Telehealth Pilot opportunity for Coffs
February 27th, 2012 | 
Author: NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program
The $20.6 million NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program (‘the Program’) is a new government initiative in response to the Government’s Digital Economy Goal for health and aged care (see below).
The Program will provide funding to successful proposals for pilot projects to develop and deliver telehealth services to NBN-enabled homes with a focus on aged, palliative or cancer care services, including advance care planning services. By providing better access to health services to homes within NBN early release sites, the Program will investigate and demonstrate opportunities for the extension of telehealth services in the future and the business case for doing so.
The aim of the Program is to develop and trial services which demonstrate how, for example:
- Telehealth services can be delivered to the home in new and innovative ways, enabled by the high speed, reliable broadband provided by the NBN;
- Health services can become more accessible, in regional, rural, remote and outer metropolitan areas;
- Health related transport needs can be reduced;
- Consumers can collaborate and communicate with their carers and health service providers to improve quality of care and health outcomes;
- A reduction in unnecessary hospitalisation;
- Telehealth services are scalable and able to provide an increased volume of care without a corresponding increased cost;
- Location dependent or regional health workforce skills shortages may be mitigated;
- Use of the infrastructure may increase healthcare access and reduce social isolation; and
- Communication during health emergencies could be improved.
The NBN will provide a platform that allows homes, doctors’ surgeries, pharmacies, clinics, aged-care facilities and allied health professionals to connect to affordable, reliable, high-speed and high-capacity broadband. This represents a major opportunity to improve the way healthcare is delivered in Australia.
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Regional Relocation Grants – incentive to move from Sydney to Coffs Harbour
SYDNEY FAMILIES OFFERED INCENTIVES TO RELOCATE TO REGIONAL NSW
Sydney families who relocate their homes from the city to regional NSW will receive a $7,000 grant from 1 July, NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner and Treasurer Mike Baird announced today.
The introduction of Regional Relocation Grants fulfils another NSW Liberals & Nationals’ election commitment, and will encourage population and economic growth in regional NSW.
A resident of the Mid North Coast, Mr Stoner said communities across regional NSW offer lower costs of living but with facilities, cultural events, food and wine equal to or even better than Sydney.
“Regional NSW is a great place to live, work and raise a family – these $7,000 grants will provide extra assistance to families planning a move out of Sydney,” Mr Stoner said.
“The NSW Government is committed to supporting population growth in the regions with increased spending in infrastructure and further job creation.
“The message to people considering a move out of Sydney is clear – there is no better time to move to regional NSW.
“From our beautiful country air and stunning landscapes to strong communities and a more affordable lifestyle, regional NSW is a great place to live and raise a family.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is proud to be supporting regional NSW and Sydney families who would like to make a tree or sea change,” Mr Stoner said.
Under legislation which passed through Parliament this week:
One-off $7,000 grants will be payable to individuals or families who relocate homes from Sydney to regional NSW;
The grant will be payable after the settlement of the purchase of a home in regional NSW and sale of a home in metropolitan Sydney;
Grant is eligible for properties in regional NSW valued up to $600,000;
The new home must be the applicants’ principal place of residence for at least 12 months;
The scheme will operate for four years from 1 July 2011; and
Budget impact is estimated to be up to $46.9 million per year, depending on the number of people taking up the offer.
Mr Baird said the Regional Relocation Grants were consistent with the NSW Government’s Regional Kick-start and Making Sydney Liveable Again action plans.
“The Government is committed to policies that assist and encourage whole-of-state growth. The Regional Relocation Grant, together with our policies which will ensure that regions get their fair share of jobs growth and infrastructure spending, will play an important role in getting the NSW economy moving again.”
“The Regional Relocation Grants will provide a very real benefit to families relocating within New South Wales, while driving economic growth in regional areas and relieving congestion pressures within Sydney.
“The NSW Government is committed to developing all of NSW – when regional NSW is strong then all of NSW benefits.”
“This scheme is just one of a number of measures the NSW Government is implementing to attract more people, growth and investment into regional areas,” Mr Baird said.
Doctor Connect web site
An interesting and useful web site for medical practitioners looking to work in regional areas of Australia:
Doctors go mobile at Barwon Health
GEELONG’s Barwon Health Hospital will host the first Australian implementation of Cisco’s new Virtualisation eXperience Infrastructure.
Cut and paste this link into your web browser to see the article.
