1 October 2010 in This Issue

National Rural Health Alliance eforum - 1 October 2010

In this issue: * September 2010 E-news from the Alliance * Regions to benefit from latest round of health funding * Measuring the metropolitan-rural inequity * Obesity: A Heavy Burden - Rural Health Education Foundation satellite broadcast * Polo Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Campaign scholarships- applications now open * 11th National Rural Health Conference * ACRRM Country Watch Newsletter * The Lowitja Institute * Federal Government News * Regional health funding too little too late - Opposition * Trends in the health of mothers and babies, Northern Territory: 1986-2005 * What, then, is regional policy? * Rural Health on the ABC * RDAA News * ABS Statistics * Articles in 'Rural and Remote Health' * What's On * Contribution and subscription information and disclaimer * Full text of "Regions to benefit from latest round of health funding"

SEPTEMBER 2010 E-NEWS FROM THE ALLIANCE

Four Corners E-news has previously reported to you on the Alliance's meeting last August with the three country Independents, Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and Bob Katter. That meeting was recorded by a Four Corners film crew who were following the Independents during those important weeks following the Federal Election. The episode of Four Corners which will review the events of that time (including the meeting with Council of the Alliance) will be screened on ABC TV this Monday, 4 October at 8:30pm AEDT.

Policy work We hope you saw the special post-election e-news with an update on our contributions to the current regional affairs agenda. The Alliance has now met with Nicola Roxon and received assurance that we will continue to be closely consulted, including on the work that will be advanced through the relationship between her portfolio and Simon Crean's Regional Affairs Department.

Ross Gittins, Henry Ergas and Michael Stutchbury are among the senior commentators to have argued that transfer payments of any sort from city to country are a folly; our work is not yet done! Our five-page summary of rural-metropolitan inequities is hopefully a useful start.

We have written to State/Northern Territory Premiers/Chief Ministers about the importance of Local Hospital Networks and primary health care organisations being based on communities of interest, rather than an arbitrary population sizes. We have also emphasised the critical need for the two entities to work in very close collaboration or indeed to be merged into one. The Alliance has prepared a submission to the Department of Health and Ageing on the same issues and called for the first batch of PHCOs that are to be established to include a number in rural and remote areas and at least one which is a merged entity with the hospital network.

Like so many others, the Alliance will be watching very closely developments with the NBN Co, including the capacity it has to underpin further developments in e-health.

We welcome the fact that Minister Roxon has indicated that dental health will be an early priority for the new government, along with aged care and mental health. People should make sure they stay in close touch with the Productivity Commission as it continues its enquiry into Caring for Older Australians.

Costing the health deficit in rural areas and policies for rural community sustainability remain on our current agenda, as does the watching brief on legislation, now that Parliament has resumed.

11th National Rural Health Conferenced We are delighted to welcome HESTA as the latest Alliance partner for the 11th National Rural Health Conference. HESTA joins WA Country Health, Silver Chain, beyondblue and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation as sponsors of the event. The Conference also appreciates the support of the National Institute for Rural and Regional Australia, Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet and the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Under the enthusiastic leadership of Gordon Stacey, the Conference Advisory Committee is overseeing developments on a number of fronts. Keynote speakers have been approached and the program is taking shape. When the call closed, over 300 abstracts for papers in concurrent sessions had been received. These have now been reviewed and ranked and authors will hear before the end of October whether they have a spot on the program.

The exhibition booths are selling well so if your organisation or company wants to be part of it, contact us soon. Dr James Fitzpatrick will be Conference MC and we are delighted that the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation has agreed to partner again with the Alliance in some special awards. The Conference will again be the venue for the Libby Harricks Memorial Oration, to be given this time by Dr Rob Patuzzi from the University of Western Australia.

