Weekly Update

Dear CRANAplus Members

Recently, our current financial members  would have received our email advising of the Annual General Meeting and the call for Nominations for the Board of Directors. The Nomination Form is available on our website

This week Bush Support Services (BSS) feature greatly in this edition of the Friday Flyer reflecting the diversity of ideas and projects they are undertaking to address the impact of workplace stressors on our members.

BSS Psychologist Mark Millard has sent us an update of his road trip around Australia. Mark is now in Broome, Western Australia having travelled via Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing. During this road trip Mark has met with over 85 remote health workers who have taken the opportunity to speak with him and he looks forward to meeting with more while in Broome.

If you are based in Broome and would like Mark to address your health service or co-workers contact Laura  in the Alice Springs office for more details.
There is no cost for this service. You can follow Mark’s travels on our website  and arrange for him to call in to see you.

The BSS Cosy Blanket Project has enjoyed enormous success as we reported last week. Do not hesitate to contact us if you know of services or individuals who can utilize the warm blankets produced by our members.

Another of their projects, the ‘Stress Busters Competition’, is proving equally popular – BSS are offering you the chance to win gift cards for taking care of yourself! The team at BSS would like to reward those of you with creative or interesting approaches to stress busting and share your ideas with our entire membership. NO idea is too minor or too crazy!

Tell us what it is that you and your colleagues do to unwind and de-stress and you could win a $500 gift card for yourself, or $1000 gift card for a group submission. A $50 gift card will be given to the first TEN ‘early bird’ participants who submit their ideas!

The Stress Busters Competition deadline has been extended to Friday Oct 1st, 2010. Winners will be announced at the CRANAplus Annual Conference in Adelaide, October 13th -16th 2010 . Those winners not in attendance will be notified by phone and email.
Conference Reminder – early bird registrations close this weekend so don’t miss out on the great discounts available!
From all the CRANAplus Team have a great weekend
Regards

Anne-Marie Borchers
Business Manager

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Meetings and Conferences

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

The Australian Association of Gerontology (SA & NT Division) presents
AAG Northern Territory Conference
12 & 13 August 2010
Holiday Inn Esplanade Darwin, Northern Territory

Australian Diabetes Society & Australian Diabetes Educators Association Annual Scientific Meeting
1-3 September 2010
Sydney, NSW

2nd Rural & Remote Mental Health Symposium
29-30 September 2010
Sydney, NSW

The 4th Asia Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Suicide Prevention
17-20 November 2010
Brisbane, QLD

Early Childhood Development in Indigenous Communities
Integrating services for a healthy start to life
21 -23 September 2010, Holiday Inn Esplanade, Darwin

9th World Indigenous Women & Wellness Conference
22 – 25 August 2010 Darwin Convention Centre, Darwin NT

Community and Primary Health Care Nursing Conference 2010
Alice Springs 24 – 26 October 2010.

'Back From the Edge'
is a comprehensive survey of nurses investigating the stressors resulting from their work in the very remote regions of Australia. This four-year project compares and contrasts the occurrence of occupational stress of remote nursing with that of nurses working in other contexts. The primary objective is to develop and implement interventions that prevent or reduce the impact of occupational stressors in the remote workplace.

If you haven’t received your questionnaire or would like to participate, please email by clicking on the  above title. Please participate and encourage your colleagues to do so as well - It’s your story we need to better understand.

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Scholarships and Educational Opportunities

CRANAplus Undergraduate Scholarships
Deadline - 31st August 2010 Each year CRANAplus offers 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 any Australian university, undertakes a remote location placement.

PHC: Making a difference25-26 October 2010
This short course has been developed to strengthen health professionals understanding of the social, environmental, structural, political and philosophical issues that impact upon health care provision in remote Australia. The workshop will explore primary health care, its current status and potential in Australian health care as well as the recognition of the importance of integrating health promotion and prevention strategies in remote health settings.

AUSMED: Improving Your Knowledge of Medicines Seminar
As medicines are one of the highest areas of risk for ALL nurses; it is essential that YOU regularly update your knowledge on this key professional area.
Brisbane: 19 - 20 August
Perth: 2 - 3 December
Adelaide: 15 - 16 November

Live Strong: Closing the Gap on Chronic Disease DVD available to order
Live Strong is the latest of the half hour documentary style programs in the Rural Health Education Foundation’s Strong Series.

The University of Queensland School of Nursing and Midwifery
Applications have opened for The School of Nursing and Midwifery Honours Scholarships.
A maximum of four (4) Honours scholarships are available annually and are awarded on the recommendation of the Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery. Applications close Friday October 1, 2010.

The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Quality Framework Project
Consumer Consultation Workshops - August 2010
CHF will visit cities around Australia during August, to hear from health consumers and to discuss issues and ideas on how to make the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) work better in supporting health care for consumers, within a sustainable and effective health system. View workshop dates and  locations at the link above.

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Articles of Interest

INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH VITAL
RCNA calls for a stronger commitment to community and primary health care

NEW TABLET FOR TYPE 2 DIABETICS
A new tablet for people with type 2 diabetes promises to lower blood glucose levels without the side effects of other medications, doctors say.

THE MEDICARE BENEFITS SCHEDULE (MBS) QUALITY FRAMEWORK PROJECT
CONSUMER CONSULTATION WORKSHOPS - AUGUST 2010
CHF will visit cities around Australia during August, to hear from health consumers and to discuss issues and ideas on how to make the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) work better in supporting health care for consumers, within a sustainable and effective health system. The workshops are to be held in the following locations:

THE DEPT OF HEALTH AND AGING ‘DEMENTIA RESOURCE GUIDE’
is available on line and can be downloaded by chapter. This Guide has been developed to help people care for those who have dementia. The Guide supports a holistic approach that considers the social, emotional, physical and spiritual needs of the person with dementia and those around them. CD format is also available on request.

DEADLY BLOKES AND KIDS PROGRAM
Deadly Blokes and Kids is the only program in the East Kimberley which focuses on building strong relations between male caregivers and their children. It is an innovative program which uses music to engage participants and create a space for men to interact with children in a positive, safe and creative environment. Local musicians and respected family men act as mentors and role models as they guide the groups’ activities, which include discussions about family issues, learning music skills and producing songs around the themes of strong, healthy families and supporting children.

RURAL HEALTH EDUCATION FOUNDATION LIVE BROADCAST AND WEBCASTS
13 Aug 2010: Acne Vulgaris: Not Just Skin Deep
24 Aug 2010 : Best Practice: Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults

MIDGE WARNING AS BITING SEASON BEGINS
Top End residents are being warned to cover up and avoid areas favoured by midges and sandflies as the annual biting midge season begins.

GOVERNMENT URGED TO BE OPEN WITH PHARMACEUTICAL CONTRACTS
An infectious diseases expert is calling on the Federal Government to offer greater transparency when awarding contracts to pharmaceutical companies.

EARLY WEANING LINKED TO CHRONIC DISEASE
New research has linked the nation's chronic disease burden with the absence of breastfeeding.

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