Health Times January 2020

January 2020

New Year, New Career Special Feature + Mental Health Nurses welcome government pledge to support bushfire victims + Midlife career change presents challenge and opportunity + Mental Health Nursing should be a direct-entry degree, say experts + Could a career in academia be for you?

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Page 02 | HealthTimes.com.au

HealthTimes - January 2020 | Page 03

January 2020 We hope you enjoy perusing the range of opportunities included in this issue.

If you are interested in pursuing any of these opportuities, please contact the advertiser directly via the contact details provided. If you have any queries about our publication or would like to receive our publication, please email us at contact@healthtimes.com.au DISTRIBUTION 46,300

Advertiser list Australian College of Nursing Australian Volunteers International CCM Recruitment International Charles Sturt University Commercial Eyes eNurse

The HealthTimes magazine is the most widely distributed national nursing and allied health publication in Australia.

For all advertising and production enquiries please contact us by telephone on 1300 306 582, email contact@healthtimes.com.au or visit www.healthtimes.com.au Published by Seabreeze Communications Pty Ltd trading as HealthTimes.

ABN 29 071 328 053 Š 2020 Seabreeze Communications Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher. Compliance with the Trade Practices Act 1974 of advertisements contained in this publication is the responsibility of those who submit the advertisement for publication.

Next Publication: Midwifery Publication Date:

Monday 17th of February 2020

Artwork Deadline:

Monday 24th of February 2020

Page 04 | HealthTimes.com.au

Global Care Staff Health Recruitment Specialists Ikon Institute of Australia Life Without Barriers Maari Ma Health Oceania University of Medicine Royal Flying Doctor Sevice Smart Salary Pty Ltd University of Newcastle

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Ikon specialises in studies around creative therapies, psychotherapy and counselling. In the higher education space, Ikon runs Bachelor programs in Creative Therapies & Counselling/ Psychotherapy.

Ikon deliver a premium educational experience with: HUMANI HUMANISTIC FOCUS Ikon has a focus on humanity, with a goal to promote and foster humanity globally.

AUSTRALIA-WIDE Ikon has campuses in every capital city of Australia, giving you the ability to be free to move and continue your study.

SUPPORTIVE LEARNING Ikon has developed a supportive learning environment that includes access to Education and Student Support services to assist in your journey.

STRONG LINKS TO INDUSTRY Ikon maintains strong links to industry stakeholders & facilitates placement opportunities that often lead to employment.

QUALITY LEARNING Ikon values quality experiences and is focused on education programs that challenge students to grow and develop both as individuals and professionals.

I Students at Ikon are diverse but are connected by a common desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others through their career and to make their mark on the world through driving social change. Courses are open to anyone who is committed to their own potential and growth, with a strong interest in working with people in a supportive, creative and inclusive way. The Ikon Institute can help you achieve your goals and make your mark.

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HealthTimes - January 2020 | Page 05

Share your skills overseas The Australian Volunteers Program is looking for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals to share their skills in 26 developing countries.

We’ll support you with:

Visit australianvolunteers.com

Page 06 | HealthTimes.com.au

Unique Career Opportunities Working with the Royal Flying Doctor Service you will be joining a team of dedicated professionals providing health care to people living and working in rural and remote areas. These unique and exciting career opportunities based in Alice Springs offer attractive remuneration and benefits including salary packaging and relocation assistance.

Mental Health Clinicians Our dedicated team of Mental Health Clinicians deliver mental health services to communities surrounding Alice Springs. You will be an AHPRA registered qualified Mental Health Nurse, Psychologist or Occupational Therapist, or an AASW accredited Mental Health Social Worker. Experience with crosscultural communication is essential.

Flight Nurses RFDS flight nurses are at the forefront in delivery of aeromedical health services, providing primary response, intensive care, obstetric and trauma services, including emergency retrievals, as part of our high performance aeromedical team. You will be an AHPRA Registered General Nurse, with a sound grounding in a critical care area, and a professional approach to service delivery.

For more information or to apply, please visit our website: www.flyingdoctor.org.au/careers

HealthTimes - January 2020 | Page 07

Maternity Unit Manager – Maternity Services Northeast Health Wangaratta

Are you an experienced midwife with a passion for clinical excellence?