Early bird registrations are available until 18 December 2010 so register early to secure your place and save money.

friends at the 11th conference The friends Advisory Committee is currently busy preparing a variety of events for the 11th conference including the ever popular photo and poetry competition and Unsung Hero awards. Do you have any happy snaps or poetry to enter? Perhaps you have an unsung hero in your community who deserves some recognition? Entries for both competitions will open shortly so get snapping, wri ting and thinking! Finally, don?t forget to join or renew your friends of the Alliance membership for 2011 to receive discounted registration for the 11th Conference. Visit the 11th conference website for further information.

RAMUS The RAMUS Scheme has a new web site at http://ramus.ruralhealth.org.au

The 2011 application round for RAMUS will open on 9 November 2010 and close on 17 January 2011. The Application Form and detailed Application Guidelines will be available online from 9 November 2010 at http://ramus.ruralhealth.org.au/applying

The latest RAMUS Gone fishin' newsletter (August 2010) is available at http://ramus.ruralhealth.org.au/newsletter

Rural Health Continuing Education Program (RHCE) Stream 2 The first funding round received over 700 applications and these are currently being assessed and shortlisted. Final assessment of applications will be undertaken by an independent Assessment Panel with representation from each sector (doctors, nurses/midwives, allied health and Aboriginal Health Workers). It is expected that the outcomes of the assessment process will be known by mid November 2010. There will be further funding rounds in 2011 and 2012.

Further information about the RHCE program is available at http://rhce.ruralhealth.org.au/

AJRH The October issue of AJRH (Vol 18 No 5) carries several articles dealing with a number of workforce issues - factors influencing junior doctors not to work in rural locations and what might be done to induce them to do so, and several articles looking at training and location preference issues for nurses. Improving diabetes care in general practice is also examined. AJRH can be accessed on line at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1440- 1584

Partyline The next issue (No 40) will be published in November 2010. The copy date for articles is 11 October. Please send your article, photo, letter or poem to [email protected] Partyline No 39 and previous editions are available on the Alliance website and hard copies are available on request. Subscription is free.

Please keep in touch with us on all things rural and remote.

REGIONS TO BENEFIT FROM LATEST ROUND OF HEALTH FUNDING

The National Rural Health Alliance has welcomed yesterday's invitation from Prime Minister Julia Gillard for regional communities to apply for up to $1.8 billion in unallocated monies available under the Commonwealth Health and Hospitals Fund.

The full text of the Alliance statement is at http://nrha.ruralhealth.org.au/cms/uploads/mediareleases/mr-01-10-10.pdf and is reproduced below.

MEASURING THE METROPOLITAN-RURAL INEQUITY

A new five-page report from the NRHA details some of the rural-metropolitan inequities that justify special regional investments by the new Gillard Government. The report covers differences in life expectancy, access to health professionals, health status and risk factors, cancer survival rates, education and educational outcomes, and communications, among others. http://nrha.ruralhealth.org.au/ftp/NRHA-measuring-the-inequity.pdf

OBESITY: A HEAVY BURDEN - RURAL HEALTH EDUCATION FOUNDATION SATELLITE BROADCAST

Live Satellite Broadcast - Tuesday, 28 September 2010 8.00pm - NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS & QLD 7.30pm - SA & NT 6pm - WA

Obesity is complex and hard to treat. Health practitioners need knowledge and skills to assist people to prevent weight gain, to lose weight, and to maintain their weight loss. This satellite broadcast discusses the latest research on overweight and obesity; highlights some healthy lifestyle community based prevention and intervention strategies; and outlines evidence based interventions in weight management and maintenance.

Panel Participants: Chair: Dr Norman Swan - Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National; Professor Boyd Swinburn - Alfred Deakin Professor of Population Health and Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Deakin University Melbourne VIC; Dr Lilian Kow - Bariatric Surgeon, Dept of Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Ms Melanie McGrice - Accredited Dietitian, Health Kick Nutrition & Dietetics, Melbourne, VIC and Dr John Pearson - General Practitioner, Tamworth, NSW.

