COVID-19 update

Read about COVID-19 cases in the region, Easy Read resources for people with intellectual disability, COVID care in the community, and more...

Immunisation update

Read about ATAGI advice on seasonal influenza vaccines in 2021, ATAGI statement on SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and COVID-19 booster doses, new COVID-19 vaccine decision aid, and more...

New Digital Health eLearning Modules 

The Australian Digital Health Agency has launched two new CPD accredited eLearning modules for healthcare providers. These are:

• Using My Health Record in Nursing (2021), and
• Electronic Prescriptions in Community Pharmacy.

These online modules are self-paced. 

Protect your digital assets and identity from scammers 

Once an organisation is compromised by a scammer, its capacity to deliver essential healthcare services is at risk and additionally, if data is exfiltrated, the privacy of personal health information could be breached.

Securing your digital information and your healthcare organisation’s assets requires the same diligence as protecting your physical assets such as your home, car and wallet.

Read up on current scams and tips on how to improve your scam defences. 

COVID-19 vaccination dashboard in My Health Record 

The new COVID-19 vaccination dashboard brings together information from the Australian Immunisation Register and documents in My Health Record related to a consumer’s COVID-19 vaccination journey. 

It also includes links to the vaccination clinic finder, bookings and side effect checker. The dashboard can be used by individuals as a quick reference when answering questions before a vaccination or to get proof of vaccination. 

Click the button below to watch the short video and learn what your patients can find in the COVID-19 vaccination dashboard.

Water Well Project supports migrants, refugees and asylum seekers 

The Water Well Project aims to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities from migrant, refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds through health education. This non-for-profit organisation facilitates health education sessions in partnership with community organisations.

Sessions are facilitated by healthcare professional volunteers and aim to be engaging, interactive and culturally-appropriate.

Topics include:
•    COVID-19 self-care and vaccination,
•    preventative health,
•    navigating the australian healthcare system, and
•    mental health and wellbeing,

View flyer here for more information.

GP Liaison in Alcohol and Other Drugs (GLAD)

Some drug and alcohol issues can be chronic and complex, and you may need specialist advice, support and referral options to assist patients. Our multidisciplinary team of doctors and nurses, experienced in the management of alcohol and other drug problems, understand the challenges of managing complex multimorbidity. The GLAD team is committed to assisting you help your patients to improve their health and wellbeing through:

•  advice, support and information,
•  referral consultation clinic, and
•  education through CPD events with CESPHN. 

The team is happy to visit your surgery and run training and/or information sessions. All people who are 18 years and over, a resident in the CESPHN area, with risky or hazardous substance use or substance use disorders are eligible for our services.

Click here to view contacts. 

ThisWayUp multilingual resources 

Access and share ThisWayUp's suite of translated mental health coping tools and worksheets with your clients. Resources include simple steps to managing emotions, effective communications tips, what to do in case of an emergency, a self-care plan and more.

Resources are available in Arabic, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Filipino, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese and can be downloaded individually or as a bundle by clinicians and the public. 

Introducing Empowering Mothers toward Better health Outcomes During the childbearing Years (EMBODY)  

EMBODY is the first NSW Public Health maternal health and wellbeing virtual program lead by the team of physiotherapists at the Royal Hospital for Women (RHW). The RHW physiotherapy team have tailored both prevention and treatment solutions for a more comfortable pregnancy, a more active birth and a speedier recovery after birth. The team provide four antenatal and four postnatal virtual health sessions tailored to women’s needs at different stages of their pregnancy and postnatal recovery.

For more information about the program please read the brochure or click here to book into classes.

Resources for dads  

The Sutherland and St George Child and Family Interagency have collaborated with The Fathering Project and Prepare Foundation to develop a number of resources specifically for Fathers in the perinatal period and toddlerhood. Visit The Fathering Project to download:

• A guide to the toddler years;
• Bonding with your toddler fact sheet;
• Playing and learning with your toddler fact sheet;
• Toddler’s emotional development fact sheet.

Visit Prepare Foundation to download the 'Working as a team during pregnancy, birth and post-birth' fact sheet.

Resources for pharmacists involved in opioid treatment 

NSW Health recently launched a resources pack to support pharmacists involved in the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP). The NSW OTP provides patients with access to treatment for opioid dependency, with a focus on improving patients’ health, wellbeing and engagement with their families and community. The role of community pharmacists is vital, and these resources are available to support you to deliver a high quality and safe program.

