Practice Connect Newsletter

Welcome to Practice Connect, a fortnightly update for practice managers, principals, nurses and administration staff on relevant issues, upcoming events and education.

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WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) has a range of publications for different audiences providing up to date information.

Practice Connect – for practice managers, principals, nurses and administration
GP Connect – keeping GPs informed in the changing primary health landscape
Aged Care Connect – up to date across WAPHAs Aged Care Program initiatives and latest aged care news.
Primary Health Connect – information on all things primary health care in Western Australia.
Tender Notifications – receive notifications of upcoming tender opportunities.

17 September 2026 -

Edition 254

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A healthy start at three: Medicare’s new kids check
GPACI accreditation exemption ending 31 December 2026
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Dementia Action Week: 21 to 27 September 2026
Care finders – supporting older patients with complex needs to access services
Care of Older Adults: Focus on Frailty
Standards for general practices (6th edition) now available
National consultation on evaluation of mental health services and supports – Value in Mind project
Diphtheria outbreak: third severe respiratory case reported
Australia’s yellow fever entry requirements
Vaccination Co-administration page
National Lung Cancer Screening Program and National Cancer Screening Register
Pertussis update 2026
COVID-19 vaccination in 2026: preparing for the transition to the National Immunisation Program (NIP)
Education and events

03 September 2026 -

Edition 253

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Standards for general practices (6th edition) now available
Interpretive Guide updated for non-traditional general practices
GPACI overpayment remediation requests
Primary Sense for Bp Premier users – troubleshooting API connection errors
What are Medicare Mental Health Centres and what support do they provide?
Royal Perth Hospital dermatology outpatient referral guidance update
COVID-19 vaccines transitioning to the NIP, eligibility for funded doses updated
Capvaxive supply update
New cold chain breach and reporting form for WA Health immunisation providers
General practice immunisation survey highlights opportunities to strengthen vaccination uptake
RACH Aged Care Vaccination Program
Video series – Diseases we vaccinate against
Cervical Screening – Let’s own it
COVID-19 vaccination in 2026: preparing for the transition to the National Immunisation Program (NIP)
Education and events

20 August 2026 -

Edition 252

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Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program payments
Medicare Mental Health Check In campaign and resources
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
National Breast Screening Program
National Cervical Screening Program
National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
Screening Saves Lives campaign
The Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program
Digital health tools training resources for your general practice team
care finders program: Kimberley
Referrals to WACHS Goldfields Specialist Outpatient Services Transitioning to CRS
Launch of national miscarriage education and awareness program
Supporting dementia risk reduction
Nursing in Primary Health Care Program
AIR due and overdue rules for Pneumococcal and Influenza vaccinations
Call for presentations – Public Health Update
500 editions of Vaccine Updates
RSV update
Public consultation – Mental Health Commission Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2027-2029
Wear it Purple Day 2026
Education and Events

06 August 2026 -

Edition 251

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Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)
Updated Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plans eLearning resources
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
National lung cancer screening waiting room competition winners!
National cancer screening programs
National Lung Screening Program
Quality improvement activities in cancer screening
Request for Proposal – Congenital Syphilis Prevention Program – Perth South PHN
Launch of Metropolitan General Practice Community Residency Program
GP ASK connects GPs with timely hospital specialist clinical advice
Digital health tools: Patient promotional materials for general practice
WA Primary Health Alliance’s Multicultural Reference Group – latest meeting communique
Older Adult Health Hubs now accepting referrals in the North and East Metro catchment
EOI for HESA accredited Immunisation Course – ‘Understanding Vaccines and the National Immunisation Program’
COVID-19 update
Pneumococcal update
Share your experience with the National Lung Cancer Screening Program
Get ready for R U OK? Day
Education and events

23 July 2026 -

Edition 250

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Updated FAQs: Assignment of Medicare Benefits for Bulk Billing
1800MEDICARE – supporting CALD patients to access the right care, 24/7
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Using digital health tools in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services
Thank you to WA practices for outstanding engagement with Halo Connect integration
AusAlert testing: what general practice staff need to know
Nominations now open! 2027 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards
Mount Lawley Hospital transition: update for GPs
Updated syphilis guidance for primary care
Meningococcal Y case in WA
Vaccine administration errors
Updated WA Immunisation Schedules and campaign resources
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination
Mpox awareness and prevention campaign
Bowel Cancer Waits For No One campaign launch
HPV vaccination catch-up reminder
Elevating clinicians’ voices to address harm from alcohol
Education and events

