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The Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Medicine aims for excellence in the standard of training and practice of Occupational Medicine in Australasia. Occupational Physicians are consultants in the effects of work on health and health on work, and strive continually for acceptable working conditions in all facets of industry. |
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Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Medicine
145 Macquarie Street Sydney, NSW 2000
ph: (02) 9256 9603
afoem@racp.edu.au
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AFOEM eNews: Friday 3, July 2009 |
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Welcome to this week's edition of the AFOEM eNews.
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) 9256 9608
Natali.Vlatko@racp.edu.au
Project Officer | RACP Faculties & Chapters (Part Time: Weds - Fri)
Neridah Callaghan
(02) 9256 9636
Neridah.Callaghan@racp.edu.au
Project Reserach Officer AFOEM Strategic Project (Part Time: Mon)
Heidi Williams
Heidi.Williams@racp.edu.au
Newbie Alert
You may have noticed that we've a new addition to our small team here at the faculty office. Heidi Williams, Project Research Officer, has recently joined the College, working as a Research Officer for AFOEM, on a project assessing the Health Consequences of Long Term Worklessness. In light of the current global economic climate, and the associated fallout of the Australian population, a policy addressing these factors is considered critical for the education of patients and policy makers alike.
With an undergraduate background in Physiotherapy, and a Master of Science in Medicine, she has been involved in clinical research for the last five years, with a particular interest in orthopaedics.
Now returning to work, after a period of maternity leave, Heidi is also currently completing a PhD through the University of Sydney.
Heidi is in the Faculty Office on a Monday and can be contacted by either phone 02 9256 9636 or email Heidi.Williams@racp.edu.au.
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Dates For Your Diary |
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Assessment Subcommittee Meeting
- Monday 6, July 2009
- 5.00PM - 6.00PM (Sydney local time)
- via teleconference
NSW Trainee Review Meeting
- Monday 6, July 2009
- 6.00PM - 7.00PM (Sydney local time)
- Tutorial Room 2.5, KPEC, RPAH
- All are welcome to attend
NSW Regional Committee Meeting
- Friday 10, July 2009
- via teleconference
- Dinner to follow
AFOEM Executive Committee Meeting
- July meeting date/time TBC
Trainee Training Session With David Goddard
- Wednesday 15, July 2009
- 2.00PM - 6.00PM
- RACP, 52 Phillips St
- Topics covered: basics of critical appraisal, principles of toxicology, principles of occupational hygiene
- RSVP by Friday 10, July 2009
Remote Area Trainee Teleconference
- Thurday 16, July 2009
- Midday - 1.30PM (Brisbane local time)
Training Status Report Deadline
- Friday 31, July 2009
- Report for January to June 2009
- Download the form and forward to Supervisor and DoT with cc to faculty office
Written Examination
- Saturday 5 - Sunday 6, September 2009
- Various locations (TBA)
Practical Examination
- Saturday 7 - Sunday 8, November 2009
- Royal Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC
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External Events |
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SSRS: Webinar
- Tuesday 21, July 2009
- A one-hour education session on Diabetes and the use of insulin in the remote context will be held via webinar (internet and teleconference)
- 8.00PM (QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS)
- 7.30PM (NT, SA)
- 6.00PM (WA)
- Presenter: Dr Ashim Sinha
- This session is sponsored through the SSRS, a program of the Australian Government and the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC)
- RSVP: Melinda Keresztes by Monday 13, July 2009
Health Insurance Summit
The Disability & Age Discrimination Law Reform Summit
ANSZOM 2009 ASM
- Wednesday 12 - Saturday 15, August 2009
- Hyatt Coolum Resort, QLD
- RE: Fit to work
- View the Flyer
National Workplace Safety Summit
- Thursday 27 - Friday 28, August 2009
- Brisbane Marriott, QLD
- AFOEM President Ross Mills will be guest speaking on "Presenteeism, absenteeism and barriers to RTW"
- Click for flyer
- Click to register
SimTech Health 2009 Simulation Conference
- Monday 7 - Friday 11, September 2009
- Hilton on the Park, Melbourne, VIC
- RE: Beyond technical skills
- Click for further details
Know Cancer in the Workplace - National Forum
- Thursday 10, December 2009
- University House, Australian National University, Canberra
- Further information contact education@cancerwa.asn.au
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Tribute to Jay Govind, FAFOEM |
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Quo Vadis ... Where Are We Going?
