A message from your President

RACP President Dr Jacqueline Small and I met with Lyndall Soper, the Deputy CEO of the National Mental Health Commission, to discuss how best to implement the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy. This is one of our asks of the RACP's Kids COVID Catch Up campaign. The meeting opened up a constructive dialogue between the College and the National Mental Health Commission, which will be ongoing and allow us to more directly engage with key stakeholders regarding the mental health of children and young people.

2023 to 2025 workplan            

The PCHD Council met face-to-face on 18 August 2022 to discuss and on agree the 2023 to 2025 workplan. Some of the key initiatives agreed were:

• support of the RACP Indigenous Strategic Framework — strategic priority 2: Grow our Indigenous physician workforce
• continued support of RACP Policy and Advocacy work
• continued support for training and trainees.

Engagement with specialty societies

The PCHD Council endeavours to meet with affiliated paediatric specialty societies to explore how the College and the societies can work together to support training and education, as well as to discuss other key priorities through the Model of Collaboration.

The most recent meeting with the specialty societies was held face-to-face on the 17 August 2022. The meeting had representatives from the Paediatric Endocrinology Society, the Paediatric Renal Society, the Gastroenterology Society of Australia Paediatric Network, the Australia and New Zealand Child Neurology Society, the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, The Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group, and the Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Infectious Diseases Group.

RACP Congress 2023: 4 to 6 May in Brisbane 

We are progressing plans for the RACP 2023 Congress, and we ask that you continue to send in your topic and presentation ideas to Paed@racp.edu.au to be covered in the PCHD sessions.

The Paediatric Society of New Zealand (PSNZ)

The PSNZ is celebrating its 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting in New Plymouth, Aotearoa New Zealand, from 1 to 4 November 2022.

Read more

Australian Medical Association (AMA)

I extend my congratulations to the new AMA President, Professor Steve Robson, whose election was announced on 31 July 2022.

RACP Online Community (ROC)

The ROC is a secure online forum for the whole RACP membership, where you will be able post questions, share comments, start debates and discussions with all members across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. We also have our own PCHD community and I encourage you to log in, engage with threads, and start your own discussions too. Furthermore, you can take part in Mentor Match – the College’s mentoring program.

Read more about the ROC

Best wishes,

Associate Professor Nitin Kapur
PCHD President

Expressions of Interest (EOIs)

Please keep an eye on the EOIs page on the College website for vacant positions on PCHD Committees.

• Represent on the Paediatrics & Child Health Division Council
• Represent on the PCHD Research Committee
• Represent on the CCCH Committee
• Represent on the PCHD Policy & Advocacy Committee
• Represent on the AYAM Committee
• PCHD Basic Trainee on the PCHD Education Committee (PDEC)
• Case study and research project markers needed in Palliative Medicine

College medals, prizes, and awards

If you know someone deserving of recognition for their outstanding contributions and achievements, now is the time to nominate them for these prestigious College Awards:

• The John Sands Medal recognises a Fellow who makes a significant contribution to the welfare of RACP and its members.
• The College Medal is aligned to the College motto hominum servire saluti. It is awarded to a Fellow who makes a significant contribution to medical specialist practice, healthcare and/or health of community through physician activities.
• International Medal recognises a member who has provided outstanding service in developing countries.
• Medal for Clinical Service in Rural and Remote Areas recognises a Fellow who has provided outstanding clinical service in rural and remote areas of Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Mentor of the Year Award recognises a Fellow who has made an outstanding contribution to mentoring or provided a high level of support and guidance throughout training.
• Trainee of the Year Award recognises a trainee who has made an outstanding contribution to College, community and trainee activities.

Nominations must be received by Friday, 30 September 2022.

Closing soon: Eric Susman Prize

The Eric Susman Prize is presented by the College for the best contribution to the knowledge of any branch of internal medicine (adult medicine and paediatrics). The deserving Fellow will have demonstrated an outstanding and lasting contribution in the areas of research, teaching and/or clinical medicine.

