Latest News

15 February 2012

For articles from a previous HealthWest E-Bulletin, view our News Archive.

News in Brief

Media Release: AGPN to become the Australian Medicare Local Network

The Australian General Practice Network will form the Australian Medicare Local Network, which will be the national agency to lead and support Medicare Locals.

The Australian Medicare Local Network will work with Medicare Locals to:

  • deliver better health services with general practice at its core
  • ensure service innovations are well promoted and advocated
  • provide the national connections to improve links between service delivery across the nation and Government policy
  • encompass the broader health sectors, including the social care and aged care sectors, to ensure gaps in services are filled and services are functional locally
  • provide accountability in the primary health care system.

More info: Read the News Release

Media Release: New funding to prevent violence against women and children

The Victorian Coalition Government will spend an extra $7.2 million over the next three years on new grants aimed at reducing violence against women and children, as announced in a media release on 7 February.

Applications for funding will be sought for programs to run across the three year period. Such programs may include:

  • activities targeting workplaces, sporting clubs and other organisations to build environments that are safe, inclusive and respectful of women and girls
  • early intervention activities targeting specific groups that are at high risk of using or experiencing violence in the future

More info: Read the full media release 

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News at HealthWest

Food Access Profiles showcased in VLGA news

The Victorian Local Governance Association congratulated the HealthWest Food Security Network on the launch of Food Access Profiles and showcased the project and the Profiles in its eNews Bulletin.

Each Food Access Profile includes information on location of fruit and vegetable and take-away outlets, Victorian Healthy Food Basket survey results, vulnerable populations, and recommendations for change specific to each LGA.

More info: The Food Access Profiles are available at the HealthWest website.

New HealthWest Initiative - Western Intake Network Group (WING)

This network is for intake workers from health and community agencies in the western suburbs of Melbourne.  It has come from the Active Service Model Intake Forum held in November 2011.  At that Forum, it was identified that there is a need for Intake workers to be able to network and to share common challenges, information about their services, and to look at common trends and issues such as waitlists and service gaps.

When: Thursday 15th March at 9:30-11:30am
Where:Wyndham Civic Centre, 45 Princes Highway  Werribee

More info: Download the flyer here for the meeting and register via the HealthWest website. Contact Libby Jewson, phone 9017 5843 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

HealthWest positions vacant:

Administration Officer (part-time)

We are seeking a Administration Officer to provide administrative support to a small friendly team in a welcoming office environment. You will be responsible for administrative support to Board, Executive Officer and office staff, event management support, basic financial duties and regular communication with member organisations.

A high level of organisation and ability to show initiative is required.

Position is available 3 days per week with flexible hours.

Applications close Friday 17 February 2012

More info: Download the position description here. For all enquiries, contact Gail O’Donnell, Executive Officer, phone 9017 5843 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Outer West Wellbeing Partnership Program Manager

The Outer West Wellbeing Partnership Project is part of the Closing the Health Gap initiative which aims, through partnership, to work with and support Aboriginal people of all ages to achieve their optimal health.

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to work alongside the Aboriginal community and our member agencies, to improve the uptake of screening and ongoing engagement with health services.

Applications close Monday, 20 February 2012

More info: Download the position description here.  For all enquiries, contact Gail O'Donnell Executive Officer, HealthWest on 90175843 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Integrated Health Promotion/Population Health Planning

Health Promoting Communities: Being Active, Eating Well Project Reports available

The final reports for the Health Promoting Communities: Being Active, Eating Well (HPC: BAEW) community demonstration projects are now available. The following information can be acccessed:

  • The final local evaluation reports for the six projects.
  • Melbourne University’s evaluation plan and full report on the impact evaluation of the project at Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative.
  • Deakin University’s evaluation plan and summary report on the state-wide evaluation of the 5 Primary Care Partnerships (PCP)-based projects. (The full evaluation report will be added once the results have been published in an academic journal.)
More info: The following reports can be accessed on the Go for Your Life website

VHA Population Health Approaches to Planning Project

A Project Update for the Victorian Healthare Association (VHA) Population Health Approaches to Planning (PHAP) Project is available. As part of the project, a website is being developed which will host:

  • Introductory Learning Module “Population Health: A Common Understanding”
  • Framework to guide users through population health planning
  • Toolbox of tools, references, links and further reading.