More information at http://www.rhef.com.au/programs/program- 1/?program_id=431&group_id=43

Polo Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Campaign scholarships- applications now open From: Janelle Webb

Applications open for scholarships to improve local breast cancer care

Nurses and community health workers in rural, regional and remote Australia are invited to apply for scholarships to expand their skills in caring for local women with breast cancer. The scholarships are funded by the Polo Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Campaign - a collaboration between Polo Ralph Lauren and National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC).

The scholarships will be awarded for further study or attendance at conferences to improve the care and support of women diagnosed with breast cancer in rural, regional and remote areas. Nurses and community health workers providing care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are encouraged to apply.

How to apply: Information on how to apply for a scholarship, and the application form can be found on the NBOCC website: http://www.nbocc.org.au/pinkpony

Scholarship applications close: Monday 25 October 2010

Please contact NBOCC directly if you require any further information: Phone: 02 9357 9414 Email: [email protected]

Keep up-to-date on the latest news from National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre - subscribe to our e-newsletter at http://www.nbocc.org.au/our-organisation/nbocc-news-email- subscription/email-subscription

NRHA MEDIA RESOURCES - OVERVIEW Audio and video files relating to NRHA activities at http://nrha.ruralhealth.org.au/media/?IntCatId=26

AM with Tony Eastley 23/09/10 "Slow start to negotiations over hung parliament". Ashley Hall interviews Chairperson of the NRHA Jenny May with Antony Green, Nola Maxfield and Tony Windsor. http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2010/s2990328.htm

11TH NATIONAL RURAL HEALTH CONFERENCE Perth, 13-16 March 2011

CONFERENCE PROGRAM Keynote speakers are being approached and an outline of the prgram will soon be on the website. The focus of Keynote addresses will include "resources for regions", child and maternal health, healthy Indigenous communities, workforce redesign, and change management in rural and remote health services. There will be nine concurrent streams, with sessions on sustainable communities, the rural and remote health workforce, chronic disease, and e-health. beyondblue is supporting special sessions on mental health. There will be presentations from the Women's Health Longitudinal Study. An arts and health stream will also feature again in the concurrent sessions. All participants, including paper givers, will be encouraged to suggest recommendations for action on rural and remote health services.

REGISTER AT THE EARLY BIRD RATE AND SAVE For those wanting to register early and save, Early Bird registration is available at $880 (gst inc) until 18 December 2010. Register now to receive this discount.

Everything you need to know about the 11th Conference is on the Conference Website at http://11nrhc.ruralhealth.org.au/

Further information will be added as it becomes available, so make sure you check the site regularly for the latest news and updated program. You can also follow the Conference on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nrhalliance

ACRRM COUNTRY WATCH NEWSLETTER (Subscribe at http://www.acrrm.org.au/country-watch-newsletter)

1 October 2010 * AMC-accredited pathway to general registration for IMGs * Patient presents with pay-back injuries * Medical training summit calls for 'concrete action' * Delegates lining up for Rural Medicine Australia 2010 * Hospital funding round opens

24 September 2010 * New! AMC-accredited pathway to general registration for IMGs * Registrars 'at home' with MCQ exams * First national clinical guidelines now online * Help develop e-training for anaphylaxis treatment * Students 'need not be disadvantaged' by rural and remote placement: RRH study * AIHW reports * Dates for your diary

