AFOEM ebulletin - 21 October 2022
Mandatory restrictions on COVID-19 infected individuals have now been removed from across Australia, apart from those workers in healthcare and aged care facilities. The wave of infections has decreased and now SARS-CoV-2 is expected to be managed like other communal infectious diseases. The RACP COVID-19 Expert Reference Group has ceased regular meetings and will deal with issues on a case-by-case basis. Hopefully, a more virulent variant will not emerge.
The Alfred Occupational Respiratory Clinic (AORC) at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne has again advertised a position for an AFOEM trainee or early career consultant to gain invaluable experience in the diagnosis and management of occupational lung diseases. The position commences in February 2023 and involves three days per week for six months. Details are on the announcements section of the AFOEM ROC Community.
A combined AFOEM/ANZSOM education session on ‘It Pays to Care: How do we go from policy to practice?”’ is being held online on Monday, 24 October at 7pm (AEDT). The different perspectives across the worker’s compensation space will be provided by Dr Mary Wyatt, Dr Murray Gee (Clinical Panel Medical Lead) at Worksafe Victoria, and Dr Steven Kaye, a General Practitioner. Details were emailed on 14 October and are also on the Events section on the ROC.
The 5th Annual Dust and Respiratory Health forum is being held in Brisbane on 3 November. Virtual participation is free. The forum will feature the research and best practice in the management of dust diseases and mine dust lung diseases. Full details and registration information is also on the Events section on the ROC.
The RACP President Dr Jacqueline Small, held a meeting on 14 October to seek input into developing the College’s priorities in relation to workforce. This will be used as a prelude to a meeting with the Department of Health to discuss the National Workforce Strategy released early this year. There is also an intention to submit a paper on workforce priorities to the Minister for Health. I raised the issue of AFOEM workforce and noted that we had the lowest growth rate (1.5 per cent) of any of the Divisions, Faculties or Chapters in the College. I also expressed my concerns that the number of trainees commencing our speciality training has reduced over the past decade and was not matching the rate of retirement of our Fellows. I am asking our Faculty Policy and Advocacy Committee how we can improve recruitment to our specialty.
Dr Warren Harrex
AFOEM President
The ROC (RACP Online Community) turned one on 30 September.
To mark this special occasion, the College is celebrating throughout the month of ROCtober. So if you haven’t logged into the ROC yet, now is the perfect time to get involved.
How to get started
- Login to MyRACP using your normal ID and password
- Click on the tile 'Join the ROC'
- Accept the Terms and Conditions
- Select ‘Explore’ and you will see the communities you belong to.
Members who post a question or start a thread in their online community during ROCtober will also go into a draw to win a $100 Prezzee gift card.
So make sure you login to the ROC every day to see what’s happening in your online community and take part in the ROC’s first birthday celebrations.
For more information, visit the ROC FAQs page or email memberservices@racp.edu.au
The Kevin Sleigh Memorial Lecture was established in 2019 as a tribute to Kevin and his contribution to occupational medicine. This year’s lecture recording is now available to watch on Medflix.
Nominate a colleague to recognise their outstanding contributions to the Faculty in one of the following areas:
- Education, training and assessment
- Policy and advocacy
- Trainee commitment
Visit the AFOEM President’s awards webpage for more details and to nominate. Nominations close Wednesday, 30 November 2022.
The RACP President's Indigenous Congress Prize is open to medical students, junior medical officers and RACP trainees who identify as Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or Māori. The selected applicant will receive support to attend RACP Congress 2023 to gain educational and networking opportunities and exposure to career pathways within the College.
Please encourage anyone you know who is eligible to apply. Applications close Wednesday, 30 November 2022. See the AFOEM Essay Prize webpage for more details.
The Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine is proud to offer the 2023 Indigenous Australian and Māori Health Scholarship for Occupational and Environmental Medicine as part of the RACP Indigenous Health Scholarship Program.
The program aims to support those medical graduates and current RACP trainees who identify as Aboriginal, Torres Strait islander or Māori on their chosen career path to becoming a physician. The scholarships provide a funded pathway through Basic, Advanced, Faculty or Chapter training in Australia and/or New Zealand.
