Self-Directed Learning

The RACGP Rural FPS ST training package provides GPs with essential training to enable them to become a GP provider of Focussed Psychological Strategies (FPS) and provide CBT-derived FPS counselling to patients in their practice.

This flexible, innovative training package uses a combination of technology, peer learning groups and locally available resources to provide GPs with access to FPS skills training whist remaining in their practice and community.

The 2020 intakes are now open and GPs who wish to participate can register.

• Intake 1: 10 February – 15 May 2020
• Intake 2: 13 April – 17 July 2020
• Intake 3: 22 June – 25 September 2020
• Intake 4: 31 August – 4 December 2020

The Drug and Alcohol Addiction Education Program includes a suite of incentivised activities to strengthen the capacity of General Practitioners to address drug and alcohol addiction in their communities. These activities include face-to-face workshops, online learning courses and webinars with subject matter experts, supported by resources for General Practitioners to use in their practice.

The Office of Advance Care Planning (OACP), Queensland Health hope these modules will support and enhance your practice with increased knowledge, skills and confidence to provide quality end-of-life care for frail older people in your care.

As more Queenslanders are now living longer, they are also living with increasing levels of frailty, requiring increased knowledge and skills in end-of-life care for those caring for this vulnerable population

Event Details

The five online education modules (15 mins each) are aimed at educating health care professionals about ACP, relevant Queensland law and standardised documentation, and best practice principles for introducing ACP for the people in your care.

• Module 1: Introducing advance care planning for the people in your care
• Module 2: Understanding advance care planning documents commonly used in Queensland
• Module 3: Supporting conversations to complete the Statement of Choices document
• Module 4: Cultural Considerations for End-Of-Life Care
• Module 5: Using the PREPARED framework to support advance care planning conversations

*Access by tablet or PC (not supported for use on mobile phone).

https://www.eolcarefop.com.au/eolcarefop/tabid/5668/Default.aspx

• Glycemic Index and Diabetes Management
  This FREE 35 minute webinar will help you understand the GI of foods and evidence behind a low GI diet for managing diabetes.
• CSIRO low carbohydrate diet
  Watch this FREE 60 minute webinar to better understand the benefits of the CSIRO low carbohydrate diet.
• The importance of fibre in diabetes care and overall health
  A FREE two-part webinar series on the importance and role of fibre in diabetes care, from Diabetes Qualified and Kellogg Nutrition.
• Diabetes Webinar Series
  Understand diabetes, diabetes complications and insulin delivery in a 4 part webinar series for Health Professionals.

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) is pleased to present the Rural Doctors’ Family and Domestic Violence Education Package Online Learning Module.

The module was developed to strengthen the rural general practitioners’ capacity to address family violence within their community. It is based on a series of clinically focused case-based discussions with emphasis on providing best practice responses at both the individual and the community level.

The module is divided into six sections, each with its own multiple choice questionnaire and reflective survey:

1. Identifying Domestic Violence
2. Understanding Domestic Violence
3. Understanding the community – promotion, prevention and health education
4. Managing Domestic Violence
5. Demonstrating appropriate attitudes in practice – understanding the role and responsibilities of the GP in helping patients affected by Domestic Violence
6. Self reflection.

Communicating COVID-19 will provide the health workforce with evidence-based information and language to confidently address questions surrounding COVID-19 from patients, colleagues and the general public.

Overview
The Australian health sector is facing its biggest challenge since federation as the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the globe. Clinicians are trusted members of the community. The health care workforce needs to be informed, confident and agile to rapidly respond to the changing demands of the pandemic. Clinicians may feel underprepared to explain diverse, complex questions from patients, colleagues and the general public surrounding COVID-19.

This online course aims to:

• Provide expert-informed answers to questions Australian clinicians face surrounding COVID-19.
• Deliver digestible, focused core knowledge on COVID-19 drawing on epidemiology, clinical science, ethics and legal expertise.

