World Kidney Day is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of our kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide and is celebrated annually on the second Thursday of March.
The 2010 - our fifth World Kidney Day will focus on diabetes, the most common cause of kidney failure. For more information visit the World Kidney Day Website

Where: Association for the Blind of Western Australia, Victoria Park, Perth, W.A.
Date: Tuesday 9th March 2010
Time: Presentation and Tour, 5pm
Light refreshments: 6pm
Presentations: 6.30pm
This activity has been approved by the RACGP QA&CPD program. GPs who complete the predisposing and reinforcing activities will earn 40 category 1 CPD points, otherwise 2 category 2 CPD points/hour. More information…

This program has been developed in support for implementing the Stroke model of care in rural WA, and runs fortnightly VC sessions from 25th Feb and 17th June.
The intention is to promote to Rural GPs especially those who are VMPs at Regional Hospital Centres as a first priority. Participant evaluation will assist in modifying the program before it is provided a second time later in 2010, when we would like to promote it to the GPs who are VMPs at the the District Sites. 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

Builders have been appointed to work on the first phase of the $55.8million upgrade of Kalgoorlie Health Campus which will involve the construction of a new palliative care addition. Health Minister Kim Hames said the appointment of the $2.7million contract to Cooper & Oxley Builders showed the redevelopment was progressing well and would be delivered on schedule.
“Construction of Phase 1 will begin on site in February and this appointment shows we are well on track to delivering this vital stage of the project to the Goldfields community by the end of this year,” Dr Hames said. More Information...

Western Australia’s first accommodation service to support homeless young people with a mental illness was opened in Fremantle by Premier Colin Barnett and Mental Health Minister Graham Jacobs.
Dr Jacobs, who launched the service with the Premier, said young people would be assisted to build their life skills and achieve better health outcomes.
“The State Government is delivering improved services for Western Australians with a mental illness,” he said.
“A key priority is providing mental health services which intervene early and keep people well in the community, reducing the need for acute care.
“With rates of mental illness considerably higher among homeless young people than the wider youth population, there is a clear need for this new service.”
The new service is called Ngatti, a Noongar word meaning ‘continue to move forward.’
It would accommodate up to 16 young people, between the ages of 17 and 22, who have a severe and persistent mental illness or who are at risk of developing mental illness. More information...

The Liberal-National Government has continued to revolutionise the management and service of mental health by today delivering on an election commitment to establish Australia’s first Mental Health Commission.
The Mental Health Commission would be established from March 2010 with a focus on people living with a mental illness and their ability to recover. The commission would assume and expand upon the current functions of the Department of Health’s Mental Health Division.
Premier Colin Barnett said the new commission would have its own management and budget after a phase in period. Over coming years, mental health would be separated from the Health portfolio. The commission would be responsible for operating all aspects of mental health services throughout the State, with final responsibility resting with the Mental Health Minister. The commission would have powers broadly consistent with the successful Disability Services Commission.
Services would continue to be delivered by a range of providers including area health services; community and non-profit organisations; and the private sector.
“This focus on mental health will enable the State Government to have dedicated and tailored services to provide the best possible services and planning for people with mental illness,” Mr Barnett said.. More information...

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…

It’s important to live a mentally healthy life and, if necessary, have access to appropriate mental health services and support when these are needed.
I am therefore pleased today to release A Mentally Healthy Future for all Australians, my advisory council’s discussion paper that provides a vision and suggestions for a coordinated response to Australia’s mental health needs.
The discussion paper has been prepared by the National Advisory Council on Mental Health. The council was established in 2008 following an election commitment to provide independent, balanced and expert advice to government on a variety of mental health issues. More Information...

The Government welcomes the recommendation of the Community Affairs Committee that the Midwives and Nurse Practitioners Bills be passed.
If enacted, this landmark legislation will deliver more choice and options for Australian mothers than ever before.
However, the fate of these changes rest with Liberal Party in the Senate.
The Rudd Governments’ $120 million maternity services package gives families greater choice in maternity care, and recognises the important role played by qualified midwives in the birthing experience of many Australian women. More information...

Health professionals will be able to better treat people with alcohol abuse problems, as well as people with coexisting alcohol and other drug use and mental health conditions thanks to two sets of guidelines released today.
The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at the University of NSW were funded by the Australian Government to produce up-to-date, evidence-based information on the management of co-morbid drug and alcohol and mental health problems.
The guidelines include guiding principles for working with clients with co-morbid mental health problems and practical information for managing these problems, their treatment and appropriate referral processes. They draw upon the experience and knowledge of clinicians, researchers, consumers and carers. More Information...

Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot toured the Australian National University’s Dementia Collaborative Research Centre and announced $21.7 million in funding for Dementia Collaborative Research Centres and Dementia Study Training Centres across Australia.
The $21.7 million, three and a half year commitment will provide funding to five Dementia Training Study Centres and three Collaborative Research Centres.
Minister Elliot said:
“Australia has one of the longest life expectancies in the world. While this is something to be celebrated longevity brings with it greater possibility of dementia and related illnesses.
“The increasing prevalence of dementia requires us to examine new and innovative approaches to improve dementia diagnosis, prevention and care. Australia has contributed much in advancing dementia research. This funding provides for ongoing research that will help improve our understanding of the causes of dementia and help translate that research into improvements in prevention and care.” More Information...

The beginning of the 2010 school year provides a timely reminder for parents and school communities to be prepared and informed about asthma.
Each February there is an increase in the number of children who need treatment for asthma. The same increase is seen in the Northern Hemisphere when children return to school after long summer holidays and smaller spikes occur after shorter holidays.
The rise in asthma associated with returning to school may be due to the exposure of children to respiratory viruses, or because they have not kept up their asthma medication properly over the holidays. More information...

The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, travelled to Ceduna in South Australia to launch a peak national body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers.
Speaking at the Ceduna Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service, Mr Snowdon said the Rudd Government is providing $1.2 million over three years to establish the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers Association.
He said the nation’s 1,600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers are a key part of the health workforce.
“They provide front line services in urban, rural and remote Indigenous communities, promote health awareness, set an example for their communities and help bridge cultural gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. 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/

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/

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...

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

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. More information... or visit website.