Do you have a desire to lead your own team?

Want to work for an organisation that is recognised as leaders in rural healthcare?

Northeast Health Wangaratta (NHW) is a busy sub-regional integrated health service of 241 beds and is the major referral facility for the greater part of North East Victoria. NHW provides a wide range of acute specialist medical and surgical services including; an emergency department, critical care unit, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and cancer services. NHW is experiencing a period of expansion and will shortly commence a significant redevelopment program. They are currently seeking to recruit a new Maternity Unit Manager (MUM) to this very important role.

As the MUM - Maternity Services and a senior member of the Nursing & Midwifery Division you will have direct operational responsibility for the provision of high quality and safe patient services through leadership, coaching, team building, change management and effective human and financial resource management.

To be eligible for this role you will hold current registration as a Registered Nurse / Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and have a minimum of five years post registration experience in acute services. You will be able to demonstrate strong leadership and management skills as well as highly developed communication / interpersonal, negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

If you have the background and skills for these exciting roles then we would like to hear from you. For more information please visit our website at:

www.hrsa.com.au or contact Jo Lowday on: 0400 158 155. To make an application you will be required to submit: a Cover Letter incorporating a response to the Key Selection Criteria, your full CV and a completed HRS Application Form available on the HRS website. Applications can be made online or sent by email to:

hrsa@hrsa.com.au Applications close: 16 February, 2020

www.hrsa.com.au Page 08 | HealthTimes.com.au

HealthTimes - January 2020 | Page 09

Australian College of Mental Health Nurses welcomes government pledge to support bushfire victims

A

s the nation faces one of its biggest ever crises following the catastrophic bushfires, thousands of Australians will grapple with the mental health consequences that result from the devastating loss of property and lives.

The Federal Government has pledged $2 billion to undertake the rebuilding efforts of Australian communities affected by the fire disasters, with a specific commitment to invest in mental health services – a move welcomed by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.

But ACMHN President, Eimear MuirCochrane says the organisation would like to better understand what proportion of the funds will go to mental health services, how the funds will be deployed, and importantly, that mental health receives the dedicated focus its deserves.

“Rebuilding a home, a town or even a tourism industry has very measurable goals and outcomes, but rebuilding a human’s mental health is another challenge entirely,” she says.

“ACMHN members are ideally placed to understand the enormity of the mental health challenges we will face in the weeks, months and years ahead and it is important to ensure those most in need are being given the resources, funds and physical means to reach a mental health nurse.”

Mental health nurses are skilled at addressing both the physical and the mental needs of the community – an effective, wholistic approach to recovery.

According to the ACMHN, mental health

Page 10 | HealthTimes.com.au

nurses attached to GP clinics, state or federal health systems, or as independent practitioners in the wider community are an effective and cost-effective way to address the wider needs of the community in times like these.

“They have the practical and pragmatic skills to address both mental and physical needs,” says Ms MuirCochrane.

“An important consideration for the Government is that we will have many Australians displaced by the fires for months to come, so their regular and familiar doctors and practitioners may not be available as a resource.”

Likewise, she says, assistance should be tangible. Offering a rebate for health services is counterproductive if people don’t have the funds to service appointments at the outset.

Even Worse, would be a failure to offer rebates at all for mental health nursing services.”

“ACMHN welcome further information being made available about the commitment to mental health and ask the Government to consider how they will bring professional services directly to those in need,” says Ms MuirCochrane.

Ms MuirCochrane said it was important to remember that mental health issues will be faced, not only by those who suffered direct loss, but those who were impacted in other ways.

“These are people who have potentially fled a fire zone, have family affected or even just those processing what they are seeing in the media.”

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HealthTimes - January 2020 | Page 11

Midlife career change presents challenge and opportunity

A

career in health care, for many, begins in midlife when values start to change, and the desire to make a difference becomes important.

But, as two allied health professionals share, it’s not without its challenges.

Conny Weyrich transitioned from a career in marketing to art therapy in her forties after studying a master’s in creative arts therapies.

“The desire to align my work more strongly with my values got increasingly important to me as I got older, and I also felt my priorities and values changed slightly as I approached midlife.

