22 February 2024
WA Primary Health Alliance acknowledges and pays respect to the Traditional Owners and Elders of this country and recognises the significant importance of their cultural heritage, values and beliefs and how these contribute to the positive health and wellbeing of the whole community. Throughout this newsletter, the term 'Aboriginal' is used to refer to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, unless stated otherwise.
Practice Updates
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Nurse-led model is helping to improve immunisation rates for Aboriginal children
The team at the Nidjalla Waangan Mia Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Centre In Western Australia, the immunisation rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the one, two and five-year old cohorts are below the national benchmark of 95%. As of September 2023, the coverage rates* were as follows:
To help improve the coverage rates, Nidjalla Waangan Mia Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Centre, located in the Community Health Building in Mandurah, is using the nurse-led model to provide a range of culturally appropriate services including immunisation. Practice Manager, Kerry Cabassi, explained that when patients and their families attend the clinic, the practice nurse opportunistically checks their Australian immunisation records to prompt any due or overdue vaccinations. “The nurse-led model allows time for discussion with the patients and their families to alleviate any fears and answer any questions or concerns they may have. We play music at the clinic, use a buzzy bee (a small vibrating device to help block pain and provide distraction during immunisation) and give a lollipop following the vaccination,” Ms Cabassi said. Practice Nurse, Bernie Garnier, said the team at Nidjalla Waangan Mia works closely with the community health clinic located next door to vaccinate Aboriginal patients and their children while they are on the premises, rather than booking them in for another appointment at a later date. “This team-based model of care has proved to be a successful way to ensure that our patients have a culturally safe environment with opportunistic access to care,” Ms Garnier said. For further information about the nurse-led model and other ways that your practice can support Aboriginal patients, email Practice Assist via practiceassist@wapha.org.au or call 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478). *Source: Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, current coverage data tables for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children Note: WA Primary Health Alliance uses the term Aboriginal in preference to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, in recognition that Aboriginal people are the original inhabitants of Western Australia.
The Strengthening Medicare GP Grants program is fast approaching completion. Practices are encouraged to spend their Grant funding before the end date of the program which is 30 June 2024. The Grants were available for investments in innovation, training, equipment, and minor capital works in one or more of the three investment streams including:
Practices will not need to submit receipts when they complete the financial acquittal form but will be required to retain them in line with Australian Taxation Office requirements. Practices are reminded that the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care are now conducting audit activities which may require select practices to show evidence of expenditure such as tax receipts. If you have any questions about the General Practice Grants Program, please contact the General Practice Grants team on GPgrants@wapha.org.au or Practice Assist on 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478).