Welcome to this week's edition of the AFOEM eNews.

These ebulletins are best viewed in html. Simply click on the item of interest (left) and you will be taken straight to that item.

An archive of all previous Newsletters (since 2002) are available on the Faculty website.

As always, if you would like to contribute an item to the next eNewsletter please email a paragraph to afoem@racp.edu.au by Tuesday of the publishing week.

Disclaimer

Although AFOEM takes all reasonable steps to ensure this email does not contain malicious software, AFOEM does not accept responsibility for the consequences if any person's computer inadvertently suffers any disruption to services, loss of information, harm or is infected with a virus, other malicious computer program or code that may occur as a consequence of receiving this email.

Unless stated otherwise, this email represents only the views of the sender and not the views of AFOEM.

Contact us

Senior Executive Officer AFOEM
Andy Messner
(02) 9256 9602
Andrew.Messner@racp.edu.au

Fascimile: (02) 9247 8082

Administrative Officer AFOEM
Daniel Cheung
(02) 9256 9603
Daniel.Cheung@racp.edu.au

CPD Administrator | AFOEM, AFPHM & AFRM
Natali Vlatko
(02) 8247 6239
Natali.Vlatko@racp.edu.au

Project Officer | RACP Faculties & Chapters (Part Time: Weds - Fri)
Neridah Callaghan
(02) 9256 9636
Neridah.Callaghan@racp.edu.au

2010 AFOEM ATM / Faculty Training Day / Dinner

What's In Store For 2010?

The AFOEM Annual Faculty Dinner will take place on the Sunday prior to WCIM 2010. The 2010 ASM Organising Committee have arranged the venue to be within a short taxi-fare from the RACP Graduation Ceremony. Faculty members are encouraged to attend the RACP Graduation Ceremony and congratulate and welcome new Fellows to the Faculty, followed then by a relaxing dinner at The Terrace.

• Annual Faculty Dinner
  Sunday 21, March 2010 | 7.00PM - 10.30PM
  The Terrace, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne VIC
  
  Note: Registration closes Thusday 18, March 2010
  
  Cost: $121.00 (inclusive GST)
  Click here to register for the 2010 Annual Faculty Dinner

The AFOEM will be holding two separate training events across the weekend of Saturday 20 - Sunday 21, March 2010.

1. Annual Training Meeting (ATM)
   Saturday 20, March 2010
   AMREP, Commercial Rd, Melbourne VIC
   
   Note: For AFOEM trainees.
   
   Cost: $143.00 (inclusive GST)
   Click here to register for the 2010 ATM
   
    
2. Faculty Training Day (FTD)
   Sunday 21, March 2010
   AMREP, Commercial Rd, Melbourne VIC
   
   Note: All Faculty members are encouraged to attend as the 2010 FTD will feature presentations for the 2010 Ramazzini Award, Annual Members Meeting and a Supervisor Workshop. Supervisors and DoTs attending the Supervisor Workshop on Sunday 21, March 2010 will receive complimentary registration for the FTD. Please contact GTH Events on +61 2 8247 6240 instead of registering online.
   
   Cost: $93.50 (inclusive GST)
   Click here to register for the 2010 FTD 

Further to these events, don't forget about the RACP Graduation Ceremony to be held on Sunday 21, March 2010. Come along and show your support as we welcome thirteen (13) new Fellows to the Faculty.

• College Graudation Ceremony
  Sunday 21, March 2010
  Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, VIC
  
  Entry is free of charge to all 2010 WCIM attendees (and of course to family and friends of new Fellows and recipients of Awards)

Trainees, Supervisors & DoTs

Only A Week Left!

Trainees are reminded to fill out their six-monthly Training Status Report for the current training cycle (July 09 - December 09). Both Active and Inactive Trainees must complete the six-monthly TSR.

• Trainees: Please forward your completed sections to your Supervisor with a cc: to the Faculty Office.
• Supervisors: After completion, please forward the TSR to the relevant DoT.
• DoTs: Upon your sign-off, please forward the TSR to the Faculty Office.

