The Health Scoop - Issue 3: Aged Care by The Nursing Post

theHealthScoop The Career and Education Magazine for Health Professionals

The Romantic Hearts Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health

Boosting allied health workers in rural aged care

18 February 2013

- ISSUE 3

Aged Care

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Compatible Care Nursing Agency specialise in temporary placement and recruitment of nurses and healthcare professionals. The high standard of care which our carefully selected staff possess is what sets us apart in the healthcare employment sector.

We have a focus on: • Temporary Aged Care Placement • Private Home Care • Registered Nurses • Enrolled Nurses • Med Competent Care Staff Whether you are a Job Seeker looking for a superior nursing recruitment agency or an Employer looking for a fresh, glowing change to healthcare employment and staffing in Western Australia, please feel free to email us at care@compatiblecare.com.au or call us on 1300 NURSE1 The Aged care industry has a workforce that at times is extremely transient; we would like to be there to assist you with quality, competent and committed staff during these times of need. We are committed to providing you with a warm, personal and professional service you can expect from Compatible Care Nursing Agency. We are committed to excellence.

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Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note... Hi Readers, We are delighted to welcome you to Issue 3 of The Health Scoop magazine featuring Aged Care. This issue, we feature Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH) and two allied health recipients of the SARRAH scholarship. The scholarship program supports allied health professionals in furthering their qualifications to continue working in rural and remote settings, providing ongoing benefits to aged care patients in the communities they serve. Applications for Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship and Support Scheme (NAHSSS) postgraduate scholarships open in August for study in 2014. For further information, turn to pg.16. We also feature a new national cancer research network which was launched on 4 February 2013. The National Indigenous Cancer Network (NICaN) launched at Cancer Council Australia, encourages and supports collaboration in Indigenous cancer research and the delivery of services to Indigenous people with cancer, including carers and families. The recent launch represents a huge step forward towards closing the gap and improving health services for Indigenous people with cancer. Our next issue will arrive on Monday 4 March featuring Education & Research. Until then, take care.

Naomi Byrne Editor

Next Issue: Education & Research

ABN: 28 105 044 282 PO BOX 6213, East Perth, WA, 6892 Ph: +(618) 9325 3917 | Fax: +(618) 9325 4037 E: editor@healthscoop.com.au W: www.healthscoop.com.au Next Publication Details: Issue 4: 4 March 2013 Content Deadline: 18 February 2013 Artwork Deadline: 25 February 2013 Printed by Daniels Printing Craftsmen Editor and Graphic Designer Naomi Byrne Sales and Marketing Manager Michael Kuhnert

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Why not start the year with a new career! We have ongoing recruitment needs for Occ Health Nurses, ICU/CCU Nurses, Midwives, Theatre & Recovery Nurses, Aged Care Nurses and Managers, Mental Health Nurses, Specialist Nurses, Medical and Surgical Nurses, ED Nurses, Speech Therapists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Psychologists, and Podiatrists. Send us your resume today or for career/market advice and information on living and working in Western Australia, contact our specialist consultants today! Ph: (08) 9218 1431 Email: healthinternal@tr7.com.au Or visit us online at www.tr7.com.au 4

Courses and Conferences Events 28

Up-coming Courses and Conferences

Technology Enhanced Learning in Health Conference

ACN CPD Courses across Australia

Delivering Consumer Directed Aged Care

Oceania University of Medicine

Contents... Features 6 Curtin University

$100K patient simulators donated to Perth hospital

8 Australian Physiotherapy Association

One of the great unsung heroes of physiotherapy

Our Advertisers

34 Healthy Recipes Inside Cvr

Featuring Emily Tan of Fuss Free Cooking

Compatible Care

Quick & Easy Finance

Mediserve Nursing Agency

TR7 Health

Northern Territory Government

Aged Care 10

Celebrating the Spark of Life Connection An initiative as part of Global Spark of Life Month

CQ Nurse

Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council

Personal Edge Consulting

Aged & Community Services Australia

Mediserve Nursing Agency

The Court, Perth

Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health

Centre for Health Communication University of Technology Sydney

Continental Travel Nurse

Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council

UK Pension Transfers Australia

Inside Bck Back Cvr

Dialysis Australia

Mediserve Nursing Agency Supporting nurses and carers for nearly 15 years Counting the rewards in Aged Care

