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MEMBERS UPDATE JUNE 2024
Have you listened to episode The Pilbara Podcast?
Launched in September 2023 The Pilbara Podcast three part podcast series is available through Spotify and Soundcloud.
Spotify
- Episode one – Managing your mental health with Millie Caddy
- Episode two – Life in the regions with Sheree Davies
- Episode three (the podcast you feature in) – Balancing resilience and self-care with Cherelle Fitzclarence
Soundcloud
- Episode one – Managing your mental health
- Episode two – Life in the regions
- Episode three (the podcast you feature in) – Balancing resilience and self-care
Onslow Social Sundowner
A great opportunity to catch-up with our Onslow health professionals and visiting specialists from Telethon Speech & Hearing Centre for Children WA and Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia - AHCWA on Thursday 2 May at the Onslow Beach Resort.
2024 Early Career Health Summit
An amazing time was had on Friday 10 to Sunday 12 May at our 2024 Early Career Health Summit. The Early Career Health Professionals Summit aims to improve health professionals' capabilities in dealing with emergencies in unfamiliar contexts and also provide an opportunity to socialise and connect amongst peers living and working in the Pilbara.
Well done to our 26 early career health professionals who attended the weekend. We trust you found the event a rewarding experience - educationally and socially.
A massive thank you to our facilitators for their support and expertise throughout the weekend (bottom photo): Dr Stephanie Krajniak, Mental health clinician Millie Caddy, Dr Cherelle Fitzclarence, Dr Graeme Fitzclarence, and Senior physiotherapist Josh Yates. Our health summit wouldn't have been the success it was without all of you.
Lastly a big thank you to our statewide stakeholders; Rural Health West, WA Primary Health Alliance, WA Country Health Service, The Rural Clinical School of WA, our regional stakeholders; WA Centre for Rural Health and local sponsorship by KAW Engineering Pty Ltd.
If you haven't yet been to the beautiful Cheela Plains Station we encourage you to click on the link and check out their website and book your next Pilbara adventure!
ADHD Medication Presentation by Psychiatrist Dr Roger Paterson
Thursday 6 June 2024 | Online via Zoom
Join Dr Roger Paterson for a FREE online presentation on ADHD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CLICK HERE.
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Advanced Training in Suicide Prevention - Blended
Wednesday 15 June 2024 | Online via Zoom
This blended learning workshop aims to increase health professionals’ skill and confidence in taking a detailed suicide history and developing a collaborative management plan to increase the safety of people planning suicide. The workshop provides practical tools for health professionals managing the full spectrum of suicide risk presentations including the acute suicidal crisis, care after a suicide attempt and assisting families experiencing suicide bereavement. This program combines online interactive sessions, case discussion and self-directed learning modules.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CLICK HERE.
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Talk About Suicide in General Practice
Tuesday 25 June 2024 | Online via Zoom
The Talking About Suicide in General Practice workshop aims to
increase GPs skill and confidence in:
- Recognising presentations where suicide risk is high
- Undertaking a detailed risk assessment
- Management planning using a collaborative, team based approach
Learning Outcomes
- Undertake a suicide risk assessment effectively
- Develop a collaborative safety plan
- Provide effective management following a suicide attempt
Accreditation
3 CPD hours (RACGP & ACRRM)
Mental Health CPD (GPMHSC)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CLICK HERE.
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Triage Emergency Care - Intensive
18 June and 16 September 2024 | Online via Zoom
About this course
- Are you required to effectively and efficiently assess and triage emergency patients and primary presentations in your work?
- Do you need to enhance your triage skills?
- Are you familiar with the Australasian Triage Scale and Emergency Triage Education Kit?
Dates
- 18 June 2024 | 8.00am-2.30pm
- 16 September 2024 | 8.00am-2.30pm
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CLICK HERE.
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Live Demonstration - Understanding and Using HealthPathways
Various 2024 dates | Online
These sessions facilitated online by a GP Clinical Editor, will demonstrate how to integrate HealthPathways into your clinical practice and maximise user experience. Learn key functionalities of the portal and how to access condition specific tools and resources, Referral Access Criteria (RAC) (where available), GP Specialist Directory and specialist regional rosters.
Sessions have been approved for 1 CPD Educational Hour with the RACGP and will be held online on the following dates:
CLICK ON THE ABOVE DATES TO REGISTER.