“I’m incorporating my own experience into my work now as one of my areas of expertise is to support people in exploring what ‘meaningful work’ means for them.”

A variety of factors prompted the decision to pursue a new career, said Ms Weyrich.

“It was a combination of changing priorities in my value and belief system and changes in the industry I previously worked in.

“Ultimately, this led to reflections not untypical for anyone entering midlife: what felt most meaningful to me, how could I to bring this into my work life, how did I want to navigate inevitable values conflicts.

“I believe as we grow older, it becomes easier to differentiate between values that are deeply resonant within ourselves versus values we might have ‘inherited’ as part of our

Page 12 | HealthTimes.com.au

upbringing.

“It made me re-define success and evaluate which of my talents and skills I wanted to be at the heart of my work.”

A career change is energising and rewarding, but not without its challenges. The financial commitment, starting again and building a reputation in a new field was difficult, said Ms Weyrich.

“It certainly requires a mindset of being comfortable with being a beginner again, taking on an entry-level or a trainee role, for example, being able to adapt one’s lifestyle to an entry-level salary.

“I was aware that a large proportion of practitioners in my field work in private practice.

“I had to be prepared to build a business after graduating, which requires perseverance and a financial foundation that can support this.”

There was also an impact on relationships, said Ms Weyrich, as her network had less relevance and people were less interested in her new field. At the same time, a new network takes time to develop.

“I realised how some relationships were purely built on the common denominator of an employer, company or industry and my decision to change careers naturally made certain connections fade away.

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“We’re made to believe that success means linear progress, and it took considerable mindset work and self-coaching to accept that my journey wasn’t linear at all.

“Naturally, this liminal space also comes with very polarising emotions, a mix of excitement about new opportunities, the sadness and some nostalgia of what I left behind and a sense of alienation or not fully belonging while traversing from one field of work to the other.”

The key to a successful career change includes having the financial means to support the move, a strong support network, seeking professional career coaching, a good self-care routine and taking stock of transferable skills, according to Ms Weyrich.

“It’s important to value and communicate your skills and experience from the previous career. It is often something that makes you unique in the new field of work.

“Be open to experimenting, especially if the change involves starting your own business.

There will be some trial and error.”

Dietician Jeanette Kimszal also made a career transition later in life, leaving the field of advertising to pursue dietetics. A move that was motivated by a desire to improve her own health.

Ms Kimszal said the biggest challenge of making a significant career change was facing the unknown.

“You don’t know what the future holds in the new career.

“You don’t know what challenges you may face or what other obstacles you will have. However, thinking positively and visualising what you want to happen will help to curb that fear.”

It’s important to do your research before

HealthTimes - January 2020 | Page 13

you commit to changing career, said Ms Kimszal.

“Talk to people in that industry to see what it is about and if it is for you. See if you can shadow or volunteer to get a feel for what the daily tasks are.

“Think about the tasks you enjoy. Passion is a driving force to keep you motivated, but you also have to have joy in the tasks and want to do them without effort.”

“I love having so many options in this field. There is also the flexibility that was not there in my previous position.”

For those transitioning out of health care and into a new field, it’s equally challenging, but achievable according to career coach Jo Morrison.

It’s important to think about transferrable skills. What do you do now that could benefit companies outside of the health care space?

“As a health care provider, you probably do these things naturally most days as just ‘part of the job’, but they are skills that all businesses should value.

“Almost all roles need excellent customer or client service and care. Your ability to make people comfortable is unique, especially as you seek to understand problems with compassion and kindness.”

Negotiation skills “Think

about

how

you

Page 14 | HealthTimes.com.au

interact

with

colleagues. You are networking and building relationships that deliver the best patient care.

If you’ve ever managed ‘difficult’ patients or coworkers, then you have valuable negotiation skills.”

Building trust and rapport “You explain health-related issues to people from all walks of life and their families. Trust building is an asset in any role. People who are going through challenges often take it out on those trying to help them. Health professionals get patients on-side, working as a team and setting boundaries.”

Organised and a natural problemsolver “You are used to sticking to a schedule, planning, problemsolving and multitasking.”

These are just a few of many skills that health care professionals can transfer to a new career based on their unique work history, said Ms Morrison.