Boosting allied health workers in rural aged care

Indigenous Health 18

Menzies School of Health Research

New network to push Indigenous cancer into the spotlight

Smart Salary 5

Curtin University

$100K patient simulators donated to Perth hospital resuscitation cot were donated to KEMH’s Department of Nursing and Midwifery Education and Research (DNAMER) by the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Curtin in recognition of the midwifery education partnership between the two organisations. Ms Janice Butt, Associate Director of Midwifery at Curtin and KEMH Coordinator of Midwifery Education, said SimMom and SimNewB are the most advanced patient simulators the hospital has had to date and will significantly improve training for students, midwives, nurses and doctors. “With simulated patients we are able to design a wide range of emergency scenarios for training our staff that are completely realistic, with sim patients being programed to improve or deteriorate in response to the management that staff implement,” Ms Butt said.

Janice Butt, Associate Director of Midwifery and Dr Pam Roberts, Deputy Head of School of Nursing and Midwifery with SimNewB. Curtin University recently donated two patient simulators valued at $100,000 to King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) to help train its staff in obstetric and neonatal emergencies. SimMom and SimNewB are life-like patient simulations of a pregnant woman and newborn baby designed to provide hospital staff with education and training opportunities that are as close to real life as possible. The two interactive patient simulators and a neonatal 6

“They will provide us with an excellent opportunity to train our staff in multidisciplinary teams including midwives, nurses, obstetricians, anaesthetists, and paediatricians, recreating the team that would be assembled during an actual emergency.” From a computer located behind a two-way mirror, trainers can program SimMom to experience a number of birth complications including haemorrhage, shoulder dystocia and forceps delivery and make realistic pain noises throughout the simulated birth. SimNewB can cry, experience breathing difficulties and have a seizure according to an actual clinical situation. The two simulated patients are used in a specially designed demonstration room created to mimic a birth room and forms a part of the newly built DNAMER education and research facility at KEMH.

Registered and Enrolled Nurse Positions Alice Springs Hospital Emergency Department Our Emergency Department has expanded, and we’d like you to join our team. The state of the art new ED will cater for over 42,000 presentations per annum, offering broad clinical experience and opportunities. We are at the forefront of Indigenous health, where you will have the opportunity to experience a rich culture alongside our majestic landscape. Alice Springs is a region of vibrant colour, and is the gateway to some of Australia’s most famous natural wonders, has modern amenities, great education and training facilities. The Alice Springs Emergency Department is like no other in Australia – if you enjoy working in a dynamic and ‘can-do’ environment, enrich your professional career by joining our team. Short term, long term and permanent (ongoing) contracts are available. Many benefits are available, including salary packaging. For further information, phone Nursing Recruitment on (08) 8951 7984, or email ASHNURSERecruitment.THS@nt.gov.au Phone Jeanette Berthelsen (CNM) on (08) 8951 7076, or email jeanette.berthelsen@nt.gov.au for information regarding working in the new Emergency Department.

www.nt.gov.au/health 7

Australian Physiotherapy Association

Pictured left to right: APA Honoured Member Cathy Nall, Past National President of the APA Pat Maher, and APA Honoured Member Prue Galley.

Australian Physiotherapy Association One of the great unsung heroes of physiotherapy These days it would be hard for most physiotherapists to imagine a working environment in which they deferred to medical practitioners on almost all clinical decisions and relied solely on a doctor’s referral for new patients. This was the reality for physiotherapists only a few decades ago; the profession was bound by a self-regulated ethic that prohibited physiotherapists from treating patients except under medical direction. Under these restrictions physiotherapists were regarded as ‘secondary contact’ healthcare professionals, excluded from diagnosis and prescription responsibilities, and allowed to operate only under the supervision and management of physicians.