Nominations close on Thursday, 15 September 2022. Details on the application process and selection criteria are available on the website.

Opening soon: RACP President's Indigenous Congress Prize

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 open Thursday, 1 September 2022. See the website for further details.  

Spikevax (Moderna) Vaccine for children six-months to five-years-old

The Australian Government has accepted a recommendation from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) to make the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine available to children aged six-months to under five-years-old in certain at-risk population groups from 5 September 2022, following its approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on 19 July 2022.

Read more

COVID-19 vaccinations for children updates

The Australian Department of Health and the COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce have issued important updates about COVID-19 vaccinations for children.

Information includes:

• National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce updates
• Spikevax (Moderna) vaccine for children six-months to five-years old (as mentioned above)
• Rollout of COVID-19 vaccination for children aged six-months to under five-years
• COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged five to 11 years.

Read more

Expressions of Interest being accepted for new working groups

Improving the Health of Healthcare Workers working group

This group will produce a guidance document to advocate for improvement in Work Health and Safety (WHS) in the healthcare sector (particularly hospitals) to benefit workers, employers, organisations, and the community. The group will produce evidence-informed guidance for healthcare workplaces, demonstrated as a gap area during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information and to apply, please visit the RACP website. The application deadline is 9 September 2022.

Apply

The value of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Physicians in Healthcare working group

Expressions of Interest are now open for a new working group which aims to produce a position paper regarding the expertise and value of occupational and environmental physicians in the healthcare sector (particularly hospitals).

For more information and to apply, please visit the RACP website. The application deadline is 9 September 2022.

Apply

The RACP Trainee Research Awards 2022 — closing on Wednesday

Trainees and first year Fellows, this is your chance to be recognised for your research. Do not delay — the submission deadline approaching.

Would you like to have your research published in a College journal? And to present alongside recognised researchers at RACP Congress 2023? Then submit your research into the RACP Trainee Research Awards.

In addition to the above, winners will receive complimentary registration and travel to Congress, and will present at a local awards event. For more information about the awards and how to apply, visit the RACP Trainee Research Awards webpage. Submit your application by Wednesday, 31 August 2022, at midnight AEST.

Apply now

Tell us about your recent physician training experiences

COVID-19 continues to challenge our profession so it is important we understand the impact it has on physician training, so we can support our trainees and educators.

Tell us about your recent physician training experiences through one of the following surveys.

Physician Training Survey (PTS)

Trainees in Aotearoa New Zealand along with educators across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand are invited to complete the Physician Training Survey (PTS)*.  Eligible trainees and educators can complete the survey using their unique link sent by research provider Big Village.

Medical Training Survey (MTS)

Trainees in Australia are invited to provide their feedback through the Medical Board of Australia’s Medical Training Survey (MTS). This survey is now open and can be accessed via the link at the end of the AHPRA re-registration process.

Why you should participate

The RACP and training settings use survey results to sustain successes and prioritise areas for improvement. Your anonymity is protected through reporting thresholds. Sufficient responses allow results to be anonymously reported to training settings and specialty training committees – every response counts.

The College works closely with training settings where there are concerns about workload, wellbeing, and workplace culture and requests local leaders to demonstrate how the concerns are being addressed.

Questions?

For information about the survey, visit the Physician Training Survey / Medical Training Survey or contact the Training Survey team.

*The Physician Training Survey has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) – Concord Repatriation General Hospital of the Sydney Local Health District 2019/ETH12472.

If you have any concerns or complaints about the conduct of the research study, you may contact the Executive Officer of the Ethics Committee or call +61 2 9767 5622.

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health: August 2022 edition

The Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health publishes original research articles of scientific excellence in paediatrics and child health. The August 2022 edition is now live and available to view online.