Designed for
Communicating COVID-19 is designed primarily for clinicians in primary care and hospital-based settings. Secondary audiences include pharmacists, nursing and allied health staff, aged care workers, and disability care workers. Elements of this course could be adapted for primary and secondary school teachers and for the general public.

Learning outcomes
Appreciate the multifaceted nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, including, epidemiology, clinical science, ethics and society, and law.

Obtain core scientific, medical, ethical and legal knowledge as relevant for healthcare professionals in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Confidently address questions on COVID-19 from patients, colleagues and the general public, incorporating multidisciplinary thinking in a rapidly evolving situation.

Run by both ACRRM and RDAA, the popular COVID-19 Rural and Remote Response webinar series addresses topics requested by Rural Generalists throughout Australia and is presented by on-the-ground experts every Tuesday at 8pm. Register for upcoming webinars  here or view recordings from previous webinars in the series below.

Previous webinars:

• ACRRM and RDAA COVID-19 Rural and Remote Response webinar 12 May 
  ‘Palliative Care during COVID-19: What’s different?’ with Dr Michael Chapman, (Director Palliative Care, Canberra Hospital), Dr David Saner (Palliative Medicine Specialist), Dr Sascha Saharov (Rural Generalist and Palliative Care Registrar) and Karen McKellar (Palliative Care Nurse).
  Date: Tues 12 May 2020
• ACRRM and RDAA COVID-19 Rural and Remote Response webinar 5 May 
  COVID workforce planning. On the panel: NSW Rural Doctors Network CEO Richard Colbran, RFDS CEO Frank Quinlan, Tas DHHS Dr George Cerchez, DoH First Assistant Secretary Workforce Fay Holden, lead by RDAA President Dr John Hall.
  Date: Tues 5 May 2020
• ACRRM and RDAA COVID-19 Rural and Remote Response webinar 28 April 
  The Care of the COVID-19 patient. Panellists Dr Ewen McPhee, Dr Adele van der Merwe, Dr Michelle Hannan and Dr Cameron Nott discuss a mock case , and share their experience of preparing for and treating COVID-19 patients.
  Date: Tues 28 April 2020
  Please enter the password 0K&.6v4* to play the recording.
• ACRRM and RDAA COVID-19 Rural and Remote Response webinar 21 April 
  Join the National Rural Health Commissioner Prof Paul Worley to explore the need for collaborative networks across our regions to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  Date: Tues 21 April 2020
• ACRRM and RDAA COVID-19 Rural and Remote Response webinar 14 April
  Join The Hon Mark Coulton MP, Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government in this interactive webinar to answer your questions on the latest developments on COVID-19.
  Date: Tues 14 April 2020
• ACRRM and RDAA COVID-19 Rural and Remote Response webinar 7 April
  Join ACRRM President Dr Ewen McPhee, RDAA President Dr John Hall and multi-award-winning producer and broadcaster, Dr Norman Swan in an interactive webinar to discuss all things COVID-19.
  Date: Tues 7 April 2020

Diabetes Qualified provides accessible, engaging online diabetes education, diabetes courses and training for health professionals. We offer CPD accredited eLearning courses for health professionals such as nurses, podiatrists, pharmacists and exercise physiologists to provide you with increased knowledge and understanding of diabetes, so you can support the person living with, or at risk of diabetes. Our courses can be completed anywhere, anytime allowing you to conveniently learn at your own pace and earn CPD hours. Diabetes education helps you improve the support you provide to people living with diabetes.

There are six modules in the course:

– Session 1 – Introduction
– Session 2 – Depression and Risk
– Session 3 – Planning: Organising Chronic Care and Comorbidity
– Session 4 – Anxiety and Somatisation
– Session 5 – Patient Education and Support
– Session 6 – Using Medication and Chronic Care

Held over four 1.5 hour online sessions.

Once enrolled, you will have access to all the content and resources associated with the module.

All course requirements must be completed within four weeks from the date of the final session in order to receive full ACRRM points, MHST MOPS, and to enable access to Medicare item numbers 2715 and 2717.