Today physiotherapists have gained independent ‘first contact’ practitioner status, thanks to pioneering Australian physiotherapists such as Australian Physiotherapy Association Honoured member Prue Galley. During the 1970s, Ms Galley was at the forefront of the fight for autonomy that led to physiotherapists being able to practise independently. Ms Galley started her career in physiotherapy in 1962, practising in both Australia and the UK. Frustrated with the lack of autonomy and self-reliance in the physiotherapy sphere, Ms Galley developed and presented the case that the existing system of medical referral to the profession must change. She argued that the profession should

“I did love the work that we did but I could see the potential for so much more,” Ms Galley said. “It was time for change. In the early days, there was a need for very tight regulations; but education had improved the situation a great deal and autonomous, first-contact physiotherapy was no longer something to fear.” “When you’ve been trained as a critical thinker, and you have studied the science of your profession, [direct medical supervision] is extremely stultifying. And yet I knew there was potential for the profession to grow and do a lot of work in the preventive field where, frankly, you didn’t need to have a medical referral.” Her seminal papers: Ethical principles and patient referral (1975), Patient referral and the physiotherapist (1976), and Physiotherapists as first-contact practitioners (1977) heralded the world first advance into first-contact practice for Australian physiotherapists. Her visionary model of “first contact practice” had a major effect. In 1976 the Australian Physiotherapy Association repealed its ethical principle that physiotherapists could only treat patients after referral from a medical or dental practitioner. From there, Australian physiotherapists forged a path to independence that changed the course of the profession at home and overseas. The WCPT honoured Ms Galley with an International Service Award in 2011, describing her as “one of the great unsung heroes of physical therapy.” “Her influence on the profession has been profound… Prue Galley has been wise and courageous in charting a future for our profession, and demonstrated compassion and dedication throughout her professional and personal life.”

“

Her influence on the profession has been profound…Prue Galley has been wise and courageous in charting a future for our profession, and demonstrated compassion and dedication throughout her professional and personal life.

“

accept its moral responsibilities and become independent in providing services to the public.

contact practice was not just driven by me; it was driven by many people at home,’ Ms Galley said. In honouring Ms Galley, the UK Chartered Society of Physiotherapy described her as an inspirational pioneer in the profession. The Society said her papers on patient self-referral have ensured her name is recognised by physiotherapists worldwide, and provided the theoretical and philosophical arguments on which the Society introduced self-referral. After receiving the award, Ms Galley told the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy that her fight for autonomy in physiotherapy was always driven by patient needs. ‘I always come back, in any decision about things like this, to the patient.’ Ms Galley explained. ‘What is going to be effective and helpful to the patient? There’s nothing worse as a patient than being pushed around from pillar to post. If a physiotherapist has the opportunity to use the appropriate tests, modalities and treatments, then they are going to be more useful to the patient.’

Physiotherapists in the UK adopted the self-referral ethic in 1978. Late last year Ms Galley received an Honorary Fellowship of the UK Chartered Society of Physiotherapy for her work in developing this principle. Ms Galley described the Honorary Fellowship as a wonderful surprise. ‘It’s very, very humbling, and I feel that it also reflects my fellow Australian colleagues. This whole issue of first9

Aged Care

Celebrating the Spark of Life Connection An initiative as part of Global Spark of Life Month

Life, which funds specialised education on this ground-breaking approach. Imagine a new way of understanding dementia that awakens us all to the beauty and wisdom of people with dementia and acknowledges their potential as active contributors within our communities. This new paradigm brings insight that people with dementia can improve and live life to the fullest potential in a way that up until now has not been thought possible. This pioneering approach is called Spark of Life. It draws on new research in science such as quantum physics and epigenetics to explain how it is possible for people with dementia to improve. The key to Spark of Life lies in a heartto-heart connection that enables the person with dementia to reconnect with their spark â&#x20AC;&#x201C; their inner driving force that restores hope, joy and zest for life. In 2009, Spark of Life received an international award for Excellence in Ageing Services from the International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (IAHSA) representing 30 countries for its optimistic whole systems approach to dementia care and dementia March 2013 marks the inaugural Global Spark of Life Month, which is being celebrated both here in Australia and internationally. The month of March is about sharing information, inspirational stories and practical ideas of what the Spark of Life Approach to dementia care can do. It is also about fundraising for the Dementia Foundation for Spark of 10

rehabilitation. Spark of Life is implemented by Spark of Life Master Practitioners who are certified to educate everyone in their specific area of dementia care. It is through their deep, thorough and ongoing education that profound culture transformation can take place.