NRHA on TWITTER From http://twitter.com/NRHAlliance

Rob Oakeshott on importance of Local Hosp. Networks' boundaries, funding, governance - http://bit.ly/amRZWa Cmwlth's responsibility for primary care should lead to better workforce programs, patient travel schemes NRHA's fortnightly e-forum published this weekend - check it out and subscribe at http://www.ruralhealth.org.au Sign on as an organ donor: http://bit.ly/36aUpm PM opens regional round of Health & Hospitals Fund for up to $1.8billion for health infrastructure and equipment http://www.pm.gov.au/node/6927 For the city-regional-remote classification of your home town by ASGC-RA see: http://bit.ly/9GqWrS Is your town short a GP, podiatrist, dentist, mental health service? Case studies to: [email protected] Need an overview of rural and remote health? The Alliance has Factsheets on a range of issues: http://nrha.ruralhealth.org.au/factsheets/ The 11th National Rural Health Conference: Perth Convention Centre, 13-16 March 2011 http://11nrhc.ruralhealth.org.au/ Women's health at 11th Conf: higher death rates in rural; out of pocket costs for med. services; women and the drought http://bit.ly/c3Q7bR PM: we can't accept situation where those in R/R areas are 3x more likely to die of cancer within 5 years of diagnosis http://bit.ly/d0i8o1

THE LOWITJA INSTITUTE E-BULLETIN Subscribe at http://www.lowitja.org.au/node/add/profile

27 September * Healing Our Spirit Worldwide, The Sixth Gathering * The Lowitja Institute newsletter and Congress Lowitja 2010 report * National Guide to Preventive Health Assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples * Conferences * Jobs * Media * Publications * Resources and Websites * Scholarships, Awards, Funding, Grants and Tenders * Seminars, Courses and Symposia * and Reminders

Highlights of the new section on the Alliance's website where you can keep in touch and provide your comments on e-health developments in rural and remote areas at (http://nrha.ruralhealth.org.au/e-health/?IntCatId=45)

The Alliance's position paper on the rural and remote implications of a national e-health strategy - http://nrha.ruralhealth.org.au/cms/uploads/publications/final%20e- health%20position%20paper.pdf * Contribute information and views - http://nrha.ruralhealth.org.au/e- health/?IntContId=14852&IntCatId=45 * Follow the development of broadband and electronic communications in rural and remote communities - http://nrha.ruralhealth.org.au/e-health/?IntContId=14851&IntCatId=45 * Help improve our understanding of progress towards shared individual electronic health records - http://nrha.ruralhealth.org.au/e-health/?IntContId=14853&IntCatId=45

RURAL AND REMOTE HEALTH PAPERS 1991 - 2009 DVD

Where can you easily access 3,189 references to the words 'rural health'?

All 3,189 documents can be found on the updated 'Rural and Remote Health Papers 1991- 2009' DVD available when you join friends of the Alliance (see http://nrha.ruralhealth.org.au/friends/?IntCatId=4)

You will also find 2,510 references to 'remote health', 526 references to 'health reform', 1,359 references to 'aboriginal health', and 315 references to 'oral health'.

What will you search for when you get your copy? The DVD contains the proceedings of all ten National Rural Health Conferences, all Alliance policy documents, annual reports, media releases and newsletters.

Don't forget friends of the Alliance also receive a discounted registration for the 11th National Rural Health Conference to be held in Perth, 13-16 March 2011.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEWS

Commonwealth Indigenous-specific expenditure 1968-2010 This paper attempts to identify Commonwealth expenditure in the area of Indigenous affairs over the 42 years from 1968 to 2010 and to plot that expenditure by agency. The paper analyses trends in both the nominal and real expenditure, in the expenditure as a percentage of total Commonwealth outlays and Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and in the per-capita expenditure. In nominal and real terms, identifiable Commonwealth Indigenous-specific expenditure has trended up, but dipped in the last 2 years. As a percentage of total outlays or Gross Domestic Product it started to plateau about 10 years ago. The per capita trend is found to be too problematic to characterise simply. http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22library%2F prspub%2F216438%22

Regional Round of Health and Hospitals Fund http://www.pm.gov.au/node/6927 http://www.pm.gov.au/node/6928

REGIONAL HEALTH FUNDING TOO LITTLE TOO LATE - OPPOSITION

After three years of Mr Rudd ignoring country Australia, Miss Gillard was being led by the nose with no other motivation other than to keep her job as Prime Minister. http://www.liberal.org.au/Latest-News/2010/09/30/Regional-health-funding-too-little-too- late.aspx

JOIN FRIENDS

We would like to encourage you to join friends of the Alliance. The cost of membership is unchanged: $44 (including GST) for an individual, $165 for an organisation of less than 50 people, and $330 for a large organisation.

