Shave or colour your hair for the Leukaemia Foundation. The Leukaemia Foundation World’s Greatest Shave is one of Australia’s biggest fundraising events.
Money raised is used by the Leukaemia Foundation to fund free services to support patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders. It also funds blood cancer research to find better treatments and cures. http://www.worldsgreatestshave.com/index.php

The Respiratory Health Network has developed the COPD Action Plan for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease as recommended in the WA Health COPD model of care. The model of care was developed by a working group of medical specialists, GPs, health professionals and consumers. The goal is for all patients to be provided with a COPD Action Plan from their GP, medical specialist or health care coordinator.
To obtain copies of the COPD Action Plan contact HealthInfo on 1300 135 030 and quote reference HP10842. www.healthnetworks.health.wa.gov.au. More information…

The Musculoskeletal Health Network is inviting consultation on the Draft Elective Joint Replacement Service Model of Care. Your valuable feedback will help us to refine the Model which will inform statewide policy on patient care and services provided. To receive a copy of the draft model and provide feedback please contact the Health Networks Branch via email healthpolicy@health.wa.gov.au or call 9489 2800. The consultation period runs until Friday 26th February 2010.

The Commonwealth Respite and Carekink Centre has organised the above expo to provide free information about disability and other health support services available in the wheatbelt area.
Dates are
Monday 8 March, Moora Recreation Centre. 1pm - 7pm
Wednesday 10 March, Merredin Leisure Centre. 1pm - 7pm
Friday 12 March, Northam Bridgeley Community Centre. 1pm - 7pm. More information…

Have you been working as a nurse in the general practice setting for less than 12 months? Are you looking to find out more about this new work environment? The Orientation to General Practice Nursing Course could be the answer.
The two day course is a national program that has been developed through the Australian General Practice Network with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. The course covers Professional Practice, Provision of Clinical Care, Management of Clinical Systems and Collaborative Practice. Practical knowledge and advice on accreditation, immunisation, Medicare item numbers and triage.
WAGP Network is offering the Orientation Course 10-11 March at the State Tennis Centre, Burswood and 4-5 May at Technology Park Function Centre, Bentley
For further information contact Jane Butcher on 9472 2922 or email jbutcher@wagpnetwork.com.au. To register contact Susan Hensley on 9472 2922 or email shensley@wagpnetwork.com.au

The Aboriginal Health Council of WA have their annual Aboriginal Health Sector Conference coming up on March 24 to 25 2010. The workshop will be at the Vines Resort – Swan Valley. To register your interest please contact Katherine Dann at katherine.dann@ahcwa.org and please check the AHCWA website regularly for further details. www.ahcwa.org.au

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 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

The Department of Health has reassured the public that the dredging operation currently underway at Fremantle Port does not pose a risk to human health.
Director of Environmental Health Jim Dodds said that water samples taken so far were well within the chemical and microbiological public health guidelines.
"The results show that recreational activities in the area such as swimming and diving, and the collection of fish and crustaceans, do not pose any excess risk to public health," he said.
"Dredging is known to reduce water clarity as has occurred within the lower reaches of the Swan River at Preston Point - John Tonkin Park and around the port, however, this is aesthetic in nature and not an indication of chemical or heavy metal pollution. http://www.health.wa.gov.au/press/view_press.cfm?id=883

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) welcomes the Government’s latest step in implementing the e-health agenda, with the Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, presenting the Healthcare Identifiers Bill 2010 to Parliament.
The proposed national Healthcare Identifiers Service aims to implement and maintain a national system for uniquely identifying healthcare providers and individuals and is planned to be available from July 2010.
Dr Chris Mitchell, RACGP President, said that the vast majority of GPs are already using computers for a range of health services and as such, the RACGP recognises the importance of building a robust and future looking e-health system for Australia. More information...

Research shows that drivers with medical conditions have a significantly increased crash risk, especially when cognition is affected. The crash risk, when cognitively impaired, is known to be similar to that of alcohol impaired drivers. A recent Australian study shows that 42% of men with dementia are current drivers. However, diagnosis alone is inadequate for making licensing decisions & alternatively, functional capacity needs to be considered. Unfortunately, it is difficult to objectively determine the functional impact of a person’s cognitive impairment in a clinical setting. Therefore, more specialised testing is required.
DriveABLE Australia provides an independent, evidence based assessment service for determining fitness to drive in people with chronic medical conditions, in particular those affecting cognitive function. For more details on this service visit: www.driveable.com.au.