To be able to bring Spark of Life to as many people as possible there is an urgent need for more Master Practitioners. The purpose of the Dementia Foundation for Spark of Life is to raise funds for scholarships for Master Practitioners who undertake an intensive 3-week international course, which is the only course that enables a person to educate in the Spark of Life Approach. For more details about Master Practitioners and the Spark of Life International Master Course please visit www.dementiacareaustralia.com The Dementia Foundation for Spark of Life The Dementia Foundation for Spark of Life is a registered Australian Health Promotion Charity. The purpose of the foundation is to raise and provide funds to enable people, regardless of their financial situation, to have access to education on Spark of Life. The foundation engages in a variety of fundraising activities that culminate in the Global Spark of Life Month, held each year in March. This year the major fundraising campaign is promoting the Spark of Life Connection. The Spark of Life Connection Campaign The Spark of Life Connection is based on love and respect between two human beings and is felt in the heart of those receiving this connection. The key to the Spark of Life Connection lies in the quality of the energy that comes from the person making the connection. This is the energy of compassion, support and understanding. To see this in action, you can watch an inspiring video on our home page on www.dementiafoundation.org.au

badge who connect with kindness and compassion. Even people who have moderate or moderate to advanced dementia can respond positively when given this opportunity. These badges are being sold as a fundraising initiative through the Dementia Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website. Instead of a pin or a broach for decoration these Connection Badges can be worn all year helping our hospitals, residential care facilities and day centres become more memory friendly for people with dementia. On Tuesday 26 March the campaign will culminate in the Global Spark of Life Connection Day where the Foundation invites everyone to wear their personalised Connection Badge. This day will be a wonderful opportunity to create conversation about Spark of Life and its heart to heart connection that transforms lives of people with dementia and their families. It is the vision of the Dementia Foundation for Spark of Life that every aged care facility, day centre, health centre, hospital or any other area where a person with dementia visits or lives will adopt the use of these Connection Badges so that all people can experience the joy of connecting.

For more information about the Spark of Life Approach, or to order your own personalised Spark of Life Connection Badge simply visit: www.dementiafoundation.org.au

A specially produced Spark of Life Connection Badge has been created as a practical symbol for the campaign. The Connection Badge is a personalised name badge which does not replace official identification badges but needs to be worn in addition. The Connection Badges are produced to proven specifications that enable the person with dementia to spontaneously address anyone wearing this particular 11

Aged Care

Professional Friendly Nursing- just some of the Staff at Mediserve Nursing Agency.

Mediserve Nursing Agency Supporting nurses and carers for nearly 15 years Mediserve Nursing Agency was formed in 1998 by Mr Miles Cue (RN) and Dr Neelesh Bhasin to provide appropriately skilled and experienced nurses and carers to health care facilities throughout Australia. Our aim then and now still continues to be on providing the highest level of service to our clients, nurses and carers who are our priority. Enrolled nurse, Abner Caleon has been with Mediserve Nursing Agency for 5 years. Mediserve first caught his attention after reading an article about the agency in a local community newspaper. Abner currently works at a number of Perth hospitals mostly in the Geriatric Rehab Unit. 12

“Nursing is a rewarding experience and in Aged Care, I find working with the elderly enlightening,” says Abner. He is also currently completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and is in his final semester of study to become a registered nurse. “There are many challenging areas of Nursing that require further education and training. After my study, I will continue to work with Mediserve in the area of Aged Care; however, I will ask to be assigned to Mental Health Aged Care facilities like Banksia Ward Armadale Hospital where I previously attended my practicum placement. “I’m looking forward to studying further about Mental

Health Nursing within Aged Care.” In commenting on his time with Mediserve Nursing Agency, Abner says, “I express my gratitute to Mediserve. They have helped me a lot since I joined up in 2008. They respect my preference of work like areas and hospitals which I asked them to send me. They understand my limitations and schedules as a learning nursing student and the distance of my home to the different locations within the Metropolitan Area Health Service.” In return, Mediserve is forever thankful to their clients, nurses and carers. “Without the professionalism and regular referral of our nurses and carers, and the support of the hospital managers and directors, Mediserve would not be where it is today with offices in Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra,” says Mr Cue, Director of Mediserve. The Mediserve team strives to deliver the highest level of service which has always been integral to the agency. For many years now, Mediserve has been supporting a number of charities and orphanages as well as providing Nurse Scholarships (such as the Curtin University - Mediserve Indigenous Training Scholarship), and professional development opportunities.

Perth City Consultant, Hassan Albashri conducting an interview.

