- NT GPs facing grim future
- ‘Moogy’ wins SA NAIDOC Award
- Grants Awarded to ACCHOs
- ‘This Rural Life’ photo competition
- Heads Up on diabetes and stigma
- New process for job advertising
- Save the Date
NT GPs facing grim future
The national trend for declining enrolments in GP training is most profound in the NT and could spell disaster for NT’s future GP workforce according to a study by a Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies).
Historically, the NT has struggled to attract and retain GPs, especially in remote areas, and relies heavily on doctors enrolled in GP training, however between 2016 and 2020 new enrolments in GP training in the NT fell by 50%, a stark comparison to the 12% national decline.
“We found that the most important phase of training to invest in was the period of time from when medical students graduated to when they first enrolled in a specialty training program. Many are still making up their minds about their career path at this time,” said Dr Deb Russell, a Menzies Senior Research Fellow.
Northern Territory General Practice Education (NTGPE) Chief Executive Officer Stephen Pincus said the organisation have provided a comprehensive GP training program in the NT for more than 20 years.
“At NTGPE, we believe that a successful program that will support GP registrars during their training in the NT, and provide opportunities for remote work, needs to include a comprehensive cultural education component, as well as personalised support to overcome barriers to remote work,” he said.
You can read the media release by Menzies and NTGPE here.
View coverage of this story by Nine News here.
Patient getting eyes checked by GP. Image credit: NTGPE and Nine News.
‘Moogy’ wins SA NAIDOC Award
Last week, South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has announced the winner of the 2021 Premier’s NAIDOC Award, which recognises and celebrates outstanding achievements and contributions to the lives of Aboriginal people in South Australia.
Proud Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna man, Major (‘Moogy’) Sumner, from South Australia’s Coorong region took out the 2021 award for his significant service to the Indigenous community of South Australia.
“Moogy is a world-renowned cultural ambassador, widely regarded for his contributions to Aboriginal culture and to positive and future-focussed outcomes for Aboriginal people, land and waterways,” Premier Marshall said.
“In 2014, he was awarded Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to the Indigenous community of South Australia through contributions to health, social welfare, youth and cultural heritage organisations.
“Moogy’s life work and passion is the embodiment of this year’s NAIDOC theme of ‘Heal Country, heal our nation’.
You can read the full article here.
Read more about South Australia’s 2021 Premier’s NAIDOC Award and previous years’ winners here.
Pictured: Frank Lampard, Jeffrey Newchurch, Latisha Dodd and Major ‘Moogy’ Sumner with Premier Steven Marshall at the 2021 Premier’s NAIDOC Award ceremony. Image credit: Government of South Australia website.
Grants awarded to ACCHOs
Nineteen Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) across Western Australia will benefit from a share of $850,000 in grants aimed at building their business capabilities and ability to be more competitive in an open market.
Projects being funded include training and development of organisation boards in the Wheatbelt, Metropolitan, Murchison and Kimberley regions, operational planning, strategic communication and upskilling of staff in the Kimberley and metropolitan regions, and development of a cultural governance framework and structure for Aboriginal women in the Kimberley.
The ACCO Capability Grants Program is a partnership between the Department of Finance and the Department of Communities. It supports and develops the capabilities of ACCOs, aiming to enable the delivery of more culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal people.
“Building the business capability of these ACCOs will enable them to deliver a greater number of culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal people to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people and communities,” said SA Finance Minister Tony Buti.
“It is particularly fitting that these grants are announced during NAIDOC Week – a time when we acknowledge the strengths and vital contributions of Aboriginal people,” said SA Community Services Minister Simone McGurk.
You can read more here.
Indigenous artwork at Close The Gap Day 2018. Image credit: AHCWA.
‘This Rural Life’ photo competition
RACGP Rural and RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health present ‘This Rural Life’ – a collaborative project celebrating GPs, GPs in Training and medical students working or with an interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in rural and remote Australia. They are running a photo competition to find the feature image for the ‘This Rural Life’ project.
Entries to the photo competition should feature your experience working in primary care in rural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health along with a title and 150-word (max) photo description. There are great prizes on offer. To find our more or to enter visit the RACGP website.
The competition closes Monday 9 August.
Heads Up on Diabetes and Stigma
Diabetes Australia has launched a new, powerful advertising campaign ‘Heads Up on Diabetes & Stigma‘ as part of National Diabetes Week (11 – 17 July) to call for an end to the diabetes blame and shame.
There is widespread community misunderstanding and stigma about diabetes are driving high rates of mental health problems for people living with diabetes experts warned today.
Despite nearly two million Australians living with diabetes, it is one of the most misunderstood and stigmatised health conditions in the country.
Up to 80% of people with diabetes report feeling blamed or shamed for living with the condition, and more than 25% say other people’s attitudes and stereotypes about diabetes are negatively impacting their mental health.
Almost 50% of people with diabetes have experienced a mental health issue relating to diabetes in the past twelve months.
A new survey commissioned by Diabetes Australia has revealed significant community misunderstanding about diabetes:
- As many as 85% of people in the community believe people with
diabetes shouldn’t eat sugary foods or drinks. - Only 43% of people understand that not all people with diabetes are
overweight.
Social media tiles, posters and videos for the campaign can be downloaded from the Heads Up Diabetes website.
You can read their media release here and download their Stigma Report here.
New process for job advertising
NACCHO have introduced a new system for the advertising of job adverts via the NACCHO website and you can find the sector job listings here.
Click here to go to the NACCHO website where you can complete a form with job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.
Heads Together webinar
Heads Together – Facebook live event and online forum
Tuesday, 13 July 2021 from 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Take part in Australia’s biggest online discussion about diabetes stigma and mental health – a conversation with real people sharing real experiences and answering your questions – don’t miss out!
Visit Diabetes Australia’s Heads Together Facebook event page and help spread the word.
Webinar: My Health Record in Residential Aged Care – 20 July 2021 (11am – 12pm AEST)
The Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) will be hosting a webinar to help consumer peaks, their members and affiliates and consumer advocates understand My Health Record’s main features and benefits.
Participants will learn what documents are available, how to access the record, set access controls and add information. The webinar will also focus on how healthcare providers can access aged care residents’ record and use the information to improve quality of life and transition of care.
You can register for the webinar here.
Elderly people talking and looking happy. Image credit: Australian Digital Health Agency.