Issue 222 - 12 June 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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From 1 July 2025, there will be changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). These changes include annual fee indexation and a range of administrative and policy changes to implement the government’s response to recommendations from the MBS Review Taskforce and the Medical Services Advisory Committee. For more information and future updates, visit the MBS Online News webpage.
From 1 July 2025, changes will be made relating to Chronic Condition Management arrangements under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).
These changes include:
Further details can be found on MBS Online. For support on MBS changes, please 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
The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items for COVID-19 vaccine suitability assessments, and associated items, will cease from 1 July 2025. This is an important step in transitioning the arrangements for COVID-19 vaccinations to business as usual arrangements. From 1 July 2025, general practitioners can use general attendance items when assessing a patient’s suitability for a COVID-19 vaccination. Further information can be found here. For support on MBS changes, please 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
Many people from WA will have been traveling to and from Saudi Arabia for Hajj (4 to 9 June) and general practices should be aware of the risk of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in this region. Key advice from the WA Department of Health Communicable Disease Control Directorate:
Read the WA Health Alert for Clinicians - 6 June 2025 here. Resources for health professionals are available on the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
Video telehealth supports GPs by enabling smooth, remote consultations that enhance accessibility, convenience, and efficiency. With the ability to connect with patients in real-time, general practitioners can enhance continuity of care, reduce travel burdens, and minimise disruptions to their workflow. Telehealth fosters stronger patient engagement, supports chronic disease management, and ensures timely interventions, ultimately leading to better health outcomes. To maximise the benefits of telehealth, continuous quality improvement (QI) is essential. Effective implementation requires ongoing evaluation to optimise patient experience and practice efficiency. Visit the link here to view an example of a structured approach to trialling video telehealth consults. Further additional telehealth QI ideas are available here. For more information or support on setting up and using telehealth in your practice, 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
Nominations are now open for the 2025 RACGP Awards. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health awards include:
These awards celebrate outstanding contributions to general practice and shine a light on the GPs, practices, supervisors, medical educators and registrars going above and beyond for their communities. Submit nominations by 9AM AEST, Monday 30 June.
This FREE program is for our young generation affected by a higher weight who are wanting to make healthy lifestyle changes. The Healthy Lifestyle Program welcomes families in the Perth East Metropolitan region who would like to participate in a new pilot program. It’s open to children aged 4 to 16 years. Referrals for eligible children will be accepted from health professionals, other professionals involved in care, or via self‑referral. Learn more about the program here.
Primary Sense de-identified data is helping WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) to plan and fund primary health care services where they are needed most, by detecting higher rates of a number of conditions in different regions across Western Australia. WAPHA’s new methodology has allowed diagnostic information from Primary Sense, a clinical decision support tool that helps general practice clinicians identify and respond to patient needs quickly and efficiently, to geographically pinpoint the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, chronic alcohol misuse and chronic drug misuse. The results confirm that overall, country WA had higher rates of these conditions compared to Perth, with considerable geographical variation throughout the state. WAPHA has used this information to inform its Needs Assessments and service planning. The method WAPHA has developed ensures the results are representative of the underlying populations of different geographical areas in WA, unlike other publicly available information on common conditions that is often outdated or lacks detail to precisely identify areas with the greatest health needs. In the future WAPHA may expand its data analysis to include other conditions, building on this powerful population health asset. If your practice is interested in using Primary Sense, or in support to use it for quality improvement within the practice, please contact practiceassist@wapha.org.au More information on the health needs of Western Australians is available in WAPHA's Needs Assessments.
Primary Sense is an easy-to-use data extraction and clinical support tool that uses de-identified general practice data to give patients the right care at the right time. The following resources and information may help you understand how you can best use the Primary Sense tool in your practice.
To get the most out of Primary Sense, ensure that the desktop application is installed on all computers and configured within your practice. See the instructions below:
The Quality Improvement team has developed a range of Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) templates that have a focus on the initial onboarding process for Primary Sense. To access these PDSA templates please reach out to your local QI Coach via Practice Assist. For further information or support contact your Primary Care Navigator or Practice Assist via practiceassist@wapha.org.au or call 1800 2 ASSIST (1800 2 277 478 or 08 6278 7900).
General practices sharing data with WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) via Primary Sense for the Practice Incentives Program Quality Improvement (PIP QI), can now access their practice data reports through the Primary Care Reporting Portal (PCRP).
