Childhood Immunisation - RFP open for $240k grant funding
Improve immunisation rates within SEMPHN hotspots read more

Chief Health Officer Advisory - health warning mosquitoes and Ross River virus
Read this advisory issued 4 January read more

Free mental health services for current and former ADF members
Services have been extended and no application form is needed read more

Invitation to contribute to the RACGP Green book (3rd edition)  
Send in some real life examples - we can help read more

Dandenong Practice Networks 
Get together with your peers at this new group read more

Heat Health Alert Status Table
Check out this real time feed for Victoria read more

Is your practice prepared for an emergency? 
Check out these resources to help with emergency planning read more

Thunderstorm asthma - community information sesssions   
Do your patients want to hear about what thunderstorm asthma is, and how to prepare for it? read more

Patients who don't speak English? Access a free interpreting service 
Private GPs and medical specialists might be eligible read more

Hepatitis C in General Practice
Are you a primary health nurse? A few spots are left for this education event read more

Professional development opportunities and events read more

Proposals are invited from General Practices and other parties with a deep clinical understanding of childhood immunisation to improve childhood immunisation rates within ‘hotspots’ across the SEMPHN catchment.

This RFP refers to children in the following age ranges who are not fully immunised:

• 12 to less than 15 months old 
• 24 to less than 27 months old 
• 60 to less than 63 months old.

A total funding pool of $240,000 (GST exclusive) is available to deliver services across one or more providers.

If you’re interested in applying or want to know more, please register your interest on SEMPHN's Tenderlink page.

Once you register, you’ll receive information about the tender as it’s released. All submissions and enquiries must be made via SEMPHN's Tenderlink page.

Proposals close 30 January 2017.

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Residents and visitors to Victoria are being warned to protect themselves against mosquito-borne diseases such as Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and Murray Valley encephalitis.

• Ross River virus has now been detected in mosquitoes around Mildura and Moira / Barmah Forest, giving an early indication of increased risk of human disease for summer and early autumn.
• The best protection from these diseases is to avoid mosquito bites - protective measures include regularly using mosquito repellent containing picaridin or DEET, wearing loose fitting clothing when outside and ensuring accommodation is mosquito proof.
• A range of information relating to protecting against mosquito bites is available on Better Health Channel's Beat the Bite campaign page.
• Doctors should consider the possibility of mosquito-borne disease in patients presenting with a compatible illness, especially after travel to rural or regional Victoria.
• Notify Murray Valley encephalitis immediately on suspicion and Ross River and Barmah Forest virus after laboratory confirmation.

Read the full advisory Health warning on mosquitoes and Ross River virus.

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The Department of Veteran’s Affairs has announced that free treatment for certain mental health conditions are available for all current and former members of the Australian Defence Forces.

A summary of the changes is here.

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The RACGP is reviewing Putting prevention into practice: guidelines for the implementation of prevention into the general practice setting (the Green book).

The Green book will complement the recommendations of the latest RACGP Red Book and help practices achieve the relevant RACGP Standards for General Practices.

As part of this review, you are invited to send real life examples/case studies of prevention in general practice. This could include successes and failures, ongoing challenges and lessons learnt.

Check out case study examples from the 2nd edition Green book here.

You can send your submission to Lynelle Cogan, Administration & Project Officer via qualitycare@racgp.org.au by 31 January.

Or, if you don't have time to write it, tell us about it and we can help. Contact Kym Westbury via Kym.Westbury@semphn.org.au.

Your contribution will help the working group shape a practical resource including real life case studies relevant to GPs and their teams.

A draft of the revised Green book is expected for review in March/April.

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Are you a Practice Owner, Practice Nurse or Practice Manager? We’ve listened to you!

SEMPHN is excited to support the development of new Practice Network Groups so you can get together with, and learn from your peers, presenters and invited guests.

Three separate networks will be offered for:

• Practice Owners
• Practice Managers
• Practice Nurses

As these meetings are for you, we want you to be involved in how they run. At the first meeting, each group will identify topics of interest and ideas for guest speakers and develop a plan for future meetings. There will also be half an hour dedicated to networking, with all groups combined. 

When: 7.00pm-8.30pm, 1 February
Where: Greater Dandenong City Council Office 225 Lonsdale St, Dandenong 

Please register by 27 January.

Practice Owners Register here
Practice Managers Register here
Practice Nurses Register here

All attendees will be invited to attend the Basecamp online networking group. This is a dedicated forum where you can ask questions of each other, stay connected, and share information and resources.

For more information visit here.

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DHHS has published a Heat Health Alert Status Table, which provides a real time feed for Victoria. It indicates whether predicted weather conditions across Victorian regions are likely to trigger heat health alerts. The tool uses projections from the Bureau and makes forecasts for the next six days.

You can also sign up to receive heat health alerts and advice about urgent public health issues and emergencies here.

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With the hottest time of the year comes increased risk of bushfires and extreme weather events.

The RACGP has a number of resources for general practices to plan, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the impacts of fires and other emergencies:

• The Managing emergencies and pandemics in general practice: A guide for preparation, response and recovery covers a range of emergency types, and it recommends activities to help protect the practice’s infrastructure and contents during the summer season.
• The updated Bushfire information web page has key information and recommended actions that practices can take to reduce risk in the event of a bushfire.
• The Emergency Response Planning Tool (ERPT) is a subscription based tool, enabling general practices to create a tailored emergency response plan. For further information about the tool call 1800 008 384 or email help@healthpointanz.org.au.

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Following November's thunderstorm asthma event, you might have patients who are concerned about what thunderstorm asthma means for them and their family's health.

Patients and community members can come to an information session this month to hear first-hand about what thunderstorm asthma is, and how to prepare for it. 

Once people register their interest to attend via this form, they will be updated with session dates and locations close to them. All venues are fully wheelchair-accessible.

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Private General Practitioners and medical specialists who provide Medicare-rebatable services, and their reception staff, may be eligible for free interpreting services through TIS National.

Find out if you're eligible here. If you're eligible, you can apply here.

The free interpreting service is designed to provide equitable access to key services that are not government-funded.

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Are you a primary health nurse? There are a few spots left for a full-day education event in Clayton on 12 January.

New hepatitis C curative treatments available on the PBS are effective and have few side effects.

Primary health nurses can build on their existing skills to engage people living with hepatitis C in care. Learn how your role is crucial to support the testing, diagnosis and management of people living with hepatitis C.

More information

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

19 Jan	Suicide Prevention Workshop Mental Health Workers Dandenong Details and registration
19 Jan	Perform CPR - a workshop for GPs GPs East Melbourne Details and registration
20 Jan	Suicide Prevention Workshop Mental Health Workers South Melbourne Details and registration
1 Feb	Practice Owner Network Meeting Practice Owners Dandenong Details and registration
1 Feb	Practice Nurse Network Meeting Practice Nurses Dandenong Details and registration
1 Feb	Practice Managers Network Meeting Practice Managers Dandenong Details and registration
7 Feb	Suicide Prevention Workshop Mental Health Workers Heatherton Details and registration
10 Feb	Suicide Prevention Workshop Mental Health Workers South Melbourne Details and registration
18 Mar	The Alfred Allergy Symposium GPs Melbourne Details and registration
18 Mar	The Breathless Patient – when to worry GPs Melbourne Details and registration
3-7 Apr	15th World Congress on Public Health All health professionals Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Details and registration

For more information about events contact Stephenie Cook ph: (03) 8514 6609 or events@semphn.org.au

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