Melbourne Office P: (03) 9629 3780, E: melbourne@mediserve.com. au Perth Office P: (08) 9325 1332, E: admin@mediserve.com.au Sydney Office P: (02) 9290 2700, E: sydney@mediserve.com.au Country/Remote Office P: 1300 305 594, E: nurses@mediserve.com.au

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Darwin P: (08) 8981 2446, E: darwin@mediserve.com.au 13

Aged Care

Aged & Community Services Australia Counting the rewards in Aged Care Aged & Community Services Australia, Adj. Prof. John G Kelly

Social Assistance has been “the star performer in terms of employment growth over the past five years” with growth of 270,500 jobs. This demand has been largely driven by demographic factors with the report saying “this industry is largely immune to the economic circumstances that can weigh heavily on other industries”. Health Care and Social Assistance includes registered nurses, aged and disability workers, enrolled nurses, nursing support and personal care workers, receptionists, GPs, kitchen hands and commercial cleaners. Having an adequately trained and qualified workforce is a constant source of concern for aged care providers. Much is made of the disparity in pay rates between nurses in public hospitals and in aged care and the underresourcing of the sector.

Aged care is a growth industry in Australia as the population increases in size and in years. It employs 2.7 per cent of the Australian workforce and if the ratio of aged care workers to the size of the population aged 70 and over remains the same, 827,100 workers will be needed by 2050 and they will make up 4.9 per cent of the workforce. It is expected that by 2020, the number of residential aged care staff will need to increase by about 14 per cent, to 91,621 full time equivalent. According to the Australian Government report Aussie Jobs, Looking Back, Looking Forward, Health Care and 14

Wage rises lead to overall cost of care increases, but it is not always possible for providers to secure extra funding from consumers so governments must increase funding. In difficult economic times and many demands on the public purse, there is a constant push-pull at play between the providers, unions and the government. A legacy of low wages means aged care is not as attractive as other service industries, particularly for young workers. On a more positive note, there are opportunities in aged care. Regional locations have shortages in workforce and are seeking to attract experienced and appropriately trained workers. This does create an opening for someone willing to move for work or to undergo training. In many smaller towns throughout rural, regional and remote Australia, the aged care services are often the biggest employer in town. They can also provide training and permanent or casual work.

There is a wages gap for nurses and this has led to the Australian Nursing Federation calling for an injection of almost $500 million to bring the wages to parity and attract an extra 20,000 nursing staff. The Strategic Workforce Advisory Group was established to advise the Federal Government on the Aged Care Workforce and much work has been done to bring wages in the aged care sector more into line with the public hospital system. As with all the caring professions, those who are drawn to working in aged care are often there for reasons other than money. There is an immense amount of job satisfaction in helping people who need it, to provide comfort and assistance to someone who is not able to meet all their needs. Older members of the population have experiences that can widen the eyes of young people as they recall their earlier lives. The more frail members of the older population and those with chronic disease and conditions such as dementia have needs that require specialist attention. The common denominator when it comes to aged care is the amount of care and attention that staff give to the residents. They will tell tales of sitting with residents through cyclones to make sure they are safe, preparing birthday celebrations and outings. There is a nursing home in a small central Queensland town where the director takes her cat to work and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s become the centre of attention. The annual retirement rate across the aged care workforce is expected to be 2.7 per cent per annum, compared with the average retirement rate of 2.1 per cent per annum across all sectors. This sector also has a high turnover rate. In residential aged care it is one third higher than for the health care and social assistance sector. While this creates pressure on providers to attract, train and retain a sufficient aged care workforce, from a workerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s point of view, it is a buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market.

For more information about Aged & Community Services Australia, please visit: http://www.agedcare.org.au

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Aged Care

Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health Boosting allied health workers in rural aged care some of the most in-demand health services in aged care. One way that SARRAH addresses this imbalance is by administering the allied health stream of a scholarship program funded by the Department of Health and Ageing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship and Support Scheme (NAHSSS). For the 2013 academic year, SARRAH awarded 870 scholarships to allied health professionals and students across Australia, with preference given to those from rural and remote settings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including many who specialise in aged care.

Melissa Egan, Occupational Therapist from Wyong, NSW.

