Top links
Aged care
Federal Budget must recognise key role of nurses for aged care reform - RCNA
Fair work will hurt aged care nurses
Going backwards under Gillard reforms
Nurses converge on Canberra
Providers should focus more on early intervention
Indigenous health
Closing Indigenous gap our greatest challenge, says Prime Minister
Help for expectant mums
Aboriginal health services get extra $9m
Men cook up a bid for better health
83 new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander outreach workers to be placed around the nation
What else happened this month?
Government to launch My Hospital website
Health Workforce Australia's first board appointed
Practice nurses essential to fighting chronic disease
Principals say every school should have a nurse
Many nurses attacked, abused: report
Portfolio boosts nurses' clinical nursing education
The big issue - Reforming mental health services in Australia
On 4 February 2010, Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon. Nicola Roxon, launched a mental health discussion paper developed by the National Advisory Council on Mental Health (NACMH) entitled A Mentally Healthy Future for all Australians. The purpose of the discussion paper is to draw attention to the mental health needs of Australians and recommend strategies and processes that will better respond to these.
Since Professor Patrick McGorry was named 2010 Australian of the Year, the issues surrounding mental health in Australia have received renewed attention in the media. This, coupled with the release of some important mental health documents released in 2009 and 2010, has served to throw the spotlight on mental health as an issue of national significance, and it has meant that progress in this often under-serviced area of health has gained much needed momentum.
The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (NHHRC) reported that mental health in Australia is one of the most under-resourced, poorly structured health areas and currently experiences one of the poorest health outcomes across the health system.
The NACMH’s discussion paper will help direct and inform the Government’s response to the recommendations for health reform from the NHHRC, Preventative Health Strategy and Primary Health Care Strategy. The paper will also help to inform the mental health recommendations proposed in the National Mental Health Policy and the Fourth National Mental Health Plan.
By carefully considering and actioning the proposals put forward in each of these reports, the Government aims to be able to provide effective and appropriately targeted mental health services and also, more broadly, to better integrate mental health services with other health services across the national health system.
Read more on this issue:
Read more on this topic:
A Mentally Healthy Future for all Australians - discussion paper
Mixed response to McGorry's appeal for more funding
New mental health rehab for combat veterans
Release of national advisory council discussion paper on mental health
Tragedy of humanity's unspoken epidemic
Help at hand for homeless Australians with a mental illness
Mental health funding to double
People with mental health problems need refuge, too
Waitress' suicide puts focus on media
Policy in nursing
RCNA's 2010 - 2011 Budget priorities
In January, RCNA prepared a pre-budget submission identifying priority areas for the Federal Budget 2010-2011 to support the nursing and midwifery professions. RCNA’s recommendations lobbied for improvements to support the national health reform agenda, with a focus on greater investment in primary health care and the urgent need for reform in the aged care sector. RCNA highlighted the following areas as in need of priority investment to ensure that the nursing and midwifery professions are considered in the ongoing reform processes.
The priorities are:
Primary health care – RCNA called for strategic investment in primary health care (PHC) nursing and midwifery roles, services and service infrastructure outside the general practice environment to be provided to enable national PHC reform.
Aged care – RCNA called for funding incentives to be provided to establish an increased number of specialised advanced practice nurse and nurse practitioner positions across aged care environments.
Rural health - RCNA called for funding to be allocated for a national rural nursing and midwifery work environments and lifestyles assessment to be undertaken in 2010.
Health research - RCNA called for funding to scope the establishment of a national research repository for the nursing and midwifery professions.
Safety and quality - RCNA called for funding to scope and develop a national practice framework for unlicensed health workers (or however titled).
Clinical leadership - RCNA called for resource allocation to provide structured, flexible and dedicated mentoring support mechanisms for graduates and early career nurses and midwives across the health system.
RCNA response to draft guide for peer review processes
RCNA recently provided feedback on the draft Review by Peers in professional and administrative processes (the draft guide) released by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care for consultation in December 2009. RCNA’s submission provided specific comments and suggested amendments informed by feedback received from members of the RCNA Advisory Council and the Faculty Advisory Committees. In particular, RCNA highlighted that with some modifications the draft guide could apply to a broader range of health care service settings, not only to the medical profession and the hospital setting. Overall, RCNA offered support for the development of the draft guide as a positive initiative and a valuable resource on professional peer review.
