Issue 221 - 29 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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On 23 May 2025, MBS Online published the Upcoming Changes to the Chronic Disease Management Framework confirming the new framework for chronic disease management from 1 July 2025. The changes simplify, streamline, and modernise the arrangements for health care professionals and patients. These changes primarily affect medical practitioners, however, allied health professionals providing MBS services should be aware of the changes to plan and referral requirements. Transition arrangements will be in place for 2 years to ensure current patients do not lose access to services.
For suggested quality improvement activities to get your practice ready for the upcoming changes see the Chronic Conditions Management (CCM) Activation Series on the Practice Assist MyMedicare page. For further information and support on the upcoming changes to the MBS Chronic Disease Management Framework contact the Practice Assist Help Desk on 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478) or 08 6278 7900 or via email practiceassist@wapha.org.au
Southern Star Medical has opened a new women’s wellness clinic in Southern River and WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) Quality Improvement (QI) Coach, Cassandra Cotte, is supporting the practice team with a range of QI activities for continuous improvement in patient care. “Bloom Women’s Wellness Clinic is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to women of all ages, throughout every stage of life. I am working closely with the clinic on various QI initiatives, while the team provides a wide variety of services from routine check-ups to specialised care, covering a broad spectrum of women’s health issues,” Ms Cotte said. Southern Star Medical Practice Manager, Laura Johnson, explained that the clinic has a team of experienced health care professionals, which includes a women’s health nurse and female GPs who are focused on empowering women with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions about their health. “Since opening the clinic, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our patients, with many praising its welcoming atmosphere, knowledgeable staff and high-quality care. We’re proud to offer this valuable service to the community and look forward to continuing to provide top-notch care to our patients,” Ms Johnson said. For further information about developing QI activities to support continuous improvement in your practice, email WAPHA’s QI team via qi@wapha.org.au or call the Practice Assist help desk on 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478 or 08 6278 7900) or email practiceassist@wapha.org.au Dr Sehli Quaddus, Dr May Ann Wong and RN Caitlyn Rogers at Bloom Women’s Wellness Clinic.
In WA, some groups are at greater risk of poorer health outcomes including Aboriginal people, people from multicultural communities, LGBTIQA+ people, people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage and those with limited access to health care. While not every person in every group has the same experience, some groups are more likely to experience inequities in health and wellbeing associated with social determinants of health. This includes things like lack of local health services where they live, stigma, discrimination and unequal access to resources. Evidence shows that these people tend to:
Mapping and understanding under-served communities and the barriers they face is crucial. It helps us to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of primary health care services, particularly for those at risk of poor health outcomes, and allows us to improve the coordination of care to ensure patients receive the right care in the right place at the right time. As a commissioner of primary health care services, a key focus for WA Primary Health Alliance is how to use finite resources in a way that will have the greatest impact and outcome for these under-served communities. Find out more
The Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme (CWCS) will help eligible patients manage their chronic wounds. It will cover the full cost of products they need to heal, such as bandages, dressings and adhesives.
Health professionals will be eligible if they are:
Eligible health professionals will need to complete specified training to use the online portal. For further information and contact details, visit the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme page.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) acknowledges the important role health providers play in supporting the health and wellbeing of the veteran community, and in turn they aim to support providers in understanding DVA’s billing and advertising arrangements to remain compliant.
DVA arrangements can be complex, so DVA have drafted some tips to help providers here.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) are making changes to the DVA website to help veterans, families, advocates, and health providers find the information and support they need—faster and easier.
The following changes have been made based on feedback that they received from providers through co-design workshops and user testing:
Visit the test site here to try out the new navigation.
The Immunisation Foundation of Australia invites you to celebrate RSV Awareness Week from 1-7 June 2025. With RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) immunisations now available for pregnant women, babies and older adults, now is the time to unite against RSV to raise awareness and protect those at greatest risk. RSV is a leading cause of hospitalisation in Australian babies and older adults. WA AIR data show that only 22% of infants born between Oct 2024 and February 2025 have received Beyfortus to date – this is a significant drop from the 36% of infants in the RSV ‘catch-up cohort’ who were protected at this time last year. Every infant whose mother did not receive maternal RSV vaccination is recommended to have Beyfortus before the winter RSV season starts. In WA 11,000 children were born between 1 Oct 2024 and 1 February 2025 (i.e. before maternal RSV vaccinations even started) and these infants will remain unprotected from serious RSV disease unless they receive Beyfortus. This year’s themes for RSV Awareness Week are:
To support your efforts, access the Campaign Toolkit with guidance and a full suite of RSV Awareness Week resources. For further information on the RSV program, click here. For an RSV flowchart for eligibility guidelines, click here.
The WA Communicable Disease Control Directorate (CDCD) has advised of three notified Mpox cases (clade II) in WA in the week commencing Monday 19 May 2025.
Please continue to test all patients presenting with a clinically compatible illness, irrespective of travel history.
