Our People to Live Stronger & Longer

Month: December 2023

Bicillin shortage update from NSW Health

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

TGA reported a supply disruption for the benzathine benzylpenicillin shortage which is expected to improve by late February 2024. 

Please see the attached document for the full updates, but as previously mentioned:

  • Prioritise the use of this product for Rheumatic Heart Disease / Acute Rheumatic Fever, Syphilis​ & consider alternative agents for other indications.
  • Please continue to use existing pathways to access the benzathine benzylpenicillin.

 In addition, if unable to access benzathine benzylpenicillin, please reach out to:

This information is also available online on the Infectious Diseases alerts page HERE.

Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Centre Staff Development Day

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

The Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Centre was lucky to have Richie and Kay in Tamworth this week to be apart of their staff development day. 

Covering a range of topics from funding to 715 health checks, the Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service are staying at the forefront of Indigenous Health.

They chatted and engaged well with all staff yesterday and hope they  can take their knowledge and further grow the organisation.

Cancer Institute NSW Primary Care Cancer Control Symposium

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

The theme of the 2024 symposium is – Shared vision: lung cancer screening implementation.  The symposium will bring together perspectives from across primary care and cancer services to discuss the design and implementation of the lung cancer screening program and how to ensure equitable access. The AH&MRC and NACCHO will be presenting alongside the Cancer Institute NSW, Cancer Australia, Primary Health Networks and people delivering healthcare to people in custodial settings and to those with insecure housing. 

Register now to secure your place. Registrations close Friday 16 February 2024.

Event details:

Friday 1st March 2024
9:00am to 5:00pm
Rydges Sydney Central
28 Albion Street, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010

Travel funding is available for Aboriginal health workers based regionally. If you would like to attend and require funding please complete this form.

For any questions regarding this event, please reach out to the Cancer Institute NSW events team on CINSW-Events@health.nsw.gov.au

2024 Aboriginal Chronic Conditions Conference

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

The Aboriginal Chronic Conditions Network and Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council invite abstracts for the 2024 – Aboriginal Chronic Conditions Conference

Theme: Closing The Gap Priority Reform Areas and Aboriginal Chronic Care
Dates: 3rd & 4th April 202
Location: Sydney

 We call on abstracts that highlight the successes, showcase innovations, strategic partnerships and key learnings in Closing the Gap aligned to Aboriginal Chronic Care.

This includes the focus across Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, NSW Health, Primary Health Networks and other organisations across Australia.

The objective of the 2024 conference is to promote innovations across Aboriginal Chronic Care that are culturally responsive, aligned to the Closing the Gap Priority Reform Areas and that showcase;

  • Strategic partnerships that strengthen Aboriginal leadership and shared decision making
  • Building community control capability as guided by community control
  • Success and key learnings in the design and delivery of programs and services
  • Leading initiatives for shared access to data and information at a regional level
  • Pathways to Aboriginal employment and procurement of Aboriginal business
  • Aboriginal culture as the core element to healing and wellbeing for Aboriginal peoples

More information can be found here.

Please submit abstracts by the 7th February 2024 to ACI-ACCN@health.nsw.gov.au

NSW Mental Health Review Tribunal

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

The Minister for Mental Health is seeking applications from qualified persons interested in appointment as part-time sessional members of the NSW Mental Health Review Tribunal.

Appointments are generally for four years, and candidates must be available at least one full day per month, although greater availability is welcomed. Appointment dates will fall between April and October 2024.

More information can be found here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/regional/Pages/regional-health-ministerial-advisory-panel.aspx

CINSW Evaluation Data Governance Group

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

Phrase 2 of the evaluation project for KOWA Pty Ltd will be to develop a First Nations Data Governance Framework and First Nations Data Sovereignty Protocol to underpin the evaluation of the NSW Aboriginal Cancer Primary Care Program.

First Nations Data Sovereignty refers to the right of First Nations people to govern the collection, ownership and application of data about them. First Nations Data Governance is how data sovereignty is enacted. Kowa will utilise the OCCAAARS Framework (2022) to operationalise First Nations Data Sovereignty principles across all evaluation phases.