The Specialist Training Program (STP) is a partnership between the States and Territories, the medical specialist colleges, the private sector and the Commonwealth to expand training opportunities for the specialist workforce in outer metropolitan, rural and remote locations.
STP provides funding to support training capacity in settings beyond traditional public teaching hospitals. Funding submissions to develop specialist training arrangements can include rotations to accredited training posts in locations such as private hospitals, specialists rooms, clinical and day surgeries, publicly funded health care facilities in regional and community settings and non-clinical settings (such as simulated learning environments). Available training posts can be full or part-time with multiple trainees rotating through a single training post.
Visit the website http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/work-spec to obtain program information and download the application package (including forms and associated explanatory notes).
Completed applications along with the associated attachments should be submitted directly to DoHA by Monday 1 March 2010.
For further information about the Specialist Training Program, email specialist.training@health.gov.au.
 

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…

The Rudd Government has introduced legislation that lays the foundations for a future secure electronic health (e-health) system.
The legislation is an important part of the Rudd Government’s reform agenda. Without healthcare identifiers there cannot be an integrated, consistent, e-health system in Australia.
The legislation, the Healthcare Identifiers Bill, allows for a unique 16 digit number to be created for every Australian and all health care providers by the middle of this year. The unique healthcare identifiers will provide a new level of confidence and accuracy – for both consumers and providers – for electronic communication of patient information between providers involved in patient care. More information…

The Australian Health Ministers Conference is holding a special workforce meeting to finalise new arrangements for future clinical training places to meet the growing workforce demands across the country.
The Commonwealth and the States and Territories agreed at COAG in 2008 to take action to provide quality clinical training to our increasing numbers of medical, nursing and allied health students (with domestic medical graduates increasing from 1544 in 2007 to an expected 2920 in 2012).
Training our future health workforce is a challenge that Governments need to act on together. More information…

Families with children with type 1 diabetes will benefit from the Rudd Government’s announcement that it is increasing the maximum subsidy for the purchase of an insulin pump for children under 18.
The Type 1 Diabetes Insulin Pump Program is an innovative initiative - started under the Rudd Government - which delivers relief for families managing juvenile type 1 diabetes.
After consultation with stakeholders, changes announced today increase the subsidy for those most in need, and target it at those requiring the greatest assistance. More information…

Minister Roxon tabled a report to Parliament on the impact of reforms to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) that were introduced in 2007.
The report warns that the cost of the PBS is projected to grow significantly over the next few years.
Based on independent modelling by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the report finds that, while the PBS reforms will provide more savings than originally estimated, these will be more than outweighed by higher growth in PBS costs, which are expected to reach $13 billion in 2018.
This is a significant increase on the cost of the PBS in 2008-09 of $7.7 billion. Growth in 2009-10 is expected to reach about 10.6 per cent. More information…

Those who made dire predictions of a drop in the number of people in private health insurance funds have been proved wrong yet again. The latest figures released today by the Private Health Insurance Council show that the numbers of Australians taking out private health insurance continues to grow.
The Operations of the Private Health Insurers Annual Report 2008-09 shows the private health insurance industry completed the financial year in good health, with the number of people covered by private health insurance, revenue and benefit outlays all increasing. More information…

The PHCRIS eBulletin is designed to inform you of recently published articles and reports, news items, media releases, upcoming conferences and courses. This weeks headline topic is "Where next for primary care? Editorial in the February edition of PHC RIS infonet" 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.

Sharing and collaborating on Indigenous health. Conference partners The Rural Clinical School of Western Australia and Rural Health West invite you to be part of this the fourth annual Rural Clinical School conference and inaugural joint conference with Rural Health West, the Western Australian rural workforce agency. This year the conference will be held in Broome in collaboration with the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council and the Kimberley Division of General Practice.
The Scientific Committee is now accepting applications for papers, posters and workshop presentations. The closing date for submissions has been extended from Monday 5 February 2010 to Monday 22 February 2010. More information…