Issue 232 - 30 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, a range of updates and modifications will be implemented to the Medicare Benefits Schedule.
4. Increased rebates for Long-Acting Reversible Contraception.
5. Information about the MBS Telehealth arrangements.
o Ongoing MBS telehealth arrangements remain in place, providing a wide range of telephone and video services by qualified health practitioners to support safe and equitable access to telehealth services. o Further information and factsheets are available here. 6. Updated General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI) guidelines and Health Professional Education Resources are available.
o The GPACI Guidelines have now been updated. o New GPACI hints & tips document is available. o Further information on the changes and updates will be emailed to practices soon.
View the RACGP Changes to Medicare webinar series here.
You can find a full list of upcoming changes click here.
For information or support on the Medicare changes or MyMedicare please contact the Practice Assist Help Desk on 08 6278 7900 or via email practiceassist@wapha.org.au
General practice is often the first point of contact for people experiencing mental health challenges, with GPs and practice nurses well placed to connect patients to a range of Australian Government-funded options available to patients seeking mental health support. This includes low-cost Medicare Benefits Schedule subsidised services (such as the Better Access initiative) and free services commissioned by Primary Health Networks (PHNs). As the operator of WA’s three PHNs, WA Primary Health Alliance commissions a range of other free mental health services from a wide network of community-managed organisations and health service providers, offered at no cost to the patient and without a Mental Health Treatment Plan, including:
The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Aged Care (DHDA) has developed the following resources to support conversations with patients eligible for Australian Government funded mental health supports:
Cyclones and thunderstorms can cause interruption to access to care needed by patients by causing damage and service interruptions. Thunderstorms increase asthma risks in the community and can severely impact on a patient’s health if unprepared. General practice can contribute to preparing patients for the effects of cyclones and thunderstorms and can help to reduce the impact to communities. Education is crucial in ensuring patients are equipped with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves during cyclones.
Clinician Assist WA has recently updated the palliative care pathway suite, providing clinical and referral guidance to GPs and other primary health care professionals to support patients and their families throughout their palliative care journey. These pathways address essential topics such as assessment of new patients with palliative care needs, management of common symptoms and prescribing advice, advance care planning, and supporting people who wish to die at home. In addition, Clinician Assist WA has palliative care referral pages available to users, providing clear direction for patient referrals across Western Australia. Visit the Clinician Assist WA website to explore the pathways. Read more about the role of GPs in supporting patients who wish to die at home in WA Primary Health Alliance’s latest GP Connect clinical feature, by GP Clinical Editor, Dr Cory Lei.
Ahead of the changes to the Aged Care Act commencing on 1 November, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released new resources for GPs, NPs and allied health providers to inform how they can support older people to access the new Support at Home (SaH) program. From 1 November Support at Home will replace the current Home Care Packages (HCP) program and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) programme. The Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) will transition to SaH no earlier than 1 July 2027. More detail can be found in the guidance linked below:
Support at Home includes a new End-of-Life pathway to support participants who have been diagnosed with 3 months or less to live and wish to remain at home, by providing more funding to access in-home aged care services. A doctor or nurse practitioner must provide an assessment for the older person to access the End-of-Life pathway. Further details about the assessment required can be found in the fact sheet linked below:
There are online training modules available to assist health professional understanding of the Support at Home program. The below links are the modules most relevant to general practice and other primary care providers:
Further information and resources about the Support at Home program can be found at:
Learn about the new Support at Home aged care program, referral pathways, services available, and how to support your patients to receive in home care.
Silverchain Head of Policy and Advocacy, Dr Ronelle Hutchinson, will share her expertise on how to navigate the new aged care system.
She will be supported by Silverchain GP Liaisons Dr Leena Patel and Dr Erin O’Donnell-Taylor; and Silverchain Director of Nursing and Safety, Chris Snepvangers.
These free, national webinars will provide 1.5 educational activity CPD hours. It is designed for doctors, practice nurses and community care teams, and is available across two live sessions. Register now - places are limited
At the time of publication, Western Australia has recorded 52 measles cases in 2025, compared to six in 2024. There have been 30 cases identified since July 2025, four identified in returned overseas travellers and 26 locally acquired. 12 cases have been linked to a Pilbara community outbreak and the most recent case has been identified in Perth - visiting Royal Perth and Fiona Stanley Hospitals. Clinicians are advised to remain vigilant for measles symptoms, especially in patients with recent travel or exposure. The most recent exposure sites have been added to the active measles alert (last updated 22 October 2025). Support a timely public health response with urgent notification of suspected cases by telephone to your local Public Health Unit (or 1800 434 122 if after hours). Offer MMR vaccination to eligible individuals born after 1965 who haven't had two doses of a measles-containing vaccine. This state funded extra dose is free and does not require serology.