TSRs for the current period of training must be completed and submitted by the end of January 2010. If your Supervisor and/or DoT is currently away, please ensure that you have submitted your partially completed TSR to the Faculty Office by the cut-off date.

• Click to download the TSR

Dates For Your Diary

A New Revised Calendar Has Been Updated Onto The Faculty Website

• Click to view the exciting upcoming events scheduled for this coming year

External Events

Medico-legal Report Writing Course

• Saturday 13, February 2010
• Stamford Grand Hotel, Glenelg, Adelaide, SA
• Click for further details and registration

Delivering The Message: Effective Publich Health Advocacy

• Wednesday 17, March 2010
• 6.30pm - 7.30pm
• Darlington Centre Conference Room 1, University of Sydney, 174 City Rd, Darlington NSW
• RSVP to Suri Rezaee (mreza@doh.health.nsw.gov.au) by Friday 12, February 2010

National Workers Compensation Summit

• Wednesday 17 - Thursday 18, February 2010
• Australian Technology Park, Sydney, NSW
• Click for further details

12th Annual Health Congress - Reforming Health in the Best Interests of the Patient

• Wednesday 3 - Friday 5, March 2010
• Sydney Harbour Marriott, Circular Quay, NSW
• Cick for further details

ACSP Clinical Sports Medicine 2010: Tendons

• Sunday 7, March 2010
• NSW Institute of Sport, Olympic Park, NSW
• Enquiries to Christine de Villeneuve +61 2 9223 4055
• Click for further details

3rd Improving Medication Safety: Sharing The Lessons Learnt

• Tuesday 9 - Wednesday 10, March 2010
• Four Seasons Sydney, NSW
• Click  for further details

3rd Annual Australian Higher Education Congress 2010 - Foundations for the Future

• Wednesday 10 - Friday 12, March 2010
• Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour, NSW
• Click for further details and registration

The Deteriorating Patient

• Thursday 11 - Friday 12, March 2010
• Four seasons Sydney, NSW
• Click for further details

The Impact of Pain

• Sunday 28 - Wednesday 31, March 2010
• The Australian Pain Society and the New Zealand Pain Society Combined Annual Scientif Meeting
• Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, QLD
• Click for Flyer (PDF | 265KB)

28th Annual AIOH Conference & Exhibition: "Green but Clean"

• Saturday 4 - Wednesday 8, December 2010
• Grand Chancellor Hotel, Hobart TAS
• Click for further information

Position Vacant

IMMEX, Sydney NSW

We seek an occupational physician trainee or a doctor looking for change. The ideal candidate must possess good knowledge and experience in general medicine, musculo-skeletal and occupational medicine. Willingness to embrace our proven practice philosophy. Demonstrates team spirit and reliability. Willingness to take part in a very lucrative after-hours practice roster. Accredited IMC and Workcover Authorised Medical Practitioner status advantageous but not essential.

Full-time or substantial part-time. Providing treatment of workplace injury or illness, performing employment-related medical assessments, and giving independent evidence-based medical advice and opinions. Also  opportunities for workplace assessment, occupational health surveillance, risk communication and on site work.

Specialised dedicated Occupational Medicine and integrated Physiotherapy practice in Waterloo in inner city Sydney.  Comprehensive facilities and nursing support.

A structured model with established large corporate client base, representing a wide range of industries in both the private and public sector. All billing at or above full AMA rates – No Bulk Billing or Medicare.

Enquiries by email to Dr Stephen Simmons (ssimmons@immex.com.au) or phone 02 9319 5999.

2010 CPD Grant

Call For Applications

As one of the key initiatives set up by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the CPD Grant is designed to promote and support education initiatives for Fellows’ Continuing Professional Development.

The grant serves as a seed fund to provide financial assistance for the development of educational activities involving a community of Fellows that will contribute to the future continuing professional development of Fellows of the RACP.

The nature and complexity of proposed activities will vary and therefore the grant itself may not cover all costs involved.

An amount of up to $5,000 will generally be approved for any application. However, this may vary at the discretion of the CPD Committee, funds available and the number of applications. We are delighted to announce that the total amount of grant funding the College is making available for the 2010 year is $40,000 for Australia and $15,000 for New Zealand.

