Weekly Update

Dear CRANAplus members,

In the middle of February, the CRANAplus board of directors had the opportunity to meet face-to-face in the Adelaide office to undertake governance training and also develop key messages and priorities for the organisation. We are in the middle of our 'five-year strategic plan', so it was time to consider, update and amend as necessary. We are extremely pleased that, as an organisation, we have met or are well on our way to meeting the strategic plans original objectives…most of which were considered at the time 'very far fetched'! As the amended plan is confirmed it will be placed on the website for members to review.

The board also had the opportunity to meet the Adelaide based staff and the team of clinical educators building the exciting new CRANAplus courses. The calibre, skill and professionalism of these teams is stunning and the excellent results and function of the Adelaide based teams has far exceeded our wildest expectations. The board, on behalf of the remote workforce of Australia, congratulates them all for their incredible hard work despite tough deadlines and constant pressure.

As a result of the planning and review process, our long serving treasurer Dr. Trudy Yuginovich, decided to step down from her role of leading and improving the financial position of the organisation for the past several year. Board member, John Wright was elected from within the board to become the new treasurer. Trudy remains as a member of the board and we look forward to her continued contributions, along with her responsibilities of chairing the CRANAplus fellowship subcommittee.

CRANAplus CEO Carole Taylor is engrossed in the political machinations of government to lobby for our funding allocations for the coming 3 years. Clearly our capacity to secure ongoing funding is essential for us to continue to grow and develop the range of products and services needed to meet the complex growing requirements of the remote health workforce.

This week, I'm in Canberra advocating on behalf of nurse practitioners and eligible midwives to demand they get clear and easy access to Medicare Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to facilitate better access for our clients.

Cheers,

Christopher
 

Christopher Cliffe
President, CRANAplus

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FROM THE FLEC OFFICE

The new First Line Emergency Care (FLEC) administration team have been up and running in the Adelaide office for 6 months now and enjoying the challenges any new role brings. Coming mainly from a finance and administration background, we're amazed at the diversity of the people and locations involved with remote health and we enjoy playing a small part in improving the skills of remote practitioners.

The 2010 program is up and running with successful courses already being completed in Mt. Gambier and Bruny Island. Vacancies are limited, so don't delay registering.

The new pilot programs - Midwifery Up Skilling and Advanced Remote Emergency Care - are filling very quickly with a few spots left in the Broome MIDUS in April.

All course based information is now located under the 'Education' tab of the CRANAplus website.
 

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Attention - Remote Area Nurses

Centre for Remote health (CRH) will be repeating the ‘Back from the Edge’ questionnaire in March/April 2010. The questionnaire is designed to gain understanding of the levels and causes of stress experienced by registered nurses in remote Australia.

Participation in this study is voluntary. To encourage involvement CRH is offering three prizes of $500 to be given away in a random drawing of participants.

The results from this project to date are being used by health services to develop strategies to reduce workplace stress.

For further information please contact:
Sue Lenthall at the Centre for Remote Health in Alice Springs, NT
Telephone: (08) 8951 4707
E-mail: Sue.Lenthall@flinders.edu.au
 

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Study Seeking Remote Participants

Australian Research Council is sponsoring a Discovery Research project with researchers from Griffith University, entitled "Managing tensions in professional statutory practice: Living and working in rural and remote communities". They are looking to participants, who are professionals working or have worked, in rural and remote communities in Queensland.

Click on the headline of this article to see full details of the invitation to participate in the project or contact Natalie Clements, Senior Research Assistant, (07) 3382 1134 , N.Clements@gu.edu.au to express your interest.

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Cosy Blanket Project

Knitting is a great way to relax and help others keep warm this winter. This stress-buster knitting project is great idea is to click-clack your way to inner tranquility while making blankets to be given to those in need this winter.

BSS will turn your squares into cosy blankets made from the heart. They'll be working with charitable organisations to help identify people who could use a cosy blanket. BSS will happily provide the needles and wool free of charge!

You don’t have to knit a whole blanket, a few squares will do. Even if you are not a knitter, its easy! 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

Please send knitted squares to: Bush Support Services, CRANAplus, PMB 203, Alice Springs, NT 0870.

