News - 11 April 2012
11 April 2012
- 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
Consultation on ANPHA's Stakeholder Engagement Strategy
Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) is seeking comment on its draft stakeholder engagement strategy.
ANPHA is developing this strategy in order to actively inform, promote and guide the engagement as a means to achieving the vision, mission and strategic goals adopted in ANPHA's Strategic Plan 2011-15
The strategy sets out how ANPHA will engage with others to inform action and advice, build strategic partnerships and to support disease prevention and health promotion efforts throughout the Australian community.
All stakeholders are invited to respond in writing to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
by Friday 4 May 2012.
More info: ANPHA website
New GLBTI Ministerial Advisory Committee
The Department of Health's Policy Coordination and Projects Branch is establishing a new new Ministerial Advisory Committee on the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Health and Wellbeing .
The committee is an opportunity to contribute and provide ongoing advice to the Ministers, and to the Department, on health, ageing, mental health and drugs services issues affecting GLBTI Victorians.
A Chairperson and members will be appointed to the committee on a voluntary basis for a term to 30 October 2014.
More info: Contact Beth Wilson, Executive Officer, GLBTI MAC on 03 9096 9023 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The closing date for applications is 5:00pm Friday 13 April 2012. Visit the VicHealth website to apply.
Public Consultation for National Anti-Racism Strategy
The Australian Human Right Commission has released a discussion paper and are holding public consultations around Australia as part of developing the National Anti-Racism Strategy. Organisations are encouraged to provide comments via an online survey or by submitting an online submission.
More info: Australian Human Rights Commission website
Have your say on after hours access to primary care for your clients
What is the After Hours Redevelopment Project?
The Macedon Ranges and North Western Melbourne Medicare Local is a new not for profit organisation funded by the federal government. Building on the work of the former divisions of general practice, the ML will be undertaking an After Hours Redevelopment Project for the areas of Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Melton, Sunbury, Bacchus Marsh and the Macedon Ranges. The aim is to identify service gaps and issues regarding after hours primary care via a needs assessment process. The Medicare Local will then work with local communities to develop and implement solutions. These activities will incorporate a Stage One plan due to the Department of Health and Ageing by 18 May 2012.
News at HealthWest
Active Service Model Forum: Working together to provide better assessment and care planning
Only three days remaining until registrations close!
Come and hear Emma Gee speak at the third forum of the HealthWest ASM project focusing on identifying, exploring and prioritising the issues raised when working collaboratively to provide assessment and care planning in HACC services.
Emma is one of Australia’s acclaimed Inspirational Speakers, offering her thoughts and solutions on client-centred care and resilience through her keynote presentations, workshops and consultancy.
When: Thursday 19 April, 9.00-1.00 followed by a shared lunch
Where: Sunshine Golf Club, 475 Mt Derrimut Rd, Derrimut
Who: HACC assessment and care planning workers, allied health workers, social support program workers, coordinators and managers of these staff
More info: Contact Jane Rossiter on 9017 5843 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
HealthWest Shared Priority Forum: Making Change Happen- What change and who for?
HealthWest Shared Priority Forums bring together our integrated health promotion, integrated chronic disease and service coordination networks around a shared theme. The next Forum will be focused on developing an advocacy plan for HealthWest Partnership by considering: what areas should we advocate in and what change are we advocating for?
When: 9:30am - 1pm, 15 May (shared lunch provided at 12:30)
Where: Sunshine Golf Club, Mt Derrimut Rd, Derrimut
More info: Register at HealthWest website. Download flyer here or contact Libby Jewson, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Jenny Reimers, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Showcasing the Food Security Access Profiles for the West
HealthWest, on behalf of the Food Security Network, presented the Food Access Profiles project at the Leading Edge Forum organised by the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) in March 2012. The forum focused on exploring new opportunities for collaboration on waste, sustainability and food security across Victoria.
The Food Access Profiles for the West are also showcased on the Think Food Security website. The website's purpose is to support the work of food security practitioners and other workers who are coming to the issue of building community food resilience more recently.
More info: VLGA website
Western Intake Network Group (WING) upcoming meetings for 2012
2nd Meeting
When: 17 May – 9:30-11:30am.
