| Issue 19, 11 March 2010 |  |
IN THIS ISSUE: Alerts | Program Updates | Activities and Forums | Communiques | Items of Interest | Community Events
From the CEO - Gretchen Scinta
The release of the ‘National Health and Hospitals Network Reform Plan’ from the Commonwealth Government, while providing us with even more material for speculation and debate, does not yet inform us about impacts of the reform process on General Practice Networks. We remain optimistic about the potential for our South Australian Network to survive and thrive well beyond the current reform process. GPSA is reviewing the current plan with a view to establish a clear position on general practice-led primary health care solutions. While the Government has acknowledged the importance of primary care to achieving a healthy population, the ability to ensure quality care relies on general practice being pivotal in the system that emerges from the reforms.
Alerts
Position vacant, General Practice SA – Programmer, click here
Changes to Medicare Primary Care items take effect from 1 May 2010. For website link click here, for Q&A document click here
AGPN - Indigenous Health Project Officer Orientation Workshop, 14-15 April 2010, Melbourne. For Divisions involved in Closing the Gap Improving Indigenous Access to Mainstream Primary Care Program. Online registrations only by Thursday, 11 March 2010. A draft program will soon be available. Please contact Kelly Quinlan at GPSA on 08 8179 1709 for any enquiries.
New Report: The National Advisory Council on Mental Health has released a new discussion paper, A Mentally Healthy Future for all Australians, click here
Updated Resources for Chronic Disease Management – New Health Coaching Australia worksheets and practice guides for 2010 are available from the HCA website, click here
Continuing Education Guidelines for Nurses and Midwives to be used in conjunction with the continuing professional development component of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council's Continuing Competence Framework (2009) – for information click here
HMR Search Tools now on the GPNSW website – HMR search tools for medical director, best practice and PenCAT, click here
New NCIRS website – The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance has recently updated its website. For immunisation resources, publications and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance, click here
NPS Management options to maximise sleep – The latest NPS education program encourages prescribers to recommend non-drug therapies as first-line treatment for insomnia and to discuss the importance of good sleep practices. For details click here
2010 GPII Calculation Schedule – Medicare Australia has released the GPII Calculation and Recalculation Schedule for 2010 (please be aware that the dates may be subject to change). For details click here
Upcoming GPSA Supported Events
National Prescribing Service Educational Visiting and Group Skills Training – 15-16 March 2010, click here
GP Forum – 19 March 2010
Divisions Executive Network SA (DENSA) – 26 March 2010
General Practice Network Leadership Group – 28-29 April 2010, Canberra
GPSA Board of Directors meeting – 6 May 2010
GPSA Quarterly meetings with SA Health, Country Health SA and Dept Health and Ageing – 20 May 2010
Communiqués
GPSA Board of Directors, 4 March 2010 click here
Items of Interest
Position Vacant, Adelaide Hills Division of General Practice – Education and Workforce Support Program Officer, 12-month contract, working Tuesday and Wednesday (with some flexibility to meet program requirements). For information click here
Aboriginal Health event – NIDAC is hosting its Inaugural National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Conference, 'Listening, Learning and Leading', 16 -18 June 2010 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Worker subsidy grants are available to assist rural and remote workers to attend. Applications close 15 March 2010. Applications from mental health consumers who may experience harmful drug and alcohol use issues or their carers are also encouraged. For all enquiries/applications click here
Health Promotion SA – February Edition of Newsletter for Health Promotion SA, click here
GP Psych Support – GP Psych Support is a free service to general practitioners providing specialist advice from psychiatrists. To register, please call 1800 200 588 or visit the GP Psych Support website, click here
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre Survey – Online survey for young adults aged 16-24. For more details click here
Community Events
Confident Care in Palliative Care Forum 2010 – 25 and 27 March 2010, Tanunda. For details, refer to flier and brochure
Non-violent Resistance Workshop – 26 March 2010, Bower College. For details and Bower College workshop schedule, click here
A Realist Approach to Evaluating Health Promotion Interventions – 22-23 April 2010. Presented by Prof. Louise Potvin, click here
Interpersonal Therapy, Level 2 (FPS) Training – 1-2 May 2010. Presented by Prof. Sue Luty, a recognised leader in IPT, click here
Eating Disorders: Meeting the Challenge – 27-29 May 2010, Sydney. For details click here or go to conference website
Practice Nurse Clinical Education – 13 and 14 November, 2010, Melbourne. For details, click here
Australian Practice Nurse Association – Free online courses: Mental Health Part 1 and Part 2, click here
