Professional development opportunities and events read more

Last chance to have a say in our Needs Assessment
Please complete our 5-10 minute survey read more

Networking opportunities for practice managers & nurses
Get together with your peers and hear about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health read more

Understand Mental Health Stepped Care in three minutes
Check-out our new video and services read more

Make a box for women in need
It's our third year taking part, and we'd love you to join in read more

Parents struggle to spot mental health warnings in kids, poll finds
The latest RCH National Child Health Poll has some findings worth reading read more

Combined GP, Pain Medicine, Addiction Medicine & Psychiatry Dinner
Come to a dinner on 1 November read more

Korin Korin Balit-Djak: Aboriginal health, wellbeing and safety strategic plan 2017-2017
The new 10-year plan was launched last week read more

The latest immunisation news
Check-out this month's DHHS newsletter read more

Plain language Hepatitis B and liver cancer resources for culturally diverse communities
New factsheets and posters are available read more

Today is your last chance to do this 5-10 minute survey, which directly contributes to our annual Needs Assessment.

Your responses will help us to identify needs in the community, as well as things that help - and don't help - the delivery of health services.

Thanks to all who have completed the survey so far.

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Would you like a chance to meet up with colleagues and hear about Aboriginal health services?

Practice Managers and Practice Nurses are invited to attend a presentation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health this month.

• Dandenong – 18 October, Greater Dandenong City Council 225 Lonsdale St Dandenong 6.00pm – 7.30pm with Jenny Ockwell Manager Aboriginal Health Services from Bunurong Health Service. Book here.
• Frankston – 19 October, Cube 37 Frankston Arts Centre 25 Davey St Frankston 6.00pm – 7.30pm with Helen Bndas – Koolin Balit Coordinator at Peninsula Health. Book here. 

Refreshments and sandwiches will be provided.

People who have registered to attend a network meeting will be invited to the practice network's online network (called Basecamp).

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Wondering what Stepped Care means? Confused about mental health reform?

Check out our new 3-minute video that explains SEMPHN's Mental Health Stepped Care Model.

From 1 November 2017, all referrals for SEMPHN-funded mental health services will be made through the new SEMPHN Mental Health Intake (ph: 1800 862 363).

This is a a central phone and fax line that links people with primary mental health services, including referrals into the new API and MHICC services (see below) and the existing Partners in Recovery (PiR) service.

SEMPHN also has two new primary mental health services.

• Accessible Psychological Interventions (API) – flexible psychological services for people with mild-moderate mental illness, starting 1 November in eight Local Government Areas. Replacing Access To Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS). 

• Mental Health Integrated Complex Care (MHICC) – flexible support and clinical services for people with severe-complex mental illness, starting 1 December, 2017. Replacing Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP).

The new services are for people with health care cards or who can’t afford/access similar services and especially designed for people from hard-to-reach population groups.

For more information about referring to the new services, call SEMPHN Mental Health Intake on 1800 862 363 during business hours or visit here.

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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 join us in this very practical and meaningful initiative.

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

More information.

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The majority of Australian parents aren’t confident in identifying or responding to signs of a possible mental health problem in their child, a new poll has found.

The latest RCH National Child Health Poll revealed that only a third (35%) of Australian parents are confident they could recognise the signs of a mental health problem in their child, with a further third of parents believing a child’s mental health problems might be best left alone to work themselves out over time.

Director of the poll, paediatrician Dr Anthea Rhodes said that less than half of parents (44%) reported being confident they would know where to go for help if their child was experiencing social, emotional or behavioural difficulties.

"Children can develop many of the same mental health difficulties as adults, but sometimes they can manifest in different ways making them harder to recognise. Even if parents are unsure, they are encouraged to have a conversation with their GP or school counsellor about any emotional, social or behavioural difficulties they think their child may be experiencing,” Dr Rhodes said.

The poll revealed that parents who reported connecting with their kids most days of the week were more confident they would recognise a mental health problem in their child if it was present.

For more findings, or to sign-up to the quarterly newsletter, visit www.rchpoll.org.au.

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Do great minds really think alike?

GPs, Pain Specialists, Addiction Medicine Specialists and Addiction Psychiatrists are invited to an evening on 1 November to discuss complex pain and addiction conundrums and crossovers.

