Weekly Update

Dear Members,

Did you know that CRANAplus state representatives meet each month to discuss issues affecting you and your colleagues? The only way for the process to be fruitful is for you to communicate with the representatives from your state so they are better able to support and advocate for you. A list of representatives can be found on the website.

Our membership drive is going well and to those of you getting the word out and encouraging colleagues to join, thank you. Don’t forget that if you recruit five full members you will receive a CRANAplus Clinical Procedures Manual for your fine efforts. Contact Helen Phipps or myself for details at 08 8408 8200.

Conference early bird bookings are available till July 31 offering you BIG savings on registration. Check out the website for more details about the networking and social events that are happening around conference days. There is limited seating for the Barossa Valley /Hahndorf day coach tour post conference on Sunday October 17.

We are offering a range of accommodation options to suit everyone’s needs. Why not use our website blog to find other delegates offering to share rides and accommodation?

A reminder that abstracts close next week - May 15th, so start typing and get your story to us! Click here for a link to the website for details for submitting an abstract.

This week our employment section features jobs in both remote and city locations. There is a position with One21seventy as Education Coordinator based in the west end of Brisbane. One21seventy is the national centre for Quality Improvement in Indigenous Primary Health Care. Also on offer is a position in the West Arnhem region as CQI Facilitator working in conjunction with the Kakadu Health Service and stakeholders. With work space in Darwin 80% of work hours will be between the 4 clinics located at Jabiru, Gunbalanya, Minjilang and Warruwi communities.

Did you know that May 5 was International Midwives Day and next Wednesday, May 12 is International Nurses Day?

Have a great weekend.

Anne-Marie Borchers
Business Manager

back to top

FLEC Update

The Maternity Emergency Care (MEC) courses are fully booked till June and courses for the second half of the year are filling quickly with a few spots still available in August, September and November. Don’t miss out on securing one of these places. The October Remote Emergency Care (REC) and MEC will be run in conjunction with our conference offering the opportunity to get the most out of your time here in Adelaide.

back to top

Meetings & Conferences

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

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

Inaugural National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Conference
16 May 2010
Adelaide, SA

Supporting Sisters and Aunties to Survive!
26 May 2010
Darwin, NT

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

2010 Primary Health Care Research Conference
30 June - 2 July 2010
Darwin, NT

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
Canberra, ACT

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

back to top

Educational Opportunities & Scholarships

CRANAplus/YNA Undergraduate Scholarships

Deadline - 31st August 2010
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 any Australian university, undertakes a remote location placement.

PHC: Making a difference
25-26 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.

Upcoming RHEF Broadcasts:
A Finger on the Pulse: Acute Coronary Syndromes
Tuesday 11th May 8.00pm (AEST) and Friday 14th May 12.30pm – repeat broadcast
This program discusses the barriers to achieving better outcomes for people with heart attack, and what can be done to overcome them. It also discusses the treatment of Acute Coronary Syndrome, including the entire spectrum of care from the initial onset of symptoms, hospitalisation, rehabilitation and returning to work; to compliance with ongoing medication. Treatment of ACS in rural and remote areas, as well as Indigenous populations, is also discussed.
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

A Sticky Issue: Otitis Media and Indigenous Children
Otitis media (middle ear infection) and subsequent hearing problems are a major health and development concern for many Indigenous children in Australia. In some remote Aboriginal communities, rates of tympanic membrane perforation exceed 60% and up to 50% of school children possibly require hearing aids. Studies have shown that in Aboriginal communities, the onset of otitis media frequently occurs within 3 months of birth and progresses to chronic suppurative otitis media in 60% of cases.
Tuesday 25 May 2010 | Channel 4 | 8:00 pm (AEST)

back to top

Articles of Interest

NRHSN: RURAL HIGH SCHOOL VISITS
Rural High School Visits (RHSV) are an integral and rewarding operation of Rural Health Clubs that can achieve so much in such a limited amount of time. They undoubtedly play a significant role in addressing Australia’s rural and remote health workforce shortages and are a unique chance for Rural Health Clubs to inspire rural and remote youngsters and attract them to the wonders of the healthcare profession.

$2.4 MILLION TO ENHANCE FOUR WELLBEING CENTRES ACROSS CAPE YORK
The Minister for Indigenous Health and Rural and Regional Health, Warren Snowdon, today announced an additional $2.4 million for upgrades to four Wellbeing
Centres across Cape York.

MORE THAN HALF OF AUSTRALIANS WOULDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THEY WERE HAVING A HEART ATTACK
The Heart Foundation today released an alarming new survey revealing that more than half of all Australians would not be confident about what to do if theywere having a heart attack.

AUSTRALIA’S FIRST MALE HEALTH POLICY
The National Male Health Policy has been developed through extensive consultations with health services, health professionals, and men themselves in 26 public forums attended by 1,300 people.

AUSTRALIA SECOND BEST COUNTRY IN WORLD TO BE A MUM - REPORT
Australia is the second best country in the world to be a mum but it's a different story for children, a new report has revealed.

PLATYPUS PROTEINS MAY FIT THE BILL AS SUPERBUG CURE
The platypus could hold the key to a medical breakthrough in the treatment of drug-resistant superbugs.

MENTAL HEALTH AND MATESHIP
"Nobody wants to suffer from it and nobody wants to admit they have it."

BAD SLEEP CAN HAMPER BODY'S INSULIN USE
Just one sleepless night can hamper the body's ability to use insulin to process sugar in the bloodstream, according to a Dutch study.

STUDY MAY LEAD TO IMPROVED FLU VACCINES
Immunologists have made a discovery that will help in the development of flu vaccines that could be effective for many years longer than current ones.

OUTDOOR EXERCISE CAN BOOST SELF ESTEEM
Just five minutes of exercise a day in the great outdoors can improve mental health, according to a study, and policymakers should encourage more people to spend time in parks and gardens.

back to top