,000 for furnishings and equipment for the cottage.
The funding is part of the Rudd Government’s commitment to carers through the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP), which this year will provide more than $200 million to respite services and programs in Australia.
Respite services provide valuable time-out for people who care for their friends or family members with conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Minister Elliot said: “Carers across this nation play an important role in Australian society. They dedicate so much to improve the quality of the lives of our nation’s elderly and for people with disabilities.More information…

The PHCRIS eBulletin is designed to inform you of recently published articles and reports, news items, media releases, upcoming conferences and courses. http://www.phcris.org.au/publications/ebulletin/

Each year, over 2,000 people from all walks of life meet at Happiness & Its Causes to examine the big issues of life. The conference brings together the world's top psychologists, scientists, philosopher's and thinkers to explain practical strategies to enhance the happiness of yourself and others.
Happiness & Its Causes, now in its fifth amazing year, is a conference like no other. http://www.happinessanditscauses.com.au/index.stm

The first Australian Clinical Networks Conference is to be held in Melbourne in 2010 and is being hosted by Victorian Department of Human Services.
The conference will bring together Clinical Networks from across Australia and internationally to provide an opportunity to share and promote ideas on Clinical Networks.
Sharing examples of ‘best practice’ in Clinical Networks will be a key theme looking at areas such as:
• Establishing and maintaining effective networks,
• Evaluation and outcomes of clinical networks,
• Consumers as network participants and partners in improving care, and
• Connected and collaborative care. More information...

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), the Internal Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand (IMSANZ), and the International Society of Internal Medicine (ISIM) are pleased to host the World Congress of Internal Medicine 2010, to be held in Melbourne, Australia on 20 – 25 March 2010. The Congress will be held in conjunction with the annual RACP Physicians Week. http://www.wcim2010.com.au/

Across Australia, there are a number of people, organisations and communities working together to address indigenous alcohol and drug issues and associated harm. Recognising that harmful alcohol and other drug use contributes significantly to the poor
health outcomes of indigenous Australians, the continuing capacity and quality of these efforts is contingent on learning good practices and skills, building a local workforce and strengthening indigenous communities to respond effectively. More information...

The largest healthcare event in Australia
Hear an unrivalled roster of over 60 international and local healthcare leaders sharing their ideas, debate strategy and discuss long term solutions
Policy reform and implementation
Understand how structural reform, funding models and technology will impact on the delivery and quality of healthcare
Have your say in the healthcare reform debate
Make your thoughts known and influence outcomes by participating in high level panel sessions and networking activities
Pre-Conference Masterclass:
Chronic Disease Self-Management More information…

The Australian Health Promoting Schools Association 8 National Conference will be held on 6 – 8 October 2010, at the Burswood Entertainment Complex. This is a biennial conference which will incorporate the association’s AGM.
A range of dynamic local, national and international speakers will address key issues in school health promotion. Delegates can be assured they will not only be inspired but will leave this two day event with a raft of new ideas to apply in their own school/workplace.