Refer to the Measles Pilbara Outbreak Alert for WA clinicians – 9 October 2025 and Measles quick guide for more information. The National Centre for Immunisation Research and surveillance (NCIRS) has updated its measles vaccination guide for immunisation providers to align with state- and territory-funded measles catch-up vaccination programs introduced across Australia this year. The simplified visual aid helps providers to assess the requirements for measles-containing vaccine based on if a person is born:
The updated measles vaccination tool joins a suite of measles immunisation resources, including measles FAQs and the Australian Immunisation Handbook Measles chapter. Australian immunisation experts continue to urge the community to prioritise measles vaccination in the wake of surging measles cases globally and declining coverage in Australia. Access the clinical decision tool here.
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has recently updated the recommended sites for childhood vaccination resource to include the latest pneumococcal program changes for children. This printable (A3) resource details the recommended sites for childhood vaccines funded under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule as well as additional vaccines funded by some states and territories. Please note that Beyfortus is NOT included on this chart. To view and print, please click here.
The WA Department of Health invites you to participate in a short survey aimed at identifying potential barriers to antenatal immunisation in Western Australia. Your insights will help shape future program initiatives to improve immunisation coverage rates among pregnant women.
As an immunisation provider, your on-the-ground experience is invaluable. Your feedback will contribute to a better understanding of the challenges faced in antenatal immunisation and guide efforts to address them. Access the survey here.
On 17 November 2025, Australia will proudly join the World Health Organization (WHO) in celebrating the inaugural World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day. This milestone recognises the significant progress already made towards eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem in Australia by 2035. It also highlights the important work still ahead to ensure equitable access, sustained participation, and lasting impact. Clinics and health services across WA are encouraged to get involved by marking World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day with their patients, in their communities. This could include:
Every action, big or small, helps spark conversations, raise awareness, and keep the momentum strong as Australia continues to lead the way towards a future free from cervical cancer! Further information available here by visiting the Australian Centre for Prevention of Cervical Cancer website.
A public awareness campaign for the National Lung Cancer Screening Program has now been launched. Titled ‘It’s Good to Know’, the campaign spans mainstream and social media components and assets, and will be delivered nationally in its first phase until June 2026. Program resources are available on the NLCSP website. Print-ready resources for Health professionals can now be ordered from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing via the website. The resources include:
A new shared decision-making poster is also available. To find these, and many more resources, click here.
BreastScreen WA offers free mammograms every two years for women aged 50–74, with women aged 40–49 or 75 and older also eligible on request. Despite this, only 52% of women participate, underscoring the important role of primary care professionals in encouraging and reminding patients about screening. During October, Breast Cancer Awareness month, BreastScreen WA launched its new campaign, Show Up, encouraging women across Western Australia to prioritise their health. The message is simple: Show up for yourself. Show up for those who love you. Show up and put your health first. You may notice increased interest or questions from patients following this campaign, use the link below to access resources to help support these conversations in your practice. View the Breastscreen WA resources. Cancer Council WA offers a Breast Cancer Screening Quality Improvement activity designed to help your practice improve patient participation in the screening program. This activity is RACGP accredited for 6 CPD hours under the Measuring Outcomes category. Additional Quality Improvement activities focus on modifiable lifestyle risk factors, supporting practices to improve recording of alcohol status, weight (BMI), and smoking status. Register for the Quality Improvement activity 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.
Hosted by the NHMRC Centre for Excellence in Cervical Cancer Control, the Eliminating Cervical Cancer Conference will be a virtual event on the inaugural World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day. ECC2025 will bring together leading experts, researchers, and healthcare professionals to discuss and advance the mission of eliminating cervical cancer. The theme for ECC2025 is Working towards Elimination: Success, Innovation and Challenges in Implementation. This conference will feature:
This Immunisation Coalition webinar on Shingles completes a suite of 7 infectious diseases webinars. Professor John Litt will provide an update on shingles epidemiology, revisit eligibility criteria including immunocompromised individuals and risk categories, disease burden and current trends in vaccination rates. To register and for further information, click here.
Join us for webinar three on Wednesday 19 November, which will cover the following topics:
This webinar is accredited for 1 RACGP EA CPD hour. To find out more, view the flyer and register for webinar three 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.
This WA Primary Health Alliance workshop invites GPs and supporting members of the practice team to strengthen their response to patients experiencing family and domestic violence (FDV) through best-practice documentation and collaborative care. A multidisciplinary panel from the Sexual Assault Resource Centre, MDA National, Women’s Legal Service and the Police FDV Response Team will share insights on medical and legal processes in responding to FDV. Download the flyer or register register here. Breakfast provided.
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.