Several scholarships are available for 2023, including:
- College Indigenous Australian and Māori Health Scholarship
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Scholars
- Aotearoa Māori Health Scholarship
Further details on these scholarships are available on the RACP Foundation webpage. Applications close Wednesday, 30 November 2022.
Support your trainees by watching them compete at the regional events. Trainees who take out top honours at their regional events will be invited to present alongside recognised researchers at RACP Congress 2023. See the RACP Trainee Research Awards webpage for event details.
The AFOEM Essay Prize is open to medical students or interns in their first year after graduation. The prize is awarded for demonstrated excellence through essay, research project or assignment on occupational or environmental health. See the webpage for further details and to apply. Applications close Monday, 31 October 2022.
The 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work will be held in Sydney and has officially launched the first program announcement. The Congress begins on Thursday, 23 November 2023. Visit the website for more information about the Congress. Early bird tickets are available at 20 per cent off standard prices until Friday, 31 March 2023.
Abstracts can be submitted via the website until Wednesday, 30 November 2022.
Organisers are also looking for people to review submitted abstracts. If you are available to do these reviews you can register your interest by completing the Reviewers Form. Abstract reviewer registrations close on Friday, 18 November 2022.
Date: Thursday, 3 November 2022, 9am to 4pm AEST
Location: Online and in-person – GHD Auditorium, Advanced Engineering Building, Staff House Road, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus
Cost: In-person ($88) or via Zoom (free).
Registrations are open for the 5th Annual Dust and Respiratory Health Forum organised by the Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre at the Sustainable Minerals Institute. The forum will feature the latest research and best practice in the management of dust and mine dust lung diseases in the mining industry and offers a great opportunity for discussion and networking.
We are still finalising the speakers, but you can stay up to date with the program and register via the website.
Join us on Monday, 24 October 2022 at 7pm AEDT via Zoom.
ANZSOM and AFOEM are proud to present an interactive session for its members to discuss effective strategies in implementing the recommendations put forward from the ‘It Pays to Care’ policy document, launched in April this year.
Attendees will hear different perspectives from speakers in the worker’s compensation space including Dr Mary Wyatt (Occupational Physician), and members from Worksafe Victoria, Dr Murray Gee (Clinical Panel Medical Lead) Dr Steven Kaye (General Practitioner).
Discussions will centre around the issues that lead to workcover cases becoming unnecessarily prolonged and complex, and how we can work together to ensure that any potential bottlenecks are identified early and prevented. A number of case studies will be presented to give context to the discussions.
We would like members from ANZSOM/AFOEM to actively participate in the discussion, so please either ask questions during the panel discussion or email questions to the RACP via the question box provided during registration prior to the event.
Register
The ANZSOM VIC/TAS branch has organised a Christmas-get-together dinner event at the Melbourne Zoo on Saturday, 5 November 2022. Our guest speaker Dr Bonnie McMeekin, Senior Veterinarian, will speak about ‘OHS issues for zoo and wildlife veterinarians’. AFOEM members are welcome to attend.
Date: Saturday, 5 November 2022, 6.15pm to 9pm AEDT
Location: Melbourne Zoo, Rainforest Room, Elliott Avenue and Poplar Road, Melbourne
Cost: $40 (ANZSOM/AFOEM members)
Book your ticket or visit ANZSOM for more information.
During October, there are some great free learning opportunities available to AFOEM Fellows and trainees:
Joint VIC/TAS Branch / AFOEM Educational Meeting
It pays to care: How do we go from policy to practice?
Presenters: Dr Mary Wyatt and a panel of stakeholders
Date: Monday, 24 October 2022, 6pm (AEDT)
Venue: RACP, 2/417 St Kilda Road, Melbourne (and virtually)
#itswhatyouknow - Nurse Focus Webinar
Hearing protection fit testing: a journey of implementation at Botany industrial park in Sydney
Presenters: Amanda Tompson and Julie Toseski
Date: Wednesday, 26 October 2022, 7pm (AEDT)
To register and for more information, visit
ANZSOM.