All Fellows of the College from the Divisions, Chapters and Faculties in Australia and New Zealand are eligible to apply for a grant.

Please Note: The funding is intended to support organisation of CPD activities for a community of Fellows eg. regional scientific meetings, updates, etc, and therefore is not available to individual Fellow’s CPD undertakings.

Applications will be assessed according to the following principles, with precedence given to those that align closely to the following;

• Exhibit innovation in content, design and/or method of delivery
• Support as many Fellows as possible
• Focus on assisting those who are unable to access the more usual channels of CPD
• Provide the College with an enduring continuing education resource
• Provide value for attendees and contribute to their continuing professional development

For more information or to obtain a copy of the 2010 CPD Grant Application Kit, please contact the CPD unit of the Education Deanery via email mycpd@racp.edu.au or phone 02 8247 6239.

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 31, March 2010. Unfortunately applications received beyond this date cannot be considered.

WCIM 2010 Melbourne

20 - 25 March, 2010 - Registrations Now Open

Registrations for WCIM 2010 Melbourne are now open. Make sure you register early in order to secure your place and receive the discounted early registration. Register online at WCIM2010.

This exciting Congress is being hosted by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Internal Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand and the International Society of Internal Medicine and is the premiere Congress on internal medicine in the world. WCIM 2010 Melbourne is being held in Australia for the first time in its history, so this is your chance to attend this meeting in a local setting.

The Congress will be held at the new Melbourne Convention Centre which is now the largest combined Convention and Exhibition Centre in Australia. This new centre has been awarded a 6 star Green Star environmental rating by the Green Building Council of Australia, the first in the world for a convention centre.

Early bird registration for WCIM 2010 has been extended so there is no excuse for not coming!

The program is in the final stages of development and can be found on the Congress website and in fact, the AFOEM stream has already been finalised!  Please note that the 2010 AFOEM Annual Scientific Meeting is part of the WCIM 2010 program.

Trainees' Day at WICM

The College Trainees' Committee reports that the Committee has marked 2010 as the "Year of the Trainee". To celebrate this, there will be a College Trainees' Day as part of the WCIM followed by a Trainees' Ball.

2011 Specialist Training Program Funding

Funded Training Position

Applications are now open for 2011 Specialist Training Program (STP) funding. STP was previously known as the Expanded Specialist Training Program or the Outer Metropolitan Specialist Trainee Program.

The program provides funding for specialist trainees (including overseas trained doctors and specialist international medical graduates) to train in alternative settings, in a way that complements the training provided in traditional settings. The STP provides funding up to a level of $100,000 (ex GST) per FTE.

Settings may include:

• Rotations to private hospitals
• Clinics and day surgeries
• Specialists’ rooms
• Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services
• Non-clinical settings (such as simulated learning environments)
• Publicly funded facilities that provide training not available in major teaching hospitals

Identified priority areas are:

• Demonstration of meeting an educational imperative
• Demonstration of quality training issues of supervision, infrastructure etc.
• Innovation
• Short and long term workforce needs: Rural or regional settings, Generalist specialist training pathway, Chronic disease or Indigenous health

Applications concerning physician trainees require RACP support and will need to be forwarded to the College by Monday 15, February 2010 for assessment and submission to the Commonwealth by Monday 1, March 2010. Proposed training sites will also be required to obtain RACP accreditation during 2010.

• Click for further details

The RACP contact is estp@racp.edu.au

College Policy & Advocacy

Thank You

The Policy and Advocacy Survey has now closed. Thank you very much to the hundreds of Fellows and Trainees who contributed their thoughts about the College's policy focus, and offered to contribute in some way to furthering our policy and advocacy agenda. There will be a preliminary analysis of the survey in the next issue of RACP News, and we will shortly be in contact with those who offered their time and expertise.

Submissions Completed and Adovocacy

Thank you to all Fellows and Trainees who have contributed to the creation of College submissions. The latest submissions made will be available on the Policy and Advocacy section of the website next week including Ethical Issues Involved in the Transitions to Palliation and End of Life Care for People with Chronic Conditions.