For further information on quality improvement for your practice, including Plan-Do-Study-Act templates and if you would like support from our team to implement PCRP activities, please contact our Quality Improvement Coaches by emailing qi@wapha.org.au If you are a general practice that shares data with WAPHA via Primary Sense and you have not received an email inviting your practices nominated administrator to access the PCRP, please 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
Recent AIR reporting has indicated that Fluad Quad is being administered to age cohorts other than adults aged ≥65 years. This is a reminder that Fluad Quad is only registered for use among people aged 65 and over. The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) has introduced new warning messages for some influenza and RSV vaccines to improve the quality of data being reported. Immunisation providers will receive a warning message in software and when using the AIR site if they attempt to report some vaccines to the AIR for individuals under the recommended age. The message will indicate that the vaccine has been administered under the minimum required age. If this message is received, immunisation providers will need to review the vaccine administered and either:
Please refer to the influenza chapter in the Australian Immunisation Handbook for detailed advice, vaccine dosage, and contraindications. To read the full advice from Department of Health, click here.
The maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine is available and free during pregnancy under the National Immunisation Program. The RSV vaccine is recommended between 28 to 36 weeks of pregnancy, and also protects newborn babies from RSV, a leading cause of childhood hospitalisation. It’s important to inform expecting parents about maternal vaccinations including RSV, influenza and whooping cough. It is safe to get all 3 vaccines in the same visit. Find more resources below, including a poster, brochure and factsheets about maternal vaccinations here.
The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released a series of new videos in an addition to its collection of childhood immunisation resources aimed at parents and carers of younger children. The videos offer clear, quickfire summaries of a range of topics relating to childhood immunisation, including specific vaccine preventable diseases. The newly added videos explain when and why children are recommended to receive the vaccines listed on the NIP Schedule and what to expect before, during and after a childhood vaccination appointment. The videos include subtitles that can be translated into several other languages, including Arabic and Vietnamese. Access the videos here.
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has released a new resource to assist healthcare providers in conversations with older people and others about COVID-19 vaccination – with a particular focus on older people. The printable resource – which is based on the latest research – includes current booster dose recommendations and a QR code that gives easy access to more detailed information, including NCIRS’ COVID-19 vaccines FAQs, vaccine safety data and patient communication resources. Access the resource here.
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has published a new and improved version of the meningococcal vaccines FAQs resource for healthcare providers and the general public. The FAQs give a clear, accessible overview of meningococcal disease and its prevention from June 2025. The resource includes summaries of current vaccination recommendations, details of NIP funding and includes answers to a wide range of common questions about meningococcal vaccination. People considered at highest risk of meningococcal infection include infants under the age of 2 years, adolescents aged 15–19 years and people in special risk groups – including those with certain medical conditions. Meningococcal vaccination is, however, recommended for anyone who wants to minimise their risk of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). Authored by experts from the Centre’s Research to Inform Policy team, this new resource is designed to support and summarise – in plain language and an easy-to-read format – the Australian Immunisation Handbook meningococcal disease chapter. To access, 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.
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
Cancer Council WA is inviting all practices to host a waiting room display during the month of June to raise awareness of how patients can reduce their risk of bowel cancer. Encouraging your patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle, complete their bowel screening kit every 2 years, and be aware of symptoms and speak with the GP, are important aspects to reduce the risks associated with Bowel cancer.
All practices that submit a photo of their display will be entered into the draw to win a prize, which will be judged on:
Cervical screening should be undertaken every 5 years in asymptomatic women and people with a cervix aged 25–74 years.
To read the Cervical Screening guidelines, click here.
International Men's Health Week is a great opportunity to highlight the importance of men's health, and to promote and support the health and wellbeing of men and boys in our communities. Although the health of Australian men and boys is among the best in the world, we know they can still face unique challenges in accessing and engaging with health care services, particularly when it comes to mental health. Men have a shorter life expectancy than women and tend to have a higher incidence of preventable diseases. (National Men's Health Strategy 2020–2030).
Suicide remains a significant public health concern in Australia, with men accounting for a high proportion of suicide deaths. To equip GPs and general practice staff with the necessary skills to identify and respond to suicide risk, WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) has developed an online resource kit outlining accredited courses and other resources and training for primary care providers and their teams that includes links to:
Presented by WA Primary Health Alliance 12 June 2025 (11am AWST) and 26 June 2025 (4.30pm AWST)
WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) is providing GPs in WA with online Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) training, designed to help practitioners and clinicians recommend the most appropriate level of care for a person seeking mental health support. For the latest IAR-DST training dates and registration links, visit the WAPHA IAR-DST webpage. WAPHA will offer IAR Training by expressions of interest from beginning of July till the end of August. Visit the WAPHA IAR-DST webpage for further information.
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. Webinar 2 will focus on enhancing MDT workflows and is accredited for 1 RACGP EA CPD hour. To find out more, view the flyer and register for webinar 2 today.
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.
Join us for a series of training webinars designed to enhance your knowledge and skills on syphilis in general practice, including interpreting results, initiating treatment, contact tracing, co-infections and hepatitis C.
The first webinar of the series on Thursday 26 June will explore sexual health assessments in general practice and cover the following topics:
Register for webinar 1 today.
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.