On joining you will receive a friends membership pack including a certificate, the Rural and Remote Health Papers CD, lapel pin, fact sheets and the latest annual report. A membership form can also be found on the friends page of the Alliance website at http://nrha.ruralhealth.org.au/friends/?IntCatId=4

The NRHA values the input of friends and finds its advice and contributions invaluable to the work of the Alliance.

TRENDS IN THE HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND BABIES, NORTHERN TERRITORY: 1986-2005

This report provides a detailed overview of perinatal trends and changes to the health profile of NT resident mothers and babies, for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, across the 20- year period from 1986 to 2005. http://digitallibrary.health.nt.gov.au/dspace/bitstream/10137/448/1/Trends%20in%20the%20 health%20of%20mothers%20and%20babies.pdf

PARTYLINE

The next issue (No. 40) will be out in November 2010 and the copy deadline for articles for publication is 11 October. Please send your article, photo, letter or poem to [email protected] Copies of previous editions are available on the Alliance website and hard copies are available on request. Subscription is free.

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH

The Australian Journal of Rural Health is a multidisciplinary journal, which aims to facilitate the formation of interdisciplinary networks to build and advance rural practice for all health professionals. Get published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health! The Journal welcomes short reports and letters to the editor as well as review articles, original research articles and clinical perspectives. For useful tips on submitting your manuscript, read the FREE editorial, How to get published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health.

Manuscripts can be submitted online at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ajrh Manuscript Central or posted toAJRH. The Australian Journal of Rural Health is published on behalf of the National Rural Health Alliance by Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd 155 Cremorne Street Richmond Vic. 3121 Tel: +61 (0)3 9274 3100 Fax: +61 (0)3 9274 3101 E-mail: [email protected]

August 2010 issue now available. Contents include: Editorial - Building capacity for rural and remote research Conference Report - Progressing rural and remote health research Original Articles Pandemic influenza vaccination: Will the health care system take its own medicine? Rural student doctors top city colleagues: Representation of a rural clinical school in the rural press Changes in depression-related mental health literacy in young men from rural and urban South Australia Genital chlamydia in southern New South Wales: An ecological analysis of testing and notification patterns 2004-2008 Evaluating the impact of sustainable comprehensive primary health care on rural health Caring of ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients in rural community hospital settings: Determinants of in-hospital mortality

Further information at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/ajr

LIFELINE INFORMATION SERVICE

The Lifeline Information Service provides access to a variety of self-help tool kits with information about issues such as mental illness, depression, suicide prevention, and more. Theses resources focus on practical steps to help promote mental health and are available online at http://www.lifeline.org.au/infoservice

A limited number of printed tool kits are available on request by emailing [email protected]. For more information please visit http://www.lifeline.org.au

If you are in need of 24 hour crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14

WHAT, THEN, IS REGIONAL POLICY?

For the Centre for Policy Development, Ian McAuley dispels a few myths about rural and regional Australia that those of us in metropolitan Australia may be hanging on to. http://cpd.org.au/2010/09/what-then-is-regional-policy/

AUSTRALIAN ORGAN DONOR REGISTER ONLINE The Australian Organ Donor Register is Australia's only national organ and tissue donor register and serves as a lifeline to the people on the organ transplant waiting lists. Register online at http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/services/aodr/register.jsp to be an Australian Organ Donor now!

