We are pleased to inform you of an opportunity to participate in a 2 day REST course (Rural Emergency Skills Training Course) to be held in conjunction with the RDWA Meeting being held in Geraldton, over 27 – 29^th April 2012.   The RDWA meeting comprises of three days of procedural workshops, along with medico political activity.  Click HERE for further information regarding the RDAWA Meeting.

 The ACRRM REST course will be held on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 April, at St John of God Hospital, 12 Hermitage Street, Geraldton.

 To access further information about this course and to register for the workshop -  please click here:  ACRRM REST

 Places are limited, and we strongly encourage IMGs and Registrars to take advantage of this extensive hands-on educational opportunity.  The course is also a great opportunity for urban practitioners who might be considering rural locum work to upskill in areas they may require.

 The course is accredited for PDP and RACGP QA&CME points, and also accredited for claiming $2,000 per day against the Rural Procedural Grants for eligible participants – and has been approved for claiming across all disciplines of the Procedural Grants. (EMed; Anaesthetics; Obs and Surgery)

To download this press release, click on the link below.

Find here the CTEC calendar for 2012.

Below are the flyers for some of the courses available:

Farmsafe WA Alliance is an independent, not-for-profit, non-government organisation encouraging and leading the way to safer farming. The organisation aims to improve the health and profitability of the farming community by promoting positive farm safety practices. Farmsafe WA Alliance has achieved this in the past via the execution of funded projects, with the Department of Health, Western Australia being an avid supporter.

The Promotion and Distribution of Resources project is an initiative of Farmsafe WA Alliance and is funded by the Department of Health, Western Australia and supported by the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety.  This project targets Health Professionals and Farmers inregional and remote areas of Western Australia, and will be conducted in the Midwest and Great Southern regions in respective years. The project focuses on three resources in particular, produced by the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety, of which Farmsafe WA Alliance will promote, distribute and evaluate.The resources in question are:

•  Farm Health and Safety Toolkit for Rural General Practices

• The Great Idea Bank

•  Preventing Falls in Older Farmers

These resources were developed in the Eastern states where they have proven both useful and applicable; however awareness of them in Western Australiais assumed to be low and their appropriateness and usefulness within the Western Australian context is yet to be determined. Farmsafe WA Alliance aims to ascertain whether these resources are effective in assisting rural Health Professionals in implementing best practice when farmers, farm workers and their families present as patients at their clinics and health services.

Farmsafe WA recognises the importance of conducting this project, as the evaluations may guide us in further dissemination of the resources and potentially result in recommendations for modifying them if they do not adequately address the Western Australian context.  This is the underlying purpose of the project, as Farmsafe WA will pursue further funds to make the recommended changes in order to provide Health Professionals and Farmers in Western Australia with the most beneficial resources. Ultimately, we hope to produce comprehensive and relevant resources for the health professionals that service the agricultural community, that address the current gaps we identify through this project.

In order to achieve this aim, Farmsafe WA Alliance is seeking the support of Health Professionals and Farmers in the Midwest region, who we are asking to peruse and road-test these resources and provide us with feedback via a short pre and post-use questionnaire.

Farmsafe WA Alliance Executive Officer, Sheila Payne comments, “This project really relies on the good nature and passionate drive for improved healthcare that we’ve come to expect from WA’s rural health professionals…The support we receive from Health Professionals will be a driving force towards the fruition of this project, and is greatly appreciated by Farmsafe WA’s project team and the farming community”.

For more information on this project or to obtain a copy of these resources, please visit the Farmsafe WA Alliance website at www.farmsafewa.org or contact the office by emailing admin@farmsafewa.org orcalling (08) 9359 4118.

The Promotion & Distribution of Resources Project is an initiative of Farmsafe WA Alliance and is funded by the Department of Health, Western Australia and supported by the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety.

On Friday 25 November, 17 medical students from Geraldton, Carnarvon and Karratha attended to the OSCEE at the Midwest GP Network premises. A group of GPs and specialists from all over the states came to supervise the examination. At the end of a long stressful day, everyone met to relax at the Geraldton Club with a beautiful sunset over Champion Bay.   

To download a larger picture (800x600), click on the link below, or contact eric@gpnetwork.org.au

On the 1st and 2nd of November, Geraldton's Registrars went to Meekatharra and Mt Magnet to participate to WAGPET training session in rural settings.

The topics covered were:

• Aboriginal Culture Orientation by Dr Brookes
• Preparation for transfer with RFDS by Dr McDonnell
• Overview of ENT in the Bush by Dr Harrington

Here are some of the photos taken:

To enlarge the photos, click on the following links:

1. Dr Helko Schenk reappointed and caretaker chairman until the new Committee of Management meeting,
2. Dr Kees Bakker reappointed,
3. Dr Raj Ramakrishna appointed,
4. Dr Ian Taylor, vice-chair,
5. Dr Bertel Bulten, secretary/treasurer,
6. Dr Marisa Gilles,
7. Dr Penny Davies,
8. Dr Mick Gibberd.