For this evaluation, the Governance Group will include representatives from;

  • Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
  • The Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council
  • Cancer Institute NSW

The Governance Group will be involved throughout the life of the evaluation to ensure that the Evaluation Team (Kowa Pty Ltd) upholds the First Nations Data Governance Framework and First Nations Data Sovereignty Protocol developed in phase two.

Expectations for the Governance Group include;

  • One full day per year (spread across multiple meetings) – the Evaluation is scheduled for completion in June 2026
  • Review First Nations Data Governance Framework and First Nations Data Sovereignty Protocol
  • Other expectations to be explored and set during the first workshop.

Once recruitment of member to the Governance Group has been completed, the Evaluation Team will reach out to provide further information in relation to their participation requirements, this will include dates, times etc.

General Practitioners [Job Opportunity]

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

Awabakal are looking for General Practitioners. 

  • Immediate Start
  • Clinic Hours only (Monday to Friday)
  • Not for profit salary packaging benefits available

About the organisation

Awabakal has provided health & community services to Aboriginal people living across the Newcastle and surrounding regions for more than 40 years and is dedicated to advancing the wellbeing of our community.

About the role

Awabakal is seeking General Practitioners to join our team in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens & Maitland. Working collaboratively with the Regional Services Manager and the Lead GP, you will be responsible for providing best practice comprehensive primary health care to Awabakal clients, including but not limited to:

  • Providing good clinical care
  • Maintaining good medical practice
  • Maintaining trust and professional relationships with patients
  • Working collaboratively with the team
  • Maintaining integrity in professional practice

Multiple positions available – Full Time and Part Time, with no weekends

About you

  • Professional medical registration with AHPRA.
  • Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners FRACGP.
  • Current medical indemnity insurance
  • Accredited GP registrar supervisor (desirable)
  • Experience working in a General Practice
  • Extensive experience with patient consultation
  • Experience with Medicare Billing
  • Experience working with Aboriginal people in a primary health care setting.
  • Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with Aboriginal people.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills and ability to interact across all levels of the organisation.

Prior to an offer of employment being made, candidates will be required to undertake relevant background checks including a Criminal History and Working with Children Check and demonstrate evidence of current registration, and original qualifications.

For a confidential discussion contact Jason Smith CEO 1300 174 908 or email jason.smith@awabakal.org

Awabakal strongly encourages applications from people from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) decent.

The Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel

Posted on by Pawas Gupta

The NSW Regional Health Strategic Plan for the years 2022-2032 is specifically tailored to address the needs of regional, rural, and remote communities. It will serve as the guiding document for NSW Health’s strategic initiatives for the next decade, outlining a roadmap for the future provision of healthcare services that recognises and celebrates the diverse and unique characteristics of regional communities.

The vision of the plan is to establish a sustainable, equitable, and integrated health system that delivers outcomes that are most meaningful to patients and the community in regional, rural, and remote areas of NSW. The plan emphasises six strategic priorities:

  1. Strengthen the regional workforce
  2. Facilitate better access to safe, high-quality, and timely health services
  3. Promote health and well-being through prevention and education
  4. Keep communities informed, foster engagement, and actively seek feedback
  5. Enhance the integration of primary, community, and hospital care
  6. Harness and evaluate innovation to support a sustainable health system

This plan closely aligns with “Future Health: Guiding the Next Decade of Care in NSW 2022-2032,” which provides the overarching strategic framework and priorities for the entire healthcare system in the coming decade. Ongoing collaboration and alignment between the Regional Health Strategic Plan and Future Health are expected to yield shared outcomes that enhance regional health services and overall health outcomes for residents in regional, rural, and remote NSW.

To fortify community engagement and uphold co-design principles in healthcare development for regional NSW, a Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel was announced in October 2023. The panel members include:

  • Chair Rochard Colbran PhD
  • Mrs Anna Barwick
  • Ms Karen Booth
  • Cr Rick Firman OAM
  • Mrs Louise Fox
  • Ms Laura Hand-Ross
  • Professor Jennifer May AM
  • Mrs Christine Corby AM
  • Ms Kelly Foran
  • Ms Shana Quayle