“The way you talk about your skillset will be the way others view it. So be positive, confident and honest.

“Have suitable examples and stories to share about your experiences in health care and be ready to relate those to the role you are going for.

“You can get help with this by doing a rehearsal interview with a coach or mentor.”

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HealthTimes - January 2020 | Page 15

Mental Health Nursing should be a direct-entry degree, say experts As the number of Australians dealing with mental health challenges increases, so too does the demand for qualified mental health nurses.

In its current state, mental health nursing is a specialised field of nursing, which focuses on the care of people with mental health illness or distress.

While registered or enrolled nurses can work within a mental health setting, becoming qualified as a mental health nurse requires post graduate tertiary education.

But the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) believes that direct-entry mental health nursing degrees are crucial to appropriately respond to mental health related challenges in Australia.

The ACMHN also welcomes recommendations in the Productivity Commission’s 2019 Draft Report, which was written in response to a review of mental health services in Australia.

One of those recommendations was that the number of specialist mental health nurses practicing in Australia — in GP clinics, community health services, and aged care facilities — needs to significantly increase.

The ACMHN also suggests that numbers of specialist mental health nurses could be increased through the development of a three year direct entry undergraduate degree in mental health nursing, similar to that of midwifery.

Page 16 | HealthTimes.com.au

Even if this was to come to pass though, there is still merit in the introduction of a specialist registration system for nurses with advanced qualifications in mental health.

Progressing the training and education framework for mental health nurses in Australia is timely and crucial, the organisation says, as those suffering from mental health continues to grow.

The most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) National Health Survey reported increased rates of mental illness, including: 13 per cent of Australian adults are experiencing high or very high levels of psychological distress 20.1 per cent of Australian adults reported a mental or behavioural condition 13.1 per cent of Australian adults had an anxiety-related condition, and 10.4 per cent of Australian adults had depression or feelings of depression.

Midwifery has long been a specialised direct entry nursing degree, with midwives servicing a similar proportion of the population to those reporting to have mental health related issues.

According to the ACMHN, in the same year that the abovementioned survey was released, 309,142 births were recorded, which was 13% of the population – comparable with those with mental health issues.

“In addition to the data available on mental health statistics, one only has to glance at the media each day to know that mental health in Australia is a

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growing issue and training specialised practitioners to manage and treat patients is crucial,” says ACMHN Executive Director, Operations, Stephen Jackson.

“We need to ensure that we are putting the measures in place to train those who can support and care for Australians affected by mental health,” he says.

Psychotherapist Dr Karen Phillip agrees there are not enough mental health experts to service the growing number of Australians suffering from mental health issues.

“We have a continued increase in mental and emotional health issues in Australia,” says Dr Phillip.

“People are becoming more aware of mental health and are more actively using mental health services.

Dr Phillip says while Australia has sufficient counsellors, psychotherapists and hypnotherapists, these practitioners are not covered by Medicare, meaning those suffering emotional health issues are taking the places of those with severe mental health issues, resulting in a deficit of acute mental health practitioners.

“We need more front line accessible practitioners.

“While we have Lifeline, Beyond Blue, etc, all with counsellor support, we need more counselling and psychotherapy on the ground.

“Nurses are at the front line in many cases, therefore if more nurses were specifically trained in mental health issues they could more appropriately diagnose, treat, refer and support patients faster.”

“We also find increasing pressures are pushing people to the brink of emotional overload and breakdown.”

HealthTimes - January 2020 | Page 17

Could a career in academia be for you?

A

s the number of Australians dealing with mental health challenges increases, so too does the demand for qualified mental health nurses.

In its current state, mental health nursing is a specialised field of nursing, which focuses on the care of people with mental health illness or distress.

While registered or enrolled nurses can work within a mental health setting, becoming qualified as a mental health nurse requires post graduate tertiary education.

But the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) believes that direct-entry mental health nursing degrees are crucial to appropriately respond to mental health related challenges in Australia.

The ACMHN also welcomes recommendations in the Productivity Commission’s 2019 Draft Report, which was written in response to a review of mental health services in Australia.

One of those recommendations was that the number of specialist mental health nurses practicing in Australia — in GP clinics, community health services, and aged care facilities — needs to significantly increase.

