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Issue 6, 14 May 2009 |
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IN THIS ISSUE: Alerts | Program Updates | Activities and Forums | Items of Interest | Community Events
From the CEO - Gretchen Scinta
Following this week’s Federal Budget announcements, the Network can now begin to look to the next three years and beyond. There will be some challenges in the transition to the new funding formula that will need to be addressed, but we are confident that the current capabilities of SA Divisions will enable the growth and expansion of focus necessary for sustainability beyond 2012.
As you will be aware, GPSA will continue with its current core funding until 2012. The majority of our program contract arrangements will continue, with the exception of Nursing in General Practice, Obstetric Shared Care, and the Mental Health Development and Liaison which has only been extended to 31 December 2009 at this stage. We are awaiting information about the NiGP program and how this will look. The Obstetric Shared Care program will likely continue, but will be very different in how this will be delivered in the future, with a greater involvement from Divisions as the desired model.
Next week GPSA will attend the regular quarterly meetings with the State branch of Department of Health and Ageing, SA Health, Minister Lomax-Smith and Country Health SA. The focus of the meetings is likely to be the budget outcomes and we will specifically be highlighting individual Division perspectives.
I look forward to meeting with all of the Division CEOs and EOs at the upcoming DEN (SA) meeting on 28 May 2009.
Alerts
Communiqué – GPSA Board meeting, 7 May 2009, click here
OATSIH Regional Health Plan Consultations
– OATSIH is undertaking an exercise to identify the Indigenous population across SA and is asking Divisions for any information they might be able to contribute to building this picture. The results of this exercise will be fed into the planning currently being undertaken at the national level to inform decisions about how the funding for the CDM Closing the Gap initiative will be allocated. Please provide feedback to Kelly Quinlan at GPSA by the end of May 2009. For information, click here
Successful Health Check Funding Proposal – GPSA and the Aboriginal Health Council have collaborated on a successful Heatlh Check funding proposal focussed on Healthy Kids Checks and Aboriginal Health Checks. The aim of the funding is to increase awareness, provide support and collaborate with the Aboriginal Health Council to provide a statewide training workshop involving Divisions, practice staff and Aboriginal Health workers. The collaboration is supportive of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Aboriginal Health Council and activities under the ABHI Primary Care Integration program.
Population Health training
– GPSA, through the ABHI Primary Care Integration Program, is supporting Division staff to attend Certificate IV in Population Health training through 'HealthFirst' over the coming months. Sixteen Division and SBO staff have commenced training and will have the opportunity to learn and develop projects from within their existing and emerging work. The next training will commence in July and will also bring in SA Health employees with collaborative funding, to strengthen relationships and shared opportunities. For further information about training and registration contact Cathy Zesers at GPSA.
‘Joining the dots’ National Primary Health Care Forum – Jeremy Davidson-Tear and Sasha Padgham attended the AGPN forum in Sydney this week. The two-day forum was followed by meetings of the National Primary Mental Health Care and Comorbidity Networks where Jeremy represented GPSA. Many topics were presented and discussed, including announcements from the Federal Budget. Significant issues included future direction of the ATAPS program, the Perinatal Depression Initiative, Reform, Integration (with a wonderful presentation by Deb Lee from Adelaide Northern Division), and Headspace. Most presentations will shortly be available on the forum website. The GPSA Mental Health Network will be meeting on 27 May 2009 and there will be an opportunity to discuss the forum and the outcomes of the Network meetings.
Beyond blue has launched a new training tool for GP’s working with young people – for details click here
CDPM: A National Picture – A component of the AGPN restructure has been the development of an integrated national network encompassing Primary Care Integration, Chronic Disease Self Management and Lifestyle Modification Programs, i.e. the Chronic Disease Networks. GPSA will represent the SA Divisions Network to inform this strategic alliance and then feedback to the Network on National discussions. For CDPM diagram provided by AGPN click here
Chronic Disease Self Management and Prevention
The Flinders University, Flinders Human Behaviour Health Research Unit, is accepting applications for Semester 2 enrolments in two Chronic Condition Management Postgraduate Education courses. For information on the courses and to register an interest click here
Country Health SA CDSM Stanford Model courses for people with chronic
health conditions and their carers are scheduled for Port Augusta and
Mount Gambier. The courses will help attendees develop knowledge,
skills, motivation and confidence to better manage their health and
well-being. For more information, including overview of the Stanford
Model, course locations, dates and resources for Divisions, click here
GPSA Scheduled Activities and Forums
Quarterly meetings (4): GPSA and Minister Lomax-Smith, SA Health, Dept Health and Ageing, Country Health SA – 21 May 2009
GPSA Mental Health Network – 27 May 2009
Divisions Executive Network SA – 28 May 2009
General Practice Alliance Adelaide – 29 May 2009
GPSA eHealth Reference Group – 11 June 2009
GPSA Board meeting – 7 July 2009
Items of Interest
International Men's Week, 15-21 June 2009.
As part of International Men’s Health Week in 2009, Andrology Australia
is again supporting organisations raising awareness of men’s health by
providing posters and brochures at no cost that contain important
health messages. This year’s campaign and key messages focus on the
link between lifestyle and reproductive health and calls for men to
‘Protect your troops!’ For tips on taking care of reproductive and
general health, men and their families or loved ones can download a
free booklet on ‘Your Sperm – and how to look after them’ from the
Andrology Australia website http://www.andrologyaustralia.org.
Chronic Health Conditions in the African Community –
free seminar, 21 May 2009, 6.00-9.00 pm, presented by the South Australian
Refugee Health Network (SARHN). For details, click here. RSVP by 18 May 2009. For coming events, click here
Dementia workshops – The SA & NT Dementia Training Study Centre (SA & NT DTSC) is presenting two Dementia Workshops by international guest speakers Professor Dawn Brooker and Dr Helen Donovan on Tuesday, 2 June 2009 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The course is funded by the Australian Government as part of the Dementia Training Study Centres for Health Professionals Project. For information and free registration click here
Minor Surgery for General Practitioners– The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is conducting a two-day workshop in Melbourne on 25-26 July 2009. The course is targeted to all GPs, particularly those in rural and remote areas. It is accredited under the RACGP QA&CPD Program and ACCRM Professional Development Program. For details, email Dr David Lawrence, ph (03) 9276 7455 or Ms Arwen Tudor, ph (03) 9276 7456.
The School of Nursing and Midwifery, Flinders University, is holding its Sixth Annual Research Summit, 'Showcasing Research Partnerships',
on 25 September 2009, and is calling for abstracts for presentations at
the Summit. For free registration,
abstract submission and further information click here
The Mental Health Services (TheMHS) 19th Annual Conference, ‘You, Your Family, Your Community, Your Mental Health’, 1-4 September 2009, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. For information contact (02) 9810 8700, email info@themhs.org, or click here
The 3rd Western Australian Transcultural Mental Health Conference, 2-4 September 2009, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. For information contact (02) 9810 8700, email info@themhs.org, or click here
The 1st Australasian Refugee Health Conference, 1-2 September 2009, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. For information contact (02) 9810 8700, email info@themhs.org, or click here
Hospital in the Home (HITH) Society Conference, 5-6 November 2009, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. The annual scientific meeting brings together Society members across Australasia to share expertise and network. A call for abstracts is now open. For further information click here