09 July 2026 -

Edition 249

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NAIDOC Week 2026: 50 Years of Deadly
Quality improvement activity July 2026 – Health assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assignment of Benefit changes from 1 July 2026
Medicare Mental Health eReferral
Medicare Mental Health Check In providing free online mental health support
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
New Clinician Assist WA resource pages now available
My Health Record changes: an important update for general practices
Expansion of Diphtheria immunisation response
Changes to pneumococcal vaccination for adults
Expansion of free access to FluMist to older children
Health professional immunisation kits and campaigns
Gaps in parents’ knowledge about influenza vaccines
New dashboards to deliver insights into immunisation coverage in Australia
Immunisation survey (general practice)
Support the MIND-MAP Study – improving mental health in diabetes care
Education and events

25 June 2026 -

Edition 248

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The 10 QIMs: Using practice data to strengthen quality improvement and PIP QI participation
Update to RACGP infection prevention and control guidelines
Expressions of interest: Non-dispensing pharmacists in general practice
Update on fuel impact reporting
Consumer Medicines Line closure: what practices need to know
Update to changes to Assignment of Benefits from 1 July 2026
Updated MyMedicare resources
patients to meet eligibility to register for MyMedicare
Expansion of the WA Health Japanese Encephalitis Virus Vaccination Program
Adult pneumococcal schedule updates
Extension of the Free Influenza Vaccine Program
FluMist update – expiry dates and vaccine errors
Diphtheria declared Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance
National Bowel Screening Program
Seeking GP Practice Owners and Managers to participate in a national research program
Education and events

11 June 2026 -

Edition 247

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Data cleansing and archiving: The essential first step for accurate, data led quality improvement
My Practice Data report – Are you getting the most out of your data?
Primary Sense – Best Practice Halo Connect Integration action required by 30 June 2026
New Support at Home Program resources to help navigate referrals
Driving better care through the MedicineInsight Program
Electronic prescribing and active script lists – Are lost prescriptions impacting your practice?
Alert for WA clinicians – Ebola disease update in Central and Eastern Africa
Assignment of Benefit updates for Medicare bulk billing
1800MEDICARE resources now available
MyMedicare program updates and resources
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
New mpox cases reported in WA
Updates to disease chapters in the Australian Immunisation Handbook
Changes to the adult pneumococcal vaccination program from 1 July 2026
Adult pneumococcal vaccination: broadening protection
Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
Celebrating 20 years of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
Education and events

28 May 2026 -

Edition 246

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Chronic conditions remain a major health challenge in Australia
Managing chronic health conditions with a shared health summary in My Health Record
Primary Sense – Best Practice Halo Connect Integration action required by 30 June 2026
Designated Registered Nurse (RN) Prescribing – Scholarships available
Help evaluate a new online tool for endometriosis care
Care finder services: updated providers and referrals
Provider Connect Australia™ – How to publish to business partners
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
FluMist ordering
New annual AIR due and overdue rules for influenza
Updates to AIR due and overdue rules for childhood pneumococcal vaccines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
EOI for HESA accredited Immunisation Course – ‘Understanding Vaccines and the National Immunisation Program’
Australian Centre for Disease Control updates guidance as the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing announces a diphtheria outbreak support package
RSV Awareness Week 2026 – Quality improvement activity
Events and education

14 May 2026 -

Edition 245

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Formal guidance for clinicians on the use of artificial intelligence tools
MBS health assessments
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Rapid Antigen Test kits for general practice staff
EOI for HESA accredited Immunisation Course – ‘Understanding Vaccines and the National Immunisation Program’
‘Vaccination is the best preparation’ – national immunisation campaign launch
WA Health diphtheria outbreak response
Watch now – RSV vaccines and prevention programs: evidence, safety and impact
Turning PIP QI data into action – Influenza vaccination in diabetes
New video and template for the National Lung Cancer screening program
Promote lung cancer screening in your practice and win!
National Palliative Care Week is 10 to 16 May 2026
Education and events