The ACMHN also suggests that numbers of specialist mental health nurses could be increased through the development of a three year direct entry undergraduate degree in mental health nursing, similar to that of midwifery.

Page 18 | HealthTimes.com.au

Even if this was to come to pass though, there is still merit in the introduction of a specialist registration system for nurses with advanced qualifications in mental health.

Progressing the training and education framework for mental health nurses in Australia is timely and crucial, the organisation says, as those suffering from mental health continues to grow.

The most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) National Health Survey reported increased rates of mental illness, including: 13 per cent of Australian adults are experiencing high or very high levels of psychological distress 20.1 per cent of Australian adults reported a mental or behavioural condition 13.1 per cent of Australian adults had an anxietyrelated condition, and 10.4 per cent of Australian adults had depression or feelings of depression.

Midwifery has long been a specialised direct entry nursing degree, with midwives servicing a similar proportion of the population to those reporting to have mental health related issues.

According to the ACMHN, in the same year that the abovementioned survey was released, 309,142 births were recorded, which was 13% of the population – comparable with those with mental health issues.

“In addition to the data available on mental health statistics, one only has to glance at the media each day to know that mental health

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in Australia is a growing issue and training specialised practitioners to manage and treat patients is crucial,” says ACMHN Executive Director, Operations, Stephen Jackson.

“We need to ensure that we are putting the measures in place to train those who can support and care for Australians affected by mental health,” he says.

Psychotherapist Dr Karen Phillip agrees there are not enough mental health experts to service the growing number of Australians suffering from mental health issues.

“We have a continued increase in mental and emotional health issues in Australia,” says Dr Phillip.

“People are becoming more aware of mental health and are more actively using mental health services.

“We also find increasing pressures are pushing people to the brink of emotional overload and

breakdown.”

Dr Phillip says while Australia has sufficient counsellors, psychotherapists and hypnotherapists, these practitioners are not covered by Medicare, meaning those suffering emotional health issues are taking the places of those with severe mental health issues, resulting in a deficit of acute mental health practitioners.

“We need more front line accessible practitioners.

“While we have Lifeline, Beyond Blue, etc, all with counsellor support, we need more counselling and psychotherapy on the ground.

“Nurses are at the front line in many cases, therefore if more nurses were specifically trained in mental health issues they could more appropriately diagnose, treat, refer and support patients faster.”

HealthTimes - January 2020 | Page 19

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Page 20 | HealthTimes.com.au

Outpatients Services Manager Northeast Health Wangaratta

Are you ready to fly in your career?

Have a knack for thinking outside the box and the ability to hit the ground running?

The desire, skills and experience to lead your own team? Then this could be the

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Northeast Health Wangaratta (NHW) is a busy sub-regional integrated health service of 241 beds and is the major referral facility for the greater part of North East Victoria. NHW provides a wide range of acute specialist medical and surgical services including; an emergency department, critical care unit, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and cancer services. NHW is experiencing a period of expansion and will shortly commence a significant redevelopment program. They are currently seeking to recruit a new manager to this important role.

As the Manager of Outpatients Services, you are responsible for leading the delivery of comprehensive, safe and evidence based care to promote optimal health outcomes for all patients as well as fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between all departments at NHW and relevant external services.

To be eligible for this role you will have a Clinical or Allied Health background with significant experience in outpatients and knowledge of outpatient programs. You will also be able to demonstrate strong leadership and management skills as well as highly developed communication / interpersonal, negotiation and conflict resolution experience.

If you have the background and skills for these exciting roles then we would like to hear from you. For more information please visit our website at:

www.hrsa.com.au or contact Jo Lowday on: 0400 158 155. To make an application you will be required to submit: a Cover Letter incorporating a response to the Key Selection Criteria, your full CV and a completed HRS Application Form available on the HRS website. Applications can be made online or sent by email to:

hrsa@hrsa.com.au Applications close: 9 February, 2020

www.hrsa.com.au HealthTimes - January 2020 | Page 21

The BFHI: Does it support emotional wellbeing of mothers?

M

any Australian maternity hospitals are now accredited under the Baby-Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI), which encourages women to breastfeed after the birth of their baby. While the BFHI is a joint initiative of UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) to promote the health of newborns, does it adequately support the health of mothers?