Opportunities
Scholarships available for community aged care nurses
The Australian Government funded Postgraduate Community Aged Care Nursing Scholarship Scheme administered by RCNA opens for applications 6 March 2010. Registered/division 1 nurses across Australia working in the community aged care sector who have undertaken professional development activities in 2009 and/or are planning to undertake activities in 2010 are encouraged to apply.
Applications close Friday 16 April 2010.
Click here for further information and to download the application form.
Rural Health Education Foundation programs available free on DVD
A selection of the Rural Health Education Foundation’s most popular educational television programs are available on DVD and, in some cases, audio CD, free of charge to Australian health professionals . The current range of free resources includes programs on diabetes, musculoskeletal health, stress, depression, continence and Indigenous health.
Click here for further information
National Palliative Care Strategy review
A review of the National Palliative Care Strategy is being conducted by Communio for the Department of Health and Ageing. As part of the review process, contributions are sought from any interested individuals or groups through participation in a survey (available now), and/or attendance at workshops to be held across Australia in March 2010.
Click here to participate in the online survey.
Click here to register for a workshop.
A report of Phase 1 activities, including the literature review and consultation with key informants to establish a Framework against which the current Strategy should be reviewed is also available.
Click here for further information.
New treatment guidelines for alcohol and drug problems (National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre)
Health professionals will be able to better treat people with alcohol abuse problems, as well as people with coexisting alcohol and other drug use and mental health conditions thanks to two sets of guidelines released today. The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at the University of NSW was funded by the Australian Government to produce up-to-date, evidence-based information on the management of co-morbid drug and alcohol and mental health problems. The guidelines include guiding principles for working with clients with co-morbid mental health problems and practical information for managing these problems, their treatment and appropriate referral processes. They draw upon the experience and knowledge of clinicians, researchers, consumers and carers.
Click here for further information.
10 out of 10 deadly health stories: nutrition and physical activity
The Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council has compiled stories from NSW Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services to demonstrate the success and potential of several Aboriginal community health initiatives. This booklet presents the stories of ten successful nutrition and physical activity programs from NSW Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs).
Click here for a copy of the booklet.
Call for feedback on training module for health professionals
The Australian Government, through Cancer Australia’s National Centre for Gynaecological Cancers has commissioned QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) to develop an interactive web-based training module for health professionals to build their knowledge and skills in the psychosexual care of women affected by gynaecological cancers.
Due for release in the second half of 2010 via the Cancer Learning website, the module will provide training to professionals across all levels of health care. The module will focus on understanding sexuality, the woman’s experience of the psychosexual effects of a gynaecological cancer, sexual function, assessment and advanced therapeutic interventions.
QUT is interested in receiving feedback from health professionals throughout the development process.
Click here for further information.
Orientation manual for practice nurses now available online
One of Australian General Practice Network’s orientation manuals, for practice nurses new to general practice, is now being made available online so rural nurses can also access the training. Launched at the National Network Nursing in General Practice Forum 2010 the online program (Orientation manual for nurses new to general practice) provides education on topics like legal issues, how Medicare and bulk billing work and highlights the key responsibilities of a practice nurse.
Click here for further information.
Draft educational framework document available for consultation
A draft educational framework document is now available online for broader public consultation via a link from the UTS Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health webpage. A wide range of participants, input and feedback are welcomed to the project. Comment and feedback are sought from all health care professionals who are involved in maternity care as well as from consumers.
Click here for further information.
International nursing news
International Year of the Nurse (2010 IYN) is in full swing!
Click here to read some examples of how nurses around the globe are contributing towards the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and promoting healthy communities and equitable heath services around the world.
RCNA would love to hear what you are doing to celebrate IYNurse, and how Australian nurses are contributing towards the UN’s MDGs. If you would like to publish your story with RCNA, please email the publications team.
International Council of Nurses (ICN)
International Nurses Day (IND) 2010 update:
The theme for IND 2010 is Delivering quality, serving communities: nurses leading chronic care.
Click here to find out more.
Click here for your copy of the IND kit 2010.
ICN calls for applications to attend the 2010 Global Nursing Leadership Institute
World Health Organisation
Demographic ageing, rapid unplanned urbanisation, and the globalisation of unhealthy lifestyles are fuelling the rise of heart disease, cancers, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and other noncommunicable diseases. While these trends are universal, the consequences are not evenly felt. Developing countries are hit the hardest and have the least capacity to cope.
Prevention is best option to tackle noncommunicable diseases - speech by Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organisation.
Swine flu to come around again |
Dr Stephanie Fox-Young FRCNA