Where: Hobsons Bay
3rd Meeting
When : 26 July
Where: (venue TBC)
4th Meeting:
When: 20 September
Where: (venue TBC)
More info: Register for the May meeting via HealthWest website
Integrated Health Promotion/Population Health Planning
Mapping of Alcohol Outlets in HealthWest catchment
HealthWest has mapped alcohol outlets across the five local government areas of Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Brimbank, Wyndham and Melton.
More info: The data is collated in a google map available here
AIHW Report - Specialist Homelessness Services Collection: first results
This Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report presents the first results of the new Specialist Homelessness Services Collection (SHSC) from the first quarter of data collection?July to September 2011. The SHSC describes the clients who seek assistance from specialist homelessness agencies and the services they receive.
Data showed:
- an estimated 91,627 clients were assisted by specialist homelessness agencies in this quarter?59% were female and 41% male. Eighteen per cent of clients were aged under 10; and half of all clients (50%) were aged under 25.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were significantly over-represented among SHSC clients?19% of clients were of Indigenous origin.
- In 31% of support periods, clients had lived in short-term or emergency accommodation in the month before presenting for support, and 19% had ‘slept rough’.
- Most clients presented to specialist homelessness agencies alone (66%), but more than one-third presented with children or were themselves children.
- Domestic and family violence was the most common main reason for seeking assistance (26%). This was the most common main reason reported by females (36% of female clients), but for male clients it was ‘housing crisis’ (18% of male clients).
More info: AIHW website
Social statistics on Local Government Areas
The City of Greater Dandenong host a database of social statistic for local government areas in Victoria and has recently been updated with information about unemployment, housing costs, residential population, road accident rates, the tool for mapping social, health and economic conditions. Other information about Victorian municipalities – including spoken languages, cultural diversity, settlement, housing stress, health, education, community connections, employment, crime and safety, youth disengagement – is also available on the website.
More info:Social Statistics website
United Nations Report: Resilient People, Resilient Planet
Resilient People, Resilient Planet is the report of the United Nations Secetary-General’s High Level Panel on Global Sustainability. The report puts forth a series of core recommendations that aim to reduce dehumanizing poverty; bolster resilience; strengthen global equity, including gender equity; transform how goods and services are valued and measure growth; preserve valuable ecosystems; enhance collaboration, coherence and accountability across sectors and institutions; and create a common framework for global sustainability.
More info: PHAA Website
North and West Metropolitan Region Population Health Short Course
This Course is a collaboration between the University of Melbourne and Department of Health (North and West Metropolitan Region). The Course aims to increase participants’ understanding of population health approaches, frameworks and key concepts, and focuses on building skills and knowledge related to the implementation and evaluation of these approaches. Sessions will address issues relevant to population health and provide a range of practical examples to aid participants’ understanding.
When: 2 - 3 May 2012
Where: Graduate House, University of Melbourne, 220 Leicester Street, Carlton
Cost: $825
More info: Download short course flyer and registration form
topIntegrated Chronic Disease Management
An Insider’s View of the World’s Largest Telehealthcare Trial
The Whole Systems Demonstrator (WSD) Programme was established by the Department of Health (UK) to evaluate how the use of telehealthcare can support people with long-term health and care needs to live independently. The project, unrolled to 6,000 patients throughout the UK, resulted in the largest randomised control study of its kind in the world, and revealed a 45% reduction in mortality rates.
Tunstall Healthcare is sponsoring events with guest speaker Dave Tyas from Peninsula Community Health (UK) speaking about his role as project manager for the WSD Programme in Cornwall.