Research Funding Opportunity
Overview / Purpose – for more information, follow this link: http://community.grantready.com.au/Find_Grants/Search/index.aspx?itemDetails=3432
This program provides support to enable medical specialist trainees to rotate through an expanded range of settings beyond traditional public teaching hospitals. This program is now the single platform for Commonwealth grants support for specialist training initiatives.
Its objectives are to:
1. Increase the capacity of the health workforce to train specialists.
2. Better train specialists with education that matches the nature of demand and reflects the way health services are delivered.
3. Develop networked specialist training arrangements, which are:
- Integrated series of accredited training sites focusing on providing health care, through which trainees may rotate in the pursuit of specialist qualification.
- Based on health service delivery requirements of a region with the education potential of training sites being matched to the health service delivery potential inherent in increased availability of a specialist trainee workforce.
There are three platforms for funding:
1. Funding Proposals to Provide System Wide Support:
- To provide program activities to develop networks for training, education and support projects.
- An unsolicited funding proposal may be submitted at any time.
2. Open or Targeted Application Rounds for Individual Training Posts:
- Identifies suitable training posts to add to the overall network.
- Current 2012 round are in priority areas of Chronice Disease, Indigenous Health and Generalism.
- Current 2012 round will close on 9 June 2011.
3. Clinical Supervision and Private Infrastructure Allowance:
- Supports activities associated with providing clinical supervision and training infrastructure.
- Current 2012 round will close on 23 December 2011.
Inaugural meeting of the Coffs People Management Group
Are you interested in joining this group of HR practitioners and Managers, focussing on community and health sectors – 5.30 – 7.00pm, C-Ex Club, Tuesday 23rd August. RSVP to robyn.michael@etcltd.com.au
$7m Super Clinic for Coffs Harbour
Article from the Coffs Coast Advocate, Saturday 30th July 2011
A LOCAL indigenous-owned health group has signed a $7 million agreement with the Federal Government to open a super clinic at Coffs Harbour.
The non-profit Bawrunga Aboriginal Medical Service (BAMS), which was established in Bowraville in 1999, and has its headquarters at Macksville, already has GP clinics in Toormina, Nambucca Heads and Macksville as well as in Sydney and the western region of NSW.
BAMS’ seven commercial clinics offer bulk-billed GP services to both indigenous and non-indigenous people.
The Acting Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, yesterday welcomed the signing of the $7 million agreement between Bawrunga Coffs Harbour GP Super Clinic Ltd and the Australian government as a welcome boost to health care in Coffs Harbour.
A spokeswoman for the minister said the location for the new clinic was still under negotiation, with several sites being considered.
“This GP Super Clinic will deliver better access to health services for locals in a single, convenient location,” Mr Butler said.
“The Gillard Government wants to make it easier for all Australians to see and contact a doctor and GP Super Clinics around the country are making this happen.
“The Coffs Harbour GP Super Clinic will provide a new level of integrated, multidisciplinary, team-based, patient-centred healthcare all under one roof.
“Patients will be able to access care from GPs, nurses, allied health professionals and visiting medical specialists.
“The Coffs Harbour Clinic will have a strong emphasis on chronic disease and preventive health care and plans to offer physiotherapy, audiology, psychology, dietetics, speech pathology, podiatry, occupational therapy, dental, pharmacy, pathology, and exercise physiology, as well as provide access to a health promotion officer and Aboriginal health workers.”
The Labor Duty Senator for Cowper Matt Thistlethwaite said the Coffs Harbour GP Super Clinic would train the next generation of health professionals locally with a focus on educating medical, nursing and allied health students, and GP registrar and post-graduate placements.
Health Industry Cocktail Party
Tuesday 19 July, 7pm C-ex Coffs Harbour
Health Industry Cocktail Party
What will Superfast Broadband mean to you?
An event specifically designed to meet the information needs of the Health Professionals of Coffs Harbour as we face a future which includes super fast broadband.
To attend, please follow this link: http://www.rdamidnorthcoast.org.au/theexchange
Or call Lorraine Mathieson 6648 4089
Education Program on FGM – 1 day workshop
2011Coffs Harbour One Day Education FGM
Attached is a flyer regarding a one day Education Program on FGM to be held in Coffs Harbour on 13th July 2011
NSW Education Program on FGM
Attached is a flyer regarding the NSW Education Program on FGM to be held in Coffs Harbour 13th July 2011
2011 Clinical Coffs Harbour flyer – Two Hour