Contact us today at 08-8959-1110 or email bssmanager@crana.org.au to order your knitting kit.

Photos of blankets and recipient will be posted on the website.

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Meetings & Conferences

The 28th CRANAplus Conference
October 13-16, 2010
Adelaide, SA - Hotel Grand Chancellor

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

2010 Primary Health Care Research Conference
Primary health care research and health reform:Improving care
June 30-July 2, 2010
Darwin, NT

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

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Scholarships & Educational Opportunities

Mental Health First Aid
Course and instructors training available at locations all around Australia.

This award-winning course is available nationally details can be found on their website.  The training included topics of crisis situations of suicidal behaviours, acute stress reaction; panic attacks and acute psychotic behaviour are covered, as are depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

CRANAplus staff member Vicki Gordon recently attended the course with rave reviews, "Mental health is an increasing or more recognized problem that is under resourced. Undoubtedly courses like this help with the fear and stigma generally associated with mental health."
 

Recovery from Trauma: What Works
16 March 2010
The Rural Health Education Foundation's award winning Recovery from Trauma: What Works documentary will be broadcast on the Foundation's satellite network on the

Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: Clinical Guideline for Diagnosis and Management
9th March 2010
Rheumatoid arthritis affects 1 in 100 Australians. It is a major cause of disability and psychological distress due to its chronic, painful and disabling character.

Seminar to Address ’Time Bomb’ in Rural Health
Wollongong 8-10 April 2010
Organisers of a national seminar for health students say it has been prompted by a demographic time bomb impacting rural health services.They say there is an urgent need to develop the leadership skills of a new generation of health professionals to fill the void that will be left by the retirement of ageing country doctors and other health workers.

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.
 

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Articles of Interest

UN'S INTERVENTION REPORT FINDS RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Australia will face the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva in September accused of racially discriminating against indigenous communities during the Northern Territory intervention.

 RETHINKING DEMENTIA
Australia is far too complacent, and accepting, of dementia as part of old age.

'I'M CRYING': DIALYSIS PATIENT FORCED INTERSTATE
A senior woman from the remote South Australian community of Ernabella is the latest renal patient to be knocked back for long-term dialysis treatment in Alice Springs.

DRINKING WATER CONCERNS IN TAS
Tasmania's public health authorities have agreed to further investigate research showing tree plantations in the north-east are contaminating drinking water supplies.

MAJOR PARTIES HAVE WRONG FOCUS ON HEALTH POLICIES
While the major parties clash over whether South Australia should get a new Royal Adelaide Hospital or a rebuilt one, experts say broader health policies are more important issues.

SNOWDON WANTS OUTREACH WORKERS TO BE LOCAL
The federal Minister for Indigenous Health says he wants the new national workforce of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander outreach workers to come from local communities.

PARACETAMOL CAN PREVENT HEART ATTACK
Move over aspirin: Australian researchers may be about to pull off the next medicinal makeover, after finding "very promising" evidence that paracetamol can protect against heart disease.

AIDS 'COULD BE UNDER CONTROL' IN FIVE YEARS SAYS SCIENTIST
The global aids epidemic could be contained within just five years by testing everybody in high-risk regions and immediately treating all those who are found to be HIV positive, according to a leading scientist.

HEALTH FUNDS PROFITEERING, CLAIMS MINISTER
Health funds say increased consumer use of health services is sending their costs skyrocketing but they are under pressure from federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon, who has suggested they are profiteering.

PHARMACISTS SEEK RIGHT TO PRESCRIBE
Australia's peak pharmacist organisation is pushing to allow chemists to prescribe drugs, arguing the reform is necessary to relieve hard-pressed GPs.

SURVIVAL RATES FOR DIALYSIS PATIENTS RISE
A rise in the survival rates of Northern Territory dialysis patients is proof the Government is improving the lives of Indigenous Territorians, the Health Minister, Kon Vatskalis, says.

HEALTH AUTHORITIES WARN ABOUT SOIL-BORN DISEASE MELIOIDOSIS
North Queensland health authorities are urging residents to take precautions against contracting the soil-born disease melioidosis.

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