Issue 220 - 15 May 2025
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 is supporting early change management with general practices in advance of Chronic Conditions Management (CCM) MBS item changes scheduled to come into effect 1 July 2025. We invite your practice to participate in our CCM Activation Series to make small manageable changes to maximise the benefits of MyMedicare for your general practice and your patients.
Click here to download your copy of the Activity 3 slide pack with activities for your practice and practice team. You can find other activities previously released as part of the CCM Activation Series below:
Information on quality improvement for your practice, including Plan-Do-Study-Act templates. Can be found on our Practice Assist Quality Improvement Tool Kit page. If you would like support from our team to implement this activity, please contact our Quality Improvement Coaches by emailing qi@wapha.org.au
Did you miss our live webinar on chronic disease management? Watch the recording to gain valuable insights to enhance your practice. Our recent webinar provided general practice staff with essential tools and strategies for effective chronic disease management. The session covered a range of critical topics, including:
Featuring our expert Quality Improvement (QI) Coaches, the webinar included interactive discussions and practical case studies, ensuring that you can apply what you learn directly to your practice. Whether you're new to chronic disease management or looking to refine your skills, this series offers valuable insights and actionable takeaways. Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your practice and improve patient care. Watch the recording now and take the first step towards better chronic disease management.
View the recording here
Stay tuned for more educational events and resources to support your professional growth. Our Practice Assist Quality Improvement Tool Kit provides a comprehensive suite of resources and information to help practices on their QI journey. Our dedicated team of QI Coaches are available to assist you in establishing and enhancing QI in your practice. To connect with your local QI coach email QI@wapha.org.au
The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) has developed a suite of new resources to support the proposed changes to bulk billing incentives in general practice.
Pending legislative approval, the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program, is due to come into effect from 1 November 2025. New resources relating to the Program include:
More information on the changes is available on the DoHAC website.
WA Primary Health Alliance will continue to share the latest updates on this proposed initiative as soon as they become available.
Nannup Medical Centre in the South West region of Western Australia is participating in the second phase of the WA Primary Health Alliance funded Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) Pilot Project, which provides the practice with an on-site, non-dispensing pharmacist for 15 hours a week, over a 12-month period. Betty White, Practice Manager at Nannup Medical Centre, explained that their dedicated team, led by the non-dispensing pharmacist, has forged an innovative partnership with Advara HeartCare to provide travelling cardiovascular services, including free echocardiograms, which are helping to improve the early detection and management of CHF among their patients. “One of the major challenges historically faced by Nannup Medical Centre has been the limited access to essential diagnostic tools such as an echocardiogram for our patients. The burden on older patients to travel to larger facilities is a significant barrier that forces many patients to rely on brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) tests instead. “Providing access to an echocardiogram is a vital step in the diagnosis process for CHF, which is improving the early detection and management of CHF among our patients, and ultimately helping to avoid hospitalisations,” Mrs White said. For further information about assisting patients with CHF, call the Practice Assist help desk on 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478 or 08 6278 7900) or email practiceassist@wapha.org.au
Supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, the Quit Centre is a national online resource developed by health professionals for health professionals. At Quit Centre you will find clinical guidelines, online training and education and events to support you in delivering smoking and vaping cessation care in general practice. Tailored resources and information for general practice are available here.
To better support primary health care professionals to monitor, treat and manage patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, GPs and practice nurses can now access direct clinical support, education and the latest advice on managing patients living with this viral infection. Launched in January 2025 as a joint initiative between the WA Department of Health and Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), the statewide hepatitis B service is monitored Monday to Friday with a two-business day response time, with advice provided by either email, phone/video call or an in-person visit. Access the service by emailing HepBHubWA@health.wa.gov.au Free mobile liver scans (Fibroscan®) are also available via outreach clinics in metropolitan general practices/health services. Contact RPH hepatology nurse practitioner, Adam Gregson adam.gregson@health.wa.gov.au for further information.
The ACRRM Rural Community Support Grant provides remote, rural and regional communities in MMM 4-7 locations across Australia the opportunity to access funds for a broad range of health care related initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities. Grants of up to $50,000 are available for a broad range of rural generalist community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit rural generalist training and recruitment of doctors to our rural and remote communities. Grants will be awarded to proposals that seek to link in ACRRM registrars to address improvement in the following categories:
ACRRM is seeking applications from training posts, rural generalists, health services or local communities' groups that link to ACRRM registrars that strengthen GP training, recruitment and retention for smaller communities. Read the Community Grants Fact Sheet and the 2025 Flexible funds FAQs for further information.