Below are examples of allied health professionals who have benefited from a SARRAH scholarship to further their qualifications to allow them to continue working in rural and remote settings, providing ongoing benefits to aged care patients in the communities they serve.

Melissa Egan - Occupational Therapist, Central Coast, NSW

Enhancing aged care in rural Australia is a key focus area for Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH).

Melissa is studying for a Masters of Clinical Rehabilitation to enhance her qualifications as an occupational therapist for the Specialist Mental Health Service for Older People on the Central Coast of New South Wales.

The shortage of allied health workers is especially crucial in remote and rural settings, where residents face a shortage of many professions including podiatrists, dietitians, physiotherapists and occupational therapists -

Since starting at this inpatient unit in 2009, Melissa has seen a sharp increase in the number of patients admitted with functional decline. She hopes to use her higher qualifications to improve care of patients and reduce their

length of stay. “Currently, patients admitted to the inpatient unit who require rehabilitation before being discharged have to have their mental health treated before they can be transferred to the rehab unit,” she said. “This process increases the length of stay for patients and also blocks beds unnecessarily. “In completing the masters program, I would be able to provide the rehabilitation based interventions whilst the patient was still in the mental health unit, therefore reducing the patient’s length of stay.”

Camey Demmitt - Dietitian, Cairns, Qld Camey is studying towards a Master of Gerontology degree to further her specialty in gerontology nutrition. She currently works at the Cairns Base Hospital, but has previously worked in a variety of settings such as aged care facilities, assisted living, home health care and the food service industry. Camey has experience in designing, implementing and managing safe and effective nutrition strategies to promote quality of life and health for older adults.

professionals with a solid understanding of the older person and their unique needs are desperately needed in all areas of Australia, but even more so in the underserved rural and regional areas.”

Applications for Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship and Support Scheme (NAHSSS) postgraduate scholarships open in August for study in 2014. All allied health professionals can also apply for support to undertake Continuing Professional Development activities in the second half of 2013. Applications open in April. For further information about SARRAH, the support they can offer and their scholarship program, please visit www.sarrah.org.au

“Further study in the field of gerontology will enhance my abilities to help promote the livelihood, health and wellbeing of older persons,” she said. “It’s estimated that the number of Australians aged between 65 and 84 will double over the next 40 years. Because there will be more Australians living longer, there will also be an increase in the incidence of chronic disease. Specially trained practitioners who understand the unique issues of older adults are increasingly in demand.” She is also eager to help fill the shortage of allied health professionals working in aged care in regional and rural Australia. “There is a higher proportion of Australia’s elderly population living in rural and remote areas and it’s been demonstrated that elderly persons living in rural and remote regions are generally less healthy than their metropolitan counterparts. Therefore, allied health 17

Indigenous Health

Menzies School of Health Research’s Senior Science researcher Gail Garvey is confident a new national cancer research network will help improve quality of life and survival rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer patients.

Menzies School of Health Research New network to push Indigenous cancer into the spotlight A new national cancer research network launched on World Cancer Day (Monday 4 February) is aimed at improving quality of life and survival rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer patients in Australia.

Senior cancer researcher Associate Professor Gail Garvey of the Menzies School of Health Research said the launch, fittingly coinciding with World Cancer Day, represents a huge step forward towards closing the gap on Indigenous cancer mortality rates.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“Until now cancer has been a low priority on the Indigenous health agenda, despite the disease being the second leading cause of death among Indigenous people and accounting for a greater number of deaths each year than diabetes and kidney disease.

The National Indigenous Cancer Network (NICaN) was launched at Cancer Council Australia in Sydney on 4 February; it encourages and supports collaboration in Indigenous cancer research and the delivery of services to Indigenous people with cancer, including carers and families. 18

“We know that Indigenous people with cancer have more advanced disease when diagnosed, are less likely to receive treatment, and are more likely to die from their

cancers than other Australians. There is a clear need to improve health services for people with cancer by utilising the information we do have and by identifying knowledge gaps. “NICaN is about making sure that what’s known about cancer in Indigenous Australians is available for use by people with cancer, their families, practitioners, policy makers and researchers,” Assoc Prof Garvey said. Professor Ian Olver, CEO, Cancer Council Australia said NICaN will bring together key researchers, practitioners, and consumer advocacy groups from across Australia. “NICaN will actively promote the conversion of research knowledge into Australian health policy and practices, as well as identify areas where more research is needed.”

