Wishing you all a safe and festive season!
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MEMBERS UPDATE DECEMBER 2023
Wow! Who can believe we are in the last month of 2023? Thanks to everyone for supporting the network and helping it grow to over 600 members. 2024 is shaping up to be another year full of our education and networking events, so watch your inbox for our first 2024 e-newsletter as we will send you confirmed dates and topics.
Don't forget to join our private Facebook group available only to health professionals in the Pilbara. Members can keep up to date with local educational and social events being held in their region. We encourage members to utilise the platform themselves to promote their organisations events and news to keep our community connected and share information!
Jump onto the PHPN health events calendar on our website and check out all the education opportunities being delivered around Australia that are accessible online and face to face!
To finish the year of 2023, we would love to share with you our final episode of our three-part podcast series which explores what life is like for healthcare professionals living and working in the Pilbara region, brought to life by The Pilbara Health Professionals Network and BHP’s Future Resources Fund.
Episode 3: Balancing resilience and self care is a must listen to with WA Country Health Service Senior Medical Officer and PHPN Chair Dr Cherelle Fitzclarence. Cherelle joins host and health journalist Casey Beros to explore:
- How healthcare professionals can better balance the concepts of resilience and self-care
- How training has changed for junior doctors - for the better
- How popular TV shows such as Grey’s Anatomy and House were informed by the realities of clinical life (or lack thereof), and why that had to change
- The vital ‘pause’ we all need to make a non-negotiable, over the short and long term
- Why life in the regions works so well for me, and how the community is impacted by anyone who ‘goes regional’
As always, Casey is joined for reflections from regional psychiatrist Dr Kelly Ridley who expertly frames up self-care and resilience from a psychiatrist’s perspective - and shares her expert tips on how to build more of both into our professional and personal lives.
You can find the full episode on Spotify or Soundcloud. We hope you enjoy listening!
Karratha Paediatric education event
On Monday 13 November, the PHPN held a Paediatric education event where local health professionals were able to listen to Paediatricians, Dr Lucas Speed and Dr Jessica Chee present on Neurodiverse children - general and stimulant management. Topics covered neurodivergent conditions
including ADHD and autism, referral processes, useful pre-referral investigations, stimulant co-prescribing and monitoring.
This was our final education event for 2023. We look forward to seeing all of our health professionals and their families next year at our Welcome to 2024 social networking events in Karratha and Port Hedland. More information and registration links are in our up-coming events section below.
2023 Aboriginal Health Conference
The theme for the Rural Health West 2023 Aboriginal Health Conference was Dedication: The story of our Elders. The conference brought together health professionals from across rural WA and provided the opportunity to learn from those who came before us, hear their stories and reflect on how we can move through the challenges faced by so many, and find a way forward together.
Thanks to all the PHPN members that called past the Health Professionals Network booth to say hello!
Friday 23 February 2024 | Dampier
Karratha and surrounds health professionals and their families are invited to join us for our Welcome to 2024 networking social sundowner event. Please come along and meet our health professionals who recently moved to the region and reconnect with colleagues you may not have seen for a while.
Time: 5.30pm-7.30pm
Venue: Hampton Harbour Boat and Sailing Club - 17 The Esplanade, Dampier
Free event! Canapes and limited drinks provided. Click on the above image to register.
Saturday 24 February 2024 | Port Hedland
Our Hedland health professionals and their families are invited to join us for our Welcome to 2024 networking social sundowner event. Please come along and meet our health professionals who recently moved to the region and reconnect with colleagues you may not have seen for a while.
Time: 5.30pm-7.30pm
Venue: The Esplanade Hotel - 2 Anderson St, Port Hedland
Free event! Canapes and limited drinks provided. Click on the above image to register.
Paediatric Emergencies and Clinical Healthcare Scenarios |
Port Hedland
Friday 8 March 2024 | 8.00am-5.00pm
This Rural Health West CPD workshop is a one-day workshop in paediatric emergency scenarios and skills. It will give delegates real-life examples and the opportunity to manage sick or injured children in a safe environment.
The workshop content includes:
- Hands-on simulation – practise common scenarios and structured care
- Short presentations by experienced paediatric emergency physicians
- Comprehensive handbook of lecture materials and practical skills
- 'Resuscitation reminders’ card for your ID badge clip
Eligibility: GP Obstetricians, ED doctors and nurses and GPs. Priority is given to those working in the local region.
Cost:
$350-$440 (incl GST)
EarTrain practical skills workshop | Karratha
Monday 11 March 2024 | 9.00am-4.00pm
About the EarTrain program
EarTrain is a fully funded online training program for primary health care professionals to identify and manage otitis media and other hearing conditions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The program is delivered across Australia by TAFE NSW and is funded by the Australian Government. EarTrain is a Closing the Gap initiative available until 30 June 2024.
Practical Skills Workshop
EarTrain and the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA) are running a series of 1-day workshops to provide practical skills in:
- Tympanometry (under 6 months of age)
- Screening otoacoustic emissions
- Referral pathways
You will gain practical experience and confidence in carrying out these skills under the guidance of experienced audiologists, with ongoing support after you’ve completed the workshop. This workshop is ideal for those requiring an introduction or refresh in these practical skills. Participants who attend this workshop and complete logbooks will receive a certificate of participation.
To register:
- Register to EarTrain to access the online learning
- Register HERE for the workshop
- The EarTrain team will send a confirmation email, confirming venue, date and time
Early 2024 events - save these dates!
Rural Emergency Advanced Clinical Training (REACT+) | Perth - [click here]
Rural Paediatrics Forum 2024 | 15 March I Perth - [click here]
WA Rural Health Conference 2024 | 16-17 March | Perth - [click here]
WA Rural Health Excellence Awards 2024 | 16 March | Perth - [click here]
Rural Obstetrics and Gynaecology Forum 2024 | 24-26 May I Perth - [click here]
Scan the above QR code or click on the above flyer to apply.
Annual General Practitioner Survey now open
Rural Health West annual GP survey gives us an understanding of general practice in rural and remote communities across Western Australia. Your response will enable to identify the current issues and concerns facing you and help to provide services and programs that will benefit you and the health of your community.
The Annual GP Survey is open to all doctors working in primary care in rural and remote WA. Complete the survey online securely using the details below or, if you prefer, paper copies of the survey will be mailed in the coming weeks. For further information, please contact our database team by calling 08 6389 4500.
Complete your pre-filled survey securely online with these details:
ID:
Last name:
Moving on from the Pilbara?
Our Health Professional Networks are located in each rural region across the state of WA and are a great way to get connected into your new community.
Please reach out to alisha.small@phpn.com.au to transfer your PHPN membership to a new region.
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.