BUSH SUPPORT SERVICES (formerly Bush Crisis Line) - 1800 805 391 The Bush Support Services Line is a 24 hour confidential telephone support service for workers, and their families, who work in health related services in remote and isolated situations. It is staffed by qualified psychologists with remote and cross cultural experience, is toll free and available from anywhere in Australia. For more information: http://www.bss.crana.org.au

RURAL HEALTH ON THE ABC (See http://www.abc.net.au/health/healthyliving/yourhealth/ruralregionalhealth/)

Federal Government calls for regional health funding applications Labor has delivered on its first regional funding commitment, as part of the deal with the rural independents to form minority Government. http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201009/s3025831.htm

Suicide spate in the Northern Territory http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2010/s3024593.htm

Improving Indigenous Health 7.30 Report 'It is believed the production of more Indigenous doctors will help improve the appalling statistics on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Indigenous people are still lagging behind the rest of the country in terms of life expectancy, infant mortality and chronic disease.' http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s3019291.htm

Indigenous medical students aim to bridge the gap http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/22/3019310.htm

RDAA NEWS

Rural doctors welcome Labor's regional health funding 30 September 2010 http://www.rdaa.com.au/uploaded_documents/Media%20release%20-- %20Rural%20doctros%20welcome%20regional%20health%20funding%2030-9-10.pdf

RDASA media release -- Country hospitals saved: government announces no closures 16 September 2010 http://www.rdaa.com.au/uploaded_documents/RDASA%20media%20release%20-- %20Country%20hospitals%20saved%20-%20September%202010.pdf

GET REGIONAL

Get Regional is the new information and referral service for people living and working throughout country Australia. Engaging and interacting rural, regional and remote communities, via dynamic interactive technologies, to ensure a more sustainable future for the bush. The most up-to-date and independent information service with a wide range of broadcast distribution services. http://getregional.com.au

ABS STATISTICS

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, Australia: Summary Booklet, 2008 4714.0.55.003

The 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey summary booklets are intended for use by Indigenous Engagement Managers while visiting Indigenous Communities. They present a shorter summary of the results from the 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, on a wide range of topics including population, culture and language, health, education, labour force, housing, family and support networks, children and young adults. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/4714.0.55.003?OpenDocument

CURRENT ISSUE OF eMJA (Available at http://www.mja.com.au/)

Current issue: 20 September 2010 From the Editor's Desk: Orphan interns and blundering bureaucrats Editorials At last, a national health measurement survey program for Australia! Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities forgotten in new Australian National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic: "Ask us, listen to us, share with us" The case for boosting infant male circumcision in the face of rising heterosexual transmission of HIV Research Cost-effectiveness of lowering blood pressure with a fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide in type 2 diabetes mellitus: an ADVANCE trial-based analysis Pathways to the diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer in Australia Systematic care for asthma in Australian general practice: a randomised controlled trial Medicine and the Community - Predictors of sexual intercourse and rapid-repeat pregnancy among teenage mothers: an Australian prospective longitudinal study Medical Education Interviewer bias in medical student selection Selecting medical students for academic and attitudinal outcomes in a Catholic medical school Medicine and the Law - Legal aspects of open disclosure II: attitudes of health professionals - findings from a national survey Position Statement - Chronic suppurative lung disease and bronchiectasis in children and adults in Australia and New Zealand For Debate - Iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Australia: time to amend infection control measures for pituitary hormone recipients? Letters Cancer patients at risk from inaccurate clinical reporting in a high-profile alternative treatment story: comments and corrections Using the CEC paediatric calling criteria in emergency department triage Evaluating AUSDRISK for predicting incident diabetes in an independent sample of women Managing residual risk in patients receiving statin therapy Correction - A multimodal intervention to improve fragility fracture management in patients presenting to emergency departments Book Review - Enhancing patient care. A practical guide to improving quality and safety in hospitals

ARTICLES IN 'RURAL AND REMOTE HEALTH'

'Overseas trained nurses working in regional and rural practice settings: do we understand the issues?' Amid the global nursing workforce crisis, this Australian review investigated the experience of overseas trained nurses in rural practice. Despite the many well-documented issues related to the international migration of nurses, issues specific to rural practice have been neglected. These authors make a start in their contribution to this important literature. http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/showarticlenew.asp?ArticleID=1458

