Weekly Update

Dear CRANAplus members,

Welcome to Friday Flyer. Everyone is hard at work on the usual day to day business plus conference plans and the next issue of the CRANAplus Magazine, which should be in your mail box by mid-March. Next week we'll be announcing the theme for the 2010 conference and releasing the call for abstracts.

Do you have your copy of the recently released 2nd edition of the CRANAplus Clinical Procedures Manual? The CPM is selling well and Amy is waiting to process your order and get it out to you. It’s a ‘must have’ reference tool for every bookshelf.

Helen our membership officer has been busy as well and today processed her 100th membership for the month! Don't forget that there are several options available when you join or renew your membership. We have single and multiple year memberships, direct debit, payroll deduction and Paypal options, but if you prefer the personal touch, give Helen a call and she is more than happy to process your application. Membership is tax deductable and offers discounts on our courses and selected CRANAplus products. Go to the website for more details.

The CRANAplus board of directors is meeting this week in Adelaide. It's very exciting to host them in the Adelaide office for the first time.

Until next week,

Anne-Marie Borchers
Businesss Manager

back to top

Stress Buster Competition

Bush Support Services is holding a contest for the most interesting ways combating stress.

We're always amazed at the creativity of people working in remote or isolated areas when it comes to looking after themselves. We want to gather your ideas and share them with others through a “Stress Buster” competition.

Contestants may individuals or teams of people (example: two single post nurses working together, via telephone or email even though they may live and work hundreds of km apart).  All you need to do is document or devise how they prevent or deal with day to day hassles that are part and parcel of working remote. You may already have something that works for you, example: bird watching, walking, meditation or chatting with friends on the phone, if not – now is the time to put your thinking cap on!

To enter the competition all you need to do is register with Laura at laura@crana.org.au and send us your documentation, photos, videos, scrapbooks, or any evidence that in itself could be a creative outlet. Evidence of your stress-busting regime must be submitted to the CRANAplus office in Alice Springs no later than 15 September 2010.

Winners will be lauded and applauded and possibly made famous, so they will need to show us that they have been creative and stuck to their routine. Winners will be announced at the 2010 CRANAplus Conference dinner on 16 October, in Adelaide. Looking forward to your participation in this our first ever competition.

back to top

Cosy Blanket Project

The stress buster knitting project is another great idea from the Bush Support Services team1

A great way to relax and help others keep warm this winter is to click-clack your way to dozens of warm, woolly knitted squares and knit away any stress, which may be lurking around.

We’ll turn the squares into cosy blankets made from the heart……whats more is that we’ll make blankets for babies and even pets! Blankets will be distributed through charitable organizations to those in need this winter.

You don’t have to knit a whole blanket …. A few squares will do. Even if you are not a knitter, its easy peasy and here are a few simple guidelines to follow:

To make a 25cm knitted square:

* Use 8 ply wool, any colour or brand
* Cast on 51-55 stitches using 4mm knitting needles (depending on your tension)
* Work until piece measures 25cm in garter stitch (continuous plain knitting)
* 28 squares will make a blanket

BSS will happily provide the needles and wool free of charge. Please send knitted squares to: Bush Support Services, CRANAplus, PMB 203, Alice Springs, NT 0870. Why not contact us today at 08-8959-1110 or email bss@cranaplus.org.au to order your knitting kit. Photos of blankets and recipient details will be posted on the www.bsscranaplus.org.au website.

back to top

AMSANT Indigenous Leadership Workshop

12th – 16th April, 2010
Ross River Resort, east of Alice Springs

Urgent call for participants!
The AMSANT Leadership Group – made up of AHWs, board members and administration staff from our affiliates – is well down the track in organising the fourth Indigenous Leadership Workshop to identify, inspire and nurture our future leaders.

The workshop will be held at Ross River Resort, near Alice Springs in April, at no cost to participants, with a program of interactive workshops, leadership stories, team-building activities and culture. Transportation from Alice Springs to the resort will be provided.

We now urgently call on nominations to attend the workshop as the numbers are limited and we wouldn’t want you to miss out if you leave it too late! Previous participants are strongly urged to attend; priority will be given to these applicants.

Could you please let us know by COB Thursday 25th March which emerging leaders will attend from your health service.

All accommodation, catering and workshop costs will be covered by AMSANT (participants will need to pay for own travel to Alice Springs & return).

Please email the names of the participants who wish to attend the workshop to michelle.simmons@amsant.com.au and/or phone Michelle at AMSANT on 8944 6642 if you have any questions.
 

back to top

Meetings & Conferences

The Australian Practice Nurses Association 2nd Annual Conference 'Golden Opportunities'
May 6-8, 2010
Gold Coast, QLD - Royal Pines Resort

The 4th Asia Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Suicide Prevention
‘Suicide Prevention: A Dialogue Across Disciplines and Cultures’
17-20 November 2010
Sofitel Brisbane Central Hotel

back to top

Educational Opportunities

CRANAplus/YNA Undergraduate Scholarships
Each year CRANAplus in partnership with Your Nursing Agency (YNA) offer a total of six $1000 scholarships. These scholarships are available to students who as part of their undergraduate course of study in a health discipline at an Australian University, undertake a remote location placement.

www.nursingsa.com/office_scholarships.phpSA Nursing and Midwifery Premier’s Scholarships 2009/2010
The Premier of South Australia is committed to building a valued and sustainable nursing and midwifery workforce. Scholarships are being offered to nurses and midwives to explore innovative practices within their chosen field, either nationally or internationally.

