30 November 2011

• News in Brief
• News at HealthWest
• Integrated Health Promotion
• Integrated Chronic Disease Management
• Population Health Planning
• Service Coordination
• For Your Diary
  • Grants
  • Call for Papers
  • National
  • Statewide
  • Regional/Local

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

News in Brief

Update on South West Melbourne Medicare Local

In early November the Department of Health and Ageing announced the second and third tranches of Medicare Locals for Australia and that they would be discussing arrangements for a further five Medicare Locals with the stakeholders involved. The Commonwealth has asked the national divisions’ organisation AGPN and the state divisions’ organisation GPV to lead the development of a proposal for South Western Melbourne by key stakeholders, to be submitted by the end of February 2012 with the expected start date for the SWMML to be 1 July 2012. The proposal will build on the work that has already been undertaken in the area over the last eighteen months.

GPV as the project manager has established a steering committee comprised of representatives from Westgate General Practice Network, Hobson’s Bay Council, Wyndham Council, ISIS Primary Care, Werribee Mercy Health, Western Health, Healthwest, AGPN and GPV. This steering committee was formed on 23 November and will meet about 7 times before the end of February to develop a proposal. A consultant, Anne Roseman, has been contracted to undertake consultation and write the proposal.

A local forum for all stakeholders is planned for the 2 February 2012 to consider the draft proposal. In addition if any stakeholder would like to talk to the consultant please contact her directly on 0422 348 214 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it The steering committee is particularly interested in making sure the proposal builds on a) existing plans and priorities and b) existing coordination arrangements. So any input about existing plans, priorities and structures would be much appreciated.
For any further information please contact the chair of the steering committee Helen Threlfall on 9341 5200 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

News at HealthWest

Planning for the Outer West WellBeing Partnership Project

We would like to invite you to a meeting to inform and support HealthWest in their planning for the Outer West WellBeing Partnership Project. This project is part of the N&WMR Closing the Health Gap initiative which aims, through partnerships, to work with and support Aboriginal people of all ages to achieve their optimal health.

The three priority areas for the project are:

1. Screening for health issues (early, every time, everywhere) amongst vulnerable children, youth, adults and the elderly
2. Engagement of Aboriginal people to assist understanding and acceptance of screening and the need for follow-up of health issues identified
3. Assist Aboriginal people to navigate the health system, once issues are identified and the need for more complex help is recognised

When: Wednesday 14^th December, 10:00- 12:00 pm
Where:  Harvester Centre Meeting Room, ISIS, 2 Devonshire Road. Sunshine
More info: Please RSVP to Meg Rees This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Falls Prevention resources available

HealthWest holds a number of hard copy falls prevention resources that we would like to offer to members:

• Walk Tall, Don't Fall. A Resource Pack to keep Your Clients and Community Independent and Active in Brimbank and Melton. Produced by HealthWest Partnership. Approx 40 resource packs for allied health professionals and aged care staff available
• Walk Tall, Don't Fall. A Resource Pack to keep You Independent and Active in Brimbank and Melton. Produced by HealthWest. Approx 10 resource packs for community available.
• Guidebook for Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People: Australian Community Care. 2009. A short version of the Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Community Care. Produced by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in HealthCare. Approx 50 copies available.
• Don't fall for it. Falls can be prevented! A guide to preventing falls for older people. 2004. Produced by Department of Health and Ageing.Available in English, Polish and German – approx. 20 copies of each

Integrated Health Promotion

Working Together Against Violence project report released

The Working Together Against Violence project, lead by Women’s Health Victoria’s, used workplaces as a setting for the primary prevention of violence against women. The project aimed to strengthen the organisational capacity of a male-dominated workplace (Linfox) to promote gender equality and non-violent norms.

The final report discusses the theoretical grounding for the project, what is effective in engaging a company in the prevention of domestic violence, as well as what works in embedding and sustaining this work.

More info: Women’s Health Victoria website

Inner Northern Working Group on Pokies releases framework on the social impact of pokies

The Social and Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) Framework for Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs) is an online evidence base and data book for Victorian local government staff, community members and applicants to build their own social impact assessments.

Social and Economic Impact Assessments for gaming applications are complex. This Framework has been developed with the aim of creating a single resource that brings together all potential elements in one place. The Framework identifies indicators that may be considered within an SEIA, the evidence that supports these indicators and a link to the data source to for each indicator.

More info: Social impact of pokies website

Report: health promoting urban design promotes positive local economic impact

The Heart Foundation has released a report that asserts that a well-designed, quality street environment that promotes walking, cycling and public transport is good for business.