What is the BFHI? The BFHI comprises ten steps that nurses and midwives follow, including ‘Do not provide breastfed newborns with any food or fluids other than breast milk, unless medically indicated,’ and, ‘Counsel mothers on the use and risks of feeding bottles, teats and pacifiers.’

Angela Jade experienced post-natal depression, which she believes was a result of the intense pressure to breastfeed following an emergency c-section birth.

“I was pushed and expected to breastfeed. I wasn’t allowed to choose to use formula to be able to leave the hospital.”

Women depend on medical professionals to provide advice, said Ms Jade, but aren’t always in control of their bodies after they give birth.

“We depend on the experts to tell us what we need to do.

Page 22 | HealthTimes.com.au

“For me, I felt like I had no other options, and I was alone and trapped in the hospital.

“My midwives were not going to let me go home until I had successfully breastfed my baby.

“I was beyond exhausted, in so much pain, and this continued for ten days.

“My health didn’t seem important to anyone.”

The decision to formula feed should have been an option, said Ms Jade.

“When I left the hospital, I felt ashamed and like a failure for not being able to continue feeding my baby through breast.”

Fortunately, Lexi Crouch didn’t have the same negative experience with formula feeding after the birth of her premature baby, which resulted in low milk supply.

“The midwives were amazing and supportive; using the phrase ‘fed is best.’

“It built my confidence to do what was best for my baby and my health.

“It’s what I remember most about my birth experience - the support of the midwives around formula feeding, where judgement was cast from others.”

Midwife Belinda Joyce said women should feel empowered to make an informed choice on how to feed and the BFHI is not always mother or family-friendly.

“I’ve met many mothers who have tried hard to breastfeed their first baby and then suffered

mental health problems and decided to start with formula with their second.

“I feel this is a good decision for them.

“Breastfeeding is not best for all mothers and babies for a variety of reasons.”

Breastfeeding alone should not be the goal, explained Ms Joyce, the emphasis should be on ensuring a healthy mother and baby.

“There is always formula available at a hospital that has a maternity unit. This is mainly used for medical reasons, and a paediatrician or doctor orders it.”

The formula should also be available to mothers who request it, said Ms Joyce, following an informative discussion on the impact on breastfeeding, such as a reduction in milk supply.

While breastfeeding should be encouraged due to a large body of evidence supporting its health benefits, it does not come naturally to many mothers and babies.

“In the early days and weeks, it requires learning and practice. Most mothers will have some challenges, and this is normal.

“Midwives, lactation consultants and child health nurses can support women with breastfeeding.”

When is breast not best?

• Previous breast surgery such as a reduction or augmentation • Medical conditions for mother or baby • Medication required for the mother is not safe for the baby • Low milk supply • Pain and damage to the nipples not improving with support • Some women feel that their breasts are purely sexual and therefore feel uncomfortable with breastfeeding • Attempts to breastfeed with a previous

baby were unsuccessful and caused emotional problems The BFHI is improving breastfeeding rates worldwide by implementing the ten steps which include: hospital policies that are supportive of breastfeeding as the norm, removing free formula samples, babies’ rooming-in’ with their mother and not using dummies and bottles.

“These are all supportive of breastfeeding but are they mother-friendly? It depends on how these ten steps are implemented as well as the culture of the staff.

“For a mother that has made the decision not to breastfeed, for whatever reason, these ‘rules’ can then make her feel judged and unsupported.

“I have cared for mothers who have confessed to me that they breastfed while in hospital and discharged more quickly so that they could start feeding their baby with formula.

“They did not feel safe doing this in the hospital due to judgment.

“This is not only unkind, but these mothers are then not educated on safe preparation and storage of infant formula, which is very important to their baby’s health.”

Feeding a baby is a personal decision, explained Ms Joyce, and it should be informed and free of judgement and pressure.

“Mothers already feel judged in so many areas of parenting. We need to empower women and families to set them up for success in this new parenting role.

“We want them to reach their full potential so that they can enjoy caring for their baby.

“By being respectful and empowering of mothers and families, they will come to us in future when they need it.