NSW Regional Dentistry Scholarship
The NSW Regional Dentistry Scholarship aims to support a student with strong links to regional New South Wales to train for a professional dental career. The scholarship will be awarded annually to a student commencing dentistry studies to help offset their costs in establishing themselves in their course. Applications close 24 February 2010.

Aged Care Assessment Program
Tuesday 23rd February 2010 (8.00pm AEDT)
Australia has an ageing population. People are living longer and the birth rate has dropped. The proportion of the population aged 65 years and over is projected to rise from around 12% in 2010 to 25% by the year 2051.There is a higher proportion of older people living in rural areas. Older people often require support and assistance with the tasks of daily living, or they may need to make the difficult decision to enter an aged care facility. The ageing population has already had a significant impact on waiting lists for access to aged care services, some which require an assessment by an Aged Care Assessment Team.

Advanced Medications Practice for Aboriginal Health Workers Short Course
Dates : 23-25 February 2010
Time: 9 am – 3 pm daily
Cost: $450 (includes GST)

The three day program covers a revision of the basic medicines knowledge essential for safe use of medicines by AHWs who are authorised under Section 29 to supply medicines. Case studies of issues commonly experienced in remote practice will be used to help AHW find information about medicines and make decisions about which medicines are right for the client

For registration enquiries please contact:
Student Administration Officer, Centre for Remote Health, PO Box 4066, Alice Springs, NT 0871
Telephone: (08) 8951 4718 Fax: (08) 8951 4777 or e-mail: crh.studentadmin@flinders.edu.au

back to top

Articles of Interest

EXPERTS FEAR MEASLES SPREAD
Queensland Health says it expects to see more people contract measles in north Queensland after a confirmed case in the Whitsundays.

LOCALS QUESTION HEAVY METALS TEST 'SECRECY'
The Rosebery Heavy Metals Taskforce wants MMG Mine management to release details of the environmental sampling program in the town. The Taskforce says the area is subject to heavy metal contamination and several residents have been diagnosed with heavy metal poisoning.

INDIGENOUS YOUTH SCHEME LOOKS TO EXPAND
A program in outback Queensland says it is offering new hope for Indigenous youth from disadvantaged communities and it wants to expand.

KIDS NOW HELPED BY MEDICAL RETRIEVAL TEAM
A medical retrieval service has been extended to help sick and injured children and newborns.

GOVERNMENT URGED TO RETHINK DIALYSIS FUNDING SNUB
The South Australian opposition says kidney disease patients from the state's far north-west Aboriginal lands are being forced to drive distances equivalent to going from Sydney to Adelaide to get treatment.

CALLS FOR PALLIATIVE CARE EXPANSION
A Riverina palliative care nurse says she would like to see more government funding to expand services to the terminally ill.

CONFUSION SURROUNDS HEALTH AND SAFETY LAWS: CCIQ
One of Queensland's peak industry bodies says there is considerable confusion about new national occupational health and safety laws.

TWO NEW SWINE FLU CASES SPARK WARNINGS IN TASMANIA
There have been two new cases of swine flu in Tasmania as authorities prepare to vaccinate 350,000 people before a predicted second wave of the virus hits.

INDIGENOUS SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION
The Aboriginal Health Council has welcomed the Western Australian Government's plans for a mental health commission.

back to top

Awards and Fellowship Nominations

Awards Put Australia's Top Nurses in the Spotlight
The Australian community is being urged to nominate the nation's most accomplished and dedicated nurses, midwives, personal care attendants
and assistants in nursing for the 2010 HESTA Australian Nursing Awards.
With a prize pool of $25,000 across the categories of Nurse HESTA Australian Nursing Awards are one of Australia's most prestigious nursing awards. Ms Corboy said 1,400 nurses had been nominated since the awards were founded four years ago, and the calibre of the nominations continued to impress.
Nominations close 28 february 2010

National Institute of Clinical Studies
NICS (TRIP) Fellowship applications now open NICS is very pleased to announce that NHMRC is launching the new Translating Research into Practice (TRIP) Fellowship scheme for 2010. The principles, aims and education components of the TRIP Fellowship scheme are essentially the same as those for the NICS Fellowships, which it will replace. The TRIP Fellowship scheme will support early-to-mid career clinical leaders in researching approaches to applying evidence to improve clinical practice. The fellowship applications are now open and will close at 5pm (AEDT) 1 March 2010, for funding commencing in October 2010. Go to: www.emergencycare.nhmrc.gov.au/blog for more information.

back to top