Informative GP Education Series: Renal event held with Dr Azlan

South West GPs were provided with a fascinating presentation on demystifying renal diseases with Dr Mohd Azlan Mohd Hashim, Nephrologist and General Medicine Specialist in Bunbury last month. This event was proudly delivered in partnership with St John of God Bunbury Hospital.

Guests enjoyed light refreshments, canapes and amazing views of the stormy Bunbury Back Beach whilst listening to the presentation. GPs had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss strategies on specific renal cases with Dr Azlan. Thank you to everyone that attended our final GP Education Series event for 2022, we look forward to bringing you more events in 2023!

Margaret River Brewhouse hosts successful SWHPN End of Year Sundowner

South West health professionals and their families enjoyed a sundowner in Margaret River in November to celebrate the end of year. A diverse mix of health professionals and their families enjoyed the spring sunshine, live music, light refreshments and canapes during the networking event. Old friends and new came together to discuss successes and challenges in the health profession during 2022. The event also provided a great opportunity to relax and unwind and have a laugh together. We look forward to hosting our next networking event in the South West in early 2023, so stay tuned!

'Man Walk' shines light on men's health in the South West

SWHPN member David Barton is a private practitioner and the Director of Busselton Physiotherapy Centre and GeoBay Health Centre, a large multidisciplinary allied health centre in Busselton. Clinically he is a generalist physiotherapist with special interests in persistent pain and musculoskeletal healthcare. David's interests have also turned to men’s health in recent years with the realisation that more needs to be done to address men’s health nationally and particularly in the regions. This led to the establishment of the Busselton Man Walk in 2019. The philosophy of the man walk is “walk, talk and support” and aims to help combat isolation, activate men, promote connection and build social capital.

Over the past three years they have grown the Busselton walk from one walk per week to three. They have also established a program of guest presenters on topics relevant to men’s health and other areas of interest in the community encouraging participants to openly discuss issues that might not always be freely spoken of in other social contexts. More information about the Man Walk can be found on the website.

End of year celebrations for the Class of 2022 RCSWA Busselton students

The Rural Clinical Student WA (RCSWA) Class of 2022 Busselton students gathered together in November at the Par 3 golf course in Busselton to celebrate the completion of students Penultimate Year. Their celebrations included a round of mini golf, wacky costume props and many laughs. We wish the students much success for the rest of their studies and hope to see them return to our region in the future.

List your services in the South West Healthy Lifestyles Directory

WA Primary Health Alliance and WA Country Health Service Southwest, with the guidance of members of the South West Healthy Lifestyles Working Group, have partnered with My Community Directory (MCD) to develop the South West Healthy Lifestyles Directory. The aim of this Directory is to assist people in the South West Region of WA to eat well and be active by linking them to local services and activities that can support this. The Directory is currently being collated to support community members to find services such as:
-Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) subsidised or publicly available dietitians, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and related health services
-Activities at Recreation Centres, Sporting Clubs
-Relevant Community Centres, Clubs and Groups

It is free to add listings, free to update and free to use. However, your service must meet the MCD listing criteria. If you would like your service to be added to this Directory visit the website.

Podcast: Engaging effectively with Aboriginal parents about Children's lung health

If you’re a doctor, we highly recommend listening to this podcast ‘Engaging effectively with Aboriginal parents about children’s lung health’, developed by the BREATH team at Telethon Kids Institute.

Chronic respiratory disease is prevalent among Aboriginal children, but most doctors never had the opportunity to learn about Aboriginal paediatric lung health, or were given tools to take a respiratory history in a culturally secure way. This podcast will give you the skills to engage effectively with Aboriginal parents when it comes to the lung health of their children. The podcast includes information on chronic wet cough, protracted bacterial bronchitis, chronic suppurative lung disease and bronchiectasis - conditions often overlooked or misdiagnosed in Aboriginal children.

Hosted by Dr Nicola Ball, a doctor who has spent a few years working in paediatrics, the podcast features interviews with two experts, Shekira Brahim, a mum of two children who has lived experience with respiratory disease in children, and Associate Professor Andre Schultz, a paediatric respiratory physician who is passionate about improving respiratory health outcomes for Aboriginal children.

You can listen to the podcast by following this link.

National Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance aims to reduce preterm and early term births in the South West

'Every Week Counts' for babies in pregnancy, and the National Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance is a collaborative effort to reduce preterm and early term birth safely by 20% over the ensuing 18 months. Bunbury Regional Hospital is participating as one of three WACHS sites, however as the regional resource centre, their preterm and early term birth rates are highly influenced by what is happening in the broader South West and around one in three babies are born prior to 39 weeks with regional families particularly affected by the challenges of family separation that accompanies early baby care. 

Safely preventing preterm birth starts in the first trimester, when care occurs primarily in the community. It is a core time for safely steering pregnancy potentially towards a later gestation and educating women about how 'Every Week Counts'. Evaluating a pregnant persons risk of preterm birth allows the opportunity for increased care as needed - guidance on this can be found in the WNHS Clinical Guidelines on Preterm Birth Prevention. Low risk pregnant people will continue to be offered cervical length screening and all patients who smoke should be offered support to Quit smoking. 

In the South West, our GPOs and MGP (Midwifery Group Practice) offer fantastic continuity of care models that can aid in safely reducing preterm birth. If you have any queries please don't hesitate to reach out to Dr Lauren Megaw, Consultant Obstetrician Gynaecologist or a member of your local obstetric team. Finally, this project has a strong focus on partnering with stakeholders and consumers, meaning there is co-badged patient and professional information for navigating some of these conversations as 'Every Week Counts'. Thank you all for being a part of our communities broader team. 

What's happening in your region

MANJIMUP
Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival
10 December 2022

The Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival is celebrating its 21st birthday and promises to make this years event a festival to remember. Visit the website for all of the event information.

BUSSELTON
Carols by the Jetty
10 December 2022, 6.00pm to 9.00pm

Come down to enjoy an annual community carols event by local churches at the Busselton Amphitheatre on Foreshore Parade. An evening of carols, family fun and celebrating Christmas. More information can be found on the City of Busselton website.

BUNBURY
School holidays in the City
December 2022 to January 2023

The City of Bunbury and its community facilities host a range of children’s and youth activities during the school holidays. The Bunbury PCYC also host a range of activities to keep your little ones busy!  Visit the City of Bunbury website for ideas and inspiration.