national policies and strategies that address cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples, programs and projects, a comprehensive depository of publications and organisations, conference presentations, and workforce and training opportunities. NICaN is a partnership between Menzies School of Health Research, the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, the Lowitja Institute, Cancer Council Australia and Indigenous audiences, consumers, researchers and health professionals from a broad range of disciplines, service providers, private sector and government organisations. For more background read, please visit: www.menzies.edu.au/node/54990 For more information, please visit: http://www.cancerinfonet.org.au

Indigenous breast cancer survivor Adelaide Saylor joined the launch to raise awareness about NICaN and the 2013 World Cancer Day theme: ‘dispelling damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer’. Mrs Saylor, who was born in Babinda, North Queensland, and lives in Brisbane, said this year’s theme was particularly relevant given the lack of open discussion and general awareness about cancer in many Indigenous communities. “I had breast cancer two years ago and the only reason I got checked was because my husband forced me to go to an appointment. I was lucky because the tumor was only the size of a grain of rice and I recovered after chemotherapy. “I didn’t know much about cancer because it was never spoken about with our mob even though four of my aunties were diagnosed with cancer – two with bowel cancer; one with cervical cancer; and one with breast cancer. Two of my aunties later died. That forced my other aunties to act and now they’re living healthy normal lives.

Adelaide Saylor during chemotherapy with her son Lliam-jhai Wilder (aged 14) at home in Brisbane in 2011. Adelaide said her family is her rock.

“I think NICaN is a wonderful initiative because it will raise awareness amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and that is desperately needed,” said Mrs Saylor. Along with NICaN network meetings and roundtables, NICaN’s resources (www.cancerinfonet.org.au) include plain language information about cancer, state and 19

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Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council (KAMSC) is a well-established regional Aboriginal community controlled health service, founded in 1986, which provides centralised advocacy and resource support for 6 independent member services, as well as providing direct clinical services in a further 6 remote Aboriginal communities across the region. KAMSC has successfully delivered high-quality, accessible comprehensive primary health care services over its 26 years of operation and has provided innovation and national leadership in areas such as health information management and evidence based best practice in primary health care.

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For further information and to apply for these opportunities, please visit www.kamsc.org.au 27

Up-coming Courses and Conferences New South Wales

Queensland

2nd Annual Aged Care Summit

Emotional Resilience Training for Nurses

Luna Park, Sydney 18 - 19 March 2013 www.acevents.com.au/agedcare

Banyo Library, 284 St Vincent’s Rd, Banyo 22 February 2013, 8.30am - 4.30pm dean@personaledge.com.au

The second annual ‘Aged Care Summit’ has clearly established itself as Australasia’s leading event for the aged care industry bringing together aged care investors, developers, operators, and providers.

Investment: Just $229

The upcoming 2013 forum features an outstanding speaker faculty including senior living industry leaders, aged care operators and CEO’s across Australia and New Zealand. This is an opportunity for you to gain invaluable insight into strategy and emerging trends in the aged care sector by hearing directly from the industry’s leading players. Learn about the impact of industry reform in aged care. Gain insights into the new opportunities for the integration of aged care services into retirement villages. This unique event brings together senior level industry leaders to strategize solutions and innovations in aged care. It’s a place where expertise is showcased, solutions are found and learning is done.

Critical Care Nursing Course Sydney & Melbourne Sydney: Thurs evenings 9 May - 11 July 2013 www.criticalcare.edu.au Critical Care Education Services have been dedicated to providing quality education and professional development for health professionals for over 22 years.

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This breakthrough program empowers nurses and helps you improve your work and personal life. In the course of a day, we look at your existing internal skills and resources and take you on a step-by-step guided journey through specific activities and processes that build resilience, develop confidence and increase self-esteem. Rave review: “I was lucky enough to have been in Dean King’s course. His willingness to give of his time went above and beyond what was required. His professionalism, sincerity, knowledge and support is exceptional. Thanks for helping me out on this part of my professional development and I look forward to working with you again.”- Tony This course has been designed by nurses for nurses. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to develop yourself. To find out more or to reserve your place call Dean at: 0401 444 093 or email dean@personaledge.com.au

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South Australia

To view the Critical Care Education Services 2013 Course Calendar, visit our Courses & Conferences listing on our website at www.healthscoop.com.au and download the PDF available.

