No images? Click here What's happening Outreach reporting Service visit dates and activity reports As we near the end of the year, please add any outstanding Service Activity Reports and confirmed visit dates for 2022 to the Outreach Management System as soon as possible. If you need assistance entering your 2021-2022 visit dates, please contact the Regional Services team on 08 6389 4500 or via email. Please consider the upcoming WA school holidays from Saturday 18 December 2021 - Sunday Changes to the Outreach Management System The Regional Services team has been working to upgrade the current Outreach Management System (OMS). The launch date for the upgraded system is scheduled for mid January 2022. These changes have been designed to improve the usability of the system and to allow for an easier and more efficient reporting process for service providers. Further information will be announced closer to the launch of the updated system, including training sessions and a user guide. For any questions about how this change may affect you, please contact the Regional Services team on 08 6389 4500 or via email. Program funding updates Healthy Ears - Better Hearing, Better Listening (HEBHBL) contract expiry All contracts funded through the HEBHBL will expire 30 June 2022. Rural Health West is currently awaiting advice from the Australian Government Department of Health regarding the continuity of this program. All service providers and stakeholders will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible. Hearing Australia's Hearing Assessment Program - Early Ears (HAP-EE) Program Through Hearing Australia's HAP-EE program Aboriginal children aged 0-6 years have access to diagnostic hearing assessments across a number of rural and remote locations. Following these assessments, funding through the Follow-up Ear and Hearing Health Services (FEHHS) outreach program is available to provide necessary ear and hearing health follow up services, in particular access to ENT’s, and speech therapy to children who have identified hearing loss and/or development delays as a result of ear disease. Rural Health West is working closely with Hearing Australia to identify priority locations and services based on the HAP-EE Program’s referrals. Please contact the Regional Services team on 08 6389 4500 or via email should you have any questions regarding the HAP-EE or FEHHS programs. Outreach evaluation National Rural Health Outreach Services Program Evaluation survey Outreach program signatories will be contacted in December by Health Policy Analysis to complete a survey as part of the Australian Government Department of Health's national evaluation of Rural Health Outreach Services. The evaluation will assess the efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of the outreach programs. The intention is to evaluate the outcomes of the programs to inform future policy rather than to assess the performance of individual Fundholders or service providers. The evaluation is being conducted between now and September 2022. If you have any questions regarding the evaluation, please contact the Regional Services team on Living with COVID-19 and implications on outreach services Information for workers from Australian Government Agencies, services and programs visiting remote communities This advice aims to protect people in remote communities by minimising the risk of introduction of COVID-19 into those communities. The guidance provides a risk management approach designed to limit non-essential travel to remote communities and ensure stringent health protocols for Australian Government workers engaging in essential travel. Please click here to view the advice. WA’s Safe Transition Plan Western Australia will transition and ease border controls once a 90 per cent double dose vaccination rate is achieved. It is expected WA will achieve a 90 per cent double dose vaccination around late‑January to early‑February 2022. This date will be confirmed after 80 per cent of WA has received both doses. Rural Health West encourages service providers to work with host facilities in planning outreach visits and adapting service delivery models to meet public health measures throughout this transition. To stay up to date on WA's Safe Transition Plan and post-transition public health measures please visit the WA government COVID-19 communications website. Outreach opportunities Punutukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service - seeking Paediatrician Punutukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS) is currently seeking a Paediatrician to provide paediatric services to communities of the Western Desert throughout the financial year. If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Stephen Farrington, PAMS Clinic Manger - remote via email or phone 08 9111 1777. The Outreach programs are delivered by Rural Health West on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health. |