Removing of Restrictions on Pathology Request Forms Discussion Paper

In the 2009-10 Budget, the government announced changes to the rules relating to pathology request forms. These changes would remove restrictions to improve patient choice and increase competition on price and convenience for patients among pathology providers. Currently, the Health Insurance Act 1973 requires that, in most cases, in order for a Medicare benefit to be payable for a pathology service, a request for the service must be made to that particular pathology provider (either the pathologist themselves or the proprietor of the laboratory). This means that a patient is effectively required to attend the pathology provider named on the request form in order to be entitled to a Medicare benefit for the pathology service rendered.

From 1 July 2010 this restriction will be removed, so that, while there will still be a legislative requirement for a request for a pathology service to be made, there will no longer be a requirement that the request be made to a particular pathology provider. This legislative change will allow patients to take a pathology request to an approved pathology practitioner or authority of their choice.

• Click to download the Disussion Paper

Please provide feedback to Fiona Hilton. Deadline for comment is Tuesday 9, February 2010.

RACP Workforce Survey

Are You Counted?

The RACP has launched the 2010 Workforce Survey.

The College workforce information to substantiate its strategic approaches to workforce policy. We cannot even think about sensible workforce planning if we don’t have baseline data so we strongly urge you to ensure you are counted. The online version should take five minute to complete and is available at in the link provided below.

• Click to complete the RACP Workforce Survey

Recap Of Previous Editions

Realising The Health Benefits Of Work

The Faculty invites you to give feedback on this important position statement. Specifically, comments are welcome on:

1. What you consider are the most positive aspects of the document,
2. What you consider are the least postive aspects of the document and,
3. What aspects of the document you recommend changing.

Please take this opportunity to send in your own comments by email, letter or fax.

• Click to download Realising the health benefits of work draft position statement

All submissions are due by Friday 12, February 2010.

Please email your comments to: andrew.messner@racp.edu.au.

Dean's Welcoming Meetings

The Dean, representatives of College Education Committees and College Senior Members would be delighted if you can join us for an evening of discussion and workshops covering:

• PREP Program and Basic Training,
• PREP Program for Advanced Training and,
• Educational Tools.

This is your chance to learn more about your roles, the PREP Program and tools, network with your colleagues and ask questions about your training experience.

The meetings will be conducted as of 12 February until 15 March 2010 from 6.00pm until 9.00pm. See Trainees Cafe for the date in your city. Please note that any changes to the schedule will be updated in the Trainees' Cafe.

An Invitations and the Program of each event will be sent to trainees, supervisors, DPEs/DPTs/DPPTs in each state by the relevant College State office in due course.

Additional information will be available at the Trainees' Cafe and on the College Announcements page. For AFOEM trainees, use the same login credentials as you would with the AFOEM website.

We look forward to meeting you and hope you will enjoy the evening.

Australian Medical Review Officer Training Course

If you, as medical practitioner, are involved in any way in the review of workplace alcohol and other drug testing eg for the aviation, transport, petrochemical industries, this course will equip you to perform your role more competently and by examination immediately following the course, you will be eligible to become an inaugural Australian certified MRO.

Places will be limited. Further details, registration forms accommodation etc will be available in the New Year.

For further information now or to register your interest, contact Kevin Sleigh on 0412 553 390 or by email sleigh@ssc.net.au.

Supervisor, Trainees & Potential Supervisors Workshop

Supervisors, potential Supervisors, and Trainees of the Faculty are invited to attend our upcoming Supervisor Workshop in conjunction with the 2010 Faculty Training Day: Sunday 21, March 2010 (AMREP, Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC).

The purpose of the workshop is:

• to clarify expectations within the two-way interaction between supervisors and trainees,
• to build the abilities of supervisors and potential supervisors to foster educational endeavour and handle common related problems, and
• to foreshadow likely and planned developments in trainee education.

Supervisors attending this workshop are entitled to complimentary registration for the 2010 Faculty Training Day.

Please RSVP to GTH Events.