Show your commitment to a bright future for rural and remote communities in Australia by attending the 12th National Rural Health Conference in Adelaide next year. With 45 concurrent

12th National Rural Health Conference Adelaide Convention Centre, SA 7 - 10 April 2013 www.nrha.org.au/12nrhc

sessions and more than a dozen keynotes on selected issues, the Conference will provide a timely analysis of where the health and wellbeing of rural Australia stands. Every second year the National Rural Health Conference brings together consumers and a range of professionals to check progress and hear reports from across rural and remote areas. It is an opportunity for the voice of the rural and remote health sector to be heard in mainstream media outlets and the corridors of power at federal, state and territory level. The program is being regularly updated and will provide plenty of interest for consumers, nurses, health service managers and researchers, doctors and podiatrists, among others. It will also bring together people from other sectors whose work relates to the social and economic determinants of health.

Victoria

ICN 25th Quadrennial Congress Equity and Access to Health Care Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne 18 - 23 May 2013 www.icn2013.ch Registration Now Open! Early registration deadline is 14 February 2013 The ICN 25th Quadrennial Congress will bring together evidence, experience and innovations highlighting the critical importance of equity and access to health care for communities and individuals, demonstrating how nurses are key to ensuring equal access and quality of health care for all. The Congress will provide a global platform for the dissemination of nursing knowledge and leadership across specialities, cultures and countries via the ICN scientific programme, featuring keynote and main session invited speakers as well as a wide range of concurrent sessions including dynamic papers accepted through our highly competitive abstract selection process.

Technology Enhanced Learning in Health The Rydges, Melbourne 30 April - 1 May 2013 www.techlearninghealth.com The introduction of technology offers highly attractive and robust teaching and assessment opportunities in the digital era. AHPRA in late 2012 released updated accreditation standards which included ‘soft skills’ around leadership and communication in practice that technology is able to assist with. How can technology encourage learning to ensure authentic learning? How can digital learning mitigate risks associated with lack of core competencies? The Technology Enhanced Learning in Health conference addresses the challenges and opportunities for how health education can benefit with the integration of technology. You will learn how to: • Develop graduate confidence and competence in ‘soft skills’ during their training • Promote interdisciplinary collaboration at strategic as well as practice level with technology • Develop e-learning and assessment frameworks that comply with accreditation and regulatory bodies.

Health Scoop Readers! Quote CC*HS when registering for this conference and receive a $250 discount!

Delivering Consumer Directed Aged Care Royce Hotel, Melbourne 21 - 22 May 2013 www.consumeragedcare.com What does the future of aged care look like? This conference will equip you with strategies to successfully implement consumer directed care (CDC) models in your organisation. From July 2015 all packages, including pre-existing packages will be consumer directed. Given this rapid shift, it is vital to have the right resources and strategies in place for quality, cost effective service delivery in competitive times. This conference will address how to: • Deliver responsive and varied care • Remain competitive via effective marketing and communication • Implement quality monitoring systems to ensure quality service delivery • Develop effective client quoting and financial reporting systems “Consumer Directed Care delivers services that allow consumers and their carers to have greater control over their own lives” The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, 2012. 29

The Health Scoop subscribers quote CC*HS when registering to SAVE $250!

Technology Enhanced

Learning in Health Redesigning teaching & assessment in the digital era

30th April & 1st May 2013, rydges Melbourne

Key speakers

Benefits of attending: Benchmark standards for technology in healthcare education

Associate Professor Jennifer Weller Head of Centre for Medical and Health Sciences Education

Christy Pirone Principal Consultant Safety & Quality

University of AUcklAnd, nZ

depArtMent of heAlth & Ageing, soUth AUstrAliA

Explore the benefits to supplementing clinical training hours with simulations Contribute toward a growing evidence base for the use of technology

Professor Tracy Levett-Jones Deputy Head of School Teaching and Learning

Dr Stuart Marshall Specialist Anaesthetist and Head of Simulation Research

the University of newcAstle

MonAsh siMUlAtion And MonAsh University

Pre, Mid & Post Conference Workshops Workshop A

Workshop B

Workshop C

How to effectively debrief

Building the evidence base

Implementing an online learning program

Researched by

Endorsed by