Accreditation, RACGP 5th Edition Standards - CESPHN is here to help!

The RACGP has developed the Standards for general practices (5th edition) (the Standards) with the purpose of protecting patients from harm by improving the quality and safety of health services. The Standards support general practices in identifying and addressing any gaps in their systems and processes.
Click here for more information.

ACON Honour Awards - congratulations to Dr Allison Bielawski!

Congratulations to the Chair of the Central and Eastern Sydney PHN Clinical Council Dr Allison Bielawski on winning the ACON Health and Wellbeing Honour Award last week. Dr Bielawski has provided outstanding care to the LGBTI community for over 20 years.

Important Changes to the RACGP PLAN Activity

In late September 2018, the RACGP Council decided that the PLAN activity (which was previously identified as the mandatory Quality Improvement (QI) activity for this triennium), will become an optional activity and can be replaced by any other Category 1 QI activity.  
Click here for more information.

Upcoming annual general meetings for member companies

November is the time of year when our member organisations are holding their annual general meetings. Please attend to support your local GP, allied health or community organisation. Invitations were recently sent to all members but if you have any questions about the above or your membership, please telephone Sue Moxon on 1300 986 991 with extension 8720.
Click here for more information.

Spotlight on early intervention in youth mental health

For young people who are at ultra high risk of developing severe mental illness, the right early intervention services can change their life's trajectory. It can help stabilise or improve their symptoms, and support them to stay in work or education and meet their life goals. Headspace Early Intervention Team (hEIT) is a program designed to enhance headspace Ashfield and headspace Camperdown to provide earlier intervention support for young people with or at risk of severe mental illness.
Find out more about how this program is changing lives at Rethinking Mental Health.

Indigenous Health Incentive –  Is your practice registered and still valid?

If your practice is registered for the Indigenous Health Incentive, don’t forget that at least two members of the practice must complete Cultural Awareness Training (CAT) as part of this incentive. 
Click here for more information.

Go4Fun Term 4, 15 October - 19 December 2018

Go4Fun is a FREE 10 week healthy lifestyle program running across NSW for kids aged 7 - 13 years who are above a healthy weight. Sessions are delivered by qualified health professionals once a week after school. The program aims to improve the health of the child through the development of healthy lifestyle behaviours, as well as educating and positively effecting attitude to food and exercise.
Click here for south eastern Sydney programs and click here for inner Sydney programs.

Universal mental health screening in general practice with StepCare

The StepCare Service provides an evidence-based digital tool which screens patients for anxiety, depression and risky drinking in the general practice waiting room. The results of the screeners are sent immediately and securely sent to the GP’s clinical software. Information includes referral options helping GPs match the severity of their patient’s symptoms with appropriate treatment options. StepCare is now gathering momentum and is being implemented in general practices in NSW, ACT, VIC and QLD.
To understand more about the StepCare Service click here.

October is breast cancer awareness month

Breast cancer mortality has decreased since BreastScreen Australia began from 74 deaths per 100,000 women aged 50–74 in 1991 to 44 deaths per 100,000 women in 2015. Increasing participation rates by identifying under or never-screeners and encouraging them to screen will reduce mortality rates further. Read more from the AIHW 2018 Breastscreen monitoring media release and report here.

Spotlight on early intervention in youth mental health

For young people who are at ultra high risk of developing severe mental illness, the right early intervention services can change their life's trajectory. It can help stabilise or improve their symptoms, and support them to stay in work or education and meet their life goals. Headspace Early Intervention Team (hEIT) is a program designed to enhance headspace Ashfield and headspace Camperdown to provide earlier intervention support for young people with or at risk of severe mental illness.
Find out more about how this program is changing lives at Rethinking Mental Health.

Practice management software insight report from Australian Physiotherapy Association

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) has released its Practice Management Software Insight 2018. The APA undertook a Digital Health Discovery Project to explore the PMS available to physiotherapists and their findings are detailed within the report.
Click here to read the report.

APNA Transition to Practice Program

Trying to find your feet in primary health care or want to try your hand at mentoring nurses new to primary health care? This program will help you grow your skills, knowledge and confidence and set you up in your career. The 12-month program will support the transitioning nurse through tailored CPD, mentorship and support in primary health care settings such as (but not limited to) general practice, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health care and community health.
Click here for more information and to apply.

Supporting young people during HSC exams

Over the coming weeks, Year 12 students will experience one of the most stressful times of their lives: exams. We've put together some programs and resources you can share with young people and parents asking for support around exam stress.
Click here for more information. 

Keep on top of your health with My Health Record

October is Mental Health Awareness Month and all Australians are encouraged to promote discussion on Mental Health by talking to their friends and family about it. Your Mental Health is just as important as your physical health. Sometimes keeping track of your health information can be difficult. This year all Australians who want one, will have access to a My Health Record, which can assist you to keep on top of your health information.
Click here for more information.

The September Health and Disability Interface eNewsletter out now!

The September edition of the Health and Disability Interface eNewsletter is out now! The newsletter aims to provide information and updates about the developments that are taking place at the intersection between health and disability in the CESPHN region. It features a selection of current news items, resources and upcoming events relevant to this interface.
Click here to view the September newsletter. Please contact NDIS Transition Lead Jenny Denford if you would like to be placed on the distribution list.

Understanding a child's needs and emotions

Join this forum for parents and carers of children aged 0-5 years exploring the link between feelings and behaviour as well as learning practical strategies to manage difficult situations and build resilience.
When: Wednesday 24 October, 10.00 am - 12.30 pm
Where: Kogarah Community Services
Click here for more information.

