Issue 231 - 17 October 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 November 2025, there will be changes to the MBS. These changes include a range of administrative and policy changes, including to implement the Government’s responses to recommendations from the MBS Review Taskforce (the Taskforce) and the Medical Services Advisory Committee. Changes include:
For a full list of upcoming changes click here. For support on MBS changes, please contact the Practice Assist Help Desk on 08 6278 7900 or via email practiceassist@wapha.org.au
From 1 November 2025, practices can choose to register and participate in the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP) and will equally share in the additional incentive payment of 12.5% of MBS billings for eligible services. A new BBPIP Practice Readiness Checklist has been developed to assist practices that intend to register for BBPIP with their planning and preparation. A calculator is available for general practice owners, managers and individual general practitioners to estimate annual earnings from Medicare bulk billing incentives (BBIs) and the new Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP), starting 1 November 2025. Access to the Bulk Billing Incentives Calculator can be obtained here. A Bulk Billing Incentives Calculator User Guide is also available explaining how to use the calculator. For information or support on the Bulk Billing Practice Incentives or MyMedicare please contact the Practice Assist Help Desk on 08 6278 7900 or via email practiceassist@wapha.org.au
From 1 November 2025, changes will be made to the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners Initiative through the Medicare Benefits Schedule, subject to the passage of legislation. Consistent with recommendations in the Better Access Evaluation published in 2022, the changes will:
For further information on the Better Access Mental Health Program changes see: MBS Online - Better Access changes from 1 November 2025 You can find more information about MyMedicare on the Practice Assist MyMedicare page. For information or support on the Better Access Mental Health Program or MyMedicare please contact the Practice Assist Help Desk on 08 6278 7900 or via email practiceassist@wapha.org.au
Western Australia can expect a hot and dry summer bringing higher risk to patients in your communities this bushfire season. Bushfires can be started by natural causes, such as lightning strikes, or by people (accidentally or deliberately) and can bring about dangerous conditions, reduced air quality and significant impact to community safety. General practice has a role to play in preparing patients for the effects of bushfires and can help to reduce the impact to your communities. Education is crucial in ensuring patients are equipped with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves during bushfires.
With WA Mental Health Week wrapping up last week, we’re reminded of the vital role of general practice in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our communities. At WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA), mental health is one of our key health priority areas. In 2023–24, we invested $93.12 million in community-based mental health and suicide prevention services across Western Australia. We continue to work alongside general practices to strengthen a primary care system where physical and mental health needs are addressed together, ensuring patients can access holistic, person-centred care when and where they need it most. Learn about WAPHA’s mental health priorities on the WAPHA website.
Are you a student or health professional working in rural Western Australia? Rural Health West (RHW) want to hear your story! Rural health services across WA play a vital role in ensuring people living in country communities have access to essential care. But they know the challenges of attracting and retaining qualified health professionals are real. That’s why RHW is inviting you to share your experiences in their Live and Work in Rural WA Competition. This competition celebrates the rewarding aspects of rural health careers and aims to inspire more students and professionals to consider going rural.
Ready to inspire others to live and work in rural WA? Enter here. For more information, contact RHW: (08) 6389 4500 | marketing@ruralhealthwest.com.au
Australians will soon experience better and faster access to their key health information in My Health Record.
Under new legislation, healthcare providers will soon be required to upload written pathology and diagnostic imaging reports to My Health Record. This change ensures that key health information is more consistently available to support informed clinical decisions, reduce unnecessary duplicate testing, and enable more coordinated care across different healthcare settings. Over time, this initiative will close long-standing gaps in information sharing, giving people and their healthcare teams a more complete picture of their health.
The Faster Access initiative will reduce the time people wait to see their results, empowering Australians to take a more active role in managing their health.
For more information, visit digitalhealth.gov.au or email help@digitalhealth.gov.au
World Meningitis Day was recently celebrated on 5 October 2025. Meningococcal disease can cause life-threatening meningitis. Fortunately, it is largely preventable through timely vaccination. WA Health is urging all immunisation providers to support increased protection for meningococcal disease. At any given time, approximately 10 per cent of healthy people carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose or throat without symptoms. However, in rare cases, the bacteria can cause serious illness and even death. For this reason, it is important to ensure eligible cohorts are up-to-date with their MenACWY and MenB vaccinations. For eligibility, see the WA Immunisation Schedule. Refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook for further advice, including vaccine dosage, contraindications and other groups that are recommended to receive meningococcal vaccines. Resources for Providers:
An Infectious Diseases Health Alert for clinicians was released on 9 October due to the outbreak of measles in the Pilbara region and an updated Measles Alert was issued on 13 October following recent cases detected in returned overseas travellers. Immunisation providers are encouraged to:
To read the full alert from 9 October, please click here. To read the Vaccine Update and Alert from 13 October, please click here.