More info: Download the VHA PHAP Project Update

Input requested – Maribyrnong City Council Multicultural Policy and Action Plan

Maribyrnong City Council's new 2012-17 Multicultural Policy and 2012-13 Action Plan are currently being developed and Council wants to know what you think. Feedback will inform the main priorities for the Council in serving its multicultural community for the next five years.

Two surveys have been developed, one for community members with a cultural and linguistically diverse (CALD) background and one for service providers working with CALD communities in Maribyrnong.

Community member survey

Service provider survey

Hardcopies are also available from Council or major service providers. Surveys are open until 19 March.

More info: contact Bianca Nutt on 9688 0315 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Integrated Chronic Disease Management

No news this week

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Service Coordination

New resource - Refugee for Babies in Crisis: How crisis accommodation services and workers can assist infants and their mothers affected by family violence.

Crisis accommodation workers are often the first point of contact or first aid for mothers and their infants seeking refuge from family violence.

This educational resource for refuge/crisis accommodation workers consists of a comprehensive workbook and DVD. The package promotes working with infants who have been traumatized by their experience of family violence, while strengthening attachment relationships between the mothers and babies who seek refuge accommodation.

Hard copies of the booklet, and DVD, posters and the pamphlets are available for crisis accommodation workers/services and order forms are available from the RCH website or the McAuley Community Services for Women website 

More info: contact either Wendy Bunston, phone 8734 1650 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Claire Coxon, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

New Group in Werribee: Werribee Hearing Voices Group

This new group is called the Werribee Hearing Voices Group and has grown from a similar group in Footscray.  The group has been established to support and empower people who hear voices, or who have other unusual sensory experiences.

Launch of the Group:
When: Wednesday, 7 March
More info: Download the official launch flyer here

Regular meetings:
When: Begin on Wednesdays from February 1st 2012
Where: The Billiards Room, Kelly Park Community Centre cnr Cherry St and princess Hwy, Werribee (next to RSL) Melways ref 205 K8
More Info: Download flyer here

Updated MBS flipchart

The MBS flipchart was produced by the Department of Health in 2008 to provide information and support to Victorian primary healthcare agencies that may be looking to build or extend evidence-based models of care that incorporate Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers. The flipchart contains items related to chronic disease and mental health care for primary healthcare agencies.

The MBS flipchart was updated to include new and relevant items, changes to existing items and revised rebate amounts current as at December 2011. The relevant MBS item numbers, their applicability to clients and their business rules are summarised and presented in an easy-to–use format.

More info: Download the MBS flipchart. Contact Diana Herd, phone 9096 9838 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Closure of Mental Health Advice Line

The Department of Health has announced the closure of the Mental Health Advice Line from 19th March 2012. The department based the decision on the commitment to consolidate investment in the front end of the mental health service system. An investment of $2.5 million has been allocated over the past three years to enhance mental health triage services to better match the need with the right mental health response, and the department is working with mental health services to redesign their existing services to better respond at the front end.
The Department of Health has asked the service providers to ensure that Mental Health Advice Line resources (leaflets, posters, wallet cards, etc) are no longer in circulation.

Further information on accessing mental health services will be provided closer to the 19 March. People with mental illness and their families can also seek advice from other telephone help lines such as Nurse-On-call, Lifeline or Griefline, and area mental health service triage.

More info: Visit the Department of Health website

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For Your Diary

Grants

Creating Modernised and Inclusive Neighbourhood Houses

The Creating Modernised and Inclusive Neighbourhood Houses grant program provides up to $30,000 to support small scale infrastructure modifications and modernise information and communication technology. Grants up to $15,000 are also available for minor projects to increase participation and inclusion of people with a disability and for training to strengthen governance arrangements.

More info: Visit the Department of Human Services website

Call for Papers

Abstracts Open: Population Health Congress, Sept 2012

Invitations are now open to submit abstracts for papers, posters or workshops for the Population Health Congress being held on the 10 - 12 September 2012 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. This is a four-yearly event, following the very successful inaugural Congress in 2008, attended by 1300 delegates. The Congress is jointly organised by Public Health Association of Australia, Australian Health Promotion Association, Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine and Australasian Epidemiological Association. The overall theme of the Congress is 'Population health in a changing world'.