Navigating the Mental Health System in Canterbury - Community Workers

The Navigating Mental Health in Canterbury - Community Worker Forum is an opportunity for frontline community workers in the Canterbury area of Sydney to gain knowledge about assisting cultural and linguistically diverse clients who present with mental health needs. The involvement of services/agencies in a client's experience such as acute mental health services, police and a local GP will be discussed by a panel.
Click here for more information.

Combat depression and anxiety with this four week workout program

Mood Active runs group exercise classes to combat depression/anxiety. October sees the launch of its first FREE four-week Wellbeing Workout program, funded by City of Sydney, at the KGV Recreation Centre in The Rocks. Four sessions (each two hours), will include motivation and resilience strategies to start and sustain an exercise routine, followed by a 60 mins group exercise class.
Referrer enquiries: info@moodactive.com.au ph 0412 190 842.

Event: Community Wellness Awards 2018

The Sydney Health Community Network (SHCN) invites you to the Community Wellness Awards to celebrate the great work of community organisations and agencies who improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable or disadvantaged people in central and eastern Sydney. The evening will give you the opportunity to network with GPs, allied health practitioners and the 15 finalists. The event will be held on Wednesday 24 October 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm at Level 5, 201 Coward Street Mascot, NSW 2020.
Click here to RSVP and here for more information on the event.

Event: Pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure in pregnancy

GPs are increasingly aware of the lifelong risks faced by women who have suffered pre-eclampsia in pregnancy. The Heart Foundation is sponsoring a patient education forum on the subject at the Charles Perkins Centre, on the RPAH campus, which is free, and the first of its kind. The event will be held on Tuesday 16 October and is free for women and their families to attend. It will provide participants the opportunity to give feedback and ask questions from leading physicians in this area - let your patients know!
For more information and to RSVP, click here.

Following Central and Eastern Sydney PHN's recent move to Mascot, the CESPHN CPD program will continue to operate uninterrupted across the region. We will be using a number of venues around the St George and Inner West areas in place of the previous Ashfield and Kogarah office locations. CPD venues we will be using include:

• Torwood lounge
• Canada Bay Club
• Kareela Golf Club
• Canterbury Leagues club
• Canterbury/Hurlstone Park RSL 
• St George Leagues club
• St George Motor Boat Club, Sans Souci

The CPD team look forward to welcoming our stakeholders to our new office event space in Mascot. If there are any event enquiries, please contact events@cesphn.com.au.

Human Resources - NSW Industrial Relations

At:    CESPHN Office Mascot, L5, 201 Coward St
On:   Tuesday 16 October 6.30 pm dinner, 7.00 pm presentation
For:  GPs, PNs, PMs, PS, AHPs

My Health Record - Q&A Workshop

At:    Gymea Tradies, 57 Manchester Rd North, Gymea
On:   Tuesday 16 October 12.00 pm lunch, 12.30 pm - 2.00 pm presentation
For:  GPs, PNs, PMs, PS, AHPs

Supporting Change in Alcohol Use or Other Behaviours Within a Usual GP Consult - ALM Session 2

At:    CESPHN Office Mascot, L5, 201 Coward St
On:  Wednesday 17 October 6.00 pm dinner, 6.30 pm - 9.30 pm presentation
For:  GPs (40 Category 1 RACGP points)

St Vincent’s Private Hospital CPD Series - Orthopaedic Rehabilitation

At:    St Vincent’s Private Hospital, New Sister Bernice Wing Rehabilitation Unit, L12, 406 Victoria St, Darlinghurst 
On:  Wednesday 17 October 6.00 pm dinner, 7.00 pm presentation
For:  GPs

My Health Record - Medico Legal Workshop for General Practice 

At:    Canada Bay Club, 4 William St, Five Dock
On:  Thursday 18 October 6.30 pm dinner, 7.00 pm presentation
For:  GPs, PNs, PS, PMs

Obesity Prevention in Primary Care

At:    CESPHN Office Mascot, L5, 201 Coward St
On:  Thursday 18 October 6.30 pm dinner, 7.00 pm presentation
For:  GPs, AHPs, PNs

POLAR Software Training

At:    CESPHN Office Mascot, L5, 201 Coward St
On:  Monday 22 October 6.30 pm dinner, 7.00 pm presentation
For:  GPs, PNs, PMs, PS, practices with POLAR software

Community Wellness Awards

At:    CESPHN Office Mascot, L5, 201 Coward St
On:  Wednesday 24 October 6.30 pm dinner, 7.00 pm presentation
For:  GPs, PNs, AHPs

Hazelhurst CPD Series - ANSC Obstetrics Update

At:   Hazelhurst Gallery, 782 Kingsway, Gymea
On:  Thursday 25 October 6.30 pm dinner, 7.30 pm presentations
For:  GPs

NDIS Mental Health and Psychosocial Disability

At:    CESPHN Office Mascot, L5, 201 Coward St
On:  Monday 29 October 6.30 pm dinner, 7.00 pm presentation
For:  GPs, PNs, PMs, PS, AHPs

Stress Management and Self Care

At:   Club Central Hurstville, 2 Crofts Ave
On:  Monday 29 October 6.30 pm dinner, 7.00 pm presentation
For:  AHPs

My Health Record - Medico Legal Workshop for Pharmacists

At:    CESPHN Office Mascot, L5, 201 Coward St
On:  Tuesday 30 October 6.30 pm dinner, 7.00 pm presentation
For:  Pharmacists

Risk Management in the 5th Edition Accreditation Standards

At:   Club Central Hurstville, 2 Crofts Ave
On:  Tuesday 30 October 6.30 pm dinner, 7.00 pm presentation
For:  GPs, PNs, PMs, PS

As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts. If you would like to submit an article or have suggestions on content you would be interested in reading, please email editor@cesphn.com.au.