Not an ANZSOM member?
Join ANZSOM.
Subscribe to ANZSOM news.
In response to the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) and Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) | Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa’s changed registration and recertification requirements, the MyCPD 2023 Framework has been modified to support you to meet your regulatory requirements. The new regulatory requirements will apply to all registered medical practitioners – not just to specialists.
From 2023, the annual minimum CPD requirement will be 50 hours, inclusive of the mandatory and strongly encouraged activities. Professor Martin Veysey, Chair of the College CPD Committee, explains the CPD activities you'll need to complete starting on 1 January 2023:
Read more about the new requirements on our website and find helpful CPD resources and templates in the MyCPD Interactive Handbook.
We know these new requirements will impact some more than others, so please reach out to the CPD Team via MyCPD@racp.edu.au or MyCPD@racp.org.nz for any assistance, or if you would like to contribute to the continuous development of supporting resources.
You are invited to the MyCPD Q&A webinar
For more information about these changes and to answer any questions you might have, register for our 2023 MyCPD Framework Q&A webinar on Tuesday, 22 November 2022, from 5pm to 6pm AEDT / 7pm to 8pm NZDT. We will discuss the upcoming changes, and what they mean for you, and help you identify meaningful professional development activities.
The RACP has released its annual ‘Member Statistics and Insights Report’. The report provides membership data across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand and identifies trends in cohort growth, emphasising the rapidly changing nature of our membership.
Read the 2022 Member Statistics and Insights Report.
Ep56: Billing in Byzantium - revisited
In the news we have seen recent headlines of ‘troubling’ Medicare fraud reports, with the federal government taking steps to investigate issues raised. This was in response to an investigation which has found doctors abusing the Medicare system.
Australia has one of the best value health systems in the world, but also some of the most complicated health regulation. Between the federal Medicare scheme, the state hospitals, the private health insurers and the patient, it’s not always clear how a provider should invoice their services.
To explain some of the fundamentals, Margaret Faux of Synapse Global Medical Administration, a former nurse and lawyer, describes areas of ambiguity in the legislation and the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). She highlights certain services where confusion lies over what can be billed or the items which should not be claimed together. While there are many traps for well-intentioned providers and loopholes for the less well-intentioned, there are some simple solutions that would make medical billing much more streamlined.
Guest
- Margaret Faux (CEO, Synapse Global Medical Administration)
You can also follow this episode with Ep58: Billing Part 2 – Compliance and the Free Market.
Subscribe to email alerts or search for ‘Pomegranate Health’ in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castbox, or any podcasting app. Fellows of the RACP can claim CPD credits for listening via MyCPD. For a transcript and further references please visit our website.
Medical Insurance Group Australia (MIGA) is offering six Doctors in Training (DIT) Grants of $10,000 to inspire doctors to expand their skill sets. The grants assist doctors in covering the costs of pursuing training opportunities, such as program fees, travel and accommodation, and other associated expenses. Training may include postgraduate study, specialised fellowships, volunteer placements, and more. Applications close on Monday, 31 October 2022.
Find out more and apply
Experienced perioperative medicine specialists can apply to the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Faculty of Pain Medicine’s (ANZCA) Diploma of Perioperative Medicine (DipPOM) pathway. The pathway can be undertaken through a recognition process overseen by the Recognition Pathways Working Group, chaired by Dr Vanessa Beavis, ANZCA’s past-President.
This initial cohort of recognised DipPOM recipients will form an essential resource to support, guide and assess DipPOM participants in clinical practice. RACP members are eligible to apply. Applications close on 1 December 2023.
Apply now
The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) with support from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Office for Women is continuing its multi-year scholarship program to support emerging and experienced female directors in regional, rural, and remote Australia. These scholarships are being administered by the Australian Scholarships Foundation.
The program will provide opportunities for suitably qualified women from different backgrounds who face additional barriers to education and leadership participation.
The AICD welcomes applicants who reflect the diversity of Australia’s population and encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, culturally diverse women, women with disability and those in the not-for-profit sector to apply.