It was with shock and sadness that we learned of Jay’s sudden death which occurred on Saturday, 20th June, 2009.
He was well known to many of us throughout the Faculty at a professional and personal level.
Jay was warm, animated, good-humoured and with a knowledge and intelligence that challenged us to question conventional wisdom and barriers in our daily practice.
He grew up in South Africa, played cricket, helped out in his father’s shop and rose above the restraints of that society to graduate in medicine prior to immigrating with his family to Australia. For many years he has worked extensively in evidence-based interventional pain management and musculoskeletal medicine and has many papers and publications to his name. Some scientific articles are still pending publication. He has played a prominent role in the International Spine Intervention Society.
In recent years he practiced at the Liverpool Hospital in Sydney and most recently as Director and Staff Specialist overseeing the Occupational and Pain Medicine Unit at The Canberra Hospital. At the Faculty dinner a few weeks ago, on an informal level, he expressed the view that he considered that occupational medicine is the strongest of the medical disciplines that cuts across many others. These thoughts coupled with his active participation in Physicians’ Week in Sydney bear witness to his continued strong commitment to our Faculty and the practice of occupational medicine.
Jay is survived by his wife, Valerie, son, two daughters and grandchildren.
Jay recently had published a paper that included the words, Quo Vadis…. Where are we going? Wherever that may be, it will be better for having known Jay.
- David Crocker, FAFOEM
A funeral service for Jay took place on Friday 26, July 2009.
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Position Vacant |
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Chief Executive Officer - Health Workforce Australia
The education of Australia's healthcare workers is about to recieve the largest ever single allocation of new funding. A new agency, Health Workforce Australia (HWA), is being established to manage and oversee significant improvementsthat will deliver a sustainable health workforce with greater knowledge, skills and adaptability.
HWA will be responsible for funding, planning and coordinating clinical training across all health disciplines and jurisdictions. It will provide specific funding for health students undergoing clinical training. It will also be responsible for providing national policy and planning advice to all Australian Health Ministers, to ensure that we have the right health professionals in place to provide services to all Australians.
We seek a CEO that will help drive this significant national change.
Reporting to a Board of Directors, you will build HWA from the ground up then lead and motivate a high performance team. This will be done in partnership with the State, Territory and Federal Health Agencies and in consultation with health educational institutions such as universities, hospitals and clinical training centres. You will also work closely with private and public health sector participants, including community health services across the nation.
Skills and experience will include:
- Minimum ten years in a senior leadership role in either government health; private or public health administration; or health and medical educaiton;
- A track record of successfully delivering project-based milestones on-time and on-budget;
- Major change management experience;
- An understanding of the working of government and in particular healthcare;
- An ability to collaboratively and influentially work with a wide range of stakeholders; and
- Powerful communication skills
Qualified applicants are invited to submit a detailed resume to the Executive Search Consultants working on behalf of the Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing: Talent Partners, Level 28, 9 Castlereagh St, Sydney NSW 2000 or Bridgid Benvie.
Applications will be accepted after the due date (Friday 3, July 2009)
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RACP Policy & Advocacy Update |
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Review of “Guidelines for ethical relationships between physicians and industry?
The Ethics Expert Advisory group is reviewing the 3rd edition of the “Guidelines for ethical relationships between physicians and industry.”
The following new topics have been identified and will be incorporated into the 4th edition.
- Non-pecuniary conflicts of interest;
- Conflicts of interest committees in hospitals and other organisations where physicians work;
- Complementary medicines;
- Generic medicines; and
- Electronic promotion of products- assist practitioners to make clinical decisions;
The working group will also consider inviting Medical Colleges and other professional organisations to endorse the new edition. The format of the new edition will include improved content and index pages, suggestions for operationalising the recommendations and quick reference search capabilities.
The beginning of the 4th Edition will include a section on the history of changes within ethics in the medical profession, in particular the changes that have occurred in the last five years.
