COVID-19 pages for health professionals

SEMPHN has a number of COVID-19 information pages for health professionals on our website.

Follow the links to access SEMPHN's pages on:

• COVID-19 information for health professionals
• COVID-19 Vaccine
• 'COVID fatigue' and infection control practices

• General Practice planning for potential outbreaks

• COVID-19 Information for community

Practice Managers, last chance to register for the Quality Improvement webinar

Practice managers join us on 14 April, 12.30 pm –1.30 pm for part one of a two-part series on Quality Improvement (QI).

In this first session, led by Dr Paresh Dawda, we will be exploring the basics of Quality Improvement in general practice.  

Part 1
When: Wednesday, 14 April 2021, 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm
Where: Online, Zoom
Cost: Free
Register here.

Part two will look to the next steps of QI, translating theory into practice.

Part 2
When: Wednesday, 16 June 2021
Where: Online, Zoom
Cost: Free
Save the date! Registration will be available closer to the date. 

Practice nurses, book your spot before it's too late! 

Practice nurses, join us on 15 April, 7 pm – 8 pm for a webinar about the role of the practice nurse in sexual and reproductive health.

Our guest speakers are:

• Jess Elsworth Health Promotion Officer at Women’s Health in the South East,
• Cathy Halmrick, Nurse Practitioner, Women’s Services, Peninsula Health
• Cath Hannon, Project Manager - Sexual & Reproductive Health Clinical Champion Project.

When: Thursday, 15 April 2021, 7 pm – 8 pm
Where: Online, Zoom
Cost: Free
Register here.

Webinar: STIs Essentials for Primary Care in South East Melbourne

Over the last 10 years syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea rates have all increased in Victoria, and primary health care practitioners are the key to bringing these epidemics under control. 

This informative and interactive session will provide you with the understanding and tools required to confidently manage common STI screening and care, making sexual health a routine everyday part of your primary health care practice. 

Learning Objectives:

• Improve understanding of sexual health care for young people, pregnant women and other key populations
• How to approach taking a sexual history
• Describe the clinical presentation of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis
• Correctly perform comprehensive sexual health screening, including testing for the most common STIs - chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis
• Manage treatment, contact tracing and if necessary, referrals using the Health Pathways tool.

When: Thursday, 6 May 2021, 6.30 pm—8.30 pm
Where: Online
Cost: Free
Accreditation: This event is accredited for RACGP and ACRRM points. All participants will receive a certificate of attendance.
Register here.

Syphilis: Advanced Webinar for Primary Care (10 June)

Victoria has seen a 476% increase in Syphilis cases since 2010, with a record 1671 cases reported in 2019. Of strong concern is the re-emergence of congenital syphilis since 2017.

The outer South-Eastern suburbs of Melbourne have emerged as a hotspot for infections in heterosexuals of reproductive age. 

This course builds on VHHITAL’s STI Essentials course and provides the skills and resources required for primary health care practitioners to confidently implement guideline-based management of patients diagnosed with syphilis and to improve patient outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

• Reinforce that sexual health is everyday routine business for primary care.
• Describe the clinical presentation of primary, secondary and latent syphilis.
• Correctly perform testing for syphilis.
• Implement guideline-based management of patients diagnosed with syphilis, including use of the Health Pathways tool.
• Recap contact tracing and its key role in managing STIs.
• Apply learning in case study discussions.

When: 10 June 2021, 6.30 pm—8.30 pm
Where: Online
Cost: Free
Accreditation: This event is accredited for RACGP and ACRRM points. All participants will receive a certificate of attendance.
Register here.

The sooner you HeadtoHelp, the better you'll feel

The HeadtoHelp service is open to Victorians of any age who may be experiencing distress or mental ill health. This includes people who have never accessed mental health services before and their family and friends. It also is for family and friends of those in aged care.

Who can refer to HeadtoHelp services?

Anyone can refer to HeadtoHelp. Support/services are accessible to everyone, at no cost. A Medicare card, ID or Mental Health Care Plan is not required.

The team at HeadtoHelp intake are clinicians who use the Initial Assessment Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) to make an assessment and refer people to the appropriate type of service, with their consent.

How to refer to HeadtoHelp services

Anyone can call HeadtoHelp central intake on ph: 1800 595 212, Monday to Friday, 8.30am-5pm.

HeadtoHelp services do not provide after-hours or emergency mental health advice or support.  In case of emergency, call 000.

Watch this short video of former AFL player Tom Boyd talking about HeadtoHelp. 

Gain Essential Skills relating to Alcohol and Other Drugs treatment

Essential Skills Training is now available as an online learning module for RACGP members on the RACGP Learning Management System, gplearning.

Essential Skills Training is free for all RACGP members and provides GPs with an overview of core AOD skills.

For more information visit RACGP AOD GP Education Program Website.

Tax season made easy with the ATO's new Tax Time Toolkit

The ATO (Australian Tax Office) recognises the dedicated efforts of health care workers over the past year.

To help assist you with your tax return, the ATO developed occupation-specific guides with tailored industry information.

This includes information on work-related expenses which may be claimable for health care workers and top tips to make your tax time go smoothly.

View the Toolkit to see tax tips for health professions below.

• Doctor, specialist or other medical professional

• Nurses, midwives or carers
• Paramedic
• Community support worker or direct carer
• Cleaner
• Office worker

For more information, visit ato.gov.au/occupation21