Professional development opportunities and events read more

Grant open for Chronic Disease Service Mapping Project
A $300,000-$500,000 grant is available read more

Medicare funded BRCA testing for high risk patients
There are two new MBS numbers read more

Are you ready for the implementation of Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act 2016?
Get up to speed with the changes read more

Events: end of life and palliative care decisions
Come to some upcoming sessions read more

A gift for women in need
Show your support for women in family violence crisis accommodation read more

Share your views: National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Monitoring and Reporting Framework
Have a say online by 17 November read more

GPs and GP Registrars: take 10 minutes to have a say about technology
Share your thoughts by 3 December read more

World Antibiotic Awareness Week: handle antibiotics with care
Display some posters and read some practice points read more

SEMPHN is seeking proposals from suitably qualified organisations to undertake a Chronic Disease Service Mapping Project in our catchment.

A grant of between $300,000 and $500,000 is available for the work, which will contribute to SEMPHN improving chronic disease services for people in the region.

Tenders close 3pm, 1 December.

To see full details, register your interest and apply for these tenders, go to SEMPHN's Tenderlink page.

All questions about the tenders must be asked via the online forum on SEMPHN’s Tenderlink page by 2pm, 24 November 2017.

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Funded Breast Cancer (BRCA) testing is now available for high risk patients without having to queue in the public system or having to travel to a public cancer clinic.

The two new MBS item numbers are 73296 and 73297.

This means that high risk patients can have genetic testing of BRCA1 and BRCA2 (as well as five other genes associated with breast cancer risk) and the test will be fully funded by Medicare.

Who qualifies?
In all cases, the test must be ordered by a specialist or consultant physician and appropriate genetic testing needs to be provided.

Item number 73297 allows testing when a mutation has already been identified in a blood relative.

Item number 73296 allows testing in a patient who has had cancer and:

• has at least a 10% or higher chance that a mutation is present (determined via validated risk model such as BOADICEA)
• belongs to a specific heritage group (e.g. Ashkenazi Jewish)
• has a specific type of cancer such as “triple negative” at or before age 40 or “invasive non mucinous” ovarian cancer at or before 70.

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From 12 March 2018, the Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act 2016 will provide a framework for medical treatment decision making for people who don't have the capacity to make their own decisions. 

The Act will give people greater opportunity to make their own medical treatment decisions- a key change is the ability to make decisions for future medical conditions.

Victorians will be able to create a legally binding advance care directive that will allow them to make an instructional directiveand a values directive.

Victorians will also be able to appoint a medical treatment decision maker and a support person.

These resources can help you to prepare for the implementation of the Act:

• Frequently asked questions
• Guide to the Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act 2016 for health practitioners
• Summary of the Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act 2016 for health practitioners

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In view of the new Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act 2016, SEMPHN and the Southern Metropolitan Region Palliative Care Consortium are offering sessions about end of life and palliative care decisions:

Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA)
When: 23 November, 6pm – 8.45 pm
Where: Yarra Yarra Golf Club
Register here.

Palliative Care training day
When: 5 December; attend one or both sessions
Are you ready? Changes to the Victorian Law on Consent 10am – 12pm
Abnormal Mental States and Palliative Care 1pm – 4pm
Where: Sandy by the Bay
Register here.

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We really want to help New Day Box reach their target of 15,000 New Day Boxes to help women in crisis this year.

It's our third year taking part, and SEMPHN staff have donated more than 200 boxes so far.

A New Day Box is a gift of support to women in family violence crisis accommodation in Victoria.

We'd love for your practice to get involved in this very practical and meaningful initiative.

All you have to do is fill a shoebox with skincare, cosmetics and treats!

Step 1
Get an empty shoebox.

Step 2
Fill your box with skincare, cosmetics and treats. New and unused cosmetics, beauty products, and non-meltable treats like lollies create beautiful gifts. It usually costs around $40 to fill a box. Spend what you are comfortable with and New Day Box will supplement boxes with samples and extras where necessary.

Step 3
Post, or drop-off your box to one of the Melbourne or St Kilda collection points in November/December. For collection dates and addresses visit here.

Or, drop your box to one of the SEMPHN offices in Heatherton, Dandenong or Mornington by 22 November.

Or, ask your friendly provider support officer to pick up your box if they are visiting your practice soon.

More information.

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Comments are invited on the potential features of the National Mental Health Commission’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Monitoring and Reporting Framework. 

The Framework will monitor and report on mental health and suicide prevention over a multi-year timeframe and identify current and future data sources to be used and developed.

Share your views here on mental health and suicide prevention monitoring and reporting here by 17 November.

The review of existing mental health and suicide prevention monitoring and reporting activities and consultation with stakeholders will help determine which domains should be included in the Framework, and which should be prioritised in the next five years (2018-22).

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The RACGP is conducting its annual survey on the views and attitudes towards technological innovation in general practice.

Are you a GP or GP registrar? Share your thoughts and opinions to help the RACGP develop a snapshot of current trends of technology adoption in Australian general practice. This will include what systems are being used, future investment needed and key technology challenges faced by general practice teams.

The 10-minute survey can be completed here by 3 December.

The survey results will be made available on the RACGP’s eHealth page early next year. 

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Did you know that Australia has one of the highest rates of antibiotic use in the world? We’re ranked 8 among 29 countries evaluated by the OECD.

This week is World Antibiotic Awareness Week - an annual, global event to raise awareness about the serious health issue of antibiotic resistance.

Why not display some posters in your waiting room? They can be downloaded here.

You can also read some practice points about ways to reduce antibiotic resistance.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

18 Nov		Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (MATOD) training - Module 2 GPs East Melbourne Details and registration
18 Nov		Perinatal in Practice GPs, Midwives, Psychologists Melbourne Details and registration
21 Nov		Melbourne Practice Management Forum Practice Managers Melbourne Details and registrations
21 Nov		Recalls and Reminders - Best Practice Training Practice Manager, Practice Nurse Webinar Details and registrations
21 Nov		SANE Mental Illness and Suicide Prevention Workshop Mental Health Workers Southbank Details and registration
22 Nov		Internet gaming addiction and the effects on mental health Mental Health Practitioners Webinar Details and registration
22 Nov		Recalls and Reminders - Medical Director Training Practice Manager, Practice Nurse Webinar Details and registrations
22 Nov		Conducting successful meetings Practice Manager Moonee Ponds Details and registrations
23 Nov		Cabrini GP Lecture Series - Hair disorders GPs Malvern Details and registration
23 Nov		Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) GPs Bentleigh East Details and registration
25 Nov		Fellowship Preparation: KFP GPs Wantirna Details and registration
28 Nov		Nellie: supporting your Chronic Disease Management General Practice Brighton Details and registration
29 Nov		Dandenong Practice Networks Practice Nurse, Practice Managers Dandenong Details and registration
2 Dec		The Alfred Pain Symposium: Agendas surrounding the Management of Chronic Pain in the Community General Practitioner, Medical Specialist Melbourne Details and registration

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

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