“Mother, baby and family-friendly are what we should be aspiring to. When mothers are well supported in their own informed parenting choices, they do so much better.”

HealthTimes - January 2020 | Page 23

BE A FOSTER CARER It’s Life Changing!

Could you open your home and heart to a child with complex needs?

We have an ongoing need for long term and short break specialist foster carers.

You can be married, de facto, single, a same-sex couple or retirees, with or without children of your own.

Experience working in the disability, health or education sectors is highly desirable, but not essential. Our foster carers receive extensive training, 24/7 support and a reimbursement to cover the cost of providing care.

Contact us to find out more.

P: 1300 592 227 E: carers@lwb.org.au BEAFOSTERCARER.COM.AU

Page 24 | HealthTimes.com.au

LWB13718

If you have a spare bedroom and time to give, we’d love to hear from you.

Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation

Positions Vacant

Maari Ma Health is an Aboriginal community controlled health service that has been providing a quality service to the Aboriginal people of far western New South Wales for more than 20 years and employs over 120 people within the region.

Positions in Broken Hill, Far West NSW

Paediatric Speech Pathologist

Child and Family Health Nurse

SEWB Child and Family Worker

SEWB Social Worker / Mental Health Nurse

Positions in Wilcannia, Far West NSW

Primary Health Registered Nurses

A great range of benefits including:

Generous salary packaging (which can increase your take home pay by several thousand dollars)

5 weeks annual leave plus additional paid leave over Christmas period and Accrued Days Off (12 per year)

Excellent career development opportunities

Relocation assistance APPLY ONLINE - please go to the “Working with us� page of our website. www.maarima.com.au/employment TO DISCUSS THE SPEECH PATHOLOGIST AND NURSING ROLES please contact Linda Lynott on (08) 8082 9777 or email Linda.Lynott@maarima.com.au TO DISCUSS THE SEWB ROLES please contact Marsha Files on (08) 8082 9777 or email Marsha.Files@maarima.com.au

Applications close Tuesday 11th February 2020

HealthTimes - January 2020| Page 25

Virtual reality may be the next frontier in remote mental health

I

n recent years, experts have focused on finding better ways to improve remotely delivered mental health care.

Now, virtual reality (VR) may pave the way for myriad new opportunities.

Using VR for remote therapy involves conducting “face-to-face” sessions in a virtual environment. This mode of treatment could make counselling more accessible to those living and working remotely.

My colleagues and I published a paper exploring VR’s potential in providing counselling for people in regional areas.

While face-toface therapy remains the optimal treatment method, we discovered VRbased therapy was more effective than Skype-based counselling.

Taking advantage of available tools We compared the experiences of 30 participants aged 21 to 63, who participated in both VR-based and Skype-based mock counselling sessions.

To deliver the VR sessions, the participants and trained therapists used the Oculus Go headmounted display and vTime social networking app. This provided them with a multisensory and interactive VR experience.

We used cartoon-like avatars to represent the two therapists, modelled closely to how

Page 26 | HealthTimes.com.au

they looked in real life.

We then compared participants’ responses in both settings to determine which type of therapy was more engaging, less stressful and preferred overall.

Results were compiled based on factors including a perceived level of “presence” (being there), “co-presence” (being together with the therapist), “social presence” (engaging with each other) and “realism”.

Virtual reality may be the next frontier in remote mental health care On almost all accounts, participants responded greatly in favour of VR-based therapy sessions. The use of VR generated high levels of engagement between client and therapist, without causing stress or feelings of sickness.

Participants reported their virtual experience was consistent with what they might expect from a face-to-face experience. This heightened sense of realism made the interaction more meaningful.

Using a VR avatar also encouraged most participants (22 out of 30) to more freely express themselves without fear of judgement. This was observed in both introverted and extroverted participants.

Our results suggest VR-based telehealth sessions could greatly reduce dropout rates for

clients and produce positive clinical outcomes.

Moving beyond standard practice In Australia, around 7 million people live in rural and remote areas. Many either can’t access face-to-face counselling, or have to travel large distances for it.

Remote workers such as mining and construction workers are at greater risk of mental health problems, usually requiring ongoing counselling or psychotherapy.