Read more
Our engaging new video series highlights member experiences using My Health Record. The videos show you how to use My Health Record for accessing pathology information, advance care planning, secure messaging, and ordering medications electronically. They also explain how My Health Record can reduce patients’ length of stay in hospital and improve their overall quality of care.
Start your learning and access the videos by searching for My Health Record on Medflix.
The RACP COVID-19 Expert Reference Group invites you to attend the final COVID-19 webinar series for 2022.
- Impact of COVID-19 on First Nations communities: Australia – Thursday, 17 November, from 6pm to 7.30pm AEDT / 8pm to 9.30pm NZDT
- Impact of COVID-19 on First Nations communities: Aotearoa New Zealand – Thursday, 24 November, from 6pm to 7.30pm NZDT / 4pm to 5.30pm AEDT
The webinars will involve an open panel discussion relating to how First Nations communities were impacted by COVID-19 compared to the general population, and how the lessons learnt might inform healthcare for First Nations communities in the future. Attendees are encouraged to engage in the discussion by asking questions to the panel on the night, or by emailing them to COVIDERG@racp.edu.au. Details of panellists will be circulated closer to the dates.
Register here
The End of Life Law for Clinicians (ELLC) national training program has launched a new free online training module for health professionals about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and end-of-life law. Designed in collaboration with Indigenous health professionals and the community, it aims to help health professionals understand legal considerations when caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their families at the end-of-life, and support the delivery of high-quality, culturally safe, and culturally responsive care. Find out more about the module or register.
Your member benefits platform brings you amazing rewards and offers this spring, saving you money on home and garden, travel, and more.
Enjoy increased discounts on eGift cards from Witchery, Sunglass Hut, OPSM, and a host of other retailers. If you’re planning to travel, you will find excellent savings at Hertz, Europcar, Webjet, and Luxury Escapes.
For our members in Aotearoa New Zealand, season specials continue all month at The Market – AoNZ’s leading online destination.
Login today to start saving. Available online, 24/7. That’s your Member Advantage!
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Check the Expressions of Interest page at any time, to find out if there are any opportunities that are of benefit to you.
- A life course approach to preventing diabetes during pregnancy: The role of nutrition – 25 October, 6pm AEDT
- Movement disorders – Parkinson’s Disease – 25 October, 6pm AEDT
- National Health Workforce Summit – 27 to 28 October
- Specialists Together: Cross-culture communications and nephrology in remote settings – 29 October, 9am to 12pm ACST
- Advanced clinical postgraduate virtual meeting: Bone and mineral disorders – 29 to 30 October
- Management of serious infection in patients on biologics and immunosuppression – 31 October, 7pm AEDT
- 2022 ACTA Annual Scientific Meeting – 7 to 8 November
- Spirituality training workshops — 8, 15, 22, 29 November, 4pm AEDT
- Stories from protracted crises: Alternative Perspectives on the future of palliative care – 8 November, 6pm AEDT
- Combination approach to STI prevention – 14 November, 6pm AEDT
- COVID-19 webinars – 17 and 24 November
- North Queensland Physicians’ Conference – 19 November, 8am AEST
- Chronic Disease Management Summit – 22 to 23 November AEDT
- 2023 MyCPD framework explained – 22 November, 6pm AEDT
- Specialists Together: NT sepsis protocol – 26 November, 9am to 12pm ACST
AFOEM contact details
AFOEM Faculty enquiries (including Council and committees):
LynFay Shapiro
AFOEM Executive Officer
Email: afoem@racp.edu.au
AFOEM Education and Training enquiries:
Education Officer
Phone: +61 2 8247 6268
Email: occenvmed@racp.edu.au
AFOEM Examination enquiries:
Examination Coordinator, Assessment and Selection Unit
Email: examinations@racp.edu.au
AFOEM training site accreditation inquiries:
Site Accreditation Unit
Email: accreditation@racp.edu.au
AFOEM CPD enquiries:
Email: mycpd@racp.edu.au