Positions Vacant

Industrial Hygienist, Sydney NSW

• Six month contract with potential for a further 6 months
• Full-time role
• Based in Clyde Refinery, Rosehill, Sydney NSW

The role: In this independent role, the hygienist will be responsible for implementing company standards and strategy on Industrial Hygiene at the Shell Clyde Refinery and Gore Bay Terminal. This covers activities including gathering industrial hygiene information, implementing risk assessments and management plans based on internal and external standards. In addition, the hygienist will be involved with providing technical support to line management and personnel on industrial hygiene concerns and supporting the implementation of industrial hygiene policy within the HSSE (health, safety, security and environment) management system. This will include supporting initiatives on health and hygiene such as OEL(occupational exposure limits) assessments and medical surveillance. All activities will be conducted in line with Shell HSSE policies, procedures and business principles.

Requirements: Dedicated and motivated industrial hygienist, ideally with a background in a manufacturing, oil and gas, or similar environment and comfortable working in an autonomous role. Demonstrated experience in the hygiene field. Tertiary qualifications are required, and ideally full membership of the AIOH or equivalent certification in Industrial Hygiene.

Aviation Medical Officer, Wellington, New Zealand

The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand are looking for either a Medical Registrar/Trainee or Aviation Medical Officer.

This position offers a high degree of flexibility and may be attractive to an established Aviation Medical Practitioner or junior doctor interested in training in this field.

This position which is based in Wellington may be suitable to anyone seeking to work full-time or part-time in this industry focussed on a regulatory function. You will be providing specialist advice and training to medical staff, developing procedures and documentation and actively enhancing the activities of our Central Medical Unit.

To succeed in this position you will need excellent interpersonal, communication and time management skills and the ability to quickly establish your professional and technical credibility within CAA and the industry.

If you are thinking about and interested in Occupational Medicine this could be the opportunity you have been looking for. This could lead to a new level of career fulfilment and reward.

You must be able to obtain Medical Registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand.

Applications close on Friday 5, February 2010 and should quote vacancy number CAA 10/02. For more details about the position please go to the Civil Aviation Authority website and look under vacancies.

To apply please send a covering letter, curriculum vitae and CAA application form (found on our website) to:

HR Unit, Recruitment 09/04
Civil Aviation Authority
PO Box 31-441
Lower Hutt, 5040
New Zealand

RACP Elections

The College elections will be held during the first half of 2010. In an effort to simplify and streamline the process, these elections will be conducted electronically.

A call for nominations for a number of positions will be circulated in February 2010. This will include RACP President-elect; AFOEM President-elect, as well as other elected positions on the AFOEM Council.

This is an opportunity for Fellows and Trainees to become more involved in the important work of the College and we hope that a number of Fellows/Trainees will consider nominating for these positions.

Further updates will be included in future editions of the E Newsletter.

Please ensure that you keep the College informed of your current email address.

Newsletter Input

As My Good Mate Ab Lincoln Said At Gettysburg: "For Occupational Physicians. By Occupational Physicians."

Contributions to the AFOEM Newsletter is always welcome. Please email a paragrah to afoem@racp.edu.au by Tuesday of the publishing week for inclusion into the Newsletter.

Changed Your Contact Details Recently?

Postman Pat & His Black and White Cat

AFOEM hopes to maintain a lifelong relationship with you, but to do so it is important that we keep your up-to-date details. Please notify us if you have recently changed your contact details.

Find A Consultant

Should you wish to be featured on the AFOEM "Find A Consultant" tool (found on the Faculty website), please write a short email addressed to Daniel Cheung with the required information you wish to be published. Please note that you will not be added to the webpage unless you have provided consent to the Faculty Office.

Occupational Medicine Journal (OMJ)

The OMJ, Oxford University Press, UK, is an optional extra for our member's annual subscription. Through the AFOEM, our member's receive a significant discount for a 12-month subscription. If you have paid for a subscription but have not recieved a copy of the OMJ in the post, please contact the Faculty Office. Similarly, if you do not wish to continue your subscription in 2010, please inform the Faculty Office at your earlier convenience.