Articles in this edition include:

• Monkeypox
• It is not Black and White: A spotlight on racial diversity in paediatrics
• How can advance care planning tools help young people’s voice be heard?
• Virtual healthcare for children: Parental willingness to adopt victual healthcare technologies

Read the journal

Advanced Trainees and New Fellows — your invitation to the National New Fellows Online Forum

Advanced Trainees and New Fellows in Australia are invited to join this interactive and informative forum to learn about all the things you need to know when entering Fellowship.

The following sessions will be included alongside a welcome to Fellowship by RACP President Dr Jacqueline Small and an introduction to Dr Kudzai Kanhutu, the new College Dean:

• Fellowship, what’s next? What I wish I knew when I was new — a Fellow’s perspective
• Medical indemnity – things you need to know as a Fellow
• CPD, what changes now you're a Fellow?
• Q&A for the panel of speakers.

Join us on Thursday, 13 October 2022 at 7pm to 8.30pm (AEDT) / 6pm to 7.30pm (AEST) / 6.30pm to 8pm (ACDT) / 4pm to 5.30pm (AWST).

Register

Pomegranate Health podcast — Ep84:The ASD Odyssey

Ep84: The ASD Odyssey
The average age at which autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed is four years old, though signs are often present well before that.

Even when families and GPs may have concerns early in a child’s development, it can take a year or more for a consultation with a paediatrician to become available. There are similar waiting lists to see other allied health and sub-specialists who may contribute opinions to a diagnosis. And there is some inconsistency as to what kind of supporting documentation is required to access support services at different layers of government.

The Autism Cooperative Research Centre published a national guideline with 70 recommendations to streamline this process and improve equity for families from different backgrounds and living in different parts of the country.

In this podcast, we hear from a GP and a paediatrician working in regional practice about how the national guideline can help patients receive early intervention in the critical developmental years.

Guests

• Dr Jo McCubbin FRACP (Fitzpatrick House, Sale, VIC)
• Dr James Best FRACGP (Junction Street Medical Centre, Nowra, NSW).

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. 

Assessing and diagnosing autism – an online course

This short online course is relevant for any key clinical professional supporting individuals and families through autism assessment and diagnosis.

The Implementing a National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Australia course explores the recommendations included within the National Guideline for the Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders. It delivers a consistent overview of the entire clinical pathway and deeper dives that highlight the role of key clinical professionals, from initiating a referral to sharing findings.

The learning framework and module objectives guide you through the Guideline recommendations, while allowing for self-directed and flexible learning. Also included are essential downloadable resources, such as templates, case study examples, and quick reference guides, to support future Guideline implementation. Additionally, build skills by completing self-evaluation and reflection questions throughout the modules.

This course is ideal for clinicians interested in implementing a best practice, evidence-based approach within their clinical setting. Access it via The Resourceful Physician on RACP Online Learning, and don’t forget to claim CPD credits for your learning.

Australian Prescriber: View the latest issue

The August 2022 issue of the Australian Prescriber has now been published. The latest issue includes articles on:

• Rheumatic fever and heart disease
• SGLT2 inhibitors beyond diabetes
• Stepping down asthma treatment.

Read the full issue.

The Fertility, Pregnancy, and Early Parenting Experiences of Doctors study

You are invited to participate in the Fertility, pregnancy, and early parenting experiences of doctors study. The study aims to capture the lived experiences of male and female doctors regarding fertility, pregnancy, and early parenthood, with the goal of identifying the impact on work satisfaction and career progression, as well as potential areas of improvement in workplace strategies.

By completing this survey, you are consenting to participate in this study. The survey will take up to 30 minutes to complete and is voluntary and confidential. Please direct any questions or comments to the St Vincent’s Hospital Research Office or to Lisa Raven. 

 *This is an investigator-initiated study (created by doctors). It has ethics approval through St Vincent’s Hospital HREC (2021/ETH11588).

Paediatrics & Child Health community is open in the ROC (RACP Online Community)  

This is a community exclusively for PCHD Fellows and trainees and is your place to connect, discuss matters of interest and share ideas and resources.

