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MEMBERS UPDATE AUGUST 2023
2023 Rural Health West and Curtin University Allied Health Careers Expo
More than 150 students attended the Rural Health West and Curtin University annual Allied Health Careers Expo on Thursday 17 July. The free event was open to final year Curtin University students studying allied health streams included 59 employer booths, industry presentations and networking opportunities. Our Pilbara Health Professional Network Program Officer, Alisha Small was included in one of those booths, talking all things PHPN! Alongside the PHPN was also other Pilbara health agencies including Connect Paediatric Therapy Services and Pilbara Therapy Services.
Tom Price and Newman Onsite Emergency training
The Pilbara Health Professionals Network travelled to Tom Price and Newman on Monday 31 July and Tuesday 1 August with Dr Jenny Vance (Emergency Medicine Specialist), who ran the interactive workshop specific for the local sites which covered resuscitation, trauma, sepsis and more!
This event was supported by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. A special thanks to our Pilbara Health Professionals Network chair Cherelle Fitzclarence who assisted with all the logistics to make this education event possible.
Hedland Plastering workshop
On Friday 4 August, the Pilbara Health Professionals Network presented a plastering workshop in South Hedland.
Presented by Dr Dirck Ananos and with the support from HANDOC, the workshop covered the most common scenarios found in rural areas with a focus on treating broken limbs and appendages. Dr Dirck Ananos taught three different plastering techniques; volar hand plaster, thumb spica and above elbow.
18 September 2023 | 5.30pm-8.00pm
Education topic: Management of paediatrics diabetes in a remote setting, strategies for patient care and joint care arrangements to improve patient outcomes.
The Pilbara Health Professional Network invites our local health professionals to our Karratha Diabetes Education event. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the Perth Children’s Hospital travelling diabetes team. They will be discussing diabetes management (type one and two and other endocrine conditions) to upskill local practitioners on new technology and strategies for managing people with diabetes, especially in a rural context.
Perth Children’s Hospital travelling diabetes team:
- Dr Vinutha Shetty Paediatric endocrinologist
- Nola Harrington Diabetes nurse educator
- Aimee Ergovic Diabetes dietitian
- Courtney Roth Social worker
- Special guest presenter: Natalie Jetta Aboriginal Health Coordinator from Diabetes WA
Where: Karratha International Hotel (Goldfinch conference room) – Corner Hillview and Millstream Roads, Karratha
Schedule:
- 5.30pm–6.00pm - Registration and light dinner served
- 6.00pm–7.30pm - Presentation
- 7.30pm–8.00pm - Questions and event conclusion
Webinar: Your role in advance care planning: measuring outcomes one year after the new Advance Health Directive release
17 August 2023 | 7.00pm
Join Dr Jacquie Garton-Smith and Dr Mariam Bahemia for an interactive discussion focusing on use of the updated Advance Health Directive (AHD) in WA.
There is currently low uptake of AHDs across Australia, including WA. Increased uptake of Advance Care Planning (ACP) and completion of AHDs is expected to reduce the disparity between treatment preferences and delivered care.
This session will explore the role of GPs in advance care planning, including supporting patients to prepare AHDs. We will also share a new mini-audit activity for ACP and AHD that can be used to review whether opportunities to introduce ACP or AHD conversations into consultations, assessments and care plans are being maximized.
Optional completion of the mini-audit will earn GPs 6 Measuring Outcomes CPD hours.
This webinar is delivered in partnership with the WA Department of Health.
Evaluation: So What? Who Cares? | 23 August 2023 | 5.30pm-7.30pm
Dr Delwyn Goodrick is with us for a week in Karratha to undertake some evaluation fieldwork for the Remote Ready program and to offer some professional learning in evaluation.
Del will offer a two hour workshop session for those interested in strengthening their knowledge and skills in program evaluation and cover the following topics:
- What are the different types of evaluation and how do you choose between them?
- Designing an effective evaluation that support program development and improvement.
Case examples will be drawn on to illustrate key points. Del will ensure the session is interactive as possible, so bring your questions, issues and examples to share.
Where: Karratha Health Hub, Vicinity Shopping Centre
Refreshments will be provided.
More about Del:
Del is an experienced evaluator who has undertaken a number of projects for Government and
for Community organisations across Australia, Singapore and New Zealand. She is also a
facilitator in the US based professional learning program- The Evaluators’ Institute.
For further information please email Kira Gusterson.
Emergency Airway Skills Management (EAM) | Port Hedland |
20 October 2023 - REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN
This Rural Health West CPD workshop is designed to assist health professionals to develop and practise skills essential in unexpected crises, particularly with problem airways. Delivered in WA Country Health Service facilities, this workshop has a heavy emphasis on teamwork and the organisation of medical emergency teams incorporating presentations, skill stations and scenario-based crises with simulation manikins (SimMan and baby).
Eligibility: GP anaesthetists and theatre staff. Priority is given to those working in the local region. Should places be available, emergency department doctors and nurses are invited to register.
Length: One day – 8.00am-4.30pm
Cost: $50
For further information and to register click HERE.