More info: To access the full report please visit the Heart Foundation website 

World AIDS Day – 1 December 

World AIDS Day is a global event and was established by the World Health Organization (WHO), in an effort to raise public awareness about HIV issues, including the need for support and understanding for people living with HIV.

Events are happening across Australia.

More info: World AIDS Day Australia website

New resource: Gendered Health Data

Women’s Health Victoria has a new link to online resources on gendered health data in their Clearinghouse collection for November. The information focuses on gender-sensitive indicators and analysis and gendered research, with links to related websites.

More info: Women’s Health Victoria website

New resource: Drugs in Australia: tobacco, alcohol and other drugs

Drugs in Australia 2010 provides a comprehensive summary of Australians' consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and use of treatment services, drawing on the latest statistics from major national collections. It also includes information about drug-related health issues, and drugs in the context of crime and law enforcement.

More info: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website

New resource: What’s the law? Australian law for new migrants

Developed by Victoria Legal Aid, What’s the law? Australian law for new arrivals is a free education kit for use in English language classes and in community settings.

The kit can be used by teachers, educators and community workers who work with migrants and refugees. The kit is designed to be used in English classes, but it can easily be used in other community education settings.

More info: Victoria Legal Aid website

Integrated Chronic Disease Management

New resource: Heart Research Centre: Training programs and workshops 2012

The Heart Research Centre offers a comprehensive Australia wide professional development training program for practitioners working with people with chronic disease.

More info: Heart Research Centre website

New look website:  The ADMA Clearing House has been upgraded

The Australian Disease Management Association (ADMA) website offers a clearing house with many and varied resources related to working with people with chronic disease. The Clearinghouse stores practical resources and tools relevant to disease management services plus brief explanations of their development and use.

More info: ADMA clearning house

The Victorian HACC Program Position Paper, Triennial Plan & Expenditure Priorities 2012-15

HealthWest is currently consulting with its member agencies and formulating a response to this paper.

Self-Management resource available:  Self-management: A quick guide to behaviour change A resource for health professionals

This recently updated flipchart/guide is an initiative of HealthWest partnership.

More info: Please contact our office if you would like a hard copy, phone (03) 90175843 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or download a copy here.

Population Health Planning

No news this week

Service Coordination

Brochure: Supporting children whose parent is admitted to a Mental Health Unit

Mid West Area Mental Health Service produced brochure containing information and tips for partners and carers supporting children whose parent is admitted to a mental health unit.

The brochure is available on the HealthWest website

The Active Service Approach in HACC Forum

The Active Service Approach in HACC Forum on Intake will be held on Thursday 1^st December at the Altona Meadows Library and Learning centre.  The forum is run as part of the ASM HealthWest Project.  Participants will have the opportunity to network and develop a shared understanding of the principles and language required for implementing the ASM approach across the 10 HACC partner agencies in the west.

The outcomes of the forum will be available on the HealthWest website over the following weeks.

For Your Diary

Grants

New Commonwealth government health and ageing grants available

The Commonwealth government is providing funding for grants across a number of areas.  These include:

• Chronic Disease Prevention and Service Improvement Fund;
• Communicable Disease Prevention and Service Improvement Grants Fund;
• Health Systems Capacity Development Fund;
• Aged Care Service Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants Fund;
• Substance Misuse Prevention and Service Improvement Grants Funds;
• Substance Misuse Service Delivery Grants Fund.

More info: Department of Health and Ageing website

Call for Papers

No news this week

National

No news this week

Statewide

No news this week

Regional/Local

Alcohol and Other Drugs Use and Harms in the City of Brimbank

This forum, hosted by Brimbank City Council, presents latest findings on research conducted within Brimbank by Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre and the Burnet Institute.

When: 9.30am-11am, Tuesday 6 December
Where: Convention Centre, Victoria University Sunshine Campus, Gate 1, 460 Ballarat Rd Sunshine
Cost: Free
More info: Please download the invitation here. 
RSVP to Jun by 2 December on 9249 4383 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

‘Incredible, Edible, Movable Maribyrnong’ project launch

Come and celebrate the official launch of the ‘Incredible, Edible, Moveable Maribyrnong’ project with a picnic in the park.

FREE activities for the whole family including:
Soccer & sports clinics; Pizza making; Face Painting; Henna painting; Jumping castle; Music and entertainment; Circus workshops; Vegetable boxes to plant & take home; giveaways and more.

When:  Saturday, 17 December 2011, 11am – 2pm
Where: Maidstone Community Centre, Ernie Sheppard Gardens, 21 Yardley street, Maidstone 3012 (Mel ref No: M41 F1)
More info: To book for space for your picnic rug or for more information contact 03) 9317 0747.

E-Bulletin Archive

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