On the Family Fun day side,  70 members and their families came to relax, watched the PCYC circus; the children got their faces painted and had opportunities to have a go at juggling! While it was not as hot as last year, the boat on Fox Dam was still sunk many times during acts of piracy! 

The very tasty BBQ lunch was catered by Culinary HQ.
Some of Fred's photos taken:


If you want to see the picture (800x600 pixels), click on the links below: 

• An information session at the Post Graduate breakfast with over 20 participants (including remote via webstream)
• 2 workshop of 4 hours were delivered in the morning and afternoon: It was well attended with 30 participants (O&G specialists, GPs, midwives, social workers and pastoral care workers).

The IMPROVE workshop is IMproving Perinatal Reporting Outcome Via Education (discussing clinical, counsel and legal issues surrounding perinatal mortality). It was well received by all.

Please find below a few photos:



If you want to see enlarged pictures (800x600 pixels), click on the link below:

The IHPO Caroline Williams has been working on a project that targets Aboriginal youth to discourage smoking through a hip hop anti-smoking song written and performed by Year 11 Aboriginal boys at the Midwest Football Academy.  WA Country Health Service health promotions officer Isabel Ross has partnered with us on the project which commenced on the 17^th of May this year. Well known hip hop artist Scott Griffith from the Optumus Downside band in Perth has been working with the students to come up with lyrics for the song. Once completed the song will be distributed on disk and promoted throughout the region to encourage youth to not take up smoking.

Photo: Football Academy students and Hip Hop professional Scott Griffiths

The Hip Hop project is proudly sponsored by Healthway to promote the Heart Foundation’s Smarter Than Smoking message.

Following the success of last September workshop in Carnarvon, Midwest GP Network has organised a second Minor Hand Trauma workshop in Geraldton. This was possible with the help of the Royal Perth Hospital who offered the team of presenters and Pfizer who sponsored the catering.

All participants also received a little show bag prepared by Dr Mick Gibberd: each show bag contained their plaster rolls, sutures, scalpels and forceps necessary for the practical session. The participants - 6 GPs, 5 Medical students, 17 nurses and 5 Allied health professionals - came from general practices, WACHS and St John of God. 4 nurses from Morawa made the return trip specially for this worthwhile event.

The same team of presenters came to Geraldton,

• Dr Flemming has been a plastic surgeon in UK and the States, before practicing at Fremantle Hospital.

• Beth Sperring is Acting Clinical Nurse Consultant, Plastics Ambulatory Care, Telehealth RPH.

• Judy Elliott is a Senior Occupational Therapist at RPH; she provided splinting education.

An excellent mixture of interesting lectures and hands-on clinical experience, especially with splinting, debridement and suturing was provided over 6.5 hours. Presenters answered many questions from participants. Plenty of supports was given in regard of Telehealth, generous advice on what & when to send to Perth and who to call for injuries needing specialist attention.

As GPs, Medical Students, OT and Nurses attended together to this workshop, it emphasise the team approach view in the management of treatment of minor hand traumas Participants have now a better assessment and understanding of the complete hand trauma care.

Once again, this course was commented as excellent, very interesting and well presented.

The facility was “just big enough” for the number of participants! For the 10 who could not attend this time: I have not forgotten you! I will contact you when I will organise another workshop early 2012...


Click on the link below to see a 600x800 photos ( (copyright from Fred Block).

A very nice day at Nukara Farm on Sunday 24 October, sheltered from the wind and the sun.

Kids played well in the water: the hot tub - full of cold water -  the dam with the flying fox and the boards, and the creek full of mud!

The face painting done by the dental nurses students attracted many kids and some adults - specially the Movember team trying out their style for next month... 

The new board members were elected. We are welcoming Dr Bertel Bulten, for his first term, Dr Mick Gibberd, Dr Marisa Gilles and Dr Ian Taylor back to the board. Dr Penny Davies was reelected to join the remaining board members Dr Kees Bakker, Dr Nikee Msuo and Dr Helko Schenk.

Finally we could start on the beautiful food prepared by Phil and Donna.... a special compliment to Donna for her delicious lemon meringue pies, mulberry tarts and pavlovas.

Click on the links below to view 600x450 photos. If you want a full size copy, contact Eric.

In Northampton, Carnarvon and Mullewa, the Midwest GP Network staff are helping to set up Men's Shed.

Read the article from the Northern Guardian following the acquisition of the Men's shed in Carnarvon.

This resource has been produced by Geraldton Sexual Assault Resource Centre Inc, sponsored by Mid West Division of General Practice. For further information, please contact GSARC on ph: 9964 1853.
 

The details of the Government’’s Medicare Package are available on the website of the Department of Health and Ageing at http://www.health.gov.au/fairermedicare/index.htm

The Fairer Medicare package addresses the cost of medical services for patients and families, provides for an increase in the number of doctors and other health professionals and simplifies Medicare claiming procedures.