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Monday 25  September

In this edition

Professional development opportunities and events read more

Measles Health Alert
Two cases of measles have been confirmed read more

New My Health Record posters
Download a new poster for your waiting room read more

Community events to celebrate new services
Check out these three fun events in October read more

Free vaccine for 15-19 year olds until 31 December
This age group are the most frequent carriers read more

Blood Borne Viruses - essentials for primary care
Attend this free 2-hour workshop read more

Multilingual education and support for CALD working carers
New resources are available in six languages read more

Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (MATOD) training
The next Module 2 session is on 22 October read more

Auto workers may be facing tough times ahead
Help people who might be affected by auto industry closures read more

New Quit Victoria website launched
New content gives information and support at different stages read more

Measles Health Alert

The following Chief Health Officer alert was issued 18 September to general practitioners and hospital emergency departments:

Key messages:

  • There are two confirmed cases of measles - these people were infectious while at a number of places across Melbourne between September 6-13.
  • One person acquired their illness in Victoria from an unknown source; one case may have acquired illness in Victoria or overseas.
  • The affected people may have acquired their infection in the following locations: Metro Trains (Armadale to Southern Cross), Collins Street CBD, St Kilda Road Armadale, St Kilda Library. People who attended these locations between August 20 and September 1 may already be unwell with measles.
  • The affected people attended numerous locations around Melbourne and in Ballarat, where they may have exposed others: Metro Trains and stations (Armadale to Southern Cross), Collins Street, Chadstone Shopping Centre, Ikea Richmond, Ballarat. People who attended these locations between September 6 and September 13 may be at risk of developing measles. 
  • Be alert for measles in patients presenting with a fever at rash onset, particularly if they attended any of the places listed above. Symptoms may have started anytime from September 5. New cases may show symptoms up until October 4 2017.
  • Isolate suspected cases to minimise the risk of transmission within your department/practice.
  • Notify the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Section at the Department of Health and Human Services on 1300 651 160 of suspected cases immediately.
  • Take blood for measles serology in all suspected cases.
  • Discuss whether to take nose and throat swabs for PCR with the Department if your suspicion for measles is high. Approval is required prior to PCR testing at the reference laboratory. PCR testing for measles does not attract a Medicare rebate.

Read the full alert.

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New My Health Record posters

Posters placed strategically in your waiting room can help to build awareness of My Health Record.

Three new posters are now available. One is general, and two have a young family theme.

The posters can be downloaded from our ePIP Notebook in the Patients note.

For help with My Health Record contact our Digital Health team on 03 8514 4460 or digitalhealth@semphn.org.au.

 

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Community events to celebrate new services

Integrated Team Care (ITC) services are now available for people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background.

To celebrate, SEMPHN, Dandenong and District Aborigines Co-Operative Limited (DDACL) and Star Health are running community events for families over the school holidays.

The focus of the events is on health and wellbeing through the art of music and dance, including performances and workshops by the indigenous Hip Hop Crew.

Events will be from 10am-2pm on the following dates:

Food and refreshments will be provided.

About ITC

Integrated Team Care is an approach for providing coordinated, multidisciplinary care for people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds who have long term health conditions. The program is funded under the Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme and commissioned by SEMPHN.

To find out more about ITC or refer your patient, call and ask for Aboriginal care co-ordination:

  • Bunurong Health Service (part of DDACL): 9794 5933
  • Star Health: 9066 1567 or 0419 229 157
  • Peninsula Health: Intake Access 1300 665 781.

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Free vaccine for 15-19 year olds until 31 December

To combat the recent rise of deadly strains of meningococcal  disease, the Victorian Government has introduced a free, time-limited vaccination program for young people aged 15-19 in Victoria.

The vaccine is safe and effective and free until 31 December at secondary schools, council immunisation sessions or at the doctor.

Although uncommon, meningococcal disease can become life-threatening very quickly and 15 to 19 year olds are the most frequent carriers.

Young people receiving the free meningococcal vaccine will be protected against the recently prominent ‘W’ strain of the disease, as well as three other strains (‘A’, ‘C’ and ‘Y’).

With the program ending on 31 December 2017, eligible young people are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the vaccine offer while it is available free.

To find out about free immunisation sessions, contact your local council.

For more about the vaccine and the disease visit here.

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Blood Borne Viruses - essentials for primary care

GPs, want to know more about Blood Borne Viruses (BBV)?

Attend a free two-hour workshop on 12 October focussed on diagnosis, management and treatment, exploring BBVs from a primary care perspective.