The evening will include a brief update on Real Time Prescription Monitoring (RTPM) by Dr Malcolm Dobbin, DHHS Senior Medical Advisor.

This event is supported by SEMPHN, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Faculty of Pain Medicine and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

For more details contact Jacqueline Apostolopoulos, Pharmacotherapy Liaison Coordinator on 0429 808 317 or (03) 8514 6619 or jacqueline.apostolopoulos@semphn.org.au.

There is no fee.

RSVP here by 25 October.

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Korin Korin Balit-Djak means 'Growing very strong' in the Woi wurrung language.

It provides an overarching framework for action to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal Victorians now and over the next 10 years.

The purpose of Korin Korin Balit-Djak is to realise the Victorian Government's vision for 'Self-determining, healthy and safe Aboriginal people and communities' in Victoria.

Korin Korin Balit-Djak is informed by an extensive consultation process with Aboriginal communities across Victoria, as well as a strong evidence base, including Koolin Balit evaluation findings (Victorian Government 2012).

The plan details how the department will work with Aboriginal communities, community organisations, other government departments and mainstream service providers - now and into the future - to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of Aboriginal people in Victoria.

Korin Korin Balit-Djak will be reviewed and updated every three years.

See the new Korin Korin Balit-Djak Aboriginal Health, Wellbeing and Safety 10 Year Strategic Plan.

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This month's issue of the DHHS immunisation newsletter covers the following topics:

• Immunisation — updated special risk groups and adults web pages
• Two vaccines are routinely given at the 18 month schedule point
• Free Meningococcal ACWY vaccine for all 15-19 year olds
• Notify all vaccine doses administered to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)
• National Immunisation Program resources
• Training a new staff member in the management of vaccine cold chain?
• Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) – are you on target?

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Cancer Council Victoria has developed a simple factsheet about hepatitis B, including who's at risk, testing, treatment, monitoring, the link between untreated hepatitis B and liver cancer, and tips to reduce cancer risk. 

The factsheet is available in eight languages: Arabic, English, Filipino, Italian, Khmer, Simplified Chinese, Somali and Vietnamese and can be accessed here.

There's also an A3 poster, 'Ask your doctor for a hepatitis B test', that can be used in health and community settings. It's available for download in Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese or Somali and Sudanese Arabic, or you can request print copies via Cancer Council Victoria’s resource order form. 

More information for health professionals on how to interpret serology and diagnosis for hepatitis B can be found on the Hep B Help website.

For more information contact the Hepatitis Program Coordinator, Emily Adamson - Emily.Adamson@cancervic.org.au.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

18 Oct		Blood Borne Viruses - Essentials for Primary Care GPs Dandenong Details and registration
18 Oct		Dandenong Practice Networks Practice Nurse, Practice Managers Dandenong Details and registration
19 Oct		Suicide and our community Cranbourne Details and registration
19 Oct		Frankston Practice Networks Practice Nurse, Practice Managers Frankston Details and registration
19 Oct		Cabrini GP Lecture Series - The use of CT angiography & calcium scores in assessment of coronary artery disease GPs Malvern Details and registration
20 Oct		Chronic Disease Self-Management Support Program Nurses Dandenong Details and registration
22 Oct		Mosaic Festival - A Celebration of Multicultural Women in Victoria All Queen Victoria Market Details and registration
22 Oct		Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (MATOD) training -Module2 GPs Nunawading Details and registration
25 Oct		2017 Melbourne Private Day Course in Infection Prevention & Control to all General Practice staff Nurses, Receptionists Parkville Details and registration
25 Oct		SANE Mental Illness and Suicide Prevention Workshop Mental Health Workers Heatherton Details and registration
25 Oct		Drs in Secondary Schools (DiSS) Network meeting Program participants (or those soon to be involved) in the Drs in Secondary Schools. Dandenong Details and registration
26 Oct		Cabrini GP Lecture Series - Thunderstorm Asthma GPs Malvern ​Details and registration
28 Oct		Moving Ahead: The National Cervical Screening Program Renewal Webinar Webinar- attend via through live streaming on mobile phone, tablet or computer Details and registration

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

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