Diabetes WA programs to regional health professionals
Diabetes WA Training
As Western Australia's Peak Body for diabetes, Diabetes WA offers a suite of training programs combining the latest in evidence-based recommendations in diabetes care with self-management principles. Training programs are created and delivered by a team of credentialled diabetes educators who bring their experience and local knowledge from working with the unique and varied regions across Western Australia.
We offer a variety of training options for support workers, health professionals, early childhood educators, and school staff supporting children with Type 2 diabetes.
Training can be scheduled in person or via video conference at a mutually convenient date and time.
Please contact training@diabeteswa.com.au for more information.
Health workforce education program
The National Diabetes Services Scheme NDSS has released a new online program for the health workforce, the NDSS health workforce education program. This program enables health professionals and workers to learn more about diabetes, and the support and services available through the NDSS.
The online program is free and covers 6 topics including, the NDSS, Diabetes explained, Medication and monitoring, and Diabetes-related complications.
Click on the above image for further information.
Health Professional webinars
The National Diabetes Services Scheme has finalised their health professional webinar schedule, providing two educational webinars each month. The webinars will take place on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6-7pm.
Click on the above image for further information.
Online learning for health professionals
We have a range of learning programs to help health professionals strengthen their knowledge and understanding of diabetes.
Click on the above image for further information.
Find Cancer Early information for GPs and Primary Health Nurses
‘Find Cancer Early: A Guide for General Practitioners' is a tool designed to assist WA GPs in the early diagnosis of patients with prostate, lung, colorectal, breast and skin cancer. This resource uses evidence-based positive predictive value (PPV) tables that highlight the clinical features that best predict cancer. To learn about ‘Find Cancer Early: A Guide for General Practitioners’ and how to utilise it in your practice visit https://www.findcancerearly.com.au/resource-hub/resources-for-health-professionals/
Would you like your own hard copy of the guide tool? Please contact our local Cancer Council WA Pilbara Regional Education Officer, Celina Meyer on celina.meyer@cancerwa.asn.au or phone 0430 918 469.
2023 -2024 Applications now open!
Financial support available for partners of Western Australian rural medical practitioners, nurses, midwives, dentists, allied health professionals and Aboriginal health practitioners/workers who wish to enhance their career and employment opportunities while living in a rural location.
For further details and application options please visit Rural Health West Partner Education Grant website
Share your story
Each month we feature a profile on a health professional in the region. As an experienced, local health professional, we’d like to invite you to feature on the PHPN website and newsletter as a member profile. The profile asks a just a few questions about you and what you love about living and working in our beautiful Pilbara.
PHPN Member profile questions
Name:
Occupation:
What are your professional interests/specialities?
Tell us, where are you from and how did you get to be a [insert profession] in the Pilbara region?
What do you love about the Pilbara?
Did you always want to be a [insert profession]? Why?
What are your passions?
When you aren’t working, where will we find you?
Please return answers to alisha.small@phpn.com.au with a non-professional photo of yourself e.g. outdoors, in the Pilbara
Passion of the Pilbara
Passion of the Pilbara will return in 2023 with rides, activities and live entertainment all weekend! So mark in the 18 and 19 August in your calendar now!
Find out more HERE!
Drapht and WASO: How the west was won
WASO hits the road with WA hip-hop legend Drapht, bringing an exhilarating live symphony orchestra experience to Karratha on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 September 2023.
Drapht and WASO is a collaboration of epic scale, with the concert revisiting the Perth local’s biggest hits including Jimmy Recard and Rapunzel, and bringing a new take to tracks off his latest album, Shadows and Shinings. Imagine exhilarating orchestral arrangements and vocals from multi ARIA-award winning MC delivered live on the mainstage of the Red Earth Arts Precinct.
Further information HERE.
2023 Outback Fusion Festival headliners are The Black Sorrows!
The Outback Fusion Festival is coming up soon! From September 2-3, 2023, enjoy a range of free activities, events and entertainment across the weekend! Click HERE to find out more.
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!
Practice Assist is a free service that coordinates and delivers end-to-end practice support services for general practice teams, but all health professionals across Western Australia.
The Practice Assist team can help enhance the efficiency, capacity and sustainability of your practice with a comprehensive suite of practice management resources and support services:
- A toll-free help desk between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
- Email the helpful team for advice regarding practice management queries.
- Assistance with Quality Improvement in your practice from Quality Improvement Coaches.
- Visit the dedicated wesbite for the latest news, information, resources, COVID-19 information and more.
- Receive support and information about digital health technologies.
- Educational webinars, networking events and regional workshops.
- Stay up to date by subscribing to Practice Connect, our fortnightly newsletter.
- Contact the Practice Assist team to connect with Primary Care Navigators and Quality Improvement Coaches.
The Pilbara Health Professionals Network is brought to you by the following stakeholder partnership:
You have received this newsletter as a health professional working in the Pilbara. Email addresses used to disseminate this newsletter were obtained through Rural Health West's databases. Unsubscribing from this newsletter will remove you from the distribution list for all Rural Health West publications. To stop receiving this newsletter only, please email hello@phpn.com.au.