Melbourne Event- Djerriwarrh Health Services
When: Thursday 19 April 2012, 3:30pm-5:30pm
Where: Melton Health, 195 Barries Road, Melton West
Also speaking at ITAC Conference Melbourne
When: Fri 20 April 2012, 2:40pm
More Info: Contact Lisa Capamagian at Tunstall Healthcare on (07) 3637 2200, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
ADMA Conference: Working Towards Chronic Disease Management Integration
The conference program will be available mid April. Confirmed international speakers for the 8th Annual National Disease Management conference include:
A/Prof Julia Adler-Milstein, School of Information Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan; Prof Michael Barry, President, Federation for Informed Decision Making, Medical Director John D. Stoeckle Center for Primary Care Innovation, General Medicine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School; A/Prof Ariel Linden, Department of Health Management & Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan; Stephen McKernan, past Director-General Ministry of Health, NZ, Managing Partner, Health Partners Consulting Group Ltd
Australian speakers include: Prof Peter Brooks, Australian Health Workforce Institute; Prof Michael Georgeff, CEO, Precedence Health Care; Dr Graham Killer, Principle Medical Officer, DVA; Prof Ines Krass, Pharmacy Practice, Sydney University; Prof Tim Skinner, Director Rural Clinical School, University of Tasmania as well as Chris Shipway, NSW Health, Kim Marr & Diana Herd, Department of Health Victoria and Sharryn Gannon, Queensland Health.
When: 13-14 September 2012
Where: Melbourne Convention Centre
More Info: ADMA website
Peer Support – A vital step in chronic disease management and evidence based approach
The Chronic Illness Alliance Peer Support Network is organising this day conference
When: 25th May 2012, 9:30-4:00pm
Where: Multicultural Hub 506 Elizabeth St Melbourne (opposite Queen Vic Market)
More info: Download Flyer and Outline of Conference or contact Marion Wilde: Ph 9882 4654 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
New systematic review of care management for type 2 diabetes in the United States
This week PHCRIS presents summary of a systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the composition and performance of care management models and their impact on patient important outcomes. It was found that most care management programs for patients with type 2 diabetes were ‘carved out’ from primary care, accomplished limited effects on metabolic outcomes, and had unknown effects on patient important outcomes.
More Info: NCBI website
Service Coordination
Child and Youth Mental Health Service Mapping in Wyndham and Melton
As part of the Child and Youth Pathways – Western Mental Health Project the process of service mapping has been undertaken. The service mapping aims to:
- review currently existing child and youth mental health services Melton and Wyndham
- identify potential pathways for children and youth who are experiencing mental illness
- increase service providers understanding of referral options for clients
- identify any gaps in existing services
It is hoped that the development of these service maps will help practitioners and service providers to access and utilise existing services more easily. The mental health service mapping will be piloted until the end of May 2012 and will then be reviewed further.
The pilot service maps for Melton and Wyndham are available by clicking on the names below:
Child and youth mental health and related services in Melton (pdf version)
Child and youth mental health and related services in Melton (excel version)
Child and youth mental health and related services in Wyndham (pdf version)
Child and youth mental health and related services in Wyndham (excel version)
HealthWest is seeking input from the mental health and other related organisations. If you would like to provide feedback regarding the service mapping please contact Agnieszka Kleparska on 9017 5843 or email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
More info: HealthWest website
Talking with Young Refugees about Experiences of Services
The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House) is conducting a project exploring what young people from refugee backgrounds have to say about their experiences of mental health services. The project will explore young people’s experiences of pathways to care, barriers and facilitators to accessing services and engaging with professionals, cultural competence, emotional expression, the therapeutic relationship, what was helpful and unhelpful, and recommendations for change.
The aims of this project are to give voice to the young people about their experiences of services and to feed this information back to service providers and policy makers in order to make improvements to service delivery.
More info: Contact Dr Madeleine Valibhoy This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Josef Szwarc This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
topFor Your Diary
Grants
VicHealth Bystander Intervention Pilot Project
VicHealth is currently inviting submissions from individuals and organisations to develop, pilot and evaluate a bystander participation program in two Victorian workplaces as part of the primary prevention of violence against women.
Submissions must be received by 4pm on 26 April 2012 via email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or posted to VicHealth (PO Box 154, Carlton South, 3053).
More info: VicHealth website or contact Emily Maguire, Special Projects Coordinator, phone 9667 9088 or email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Ben Bodna Award is open for nominations
VCOSS is proud to announce that nominations for the annual Ben Bodna Award are open for 2012. The VCOSS Award provides grants of up to $10,000 a year for individuals seeking to advance knowledge and practice in the fields of social justice, community, disability or bio-ethics. Applications are to be submitted by 31 May 2012 to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
More info: VCOSS website
Participation for CALD Communities Program Grant
The Victorian Government is offering grants of up to $10,000 to create or expand social participation opportunities for socially isolated CALD seniors. This grants program will involve four grant rounds over four years. The Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV) has been funded as an implementation partner for the program.