Hepatitis Australia and the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) are reminding all Australians of the importance of hepatitis B vaccinations to protect the health and wellbeing of children. Hepatitis B is a virus which can lead to acute or chronic hepatitis B conditions, with the latter being associated with increased risk of liver damage and liver cancer. The birth-dose hepatitis B vaccine has been recommended since 2000 and is provided for free under Australia’s National Immunisation Program. Currently, the Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends four hepatitis B vaccinations by six months of age, with the first being preferably within 24 hours of birth when medically stable. Refer to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule for state and territory-specific guidance. Further evidence-based guidance around hepatitis B prevention and vaccinations can be found on ASHM’s B Positive web portal. Anyone seeking further information about hepatitis B, including vaccination, can call HepLink on 1800 437 222.
People may be exposed to rabies and other lyssaviruses through animal scratches or bites, or by direct contact of mucosal surfaces with infected saliva. Exposure can be from animals overseas or bats in Australia (or overseas). Any patient who has potentially been exposed should receive post-exposure prophylaxis with a specific course of rabies vaccines and in some cases, rabies immunoglobulin. Rabies post exposure prophylaxis is provided free by WA health. Call Public Health to get advice and access free vaccines/immunoglobulin. Contact your local public health unit during business hours. After hours, contact public health on-call (1800 434 122). Information for clinicians is available here. More detailed information here.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has launched the 4th edition of the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’ to help providers manage vaccine cold chain storage – and ensure maximum vaccine efficacy for patients. ‘Strive for 5’ [degrees Celsius] framework also offers advice on how to respond to a cold chain breach and includes resources, such as checklists, posters and stickers, to support best practice at all times including during unexpected events like power failures. The guidelines are for all service providers, from medical practices to large hospitals, clinics and outreach providers. Access the updated guidelines here. Please remember to bookmark them for future reference.
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has published a series of vaccine safety pages for immunisation providers and the public that give clear, easy-to-understand information on range of vaccine topics, including how:
These pages have been created to give easy access to clear, evidence-based information about vaccines and how safety concerns are managed in Australia and globally. To view the vaccine safety webpages, click here.
Cancer Council WA invites your practice to host a waiting room display this November to help raise awareness about the importance of the early detection of skin cancer. Your display will encourage patients to:
For all the information and terms and conditions, click here.
The Immunisation Coalition, in collaboration with Inovating, announce the 3rd Primary Care Infectious Diseases meeting on Saturday 25 October at the Stamford Plaza, Brisbane. Theme: If under vaccination is the disease, primary care is the cure This is a hybrid event and is specifically designed for General Practitioners, Nurse Immunisers and Pharmacists who are on the front line of vaccinating Australians against infectious diseases. There will be keynote presentations, workshops and panel discussions. For further information, a program guide and to register, click here.
This webinar from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) will explore the latest evidence and practical strategies to help reverse the trend and strengthen community confidence in immunisation. The session is intended for anyone who has a role in supporting adolescent health, including public health professionals, educators, school staff, nurses, general practitioners and pharmacists. For further information and to register, click here.
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The Immunisation Coalition is hosting this webinar to provide an important update for healthcare professionals involved in childhood immunisation. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination rates in children under 5 years have declined across several key disease areas, including DTPa (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis). Learning Objectives:
For more information and to register, click here.
For two decades, nurses and midwives have told the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) what it's really like to work in primary health care.
You've helped APNA change what it's like to work outside the four walls of a hospital for the better.
Help make this year's Workforce Survey the biggest yet.
Simply complete the survey by Friday, 31 October. You do not need to be an APNA member to take part, and you can save the survey at any time to complete later.
You could win one of two $1000 RedBalloon vouchers!
Start now
APNA - making sure you are valued, visible and respected.
Join us for a webinar series designed to support general practitioners with increasing their skills in identifying, diagnosing and treating children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including prescribing and monitoring stimulants. The three webinars are accredited for 3 RACGP EA CPD hours (1 hour each webinar). Webinar 2: Wednesday 22 October 2025 This webinar will cover the following topics:
To find out more, view the flyer and register for webinar 2 today.
Join us for a practical and engaging quality improvement (QI) webinar designed to support primary care professionals with delivering gender-responsive health care. This webinar will cover the following topics:
To find out more, view the flyer and register 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. This will be the final live demonstration for 2025 with no further sessions planned for 2026. If you are interested, register now. Demonstrations are open to general practitioners, general practice staff and other health professionals registered to practice in WA.
Join us for one of the Immunisation and Cancer Screening Preventative Health Forums in Perth South or Perth North. These in-person events are designed to support practice nurses with understanding the National Immunisation Program (NIP), administering vaccinations and increasing cancer screening rates. To find out more, view the flyer and register for the Perth South Forum or the Perth North Forum today.
New training opportunity to strengthen your work with First Nations people
As busy health practitioners, finding time for professional development can be challenging. Yet, when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients, ongoing learning is not optional, it’s essential! Wellmob are launching a short course to develop practical skills when using culturally-based digital tools with First Nations clients. WellMob’s new pilot training program offers a flexible, bite-sized approach to learning. Designed for busy practitioners, this three-week course delivers eight short email lessons that fit easily into your day. Each lesson includes multiple-choice questions with instant feedback, helping you build cultural responsiveness without the time burden of traditional training.
Who is it for? This is for health professionals only and not for clients or community. It has been designed for GPs and allied health workforce, including psychologists, counsellors, social workers, AOD and youth workers, as well as educators. Find out more.
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.