More info: Population Health Congress 2012 website

ADMA's 8th Annual National Conference – Call for Abstracts

The Australian Disease Management Association's (ADMA) two-day conference will be held on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 September 2012 in the Melbourne Convention Centre.

Submission for abstracts close 27 April 2012.

More info: Guidelines for writing and submitting abstracts are available on the ADMA website

National

Summit: Technology in Healthcare Summit 2012

This summit covers many aspects of e-Health, and aims to answer the question ‘Is your healthcare organisation really ready to embrace eHealth?’

When: 27-28 February 2012
Where: Australian Technology Park, Sydney
Cost: $1,395
More Info: Visit the Technology in Healthcare Summit website

Australian Governance and Quality Conference 2012 - The Patient, the Population and the Politics: Towards equity and quality in healthcare

This two-day conference will explore contemporary themes in the governance of health services within the context of current health reform. A key focus will be the strategic allocation of resources to promote equity and quality of services.

The conference will outline theoretical and practical approaches to addressing the changing healthcare needs of communities. Population health planning and strategic planning will be explored through practical examples. Processes to support service quality and effective decision-making will also be covered, including board structures, organisational performance monitoring and clinical governance systems.

When: 24 - 25 May 2012
Where: Hilton on the Park, Melbourne
More info: Visit the conference website. Contact Eloisa Evangelista, phone  9094 7777 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Statewide

Smoking Cessation Facilitators Course

This two day course aims to give health professionals the knowledge and skills to treat and manage nicotine dependency and help skill participants to be able to work effectively one on one with clients and to conduct smoking cessation clinics.

When: 9am-5pm, 8 March 2012
Where: The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne
Cost: $580
RSVP by 27 February 2012.
More info: Visit the Lung Health Promotion Centre website. Contact Adrienne James, phone 9076 2382 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Managing falls in residential care workshop

Residential aged care staff are invited to the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) Education & Professional Development Workshop on Managing Falls in Residential Care. The two-day workshop covers current evidence, best practice and practical strategies for managing falls in residential care including an Interactive Falls Prevention Training Expo.

When: Wed 29 February -Thurs 1 March 2012 (8.45am registration for 9.00am start)
Where: National Ageing Research Institute, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, 34-54 Poplar Road, PARKVILLE VIC 3052
Cost: $550.00 for 2 days
RSVP: Thursday 23 February 2012
More info: Visit the website. Contact Lynette Bon,  phone 8387 2148  or  email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 

Health Literacy Forum - In their Shoes

A one-day forum for health professionals, health care administrators and quality & safety managers interested in exploring health literacy and how it is linked to patient centred care. Speakers including international guest Dr Rima Rudd, from Harvard University, will present practical strategies and approaches for improvements at both the individual and systems level. The link between key concepts and the National Standards for Safety and Quality will also be discussed.

When: Wednesday 21 March, 2012
Where: Bio21 Institute Auditorium, The University of Melbourne,30 Flemington Rd, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Cost: $85
More info: Register at http://www.thewomens.org.au/IntheirShoes

Regional/Local
Triage in General Practice

This interactive workshop is designed to give practice staff an opportunity to identify what their triage role is and what communication pathways and practice policy will support this role.

When:  Thursday, 1st March 2012, 6.30pm Registrations and Dinner for a 7pm start and finish at 9pm
Where: PivotWest, Central West Business Park, 9 ashley Street (1st Floor, Bld 1), west Footscray VIC 3012
More info: Download flyer here or contact Sonia Zahra Phone 8379 9912 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Hepatitis B in the North, West and North West : A case based approach.

This event targets General Practitioners and Practice Nurses with an intermediate level of knowledge and will be presented with a case based and interactive approach.  It will cover risk assessment, testing, diagnosis and management for Hep B, and will include expert input from Dr Julie Wang (GP) and Dr Ben Cowie (Infectious Disease Physician), with a case based workshop approach.

When:Thursday 1 March 2012
Where: Gardenhurst Receptions, 82 Bulla Rd, Essendon North
Cost: free
More Info: Download the poster here or contact Rebecca Reeves, 9341 5236 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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E-Bulletin Archive

For articles, information or links from previous issues of HealthWest's Weekly E-Bulletin view our news archive.