All Western Australians can access a free flu immunisation during the months of May and June this year, with some cohorts eligible for a free flu vaccine all season. Immunisation is a safe and effective way to prevent from serious disease caused by influenza. All persons aged 6 months and over are encouraged to get the seasonal influenza vaccination. The best time to get the influenza vaccine is before influenza season in late April or May. The influenza vaccine is available at any time during the influenza season, which is generally June to September. After receiving the immunisation, it can take up to 2 weeks for the body to develop immunity and protect from influenza. While the highest level of protection is in the first 3 to 4 months, encourage your patients that it is never too late to get vaccinated as influenza can be present in the community all year. For more information visit WA Health’s webpage: Free influenza vaccine program May and June 2025.
WA rates of COVID-19 vaccinations have slowed in the last year, especially amongst people from at-risk communities. COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered with influenza (and other vaccines) in people aged five years or older to increase uptake and improve protection against both diseases. Co-administering vaccines can offer logistical benefits, reduce costs, and potentially boost vaccine uptake. The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance have developed Co-administration of vaccines for adults: a guide for immunisation providers .
Step 1: Update your reminder message to increase awareness of co-administration service availability for influenza and COVID-19. Step 2: Prepare your list of reminders to eligible patients (SMS, email, letter). Step 3: Update your webpage information to reflect current COVID-19 and influenza vaccination advice, along with your clinic details. Step 4 Update your online booking platform: Consider offering co-administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines where appropriate in a single appointment instead of two separate appointments. Further information on COVID-19 vaccines and co-administration is available in the COVID-19 chapter of the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
At the recent WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) Immunisation - Winter Wellness webinar (10 April 2025), presented by Professor Paul Effler and Professor Christopher Blyth, vaccine providers were encouraged to consider the co-administration of vaccines for influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcal and RSV. Prof Effler is the Senior Medical Advisor at the WA Department of Health Communicable Disease Control Directorate and Prof Blyth is head of the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at the University of Western Australia and an Infectious Diseases Physician at Perth Children's Hospital. View the updated guide on co-administration of vaccines for adults from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance here. Watch the video of the Immunisation - Winter Wellness webinar here.
WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) has been involved in WA’s COVID-19 response, from the early days of the pandemic to the transition of COVID-19 into normal immunisation practice for respiratory illness. In 2025, WAPHA continues to support existing local solutions to enable fair and timely access to vaccines. We are also working with the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care on a transition strategy for COVID-19. For more information and resources, visit our webpages below:
To read further reflections on ‘WAPHA’s role in COVID-19 management’ click here.
The Aboriginal Health Council of WA (AHCWA) has developed several resources to support the WA Measles Immunisation Program. The resources can be found on their website and include:
To access the posters and tiles, click here.
A major expansion of the Australian Immunisation Handbook chapter on vaccination for people who are immunocompromised has been published, in a significant enhancement of guidelines relating to a complex area of immunisation practice. While overall recommendations have remained unchanged, the refreshed chapter now includes more detailed advice on vaccination in people with a wide range of medical conditions and levels of immunocompromise. It includes clear definitions of immunocompetence, immunosuppression and immunomodulation as well as levels of immunocompromise – which are categorised as mild, moderate or severe – along with several new tables that offer specific guidance relating to a wide range of immunocompromising conditions. The chapter covers topics including inborn errors of immunity, secondary immunodeficiencies due to medical conditions or therapies, asplenia, exposure to immunosuppression in utero, immunocompromised close contacts and immunocompromised travellers. People who are immunocompromised have an increased risk of severe illness or death from many vaccine preventable diseases, and their vaccination history – as well as potential contraindications to live vaccines – must be assessed carefully. Access the Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised chapter.
Facility and clinical managers can now apply on behalf of a residential aged care homes to become a recognised vaccination provider with the AIR. This will support facility and clinical managers in organising vaccinations for residents living in care facilities by allowing them to access the AIR to identify residents who may be due or overdue for vaccines and to report vaccinations administered within the facility. Information on the AIR can only be collected, used and disclosed for the purposes set out in the AIR Act, in line with the Australian Immunisation Register Rule 2015 (AIR Rule) and the Privacy Act. The AIR Act also contains protections and restrictions on how information in the AIR can be handled and who can use it. Recognised immunisation providers can only use protected AIR information if it is for a permitted purpose. This includes (but is not limited to) the following:
This access does not authorise facilities to administer vaccines. For further information, click here.
The 9th Annual Immunisation Forum (AIF) hybrid event will take a place at the Adelaide Convention Centre in Adelaide on 13 June 2025. The meeting is ideal for GPs, practice nurses, specialists, pharmacists and other immunisation specialists. The program covers the following topics: a look into aged care, new vaccines for the elderly, adjuvanted vaccines, vaccinations in primary care and pharmacy, managing vaccine hesitancy, targeting at-risk populations and addressing the vaccine gap of First Nations peoples. This is a free CPD accredited (for online participation) meeting for a national audience. Register for online attendance - via Zoom.