The working group would like to hear from colleagues about any other suggestions for improving the 4th edition. What are people’s views on mandatory or voluntary enforcement of guidelines and the consequences of such an approach? Is there value at looking at other deals that occur within a medical college and how these impact on decision making?
Please send your views into Mary Osborn by Friday 17, July 2009
COAG Meeting
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) met in Darwin on July 2. There was significant focus on Indigenous issues as promised (originally this meeting was to be fully dedicated to Close the Gap issues). Two particularly important points are the food security study to be completed by the end of this year and an effort to close the data gaps in relation to Indigenous Australians.
You will see in the Communiqué that the Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2009 report was also released yesterday.
The Future of Congress
Thank you to everyone who has responded to the article about the future structure of the College Congress that appeared in the June issue of RACP News. It is not to late to have your say - please email Yvonne Luxford.
Apresoline hydralazine HCl 20mg ampoules
The above product is not able to be supplied for approximately the next 2 months. A replacement product which is registered in the UK, but not in Australia, will be supplied in lieu. It will be distributed under an exemption granted by the TGA under section 19A of the Therapeutics Goods Act 1989.
The Quality Health Care Conversation - Consultation on National Safety and Quality Framework
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in HealthCare (ACSQHC) has released a discussion paper on their proposed National Safety and Quality Framework. The framework is designed to guide action to improve the safety and quality of the care provided in all health care settings over the next decade.The proposed framework was developed in consultation with consumers, clinicians, and health service managers. The Quality Health Care Conversation
aims to engage with a wider audience and seek their feedback on the directions established in the proposed National Safety and Quality Framework. We will use this feedback to prioritise the strategies listed in the discussion paper and to make recommendations for future action to improve the safety and quality of health care in Australia.
The Commission is particularly interested in learning from patients, clinicians and other interested individuals the answers to the following questions:
- What do you consider most important for safe, high quality care?
- What do you consider to be the current barriers to safe, high quality care?
- What do think about any or all of the strategies described in the discussion paper?
The Commission is particularly interested in learning from professional bodies, health services and other interested organisations the answers to the following questions:
- What do you consider most important for safe, high quality care?
- How do your current activities align with the strategies described in the discussion paper?
- How could your future activities align with the strategies described in the discussion paper?
- What have been the biggest improvements in safety and quality in the last five years?
- What are the main barriers in your work to improve safety and quality? Could any of these be addressed by national coordination?
If you would like to contribute to this submission, then please send comments to Karen Steadman, or on 02 9256 9632, before Monday 10, August 2009
National Registration and Accreditation Scheme - "Bill B"
The exposure draft of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law 2009 (Bill B) has been released for consultation. The exposure draft sets out the legal framework for the new National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for the Health Professions, which will begin on 1 July 2010. The draft is being released to enable further comment prior to the Bill’s introduction into the Queensland Parliament. Following passage in the Queensland Parliament, draft legislation will be introduced in all parliaments across Australia to adopt the new National Law.
The draft Bill and accompanying information is available at: www.nhwt.gov.au/natreg.asp under Legislation.
The College has already made several submissions in regards to the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme, which have been considered in preparation of this draft Bill. Our previous submissions are available here. This will be the final opportunity to comment on this significant piece of legislation, the implementation of which will impact on the whole College membership, as well as the College itself.
If you would like to contribute to the College submission on the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law 2009, then please email comments to Karen Steadman by Monday 5, July 2009.
Submissions on Bill B close on Friday 17, July 2009.
We Still Need Your Input
Items from previous ebulletins where we would still appreciate your input and action:
- Future of Congress - please feedback your comments on the RACP News article to Yvonne Luxford
- Chronic Disease submission - comments to Karen Steadman by July 13.
- 2nd Edition Practice Accreditation Standards for the Diagnostic Imaging & Accreditation Scheme comments to Jason Appleby by July 3.
- Revision of Dept of Immigration & Citizenship Notes for Guidance for Medical Officers - Respiratory Conditions comments to Alexandra Lipman by July 6.
- Workforce Expert Advisory Group nominations to Jason Appleby by June 30.