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WA Aboriginal Eye Health Forum 2024
Tuesday 18 June 2024 | Perth
Registrations are now open for the inaugural WA Aboriginal Eye Health Forum 2024, an one-day education and upskilling event developed for health professionals with an interest in improving Aboriginal eye health outcomes. The Forum will be an opportunity to enhance your skills, network with peers, and contribute to improving Aboriginal eye health outcomes across Western Australia.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CLICK HERE.
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Syphilis outbreaks in WA: 2024 update
27 June 2024 | RACGP Webinar
Join GPs Dr Grace Phua and Dr Adriane Houghton for an update on the syphilis outbreak in Western Australia. Facilitated by Dr Aesen Thambiran.
This practical webinar covers the basic epidemiology, the target populations for syphilis response and testing processes. We will look at the priority populations, congenital syphilis and identify the opportunities to test in general practice.
Delivered in partnership with the WA Department of Health.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CLICK HERE.
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Aboriginal Health Conference 2024
Saturday 10 August - Sunday 11 August 2024 | Fremantle
Registrations are now open!
Know of an organisation, individual, leader, youth, senior or volunteer who has gone above and beyond to make a positive difference in our Pilbara communities? Than why not nominate them for the Pilbara for Purpose - P4P Pilbara Community Services Excellence Awards.
Nominations close Friday 28 June.
For further information on categories and guidelines, email pilbara4purpose@gmail.com or to nominate CLICK HERE.
Finding bowel cancer early!
Living a healthy and fulfilling life is important to us all. But ignoring our health and not seeing a doctor if we have unusual symptoms could have a serious impact on our life and wellbeing. It is important to be aware of cancer symptoms and get checked out by a doctor, clinic nurse or Aboriginal health worker if you notice anything unusual.
Common symptoms of bowel cancer may include blood in your poo (even just one time) or, for more than four weeks: a new pain, lump or swelling in your tummy; feeling tired; looking pale; losing weight without trying; and a change in normal bowel habits, such as runny poo, pooing more often or finding it hard to poo.
Find out how you can protect yourself and your loved ones by learning about the early symptoms of cancer HERE.
Name: Lowri Cox
Occupation: Speech Pathologist
What are your professional interests/specialities?
I adore being a rural generalist and being ready to see any presentation who walks through the door! I have definitely developed a passion for working within the NDIS/disability space to support clients to achieve long term goals and it is such a privilege to work closely with families for extended periods of time.
I am also interested in the augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) space and was lucky enough to have some research published in the Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech Language Pathology which you can read about HERE.
Tell us, where are you from and how did you get to be a Speech Pathologist in the Pilbara region?
I am a born and raised Perth girl so my move to the Pilbara surprised a lot of people. I completed my final paediatric placement for university at Connect and fell in love with rural practice, the region and the adventures to be had in the surrounding areas. I knew I would be back working here before I had even finished my placement!
What do you love about the Pilbara?
I love how easy it is to jump in the car and go camping. In the Pilbara, the isolation of some camping spots feels liberating and there is no sight quite like our red earth against the blue sky.
Did you always want to be a Speech Pathologist? Why?
I definitely took the long way round to speech pathology. I also have a degree in Biomedical Science under my belt and spent a few years traveling Europe and working in the UK before I came back to Australia to start my speech degree. When I found speech, it just felt like the perfect fit and I have never looked back. It is challenging, rewarding, exciting and so varied that I know there are many directions a career in speech can take me.
What are your passions?
I am passionate about my work and embracing all things about rural life (community sports, events, meeting new people and trying new things!). A surprising (or unsurprising depending on who you speak to) passion of mine is the theatre. I was a big attendee at Perth Fringe Festival every year in Perth and have performed in many plays and musicals.
When you aren’t working, where will we find you?
You will probably find me in the water somewhere! Whether it is the pool for some laps, waterpolo training (a new found Pilbara hobby), the beach or a waterhole inland. I am usually splashing about most week nights and weekends.
The PHPN is active on Facebook, members can keep up to date with local educational and social events being held in their region.
PHPN members are encouraged to utilise the platform themselves to promote their organisations events and news to keep our community connected and share information!
The Pilbara Health Professionals Network is brought to you by the following stakeholder partnership:
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