General PCP Business
Service Coordination
CDM/SC Survey 2010......
ICDM Status Report......
Chronic Disease Management
Human Services Directory......
Human Services Directory Training......
Diabetes......
Professional Development......
Health Promotion
2011 Health Promotion Conference
Community Kitchens......
News from Partner Organisations......
GippSport......
Active After-school Communities......
Transport Connections, Wellington Shire Council......
Mental Health Information......
Gippsland Oral Health Consortium...... 10
Meetings for 2011
WPCP Contact Details
General PCP Business
Nationally Recognised Qualification in Health Consumer Leadership And Engagement
The Health Issues Centre is offering new innovative training programs for consumer leaders and health service staff in 2011 in Melbourne.
The Course in Consumer Leadership provides consumers with the foundation skills to engage and promote consumer engagement in health services.
The Wellington PCP will be offering the Course in Consumer Leadership in Sale in August for up to 15 people. We regard this training as an important way to build the capacity of our community to engage more fully with local health services and to increase community understanding of service delivery and accessibility whilst providing valuable feedback to health agencies.
Watch this space as we finalise the dates and arrangements.
Staffing Update
Wellington PCP is looking to increase staffing hours in the areas of both Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Management /Service Coordination. As Rachael is currently completing research for Monash University one day a week and is receiving a scholarship to do this work, the extra hours need to be covered. To this end I have been following up possible ways to buy in some extra time.
East Gippsland and Wellington PCPs, currently work with East Gippsland Primary Health Alliance (formerly EG Division of GP). Both PCP plans outline work around increasing engagement between GPs and Community Health Services. There is an opportunity to progress this work through an increase of hours, to be funded by both PCPs. This possibility was endorsed by the WPCP Executive and consequently an advertisement has been placed locally to find a suitable person for the next 12 months.
Renee Heath was working with the PCP two days a week up until June 2011 but has now decided to take a 12 month position with CGHS, covering Linde Coggan’s maternity leave position. We thank Renee for her contribution to the WPCP and wish her well.
Bec Lade did a student placement with the WPCP in 2010 and has been completing some HP work around Food security and Community kitchens with us over the past few months. She will be returning to full time study in July.
As you can see we have been busy with staffing arrangements and Human Resource issues but have managed to keep our very stable core of staff, who are very dedicated to building the partnerships necessary to complete the work outlined in the Wellington Plans, developed by our partners in 2009 and continually updated to reflect current issues.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like further information regarding general PCP business. Kind regards, Jo.
Service Coordination
CDM/SC Survey 2010
The results of the 2010 CDM/SC Survey have just become available and I will be completing an analysis of the Wellington results compared with the whole of Gippsland, in the next newsletter. Agency results will be discussed with appropriate individual staff in the next few weeks.
Rowena Lam will be presenting an analysis at the WPCP Business Meeting on May 23rd.
ICDM Status Report
The Partnerships and Primary Health Unit of the Department of Health has completed a status report of Integrated Chronic Disease Management activity across the funded sector. The report showcases the work and initiatives that support improved access to services and improved quality of care for those with chronic disease. In particular it highlights key achievements over 2008-2010 and identifies areas where further work is required.
The purpose of the report is to support the dissemination and sharing of lessons learned, identify examples of good practice within agencies and support ongoing progress to improve systems that better meet the needs of consumers with chronic disease. It is well worth reading.
Regards Jo
Chronic Disease Management
Emily Durbridge
Hi everybody
Somehow we are almost into May – not sure where the year is going!
Chronic Disease Network
At the first CDM Network meeting for the year, we had Pat Lovelock lead a discussion around the Initial Contact/Initial Needs Identification process across agencies in Gippsland and some of the issues identified as a result of an audit from a regional project.
Some of the key issues identified across the region:
- Confusion around what service coordination is and how it relates to CDM
- Different intake models across the region
- Privacy – rights and responsibilities
- Barriers to care coordination
- Knowledge of who and where to refer to – including how and what tools are out there
- Vague statements in agencies around best practice
- Gaps, duplication
Meeting dates for 2011
CDM Meeting dates are 7 June, 2 August, 4 October and December. Please make sure your agency is represented at these meetings.
Human Services Directory
Under the criteria set out by the Department of Human Services, each ‘Agency’ must record that they have updated their site/s on the Human Services Directory at least each six months.
Therefore as part of database management program should your site not be updated for a period of approximately six months, you will be sent a reminder via email, fax, letter or by phone call (if you do not have email facility).
HSD Admin requests that on receipt of a reminder email or fax or letter, please log in and "Edit" your site (this is required even if there are no changes to make), and save. This will register on the data base that your site has been updated. HSD Admin will continue to contact you on a regular basis if the site remains not updated.
This procedure ensures that your site remains on the Human Services Directory and is not removed.
HSD Admin appreciate that for some sites this maybe an inconvenience, as their details do not change on a regular basis, and we suggest that login holders regularly login to view and update their site and even if the details are correct click on "Edit" "site info" and simply click on "save" to register that the site has been updated.
