Practice Connect Newsletter

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 (WAPHA) has a range of publications for different audiences providing up to date information.

Practice Connect – for practice managers, principals, nurses and administration
GP Connect – keeping GPs informed in the changing primary health landscape
Aged Care Connect – up to date across WAPHAs Aged Care Program initiatives and latest aged care news.
Primary Health Connect – information on all things primary health care in Western Australia.
Tender Notifications – receive notifications of upcoming tender opportunities.

09 July 2026 -

Edition 249

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NAIDOC Week 2026: 50 Years of Deadly
Quality improvement activity July 2026 – Health assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assignment of Benefit changes from 1 July 2026
Medicare Mental Health eReferral
Medicare Mental Health Check In providing free online mental health support
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
New Clinician Assist WA resource pages now available
My Health Record changes: an important update for general practices
Expansion of Diphtheria immunisation response
Changes to pneumococcal vaccination for adults
Expansion of free access to FluMist to older children
Health professional immunisation kits and campaigns
Gaps in parents’ knowledge about influenza vaccines
New dashboards to deliver insights into immunisation coverage in Australia
Immunisation survey (general practice)
Support the MIND-MAP Study – improving mental health in diabetes care
Education and events

25 June 2026 -

Edition 248

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The 10 QIMs: Using practice data to strengthen quality improvement and PIP QI participation
Update to RACGP infection prevention and control guidelines
Expressions of interest: Non-dispensing pharmacists in general practice
Update on fuel impact reporting
Consumer Medicines Line closure: what practices need to know
Update to changes to Assignment of Benefits from 1 July 2026
Updated MyMedicare resources
patients to meet eligibility to register for MyMedicare
Expansion of the WA Health Japanese Encephalitis Virus Vaccination Program
Adult pneumococcal schedule updates
Extension of the Free Influenza Vaccine Program
FluMist update – expiry dates and vaccine errors
Diphtheria declared Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance
National Bowel Screening Program
Seeking GP Practice Owners and Managers to participate in a national research program
Education and events

11 June 2026 -

Edition 247

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Data cleansing and archiving: The essential first step for accurate, data led quality improvement
My Practice Data report – Are you getting the most out of your data?
Primary Sense – Best Practice Halo Connect Integration action required by 30 June 2026
New Support at Home Program resources to help navigate referrals
Driving better care through the MedicineInsight Program
Electronic prescribing and active script lists – Are lost prescriptions impacting your practice?
Alert for WA clinicians – Ebola disease update in Central and Eastern Africa
Assignment of Benefit updates for Medicare bulk billing
1800MEDICARE resources now available
MyMedicare program updates and resources
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
New mpox cases reported in WA
Updates to disease chapters in the Australian Immunisation Handbook
Changes to the adult pneumococcal vaccination program from 1 July 2026
Adult pneumococcal vaccination: broadening protection
Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
Celebrating 20 years of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
Education and events

28 May 2026 -

Edition 246

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Chronic conditions remain a major health challenge in Australia
Managing chronic health conditions with a shared health summary in My Health Record
Primary Sense – Best Practice Halo Connect Integration action required by 30 June 2026
Designated Registered Nurse (RN) Prescribing – Scholarships available
Help evaluate a new online tool for endometriosis care
Care finder services: updated providers and referrals
Provider Connect Australia™ – How to publish to business partners
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
FluMist ordering
New annual AIR due and overdue rules for influenza
Updates to AIR due and overdue rules for childhood pneumococcal vaccines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
EOI for HESA accredited Immunisation Course – ‘Understanding Vaccines and the National Immunisation Program’
Australian Centre for Disease Control updates guidance as the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing announces a diphtheria outbreak support package
RSV Awareness Week 2026 – Quality improvement activity
Events and education