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WCIM 2010 Melbourne |
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20 - 25 March, 2010
The World Congress of Internal Medicine 2010 Melbourne in conjunction with Physicians Week is coming around quickly. With an exciting and educational program in development this is a Congress that you should be sure not to miss. Abstract Submissions and Registrations will both open on 15 June 2009. Ensure that you don't miss out on early registration and register as soon as possible. Be sure to submit your abstract for consideration in either the WCIM 2010 Melbourne or Physicians Week 2010 programs before the deadline of 30 August 2009.
For more information on registration, abstract submissions and the exciting social program on offer, we encourage you to continue visiting the website. To receive regular updates on WCIM 2010 Melbourne in conjunction with Physicians Week, please visit the website and register your interest now.
Please be aware that the 2010 AFOEM Annual Scientific Meeting is part of the WCIM 2010 program.
Abstract Submissions Now Open
With this being the first time that this exciting Congress has taken place in Australia, we encourage you to take this opportunity to showcase your research and submit your abstract for consideration in this educational and stimulating program. Abstract Submissions for WCIM 2010 Melbourne in conjunction with Physicians Week are now open online. We encourage all interested authors to visit the website for more information on the abstract submission process.
The closing date for abstract submissions is 18 September 2009.
AFOEM Annual Training Meeting
Don't forget that the 2010 ATM will be held on Saturday 20 - Sunday 21, March 2010.
The Saturday will be dedicated to AFOEM trainees with the theme being "Environment".
Sunday will be open to both AFOEM trainees and fellows and will include Ramazzini presentations, annual members meeting and a presentation by the 2010 Fergurson-Glass Orator, Dr John Osman.
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RACP NZ Annual Scientific Meeting |
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4-6 November, 2009 | Hyatt Regency Hotel, Auckland
The theme of the conference ‘ Intersections and Transitions’ emphasises the need for collaboration in the care of patients and to note transitions in the patient’s health journey e.g. living with chronic illness, moving to palliative care, living with disability. Medical updates will include atrial fibrilation, neurodegenerative disease, multiple sclerosis, pain management and end of life planning to name some.
Our key note speakers Mr John Bourke, Department of Cardiology, Freeman Hospital (UK); Mr Anthony Back, University of Washington, Washington DC (USA); and Professor Martin Conolly, Geriatric Medicine, The University of Auckland, will inform us and stimulate debate.
Besides a great scientific programme, we have also organised social events in a relaxing and entertaining environment, also creating fantastic opportunities for networking.
For further information, please visit www.workz4u.co.nz/events.
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EPICOH-MEDICHEM Conference |
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April 2010 | Taiwan
The 38th Medichem congress will be held from 22 - 24 April, 2010 as a joint meeting with EPICOH. EPICOH is the scientific committee on epidemiology in occupational health of the ICOH.
The conference theme is "Occupational Health under Globalisation and New Technology". More detailed information is available on the EPICOH-MEDICHEM 2010 website.
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ANZSOM ASM 2009 |
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Tuesday 11, August - Saturday 15, August 2009 | Hyatt Regency Coolum, QLD
For registration and further details: 1300 666 515 or anzsom@westnet.com.au
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Reduce Your Carbon Footprint |
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10 Practical Actions For Doctors
The Climate and Health Council and the Health and Sustainability Network have prepared a short paper proposing Ten Practical Actions for Doctors to Combat Climate Change, which was published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ 2008;336: 1507).
Click here to read a summary of the proposed actions, as well as a first attempt at calculating the potential tonnes of carbon that might be saved from the 'affirmative' group of actions.
Be Informed & Get Involved
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Changed Your Contact Details Recently? |
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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.
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Competition Time |
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We Need You
Not to join the Army (unless so inclined!) but rather, we are seeking submissions for a catchy tagline that reflects the essence of occuational and environmental medicine.
Criteria for the catchphrase:
- No more than ten words
- Need to encapsulate the essence of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Medicine
- Be unique and represent the speciality of OEM
The AFOEM Council will make a decision on the best submission and the author of the winning catchphrase will receive an AFOEM tie and lapel pin.
Competition closes COB 13 Friday, July 2009.
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