Refer to the Mpox Quick Guide for primary healthcare workers for testing guidance, including specimen collection and PPE requirements.
Provide the Mpox – Information for people awaiting a test result factsheet to all patients who have been tested for Mpox.
Please continue to encourage and promote Mpox vaccination. Visit the Mpox immunisation page for a list of people recommended and eligible to receive the Mpox vaccine in WA.
Currently there is no change to the approach or management of Mpox in Western Australia. The CDCD will continue to provide relevant updates as required.
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has published a new webpage that will act as a hub for their evolving range of COVID-19-related resources. The page includes links to various useful materials – including their popular COVID-19 vaccines FAQs resource, which was updated recently and includes clear, accessible guidance on a range of areas relating to COVID-19 vaccination, in support of the Australian Immunisation Handbook COVID-19 chapter. It was noted in the most recent Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report, COVID-19 has been the leading cause of acute respiratory infection mortality in the 2023–2025 period. The disease is more likely to cause death in older age groups. NCIRS was closely involved in Australia’s emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Access the new webpage here.
Vaccination saves lives—but for immunocompromised patients, the risks, timing, and guidelines are more complex. The Immunisation Coalition have created an online course, 'Vaccination in the Immunocompromised Patient', which equips you with the knowledge to make safe, evidence-based decisions in this high-risk population. From timing strategies to vaccine efficacy and contraindications, this comprehensive, self-accredited 2 hour CME course will give you the confidence to safely vaccinate immunocompromised individuals. This course is specific for nurses and covers 5 topics including guidelines and recommendations, case studies and quizzes. Learn at your own pace and receive a certificate upon completion. The current cost to complete the course is $199.00. To register for this activity, simply:
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.
Rates of invasive pneumococcal disease are at their highest in two decades. It remains a leading cause of avoidable hospitalisation and poor outcomes in older Australians - particularly those with chronic conditions. Yet many high-risk adults remain under vaccinated. Join United Clinical for the first in a two-part accredited masterclass series, designed to equip GPs and practice teams with practical strategies to identify and protect those most at risk. Pending CPD Home approval for 8 hours (including post-work), and open to all healthcare professionals. Register now to join live or to receive a recording of the event.
The objective of this panel discussion is to update primary healthcare professionals on the burden of meningococcal disease with a focus on Meningococcal B vaccination. Learning outcomes include:
To register for this activity, simply:
Join infectious disease expert Prof. Paul Effler for a webinar concerning adolescent and maternal vaccinations, plus a WA mid-winter illness update. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions during the Q&A. If you have a question prior, you can submit it upon registration. Prof Paul Effler is the Senior Medical Advisor, Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Department of Health, Western Australia. Hosted by GP Dr Ramya Raman. This webinar is delivered in partnership with the Department of Health Western Australia. Register here
Did you know that patients aged 45 to 49 are eligible to do the free National Bowel Cancer Screening Program test? The National Bowel Screening Program automatically mail the test to people aged 50 to 74 every 2 years. But people aged 45 to 49 need to request their first free kit—and you can quickly help them do it. From now until the end of June, eligible Australians aged 45 to 49 will receive an SMS. The message will invite them to order their first free kit or to speak with their doctor about screening. The National Bowel Screening Program will send SMS messages only to those people they have mobile numbers for and who haven't yet requested a free kit. You can help all patients aged 45 to 74 to do the test by:
The National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) launches in July 2025, helping to save hundreds of lives each year by detecting lung cancer early. Your practice will play a critical role in supporting participation in the program. Here are a few steps you can take to get your practice ready:
More information available here.
The Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is currently reviewing immunisation information on the health.gov.au website. They are seeking feedback from health professionals to make sure the information is relevant and useful. Health professionals can complete the online survey for health professionals. The surveys are open to everyone until 30 May. Please share the link with anyone who might be interested, including your networks.
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed the Australian Safety and Quality Medical Imaging Accreditation (ASQMIA) Scheme. The ASQMIA Scheme will replace the Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Scheme (DIAS). The Commission welcomes feedback on the following areas:
To contribute, visit the Commission’s webpage before Friday 18 July 2025 to have your say.
National Reconciliation Week (NRW), held from 27 May to 3 June each year, is a time for all Australians to reflect on our shared history and take meaningful steps toward a more inclusive and respectful future. For general practices, acknowledging NRW is more than symbolic—it’s a vital opportunity to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and work towards better health outcomes through cultural understanding and respect.
General practices can take part in NRW by:
To further support reconciliation, WA Primary Health Alliance is offering free online Aboriginal cultural diversity training for all general practice staff, available until June 2025. View the flyer and register here.
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.
To find out more, view the flyer and register today.
Join us for the second webinar in the Dementia Demystified series by Dementia Training Australia’s expert medical education team. This webinar will cover the following topics:
The Dementia Demystified webinar series provides 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. To find out more, view the flyer and register webinar 2 today.
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.
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.