'Is small beautiful? Student performance and perceptions of their experience at larger and smaller sites in rural and remote longitudinal integrated clerkships in the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia' Are Australian medical students on rural clinical rotation disadvantaged by being sent in small groups to very small, remote locations? The answer is clear in the qualitative and quantitative evidence from the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia. http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/showarticlenew.asp?ArticleID=1470

'Improving the skills of rural and remote generalists to manage mental health emergencies' The equation's wrong: those who live in rural and remote areas have higher rates of mental illness - but often lack access to specialist mental health services. The Australian Rural Nurses and Midwives identified a need, and took the opportunity to up-skill Australian rural and remote generalists to promote effective management of mental health emergencies locally. This report on the evaluation of the short course 'Managing Mental Health Emergencies' shows how this was done. http://www.rrh.org.au/articles/showarticlenew.asp?ArticleID=1503

GP10 Shaping our Future Cairns, 6-9 October The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners' conference will include a number of activities with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health focus to be held on Friday, 8 October 2010. These activities will include the launch of the RACGP National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and plenary sessions that explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health topics. For further information: http://www.gp10.com.au/default.asp

From: Sally Stevenson Subject: National Centre for Farmer Health Inaugural Conference 'Opening the Gates on Farmer Health' When: 11-13 October 2010 Where: Hamilton, Victoria http://www.farmerhealth.org.au

The conference aims to develop relationships across agriculture, health sciences, medicine, public health, occupational health, veterinary science and health promotion to provide a better - and broader - understanding of agricultural health issues.

Contact: Sally Stevenson P: (03) 5551 8587 E: [email protected]

FREMANTLE WEEKEND CONFERENCE - GET READY FOR FREO FEVER! The University of Notre Dame Australia, 16-17 October 2010 From: Thu Truong

Rural Health West and Fremantle Hospital would like to invite all rural and remote GPs to this year's conference titled "Freo Fever", which reflects on its theme of infectious diseases. Guaranteed to be a valuable learning experience for all with a closing panel discussion including a team of experts debating the topical flu vaccine. For more information contact Leesa Foote, Rural Health West Events Coordinator on 6389 4500 or email [email protected]. Program overview and registration available now at http://www.ruralhealthwest.com.au > Education > Weekend Conferences

Thu Truong Communications & Marketing Coordinator Rural Health Tel +61 8 6389 4500 | Fax +61 8 6389 4501 Email [email protected] Website: http://www.ruralhealthwest.com.au

Rural Medicine Australia 2010 Scientific forum and conference Rural Medicine Australia 2010, the national conference of ACRRM and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, will this year include a scientific forum. The theme for this important gathering of doctors and others passionate about rural and remote medicine is 'Bringing it all together'. The venue is Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart. RMA 2010 will run from 22 to 24 October. Almost 300 people attended Rural Medicine Australia 2009 in Melbourne. http://www.acrrm.org.au/news/rural-medicine-australia-2010-0

Evidence Based Healthcare Conference 'Show the Impact' Adelaide, 27-29 October 2010 The Conference will provide an opportunity for industry professionals across a wide range of healthcare disciplines to meet and discuss the latest issues and developments in evidence- based healthcare and expand their working knowledge in order to provide the best outcomes of patient care and medical treatment. Early bird registration closes on 30 July. For more information http://www.alloccasionsgroup.com/EBHC2010

Medical Imaging Conference Sydney, 11 and 12 November The Australasian Conference on Error in Medical Imaging, titled Making Imaging Safer, aims to raise awareness of preventable harm to patients due to error in Medical Imaging. For more information, including abstract criteria or registration, please visit the conference website at http://www.conferenceworks.net.au/apsf/