Download the app from the App Store or Google Play, or log in via MyRACP. Go to ‘My Communities’ or select ‘Explore’ on the home page to find your community.

Log into the ROC

Let's make September all about Dad

Celebrate Father's Day with unmissable offers and savings on gifts Dad will love.

This September, we bring you special offers so you can spoil Dad, Grandad, or any father-figure in your life.

See Member Advantage’s Father’s Day offers here.

Australian member access    Aotearoa New Zealand member access

Other news and events

News

• New at home palliative care resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
• The RACP endorses the FARE Every Moment Matters Campaign 
• National Take Home Naloxone (THN) Program
• Submission to the WA Legislative Assembly’s Education and Health Standing - Inquiry into the Esther Foundation
• National COVID-19 Clinical evidence Taskforce updates
• COVID-19 vaccinations for children updates
• COVID-19 vaccines campaign posters to print and display in your workplace
• New RACP Online Learning courses

Events

• ANZBMS webinar: Bone health in children — 29 August, 6pm AEST
• ARA webinar: Living guidelines on the perioperative use of DMARDs in people with inflammatory conditions — 30 August, 7pm AEST
• ANZSPM webinar: Palliative care development: Adult and paediatric global perspectives and the importance of advocacy — 5 September, 6pm AEST
• Public Health Congress 2022 — 20 to 23 September, 9.30am to 4pm AEST
• ANZBMS webinar: Interpretation of bone density and fracture risk — 20 September, 6pm AEST
• Financial wellbeing webinar: Boost your financial health — 24 September, 9am to 12pm AEST
• ANZSPM webinar: Culturally safe palliative care for Aboriginal patients: Learning from Central Australia — 4 October, 6pm AEDT
• ANZAN webinar: Antibody-mediated neurological disorders — 5 October, 6pm AEDT
• Specialists Together: Climate change and sustainability of the NT workforce — 8 October, 9am to 12pm ACST
• ANZBMS webinar: Exercise and bone health — 11 October, 6pm AEDT
• Financial wellbeing webinar: Succession and wealth legacy — 20 October, 7pm AEST
• Specialists Together: Cross-culture communications and nephrology in remote settings — 29 October, 9am to 12pm ACST
• ANZBMS webinar: Advanced Clinical Postgraduate Meeting: Bone and mineral disorders — 29 to 30 October
• Financial wellbeing webinar: Reducing financial stress as a new or established staff specialist — in person on 5 November, 9am to 12pm AEST
• Specialists Together: NT sepsis protocol — 26 November, 9am to 12pm ACST

Save the date

• The RACP Health Reform Summit — 19 October, 9.30am to 4pm AEDT
• Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists webinar — 25 October, 6pm to 7pm AEDT
• Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society webinar — 25 October, 6pm to 7pm AEDT
• Recognising and responding to child maltreatment (child protection training) — 26 to 28 October, 9.30am to 4.30pm ACDT
• Australian Rheumatology Association webinar — 31 October, 7pm to 8pm AEDT
• Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine webinar — 8 November 6pm to 7pm AEDT
• New Zealand Sexual Health Society webinar — 14 November, 6pm to 7pm NZDT

Career opportunities

New South Wales

Paediatrician – VMO consultant opportunity | Wollongong Private Hospital, NSW

Queensland 

Paediatric opportunities | Ramsay Health Care, Cairns / Greenslopes / North-west Queensland

View all career opportunities on the RACP website.

Pot-pourri submissions welcome

To submit an article for publishing in Pot-pourri, please email paed@racp.edu.au. The article should be no more than 350 words. If you would like to submit an image with your article, it would be assumed that you have received appropriate permission to use the photo and it needs to be of high resolution, above 300 dpi. Please note that articles may need to be edited by the RACP Communications Team.

Update your details with the College

Did you know that you can update your address details online? Simply log into MyRACP and go to 'Edit my details'.