The Human Services Directory is designed as a Self Authoring Web listing. That is, you are able to control the information listed on the HSD by using your log in to update your information.
Important Workshop: Human Services Directory Training
How to make effective use of the HSD
Training outline:
- Overview of HSD website, how it works/structure
- How to search on HSD
- Simple/complex searching
- Saving results
- Site/listing establishment, editing and updating
- Hands on exercises
- Answers to your questions
Target audience:
- Member agency HSD administrator, clinician or manager who could share the learning back at their organisation
- PCP staff
- General Practice (please liaise directly with your local division to engage practices)
- Division of General Practice staff
Training Details:
Option 1:
Date: Thursday 23 June
Time: Session 1: 10.30am-12.00pm
Session 2: 1.00pm-2.30pm
Venue: Bairnsdale DHS Office, 7 Service St, Bairnsdale
Option 2:
Date: Friday 24 June
Time: Session 1: 10.30am-12.00pm
Session 2: 1.00pm-2.30pm
Venue: Traralgon DHS Office, 64 Church St, Traralgon
Book in early as places are limited!
Please RSVP with the session you wish to attend to:
Emily Durbridge
Ph: 5152 0022
Email:
Infoxchange Service Seeker Directory
The Infoxchange Service Seeker (ISS) is Australia's most extensive electronic health and welfare directory.
ISS provides 264,274 records of agencies and services that are efficiently returned through a number of intuitive search methods. Of which 127,342 records are from Victoria.
Infoxchange Australia established the first searchable electronic directory of community services in Australia in 1990 and has since developed and managed electronic health and welfare directories in every state and territory. The online directory and its technological support have been regularly upgraded to keep pace with development and to maintain security of data.
Did you know? There were 45,400 searches on Service Seeker in March.
Diabetes
Life! Taking Action on Diabetes
Life Programs are currently being conducted in Stratford, Maffra and Sale at various times of the day and week to suit just about everyone. Details are attached.
Diabetes Education – CGHS
Diabetes Education Courses will be run at CGHS commencing in April, May June and July. Dates and topics are also in the attached file.
Professional Development
Integrated Chronic Disease (ICDM) Forum on Health Literacy
Partnerships & Primary Health unit will hold an ICDM forum on Health Literacy on Wednesday 11 May 10.00am-3.00 pm in conference room 1.10 at 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Presenters include:
- Professor Helen Keleher, Head of Department of Health Social Science, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University
- Glenda Chapman, HARP Coordinator, Albury-Wodonga Health
- Jessica Malcolm, Integrated Chronic Disease Project Manager, from Darebin CHS.
The target audience for the forum is health practitioners and Program Managers in Community Health Services and PCP staff.
Please email Margie Powell to express interest in attending this forum.
Margie Powell
Telephone: (61 3) 9096 7926
Email:
Infoxchange Training Calendar 2011
Infoxchange delivers a calendar of courses for individuals or groups at their Abbotsford Training Suite.For more informationclickhere
Resources and Publications
Update to the Guidelines for the prevention, detection and management of chronic heart failure in Australia, 2006
An addendum to the Guidelines for the prevention, detection and management of chronic heart failure in Australia is now available.
Published in the Medical Journal of Australia, the addendum reflects new evidence relating to:
- use of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), including plasma-BNP or N-terminal pro-BNP measurement in guiding treatment of chronic heart failure
- physical activity and rehabilitation
- pharmaco-therapy
- use of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of systolic heart failure
- use of devices, such as biventricular pacing and left ventricular assist devices
- treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with chronic heart failure
- multidisciplinary care and post-discharge management programs.
You can access the addendum via the link
Please note this link will take you to the Medical Journal of Australia website.
The updated information will be incorporated into the 2006 guideline and an online integrated version will be released on the Heart Foundation website in May 2011.
Heart Foundation Health Information Service
Telephone: 1300 36 27 87
Email:
Website:
Health Promotion
Rachael Dooley
Wellington Health Promotion Network
The minutes of the last network meeting held 19 April are available at -
The next meeting will be held Tuesday 21 June, 9.30 – 11.30am in the conference room at CGHS. The topic of discussion will be on strategies to enhance communication in Wellington.
Victorian Healthcare Association – Population Health Position Statement Presentation
VHA will present on the Population Health Position Statement in Traralgon on Tuesday 14 June 2011. Further details to follow.
Health Promotion Workforce Needs in Gippsland
The Gippsland Health Promotion Task Group distributed a short questionnaire on what training in prevention, population health and health promotion that would benefit health promotion practitioners in their role of improving the wellbeing for the Gippsland population.