The first round opens for applications on 5 March 2012 and closes on 27 April 2012.
More info: Download Guidelines and application form here. Grants guidelines and the application form are also available on the Seniors Online website or contact Georgia Nicholls, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Call for Papers
Australian Disease Management Association (ADMA) Conference
Workshop Areas:
- Improving CDM– Evaluating the Evidence, the Programs & Services
- Medication Management in Chronic Disease
- Training and Competencies of the CDM Workforce
- Health Professionals, Health Literacy and Behaviour Change
ADMA are inviting abstract submissions for oral and poster presentations from Chronic Disease Management programs and services which have demonstrated quality or clinical outcomes, cost effectiveness and efficiency. Deadline for abstracts submitted for consideration as oral presentations is 27 April 2012.
When: 13-14 September 2012
Where: Melbourne Convention Centre
More Info: Guidelines can be downloaded from the ADMA website
Australian Women's Health Conference - Gender Matters: Determining Women's Health
The 7th Australian Women’s Conference Gender Matters: Determining Women’s Health will showcase cutting edge research and best practice approaches in women’s health policy and practice locally, across Australia and internationally. The conference will be held 7-10 May 2013 in Sydney.
Abstract submission is now open and closes 30 Sept 2012.
More info: Australian Womens Health Conference websiteNational
Registration for the Population Health Congress 2012 now open
The overall theme of the Congress will be ‘Population health in a changing world’ to reflect the dynamic environment in which the broad public health field needs to, and does, operate.
When: 10-12 September 2012
Where: Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide
More info: Register online
topStatewide
Heart Foundation Walking Area Coordinator Training
Are you a professional interested in administering walking groups in your area? Or would you like some additional support to make your existing groups more sustainable and less time intensive? We can help you to set up and maintain walking groups in your local community.
Heart Foundation Walking is Australia s largest network of free community based walking groups and is looking to partner with local governments, health services and workplaces to expand this network.
When: 10am-2pm, Wed 2 May 2012
Where: Heart Foundation, Level 12/ 500 Collins Street, Melbourne
Cost: Free
More info: Contact Tara, phone 9321 1515 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Victorian Refugee Health Forum for GPs and primary health care providers
The Refugee Health Programs from Northern Division of General Practice, Macedon Ranges and North Western Melbourne Medicare Local, the South Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local along with the Victorian Refugee Health Network and the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House) are holding the Victorian Refugee Health Forum for GPs and primary health care providers.
This forum will be relevant for GPs from across Victoria who work with refugees, together with practice staff, nurses, allied health and other doctors. There will be presentations and workshops including latest updates on refugee health issues in Victoria, and opportunity for interactive discussion about working with refugees in GP practice.
When: Saturday 5 May 2012, 9am – 5pm
Where: Foundation House, 6 Gardiner Street, Brunswick (Mel 29 F7)
Cost: $50
More info: Download registration information and Forum flyer
Consumer participation and CALD communities
This workshop offered by the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health (CEH) provides participants with strategies to ensure an inclusive participation approach, highlighting the barriers and enablers to interacting and engaging with CALD consumers. This workshop will familiarise you with; understanding the links between culture, diversity, health and CALD consumer participation identifying principles and strategies for inclusive consumer and community participation barriers and enablers to consumer participation within CALD communities
When: 9am – 2pm, 16 May 2012
Where: Centre for Culture, Ethnicity & Health, Carlton
Cost: $150
More info: CEH website or contact Viv Fox, phone 9342 9700 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Australian Government Scholarships
Applications are now open for the following:
- Clinical Placement in an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) for undergraduate nursing students
- Professional Development for nurses and midwives working in an AMS
- CPD for nurses and midwives
- Nurse Re-entry for nurses or midwives whose registration has lapsed
- Clinical placement in an emergency department for undergraduate, postgraduate nursing students and ED administration staff CPD.
Applications close on 13 April 2012
More Info: RCNA website or Australian Government Scholarships website
Regional/Local
No news this weekE-Bulletin Archive
For articles, information or links from previous issues of HealthWest's Weekly E-Bulletin view our news archive.