These individuals often work long hours in harsh climates, and some have to live far from family for extended periods. Accessing quality mental health care can be particularly difficult under such circumstances.

Currently, it’s common to use mobiles and video conferencing to deliver telehealth sessions remotely using programs such as Skype, Zoom and Facetime.

However, one of the biggest challenges with this is that clients are often unmotivated to commit to the treatment.

A phone session using audio without video doesn’t convey important non-verbal cues.

Even with video, the physical distance between a therapist and client can prevent clients from being fully engaged. In this context, engagement refers to the client’s commitment to willingly disclose their thoughts, feelings, problems and history.

This is essential for successful psychological treatment, as past research has found clients displaying lower levels of engagement are more likely to discontinue treatment.

A successful program delivering VR-based mental health services to remote areas would have a far-reaching impact.

Further testing So far in clinical psychology and psychiatry, the primary focus of VR has been its role in treating anxiety and stress-related disorders, specific phobias, panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Soon, VR may be the next major avenue for remote mental health care delivery.

Moving forward with this technology, one important consideration will be assessing an avatar’s capacity to act and move in a believable manner.

In virtual environments, the use of hyperrealistic avatars can generate cold and eerie feelings (known as Uncanny Valley (UV) effects).

Similarly, avatars that are too unrealistic and cartoon-like could negatively impact a client’s experience.

In the next phase of our research, we will conduct clinical interviews via both VR and face-to-face methods, and measure participants’ physiological responses. This will include monitoring their heart rate, skin conductance (how much they sweat) and reported experiences.

We hope further trials will bring us closer to providing a world-leading VR-based therapy option for Australians living and working remotely.

HealthTimes - January 2020 | Page 27

Keep your career moving Ready to enhance your skill set?

Charles Sturt University is the perfect place to achieve your career goals.

Expand your professional practice.

Want to become an expert in your existing field or study something completely new?

Wherever you want to take your career next, we’ve got an exciting range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses ready for you.

Choose your career area.

•

Occupational therapy

•

Food science and nutrition

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Paramedicine

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Health and rehabilitation

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Pharmacy

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Health services management

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Physiotherapy

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Medical ultrasound

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Podiatry

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Mental health

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Speech pathology

Flexible study options.

Depending on your course, you may be able to study online or on campus, full-time or part-time.

We appreciate your experience.

If you already have industry experience, you may be eligible for credit towards your qualification, which means you’ll get your degree faster.

Let’s keep your career moving.

Enhance your skill set in allied health with Charles Sturt.

Find out more csu.edu.au/allied-health CRICOS Provider Number for Charles Sturt University is 00005F. © Charles Sturt University, 2019. F6339.

Page 28 | HealthTimes.com.au

BETTY JOSEPHINE FYFFE RURAL HEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS

At the University of Newcastle we are committed to delivering quality health and medical education to those in rural and remote communities.

Through the generous bequest of Betty Fyffe, a range of scholarships are available for health students from rural and remote areas.

Betty was a local Tamworth girl who grew up in the surrounds of her father’s chemist shops. Betty had an absolute passion for nursing and leaves this legacy as her way of trying to improve the education of doctors and nurses in training with hope that some will return to country areas to practice their profession.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE NEWCASTLE.EDU.AU/FYFFE 2019 1044 I CRICOS Provider 00109J

HealthTimes - January 2020| Page 29

Great jobs for health professionals (you won’t find anywhere else)

Chronic Disease Coordinator NT. Chance for a Registered Nurse or Aboriginal Health Practitioner to support remote communities. 6 weeks annual leave, relocation assistance & more!

Maternity Unit Manager VIC. You will have direct operational responsibility for the provision of high quality and safe patient services through leadership, coaching, team building, change management and effective human and financial resource management.

Clinical Nurse GP Liaison SA. You will use the process of nursing to deliver direct and comprehensive mental health nursing care and individual case management to consumers.

Clinical Nurse (Acute Care Team) QLD. The Acute Care Team provides a 24/7 service that triages consumers and organises either inpatient, community or crisis intervention care based on their individual needs.

These and hundreds more great job opportunities at

HealthTimes.com.au Page 30 | HealthTimes.com.au

HealthTimes - January 2020 | Page 31

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