Teaching and Learning

The course relies on reflection: the ability to apply models and methods to one’s own practice. It is essential that reflective activities and discussion forums are approached with this in mind. It is expected that participants will question the value of each technique to their practice population, as well as practising the skills involved. The moderator of each forum will encourage this sort of critical thinking, as well as leading the group in skill development.

Assessment and Evaluation

Assessment and evaluation will consist of a number of activities:

• Completion of the surveys Learner Needs and Expectations and Barriers to Mental Health Care in the Rural Setting
• Participation in at least 3 of the 4 virtual classroom sessions
• Completion of the pre and post activities
• Completion of an evaluation after each online module
• Participation in discussion boards
• Completion of the Course Evaluation

Texts

There are two suggested texts for the course. These are not essential, but will extend participants understanding of the course material. Many GPs will have access to these in their practice. They are:

• Davies, J 2000 A Manual of Mental Health Care in General Practice. Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.
• World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Mental Health and Substance Abuse 2000 Management of Mental Disorders Vol 1 Fourth Edn.

Central QLD University are excited to announce that enrolments start for the Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health care and  Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health care Practice on May 4th.

See “Register now” below for further details.

Join our expert panels as we discuss COVID-19

The COVID-19 situation makes the need for accurate, timely and trustworthy health information more important than ever.

With the global pandemic moving and changing daily, JCU is offering a range of informative webinars for health professionals and the wider community. Learn important information from expert panellists, broaden your knowledge and stay across the details of COVID-19.

From refreshers on RNA viruses to mental health and recovery, keep an eye on this page for upcoming webinars in the JCU Webinar Series.

Access previous webinars here, topics include:

• Episode 1: RNA Viruses for Dummies (7 April 2020)
• Episode 2: Mental Health in COVID-19 – Our Patients and Ourselves (14 April 2020)
• Episode 3: COVID-19 – Exit Strategies (21 April 2020)
• Episode 4: COVID-19 – Pregnancy and the Newborn (28 April 2020)
• Episode 5: Cats, Dogs and COVID-19 (5 May 2020)

• Approximately 2 hours
• 4 CPD points
• Approved as a CPD activity by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and accredited by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).

After completing the eLearning module, GPs will be able to:

• Describe the benefits and role of general practice in advance care planning (ACP) and early identification and assessment of patients’ palliative and supportive care needs;
• Use the Advance Project^TM Guide and evidence-based tools to initiate ACP and assessing patients and carers’ palliative and supportive care needs.;
• Identify and screen patients and carers who may benefit from ACP and/or a palliative and supportive care needs assessment;
• Evaluate patients’ and carers’ concerns, symptoms, questions and priorities identified through a structured ACP and/or supportive care needs assessment;
• Identify patients who could benefit from referral to specialist palliative care and explain the benefits of this referral to them

https://www.theadvanceproject.com.au/theadvanceproject/tabid/5231/Default.aspx

The aged care sector is facing an unprecedented challenge with the COVID-19 pandemic. Older Australians have an increased mortality rate if they contract COVID-19 and depending on their pre-morbid condition careful consideration is required to ensure the best care is provided within the right setting. Conversations around treatment decisions and quality of life are critical to ensure an individual’s wishes are known. This webinar series will provide a Q&A style format for frontline staff with experts within the aged care and specialist palliative care sectors to explore a broad range of issues facing those working in the aged care sector.

Home Care Providers

The aim of this webinar is to identify the palliative care issues facing home care providers in the context of COVID-19. Topics discussed will include:

• Understand the palliative care clinical management needs of a home care recipient with COVID-19 including recognition and management of deterioration.
• Co-ordination of care through integration arrangements with General Practitioners, community palliative care teams and geriatrician outreach services including telehealth.
• Processes and decision making around transfer to hospital.
• Access to and delivery of end of life medications.

