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.

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

19 February 2026 -

Edition 239

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BBPIP Payments for Quarter 1 – 1 November 2025 to 31 January 2026
MBS changes for 1 March 2026
Resources and training to support caring for people with Autism
Help DVA clients connect with health care services through the National Health Services Directory
DVA updated fees for compensation claim medical assessments and reports
Final call for entries: $3,500 prize pool up for grabs as Live and Work Rural Competition Closes 1 March 2026
Event Summaries in My Health Record – More Than Meeting ePIP Requirements
Quality improvement webinars
Provider online digital access (PRODA) and Health Professional Online Services (HPOS)
Provider Connect Australia™ is transforming business information management and service provider connectivity
What are Childhood Asthma Action Plans and why are they so important?
Notification of additional measles cases in Metropolitan Perth
Australian Immunisation Handbook Chapters Updated
Tools and tips for tackling vaccine misinformation in your practice
New quality improvement activity: Identify eligible patients for the National Lung Cancer Screening Program
Save the date: World Kidney Day 12 March 2026
Education and events

05 February 2026 -

Edition 238

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New public campaign launched: Bulk Billing for all Australians
Organisational change guidance update
Practice Assist news and updates
Referrals to WACHS Midwest Specialist Outpatient Services transitioning to CRS
Maintain benzathine benzylpenicillin stock in your doctors bag
Royal Perth Bentley Group – new HealthLink address for direct-to-site (non-CRS) referrals
Royal Perth Hospital Breast Clinic referral update
My Health app has now transitioned to 1800MEDICARE app
NASH certificate renewals to maintain access to digital services
My Health Record – Better Faster Access
Healthcare Providers – Accessing My Health Record via the National Provider Portal
Starting School – Immunisations
Measles advice from the Chief Medical Officer
WA Immunisation Schedule and WA Aboriginal Immunisation Schedule updated
2026 Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Immunisation Program information session
Invitation to participate: Immunisation resource survey
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Education and events

28 January 2026 -

Edition 237

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MyMedicare maintenance for the New Year
Tips on managing the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive
1800 Medicare health information and advice
Medicare Mental Health – 1800 595 212
Practice Assist news and updates
Don’t miss out on funding opportunities for your practice!
Preparing for the wet season and flooding
Immediate (urgent) referrals to Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Hospitals (SCGOPHCG)
IBD in practice: A survey on knowledge and management in primary care
Cold chain breaches
Counterfeit rabies vaccine in India
Increased influenza activity and guidance for the holiday season
National Cancer Screening Register integration
Education & Events

08 January 2026 -

Edition 236

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- Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program
- Practice Assist news and updates
- Practice Assist Digital Health Tool Kit and webpage updated
- Advance Care Planning (ACP) Tool Kit now on Practice Assist
- Start the new year safe and aware
- New trauma-informed care resource for general practice teams
- Decommission of the NPS MedicineWise and Doctor’s Bag mobile applications
- Maintain benzathine benzylpenicillin stock in your Doctors Bag
- More measles cases detected
- New ATAGI statement on the importance and safety of Hepatitis B vaccine at birth
- Immunisation requirements for childcare services, kindergarten and schools
- The AIR “Planned catch-up for overdue vaccines” tick box
- ABRYSVO – Shelf life extension
- Immunisation Coalition webinars
- National lung screening campaign
- Bowel cancer screening education
- WACCPP – Out and about in WA
- Help improve team-based primary health care
- Registered Nurse Prescribing Endorsement – Consultation Opportunity
- Education & Events

11 December 2025 -

Edition 235

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New eligibility assessments for the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program
Summary of the 2025 Medicare changes
Happy Holidays from the Practice Assist Team
2026 Practice Assist Year Planner
Booragoon Medicare UCC launching in 2026
Clinic using grant to support those experiencing or at risk of homelessness
National Guidelines for Presentation of Electronic Discharge Summaries
Updated sick day management principles for adults with diabetes
Beforeplay – Sexually transmissible (STI) campaign
WA joins the Single Employer Model trial for Rural Generalist training in 2026
Caring for patients using alcohol and other drugs during the festive season
Keep safe this holiday period
Supporting women and children affected by Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence
Consideration of dTpa vaccine rather than dT vaccine for tetanus prone wounds for increasing pertussis protection
Updated HPV FAQs for providers and communities
Australian health leaders reaffirm vaccine safety
WA Immunisation Schedule changes – webinar recording now available
Education and events

27 November 2025 -

Edition 234

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Year in Review 2024-2025: Strategic alignment, data-driven decision and collaborative partnerships
Medicare updates from November 2025
Cheaper cancer and chronic conditions medicines now on PBS
Workshop on futureproofing your general practice
View your My Practice Data Reports
Practice Assist looking forward to 2026
The new Aged Care Act and DVA funded care
New quick guide about DVA funded supports for veterans with cognitive concerns
Annual payment available to patients for incontinence products
Support older people to record preferences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander assessment organisations
New resources to support children and families with attention, regulation and ADHD challenges
New resources to support children and families with attention, regulation and ADHD challenges
Supporting patients with changing their legal gender
Supporting your practice to be LGBTIQA+ inclusive
Safer Options resources for inclusive care
Free accredited training in disaster preparedness for general practice
Bidi Wungen Kaat – St James Transitional Care Unit Prevention and Recovery Program now open to patients state-wide
Connected care: digital health across aged care
Secure messaging improves referrals
Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) policy: update to childhood pneumococcal schedule rule changes
New and improved Immunisation Handbook app now available
Reminder: free Japanese encephalitis vaccine available for those at risk
Introduction of the New Aged Care Act: key messages for COVID-19 vaccination
COVID-19 vaccines in Australia poster updated
Immunisation education opportunities
Webinar Recordings for NCIRS
World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day
National Cervical Screening Program monitoring report 2025
WAPHA Palliative Care Champions Project – Request for Proposal (RFP) opening early December 2025
Don’t ignore the black puppy: Why small signs of depression deserve big attention
Education and events

13 November 2025 -

Edition 233

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Medicare updates from November 2025
Primary Sense in practice: QI bites and clinical insights
Prepare your practice for the effects of heat waves in your communities
Transition of WA Diabetes Patients to Adult Services – Primary Care Survey
Using quality improvement to boost the uptake of eScripts and Active Script Lists
Connected care: digital health across aged care
Paid online focus groups on My Health Record
Get ready for Summer!
Influenza immunisation program 2026
Declining adolescent immunisation rates
Pertussis surge
Changes to Immunisation Handbook chapters
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
National Cancer Screening Register
New Learning Management System (LMS) for online immunisation modules
Eliminating Cervical Cancer Conference 2025
Shingles update
Changes to the WA Immunisation Schedule Lunchtime webinar
Education and events