The National Lung Cancer Screening Program launches in July 2025. General practice will play a critical role by increasing awareness of and supporting participation in the program. Here are a few steps health care providers can take to get ready for July 2025:
For more information, visit www.health.gov.au/nlcsp If you have any questions about the program and how you can become involved and support the program, email lungcancerscreening@health.gov.au
This June, Cancer Council WA is encouraging all general practices to host a bowel health display, to help raise awareness about how patients can reduce their risk of bowel cancer. To assist practices, they have collated a range of free resources focused on prevention, screening, and symptom awareness that practices can order and use to create their stall. Practices that take part and send Cancer Council WA a photo of their display will go in the draw to win a prize. For further information, click here.
WA Health is exploring better ways for providers and the public to access immunisation advice. WA Health is seeking to understand more about your information needs when you have immunisation-related queries so they can provide a service that meets your needs. All WA immunisation providers are asked to fill in the short survey in the link below. The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete. Your responses will help WA Health improve access to immunisation information and support in Western Australia. Access the survey here. The survey will be open until 23 May 2025.
This year’s National Palliative Care Week (11-17 May), asks a simple, yet powerful question, “What’s your plan?” It’s a direct approach to Australians and their loved ones to talk about what matters most at the end of life and to make a plan that empowers and respects their choices during the last years, months, and days of life. General practice is often the first point of contact for patients navigating serious illness and is ideally placed to initiate early palliative care discussions. Palliative care is not just about final days of life – it is about improving quality of life at any stage of a life-limiting condition. What’s your plan prompts health professionals to become familiar with their patients’ values and end-of-life wishes through:
To learn more about palliative care and advance care planning, contact Practice Assist on 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478 or 08 6278 7900) or email practiceassist@wapha.org.au to connect with the Greater Choices for At Home Palliative Care team.
AAPM in collaboration with Services Australia, is excited to host a series of informative and interactive webinars called “Ask Me Anything”. Some practices will have patients for the first time in Quarter 4, specifically, those who had the Incentive added to their MyMedicare profile in the July - September 2024 quarter. To receive the Quarter 4 payment, practices and providers must meet additional annual servicing requirements.
This session will provide an opportunity for you to learn and ask questions regarding the servicing requirements for the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI).
This webinar will also discuss the requirements for Quarters 1 to 3 and have a more detailed discussion on the servicing requirements for Quarter 4.
This webinar is free for AAPM members and non-members. Register now
Join us for a series of three webinars where Dementia Training Australia’s expert medical education team will discuss the recognition, diagnosis and post diagnostic management of a patient with dementia. The Dementia Demystified webinar series will provide a practical and stepwise approach to improving knowledge, skills and confidence in dementia recognition, diagnosis and management within the general practice setting. The webinars are designed for GPs, however general practice nurses and primary care health professionals are also welcome to attend. Each webinar is accredited for 1 RACGP EA CPD hour.
Join us for an informative and engaging webinar designed specifically for nurses working in general practice. This session will cover the essential aspects of accreditation, including the latest standards, best practices and practical tips to ensure your team feels confident in demonstrating quality improvement to maintain the RACGP standards. Key topics:
As general practice in Western Australia adapts to ongoing funding reform and increasing complexity in patient needs, this two-part interactive webinar series offers timely, targeted support for teams delivering multidisciplinary team (MDT)-based care. Whether you’re a GP, nurse, allied health professional, practice manager or support staff, these CPD-accredited webinars will provide practical tools and strategies to enhance coordination, efficiency and equitable outcomes for all patients. Each webinar is accredited for 1 RACGP EA CPD hour and includes an expert-led presentation, real-world case studies and a live Q&A segment to deepen understanding and facilitate application to your own practice. Join us to strengthen your team’s capability and stay ahead of system reform. To find out more, view the flyer and register for webinar 1 and webinar 2 today.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection continues to result in significant morbidity and mortality in Australia. Even with direct-acting antivirals, eradication of HCV remains a challenge with many patients unaware of their infection. This webinar explores the GP's role in treating HCV including:
This webinar is delivered in partnership with WA Health. Register here
To help improve health outcomes for Aboriginal people, WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) is offering free online Aboriginal cultural diversity training for all general practice staff. The free online training is the SBS Inclusion Program (First Nations) that includes short learning modules, which take approximately an hour to complete in total, with the following learning outcomes:
Clinician Assist WA is a secure website providing GPs and other health professionals with guidance for assessing, managing and referring patients across Western Australia. It has replaced HealthPathways WA, offering the same trusted local guidance, features and functionality and remains available at no cost. The Clinician Assist WA team will run online demonstrations facilitated by a GP Clinical Editor throughout 2025 to support users. These sessions will demonstrate how to maximise integration of Clinician Assist WA into your clinical practice. Learn key functionalities of the website and how to access condition specific tools and resources, Referral Access Criteria (RAC) (where available), GPbook Specialist Directory and visiting specialist rosters. Sessions have been approved for 1 CPD Educational Hour with RACGP and will be held online on the following dates:
Demonstrations are open to general practitioners, general practice staff and other health professionals registered to practice in WA.
Acknowledgement 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.