Looking for services? Let CESPHN Service Navigator assist

The Service Navigation role will provide a central point in the region for information about accessing psychosocial services. It provides information and offers referral pathways to mental health services and supports that will best suit a person’s needs. Supporting people to navigate the mental health system can improve service usage and integration, as well as support timely access to appropriate services to meet psychosocial, clinical and physical needs. The broad objectives of the Service Navigator role are to:

• assist in navigating mental health services in the Central Eastern Sydney PHN region,
• support coordinated referral information, and processes to support consumer access to psychosocial, clinical and primary health care.

Find out more about eligibility and contact information by clicking the link below.

Nurse Practitioner Week - kick start the conversation challenge 

The aim of NP Week this year is to kickstart the conversation about Nurse Practitioners (NPs). This year, NP Week is running from 6-12 December. You may be:

• a Nurse Practitioner,
• have a Nurse Practitioner as part of your team,
• teach nursing students, or
• have a Nurse Practitioner working in your community.

We want to challenge you to kick start the conversation. Your help will go a long way! Find out more about how to accept the challenge and prizes by clicking the link below.

HealthPathways and the allied health engagement survey 

CESPHN have made the strategic commitment to increase support for allied health across the next planning cycle. Healthpathways is one system that features in our current vision. HealthPathways is a system popular among GPs and that more allied health professionals are finding their way towards. It allows AHPs to see multidisciplinary relationships beyond their own professional scope of practice and is a best practice, evidence-based system. You can read more about HealthPathways here. 

CESPHN is currently conducting an allied health engagement survey and some focus groups to gain  feedback on Healthpathways among other strategic issues. Your response gives strength and support to continue to enhance allied health’s representation in these kinds of systems.

My Health Record practical demonstrations 

These CPD accredited one-hour sessions are aimed at GPs, Specialists, Practice Managers, Practice Nurses and Aboriginal Health Workers interested in learning more about My Health Record and how to use it more effectively in routine practice. These webinars will demonstrate how to:

• access your patients’ My Health Records in your software, 
• use filters to find documents,
• view documents and overviews,
• understand how to view immunisation history in My Health Record,
• enter access codes for patients with protected documents/records,
• upload documents to My Health Record, and 
• ensure appropriate security and access governance mechanisms are in place. 

PSS and PICS end of year closure and alternative referral options 

The PSS and PICS programs will be accepting referrals until 5.00 pm on Wednesday 15 December 2021, and will re-open for referrals from Monday, 10 January 2022. Please note that any referrals sent between these dates will not be actioned until 10 January 2022.

The CESPHN Mental Health Intake and Triage Service will be available until 1.00 pm Friday 24 December 2021, and will be closed during the CESPHN end of year closure period until Monday 4 January 2022. If you would like to discuss referral options for your patient, please call the CESPHN Mental Health Intake Team on 1300 170 554.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination from overseas 

If you have received an approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine while overseas on or after 1 October 2020, and entered Australia with an Australia Travel Declaration, you can use this as proof of your COVID-19 vaccination. You can also follow the steps to have your vaccination recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), and get a COVID-19 digital certificate or immunisation history statement to show as proof of your COVID-19 vaccination.

ACN face-to-face wound management update courses 2022 

The course is designed for registered and enrolled nurses from all health sectors, as well as for clinicians working in Allied Health, Podiatry and Pharmacy. This is an interactive program which incorporates focused group discussion and small group case-study based activity. It is conducted over two days and is equivalent to 14 CPD hours. Key learning outcomes will be to:

• describe the anatomy and physiology of the skin,
• outline the process of wound healing,
• identify factors which negatively impact on wound repair,
• engage with the HEIDI assessment strategy,
• and more...

Find out more information as well as dates and locations by viewing the flyer or by clicking the button below. 

COVID-19 in Canterbury: Strategies to protect families and younger people 

As we continue to see case numbers in the Canterbury area, including in schools, this session will focus on the importance of vaccination and other COVID safe strategies, particularly in families, children and young people to keep the community safe 

When: Wednesday, 8 December 6.00 pm – 7.00 pm
Where: Online
Target audience: Primary care providers in the Canterbury region.

Attendees can self-report this activity as CPD with their governing body.