Residential Aged Care

The aim of this webinar is to understand the palliative care issues facing residential aged care in the context of COVID-19. Topics discussed will include:

• Understand the palliative care clinical management of a resident with COVID-19 including recognition and management of deterioration.
• Accessing external supports such as specialist palliative care, General Practitioners, geriatric outreach services and nurse practitioners including the use of telehealth.
• Processes and decision making around transfer to hospital.
• Access to and delivery of end of life medications.

https://www.eldac.com.au/tabid/5999/Default.aspx

Advance care planning is an important part of Australia’s COVID-19 healthcare planning. The Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza 2019 cites the importance of Advance Care Directives as part of a coordinated response. However, current research demonstrates that only 25% of older Australians aged 65+ years have documented their preferences in an Advance Care Directive, despite individuals often reporting benefits in doing advance care planning.

General Practitioners
This webinar discusses the key ACP priorities and actions for GPs during COVID-19. It covers ethical considerations, ACP in CALD communities, the challenges of signing documents and more.

Aged Care Providers
Hear from industry experts discuss key ACP priorities and actions for the Aged Care sector during COVID-19. This webinar covers the current challenges, ethical considerations and more.

Health Service Providers
This webinar covers key ACP information and considerations for health professionals during COVID-19. Hear from sector experts including intensive care leaders, A/Prof Charlie Corke and Dr Peter Saul and more.

https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au/for-health-and-care-workers/covid-19-web#/

Advance Care Planning Australia (ACPA) is a national program funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, enabling Australians to make the best choices for their life and health care.

ACPA provides online courses and face-to-face workshops nationally, specifically designed to support aged care workers, health professionals and the general public learn more about advance care planning.

Complete any one of a series of 30 min modules:

• Module (1) One: Advance Care Planning Introduction
• Module (2) Two: Advance Care Planning Conversations
• Module (3) Three: Advance Care Planning Decision-Making – The Legal Implications
• Module (4) Four: Advance Care Planning Implementation

Or choose from a range of topics:

• Advance care planning aged care
• Advance Care Planning in the Primary Care Setting
• Advance Care Planning and Dementia
• Advance Care Planning Substitute Decision-Makers
• Advanced Communication
• Advance care planning and cultural diversity
• Advance Care Planning and Volunteers
• Advance Care Planning Substitute Decision-Makers

• Time: 1 hour
• RACGP: 2pts
• ACRRM: 1hr/1 CME PD

Advance care planning is an essential part of providing patient-centred care in line with a person’s goals, beliefs and preferences, especially in later life. This module covers the key aspects of creating an advance care plan, the selection of a substitute decision-maker, and the legal frameworks surrounding advance care plans.

By completing this learning activity, participants will be able to:

• Describe the benefits of advance care planning in primary care.
• Describe the role of general practice in advance care planning discussions.
• Identify opportunities to initiate and continue discussions of advance care planning.
• Access information regarding legislative aspects of advance care planning relevant to their jurisdiction.

This activity is sponsored by Advance Care Planning Australia.

https://www.thinkgp.com.au/education/advance-care-planning-primary-care

The three online education modules are aimed at educating registered nurses about the caring@home resources and how they can be used to teach carers to help manage breakthrough symptoms safely using subcutaneous medicines.

• Each module is 20 minutes
• Endorsed by ACN according to our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Endorsed Course Standards.
• Allocated 1 CPD hour according to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia – Continuing Professional Development Standard.

This activity has been endorsed by APNA according to approved quality standards criteria.
Registered nurses completing these modules are eligible to claim 60 CPD minutes.

https://www.caringathomeproject.com.au/tabid/5319/Default.aspx

Urology for General Practice

Free webinars – Topics include: The Penis – Impotency, Premature ejaculation, Peyronie’s disease, Vasectomy and Vasectomy reversal, Sacral neuromodulation, use of Mesh and alternative slings for urinary incontinence, New medical therapies for urological cancers, Radical prostatectomy, partial nephrectomy, adrenalectomy, pyeloplasty, Medical therapy for BPH, Haematuria Investigation and when to refer, Penile Dermatoses, Prostate MRI new item numbers, Renal cysts and renal masses – what imaging reports mean, Nephrolithiasis – optimal urinary stone treatment, Management of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections and Active surveillance in prostate cancer – the role of the GP