14 May 2026 -

Edition 245

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Formal guidance for clinicians on the use of artificial intelligence tools
MBS health assessments
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Rapid Antigen Test kits for general practice staff
EOI for HESA accredited Immunisation Course – ‘Understanding Vaccines and the National Immunisation Program’
‘Vaccination is the best preparation’ – national immunisation campaign launch
WA Health diphtheria outbreak response
Watch now – RSV vaccines and prevention programs: evidence, safety and impact
Turning PIP QI data into action – Influenza vaccination in diabetes
New video and template for the National Lung Cancer screening program
Promote lung cancer screening in your practice and win!
National Palliative Care Week is 10 to 16 May 2026
Education and events

30 April 2026 -

Edition 244

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World Immunisation Week
FluMist vaccine free for children
Improving influenza immunisation rates in WA children for winter 2026
Infectious diseases health alert: Diphtheria outbreak in regional WA
RSV vaccine now funded for older adults
‘Stick it to the Flu’ resources now available
Childhood influenza vaccination barriers in Australia, 2025 national survey
Immunisation Coalition – 2026 RSV and influenza clinical newsletters
Promote lung cancer screening in your practice and win!
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Heart Week 4-10 May 2026: Never miss a BEAT
Education and events

17 April 2026 -

Edition 243

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MyMedicare patient registration
Second Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program payments may include reassessments
Medicare Mental Health HealthLink GP SmartForm now available
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Primary Sense in Practice: QI Bites and Clinical Insights Video Series
Choosing software for a new practice or considering changing software?
Primary care funding reform will help with complex chronic disease
Nurse Re-entry Program – Strengthen your practice team for 2026
Rural Generalist Anaesthesia training
FluMist – what you need to know
Staying healthy this winter
Webinar: RSV vaccines and prevention programs – evidence, safety and
Education and events

02 April 2026 -

Edition 242

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MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Hepatitis B resources to support people from multicultural communities
Free clinical support for hepatitis available via HepLink
Medicare Mental Health SmartForm now available in HealthLink
New campaign and staff education to increase syphilis awareness
Disaster recovery and general practice
2026 GP Influenza Grant Program (WA): Up to $2,000 to support your clinic’s flu vaccination efforts
Checking expiry dates on swabs and LBC medium for cervical screening
New SKAI resource: Supporting your conversations with parents about HPV vaccination to improve adolescent uptake
NCIRS influenza webinar videos now available
Education and events

20 March 2026 -

Edition 241

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New GP-NRA MBS items must be bulk billed from 1 March 2026
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Supporting culturally responsive care in general practice
eNRMC medication management systems update for general practices servicing aged care homes
WA Government launches Access Health WA campaign and website
Empowering communities with increased confidence and knowledge around end-of-life planning
National Advance Care Planning (ACP) Week 16-22 March 2026
Quality improvement activity – Enhancing cultural safety in advance care planning (ACP)
EOI for HESA accredited Immunisation Course – ’Understanding Vaccines and the National Immunisation Program’
Infanrix Hexa expiry dates
Ask a Respiratory Physician about the NLCSP
Winter is coming! Protecting your patients through immunisation
WA Health Influenza Update: Revised date
Education and events

05 March 2026 -

Edition 240

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MyMedicare quick reference guide
MyMedicare Minute from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Australian Warning System: What general practices need to know this cyclone season
Coordinated action needed to achieve Closing the Gap targets in WA
Care finders improving access to aged care
Nurse Re-entry Program – Looking to add a practice nurse to your team?
Online Orientation Sessions for new GPs in rural WA
Making Healthcare Accessible for Multicultural Communities
Supporting Refugee Health in General Practice
Free multilingual telephone hotline for people affected by overseas conflicts
Winter Strategy plan for immunisation
Cold Chain Audits for 2026
NEW Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine fridge labels
Declining adolescent immunisation rates
Cervical Screening Test (CST): Understanding Updated Screening Intervals
Ask a Respiratory Physician about the NLCSP
WA Health Influenza Update
Juvenile Arthritis Week (JAW) is 16 to 22 March 2026
Education and events