Weekly Update

Dear CRANAplus Members,

Welcome to the Friday Flyer. This week members would have received our media release from President Christopher Cliffe commenting on the Senate having passed a bill that would allow nurse practitioners and eligible midwives to have access to Medicare rebates for some consultations, and government sudsidised prescriptions.

If you did not receive that media release, then chances are your CRANAplus membership is not current. Whether you hold current membership or are a lapsed member, we ensure you receive the Friday Flyer. As the only organization whose sole focus is remote health, our aim is to keep you in touch with the remote health sector. We are currently on a membership drive and encourage those who do not hold current membership to give it some thought. The strength of CRANAplus as a voice for our sector is our member base. Our influence in Canberra and state and territory capitolsaround Australia is directly influenced by the size of our member base. We need you to help make the difference.

Membership is as easy as picking up the phone or going on-line. There are a number of payment options and discounts available to you. WHAT A GREAT GIFT TO GIVE TO A COLLEAGUE OR FAMILY MEMBER! Membership is valid for a year from the date of joining and offers discounts on our range of nationally acclaimed courses and our annual conference. Don't forget that membership is tax deductable!

We've also created a multi-year membership with a $10 discount for every year of the membership. The total amount must be paid in the first year but can be spread throughout the year in quarterly installments. We are also happy to now offer direct debit as form of payment. It’s a convenient, easy way to ensure your membership is always current. You can choose to have your account debited quarterly or annually from any debit bank account. The direct debit form can be found on our website. Payroll deductions can also be established in line with your employer. Please contact Leanne in the CRANAplus finance department to discuss the details.

This week we welcome the NT Government Workforce Sustainability Unit as our newest corporate member. Check out our employment section for a range of current vacancies in health in the Northern Territory. We also have details of a vacancy for a Senior Coordinator Advocacy and Research based in Darwin with the Fred Hollows Foundation.

Cheers,

Anne-Marie Borchers
Business Manager

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Call For Abstracts

2010 CRANAplus Conference
October 13‐16
Adelaide, SA

Remote Health -
We're out there ...doing it, teaching it, supporting it, researching it.

This year’s conference theme is about action. It's about what remote & isolated health providers do everyday. The theme is designed to draw interesting presentation topics from our conference delegates, which are relevant for remote practitioners, academics, students or anyone with an interest or passion in remote or isolated practice. CRANAplus conferences are renown for their welcoming, safe and comfortable atmosphere providing a great environment for 1st time presenters.

In order to provide our delegates with a broad and comprehensive insight in to the issues facing remote, isolated and indigenous health across Australia and the world, presenters from a variety of diverse and unique perspectives and professions are encouraged to apply.

Closing date for abstracts is 15 May 2010.

Abstracts must be submitted electronically in order to accommodate the review process. Faxed or mailed submissions will not be accepted. Please feel free to contact Paula Waggoner at publications@crana.org.au with any questions you have about the process of submitting your abstract.

Abstract Instructions

• Abstracts should address one of the conference themes.
• Abstracts must include a succinct overview of the intent and purpose of the presentation and list the three main objectives to be presented.
• Abstracts must be typed in Times font, 12 point, single line spacing.
• Abstracts must be in English and should not exceed 300 words, excluding title, author and institution.
• Graphs, tables and references cannot be included as part of the abstract.
• All abbreviations should be given in brackets after the first full use of the word.
• The maximum presentation time is 20 minutes with a further 10 minutes allocated for questions and discussion. No extension of time can be allowed due to constraints of the program.

Registering Your Abstract
To submit your abstract, please click here.

• Questions regarding submissions should be sent by email to publications@crana.org.au.
• All abstracts will be reviewed by the CRANAplus abstract selection panel, and their decision will be final.
• All presenters are required to be registered delegates of the conference.
• Please note, authors accepted must register for the conference and pay the applicable registration fee.
• A copy of your full presentation including any handouts, notes or PowerPoint presentation is to be submitted upon your arrival at the conference venue in Adelaide.

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Meetings & Conferences

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

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

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

2nd Rural & Remote Mental Health Symposium "Winds of Change: New Perspectives on Rural and Remote Mental Health"
29-30 September 2010
Canberra, ACT

Australia's health 2010 Conference- The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
23 June 2010
Canberra, ACT

Aboriginal Health Conference 2010
26 - 27 June, 2010
Perth, WA

Inaugural National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Conference "listening, learning and leading"
16 May 2010
Adelaide, SA

Seminar to Address ’Time Bomb’ in Rural Health
Rural Health Leadership Seminar
8 - 10 April 2010
Wollongong, NSW

SUPPORTING SISTERS AND AUNTIES TO SURVIVE!
Spread the word about the Supporting Sisters and Aunties to Survive! A Breast Cancer Summit for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women.
26 May 2010
Darwin, NT

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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.

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Articles of Interest

SENATE PASSES CONTROVERSIAL BIRTH BILL
Midwives will be able to provide Medicare-funded care for the first time under a dramatic but controversial reform passed by parliament.

MIDWIFE CHANGES 'WILL LEAD TO BETTER HEALTHCARE'
Medical workers in the ACT have welcomed new rules allowing nurse practitioners and midwives to prescribe drugs and order tests under Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

NORTHERN TERRITORY EMERGENCY RESPONSE IMPACT MEASURED
AIDA has conducted a health impact assessment of the Northern Territory Emergency Response in collaboration with the University of New South Wales’ Centre for Health Equity Training, Research and Evaluation, and with assistance and financial support from the Fred Hollows Foundation.

BOOST IN DOCTOR NUMBERS WILL BE WELCOME
The Prime Minister’s announcement of major new investments to boost the number of medical graduates who choose to train as GPs or other specialists will be welcomed by people in rural and remote areas.

SENATE PASSES GREENS MOTION FOR FEDERAL ACTION TO FIX OUTBACK DIALYSIS CRISIS
The Senate today voted in favour of a Greens motion calling on the Commonwealth Government to intervene to sort out the long lasting cross-border dialysis crisis in Central Australia.

HEALTH GROUP WARNS OF A 'RENAL TSUNAMI'
Australia is facing a "renal tsunami" because of government bickering, according to the Northern Territory Aboriginal health organisation, AMSANT.

INDIGENOUS HEALTH FUNDING A WIN-WIN
The West Australian General Practice Network says $145 million in indigenous health funding is a step in the right direction.

PUSH FOR MELANCHOLIA TO BE LSITED AS ILLNESS
Melancholia has been out of favour for more than 20 years after being dropped from the psychiatrists' diagnostic manual for mental illness in 1980.

GOOD TAKE-UP AT FREE SWINE FLU VACCINATIONS
More than 55,000 Queenslanders have been vaccinated against swine flu so far at free weekend clinics being held at high schools around the state.

DOCTOR TRAINING FUNDS MUST LIFT RURAL WORKFORCE
The medical college responsible for setting standards for rural and remote general practice in Australia has called for a clear focus on rebuilding the rural health workforce.

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