Two concurrent sessions will be held - one in St Kilda with speaker Dr Matt Penn, and one in Dandenong with Dr Stephen Bloom and Dr Beng Eu.

More information and registration.

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Multilingual education and support for CALD working carers

Negotiating the multiple responsibilities of informal caring and paid employment can be isolating, challenging and confronting.

Carers often focus their time and energy on the health of the person they are caring for, leaving little time to seek support for themselves. Carers from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities face additional barriers to accessing existing services.

‘Dealing with it myself’ is an initiative to support female carers from migrant or refugee backgrounds, funded by the Commonwealth Department of Social Services. It includes resources to support working carers in managing their multiple roles and maintaining their health and wellbeing:

  • Being a carer in Australia: Help and support for immigrant and refugee carers in Australia.
  • Caring for myself.

The resources are available in here in Arabic, Burmese, Chinese (simplified), Croatian, English and Punjabi.

For more information please contact Health Promotion Project Officer Mi Nguyen at mi@mcwh.com.au or (03) 9418 0999.
 

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Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (MATOD) training

Opioid dependence is a growing public health concern affecting a wide variety of patients including users of illicit, prescription and over-the-counter opioids.

To prescribe pharmacotherapy the following free two-part training is required.

Module 1 (Safer Opiod Prescribing) – a two-hour online training approved for 4 Category 2 RACGP QI&CPD points for the 2017-2019 triennium.

This training is a compulsory pre-requisite to attend Module 2.

Module 2 – A one day face-to-face workshop approved for 40 Category 1 RACGP QI&CPD points for the 2017-2019 triennium.

The next Module 2 session is 9am-5pm on 22 October in Nunawading.

Access to online Module 1 and registrations for Module 2 is via the RACGP Victoria events page.

The training is free and available to members and non-members of RACGP.

For more information call Jackie Apostolopoulos on 0429 808 317 or email jacqueline.apostolopoulos@semphn.org.au.

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Auto workers may be facing tough times ahead

Car manufacturing in Victoria will stop in October this year, and many auto workers will be retrenched. Employees of both auto manufacturers, and the many automotive supply chain businesses that supplied them, will be affected.

You may in coming months see patients affected by automotive industry closures. A number of Victorian Government services exist for these workers, including practical support such as job search help, as well as access to government services providing emotional support.

The Victorian and Commonwealth Governments have produced a brochure called Victorian Auto Workers – Responding to transition and your health that highlights the emotional and physical responses that might be experienced by someone who has been retrenched, and where to reach out for services.

Please make the brochure available to your patients should they need additional assistance.

More information is available here and brochures can be ordered by emailing auto.transition@ecodev.vic.gov.au with a preferred quantity and delivery details.

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New Quit Victoria website launched

The new Quit Victoria website provides practical advice to smokers wanting to quit.

The new content gives information, support and encouragement that's needed at various stages - from thinking about quitting, to having a go and getting back on the wagon after a slip-up.

Features of the new Quit website include:

  • ‘QuitMail’: a new program where smokers can sign up for tailored email support
  • Videos featuring real-life experiences of successful quitters
  • Tools to build a tailored quitting plan
  • Resources for people who help others quit, such as GPs and mental health workers.

Visit the new Quit website here.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

3
Oct
  Ice training for AOD workers
AOD Workers
Dandenong
Details and registration
 
3
Oct
  Ice training for Housing and Homelessness workers
Housing and Homelessness workers
Dandenong
Details and registration
 
4
Oct
  Ice training for Health workers
Health workers
Dandenong
Details and registration
 
5
Oct
  Ice training for Community Mental Health workers
Community Mental Health workers
Dandenong
Details and registration
 
5
Oct
  Ice training for Welfare workers
Community Welfare workers
Dandenong
Details and registration
 
6
Oct
  2017 Successfully Working with Women and their Health
GPs
Melbourne
Details and registrations
 
10
Oct
  SANE Mental Illness and Suicide Prevention Workshop
Mental Health Workers
Heatherton
Details and registration
 
11
Oct
  Asking Better Questions Workshop
Practice Nurses
Berwick
Details and registration
 
11
Oct
  Awards-Nurses and Health professionals
Webinar
Details and registrations
 
12
Oct
  Blood Borne Viruses - Essentials for Primary Care
GPs
St Kilda
Details and registrations 
 
12
Oct
  St Kilda Practice Networks
Practice Nurse, Practice Managers
St Kilda
Details and registrations
 
18
Oct
  Practice Management Masterclass
Practice Manager
Dandenong
Details and registrations
 

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

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