The inaugural National Indigenous Policy and Dialogue Conference Sydney 18-19 November http://nipdc.arts.unsw.edu.au

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Care This conference highlights strength based approaches to closing the gap. To be held on 23-24 November, Citigate Central Hotel, Sydney. More information, registration detials, program available on the flyer at http://www.aboriginalhealth.flinders.edu.au/Newsletters/2010/Downloads/Aboriginal%20He althcare_WEB.pdf

Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) 2010 Conference, in Canberra, on 28 November-1 December. Under the theme, Building on the Capital, the conference will feature international and national speakers with a focus on new treatment, prevention and policy in the areas of drug and alcohol research. Symposia and abstracts that address all aspects of licit and illicit drug use/misuse are invited. For more information, http://www.apsadconference.com.au/ or [email protected]

11TH NATIONAL RURAL HEALTH CONFERENCE Perth Convention Centre 13-16 March 2011 http://11nrhc.ruralhealth.org.au/

Australian Health Promotion Association 20th National Conference Cairns, 10-13 April 2011 The focus of the conference will be on the determinants of health, with a strong emphasis on the social determinants of health along with solutions to strengthen action to address them. Abstract submissions close on 29 October. More information at http://www.healthpromotion.org.au. Conference coordinators, T: 02 6292 9000, E: .

2011 Primary Health Care Research Conference Brisbane 13-15 July 2011 http://www.phcris.org.au/conference

CONTRIBUTION AND SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION AND DISCLAIMER

The NRHA e-forum is published fortnightly. Contributions are sought on any topic relevant to rural health concerns. Please send contributions to the moderator at [email protected] (do not "reply" to this email - send contributions to [email protected]). Contributions received by the Friday of publication will be included in the e-forum.

The NRHA e-forum is edited by a third party moderator, Jim Groves. As such, the Alliance does not control postings and the contents do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Alliance. Nor do postings necessarily reflect the views of Jim Groves or any organisation he is associated with. Jim Groves can be contacted at [email protected]

Please forward a copy to any colleague you think may be interested.

Media Release 1 October 2010 Regions to benefit from latest round of health funding

"Health infrastructure projects in regional areas provide opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of people in bush communities," said Kathryn Kirkpatrick, Deputy Chair of the NRHA.

"There is an urgent need to provide essential health services as close to home as possible for rural Australians and to improve the efficiency of the health system overall.

"Taking health services to the people in rural and remote communities, to the extent that this is possible, means there is less need for patients to make tough choices about whether to seek health care which means travelling large distances at high cost and being away from their families," Dr Kirkpatrick said.

"It is an opportunity to start to reduce the metropolitan-rural life expectancy gap, improve rural health outcomes and meet the service gaps amounting to about $1 billion a year for Medicare funded services. A regional priority round is important - not only because it's the right thing to do for rural people but also because it's integral to developing a fully-integrated national health system.

"While funding for regional hospital infrastructure is important and welcomed, it is but one part of the overall picture for delivery of healthcare to regional, rural and remote communities. As well as bricks and mortar and equipment there needs to be a workforce to provide the service - nurses, allied health professionals, doctors and dentists. Without the health professionals there is no service," she said.

"Let's not forget that hospitals are only one part of the Australian health care system. Buildings are highly visible; however there is a large part of service delivery that happens in the community.

"We now need to focus more urgently on what is the best and most effective way to deliver health care, informed by the people and health professionals living and working in the regions, making the most of the local people and knowledge, with measurable targets against which to assess our progress. Targeting the funding round to regional health care needs and prioritising high quality projects with local community support, as indicated in the announcement, will go some way to ensuring appropriate resource allocation.

"The best of all outcomes would be to provide every Australian with timely access to quality health services based on need, not the ability to pay, no matter where they live." Dr Kirkpatrick said regional Australia owes a debt of gratitude to the rural MPs who focused attention on a fair deal for all people in rural areas.

"It is now up to the States and local area health services to bring home the bacon."