Preliminary Results for Wellington
- 29 practitioners from Wellington completed the survey (124 across Gippsland)
- Priority areas for majority of work;
-Mental health & wellbeing (33%)
-Sexual & reproductive health (17%)
-Physical activity (16%)
-Nutrition (16%)
- Further training needs;
-Environments for health (55%)
-Evidence informed population health (31%)
-Workforce development (23%),
-Facilitating change to incorporate health promotion into business (23%)
-Evaluation plan development (16%)
- Most effective support systems for skill development
-Workshops (26%)
-Mentoring (19%)
-Access to specialist advice (19%)
Analysis of the data will inform the Gippsland Health Promotion Task Group's Capacity Building Action Plan 2011 – 2014 and also professional development through the Wellington Health Promotion Network. Results will be made known through the Gippsland Health Promotion Task Group meeting papers and Primary Care Partnerships with both regional and catchment analysis.
2011 Health Promotion Conference
Community Kitchens
A number of Community Kitchens are currently running across Wellington. If you are interested in learning to cook new recipes that are tasty, healthy and affordable, or just want to make some new friends, I encourage you to come along to one of Wellington’s Community Kitchens. New members are always welcome! For more information please see the flyer attached. Health professionals, please spread the word to your clients!
News from Partner Organisations
GippSport
Dawn Martin
Getting Active in Wellington Newsletter
GippSport's second editionof 'Getting Gippsland Active' for 2011is now available -
If you have a program starting, Open Day, Come and Try Day or similar event that encourages people to "Get Active", please email the details to for inclusion in thenext newsletter. It isdue out just before the start of school term 3.
Active After-school Communities
David Roberts
Free Training Course
- Develop your knowledge and skills in the delivery of physical activity programs to children using a Playing for Life approach
- Network with other AASC deliverers in the Gippsland region
- Learn more about new AASC resources
- Gain a nationally recognised coaching certificate
- Promote your local club or sport
Date:Saturday May 7, 2011 9.30am — 4.30pm
Venue:Araluen Primary School Patten Street Sale
Transport Connections, Wellington Shire Council
Sheryl McHugh
Medical Companion Pilot Project Launch
A new pilot project to help regional and rural Victorian travellers get to their medical appointments in Melbourne safely and confidently will be launched on 8 March 2011. V-Line has helped in getting this project off the ground.
The Medical Companion Project is a valuable new resource for regional people who would like to be able to travel to Melbourne for appointments independently using public transport, but feel anxious or nervous about using transport services alone.
Why is this Necessary?
It is estimated that 50,000 people from rural and regional Victoria travel into Melbourne each year to seek medical treatment that is not available in the area that they live.
Many of these travellers are frail, aged, or people living with a disability who otherwise rely on family members, friends, or community transport services to drive or accompany them to Melbourne.
When this assistance is not available, many people risk their health, delay their appointments, or don’t come at all.
Trained Volunteers have been recruited
To assist these regional Victorians in need, a dedicated team of trained volunteers has been recruited to meet with people travelling to Melbourne for medical appointments.
Medical companions will meet travellers at Southern Cross Station or Flinders Street Station, and then accompany them to and from their appointment in central Melbourne.
About the New Service
The service will run from March to December 2011 and is free. People wishing to use the service can call 1300 700 399. Bookings are essential and 24 hours notice is required.
In addition, people interested in volunteering with the Medical Companion Project can call Fran Henry, MCP Coordinator, (03) 9654 2600 or to discuss.
For further information please visit -
Talking Transport Resources
Talking Transport is a joint initiative between Wellington Shire’s Transport Connections and Rural Access projects in partnership with the Wellington Regional Communication Service (Scope).
A number of resources have been developed to ensure public and private transport services in Wellington are more accessible for people with complex communication needs. Resources include pictorial taxi communication boards and bus timetables. Resources are available online at -
Wellington Shire Council Physical Activity Strategy is available on the WSC website –
Gippsland Oral Health Consortium
Welcome to the first edition of “Healthy Smiles”, a newsletter designed to keep you informed on the progress of the Gippsland Oral Health Plan.
Highlights in this edition include:
- Introduction to the Gippsland Oral Health Consortium
- The Gippsland Oral Health Plan
- Highlights from the first Gippsland Oral Health Promotion Forum
- Dental Gaps – a locum recruitment portal
Mental Health Information
Sue Henderson, Mental Health Promotion Officer
Latrobe Valley Community Mental Health Service, Latrobe Regional Hospital
The forgotten aged care group
In theory, we are all ageing better. We stay at home longer and only reach the serious end of aged care often in our 80s. But some are not so lucky. People who have led tough lives, through mental illness, poverty and possibly homelessness, have very complicated aged care needs.
Child's mental health affects adult life
Children who experience a psychological problem are likely to grow up earning significantly less than their peers, say the authors of a UK study.
Kid's self-control predicts health, wealth
Children who control their impulses at an early age, are more likely to be healthier, wealthier and happy by their mid-30s, according to a new study.
Risk statistics in health care
The different ways of expressing risk in health care can prove confusing and there has been much debate about how to improve the communication of health statistics.