Newsletter October 2023

Newsletter October 2023

CATSINaM acknowledges our core funding provider and supporter, DoHAC

CATSINaM Secretariat Updates for Members

CATSINaM Events and Activities

CATSINaM Regional Congress 2023 COUNTDOWN

Registration for the Congress has closed.

We look forward to seeing you at Peppers Salt Resort & Spa in Bundjalung Country, Kingscliff, NSW, from Tuesday, 28th to Thursday, 30th November 2023. For more information, contact enquire@catsinam.org.au

Our Congress Sponsors
A must-see virtual reality experience of In Our Own Right: Black Australian Nurses Stories II.

The exhibition pays tribute to the courage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing and midwifery trailblazers who actively challenged the health system that ostracised First Australians, and who now advocate for culturally safe health services for Mob. The intimate, private, and heart-wrenching stories told will penetrate the hearts and souls of even the most hardened hearer.

CATSINaM’s In Our Own Right virtual reality exhibition was showcased at the National Association of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Workers Practitioners Professional Development Symposium from 24-25 October 2023 on Kaurna country in Adelaide. CATSINaM wishes to thank all those who visited and supported our exhibition and team.

Attention Voting Members – Proxy Voting at AGM 2023.

Contact the CATSINaM Company Secretary at cosec@catsinam.org.au to express your interest. Proxy forms will be available in early November. 

Murra Mullangari: Introduction to Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility Late enrolments are still open for October intake.

The current offering commenced on 2nd October. Late enrolments will remain open until 2nd November.

Please note that any bulk purchases can happen anytime.

Cultural Safety is pivotal to improving nursing and midwifery care in general and to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The aims of the program are shown below.

From CATSINaM Members and Partners

The search has officially begun for Australia’s best nurses and midwives as nominations open for the 2024 HESTA Australian Nursing & Midwifery Awards.

The Awards recognise nurses, midwives, nurse educators, researchers and personal care workers who are improving health outcomes by providing outstanding care and support for Australians in need. Next year will mark the 18th year of the awards. 

Nominations now open for the 2024 HESTA Australian Nursing & Midwifery Awards

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Division 

The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care has established a project to remove the legislative need for specified collaborative arrangements between nurse practitioners (NPs) or participating midwives (PMs) and other medical professionals. Although the legislative requirement is being removed, it will not change the responsibility of NPs or PMs to collaborate in a multidisciplinary team as regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and the National Law. 

A webpage containing key project information is now available at Collaborative Arrangements 2023 Project . Future updates will also be published to the page. 

Services Australia

Has been working with the Department of Health and Aged Care to bring out important changes for PBS Authority Required items –PBS Transformation November 2023.

Commonwealth to co-design National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 

As part of listening to the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples following the loss of the Voice to Parliament referendum, the Australian Government will update the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan. 

Health and Aged Care Minister, Mark Butler, made the pledge during an address to the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) annual conference in Whadjuk Noongar country, Perth, on 25 October. 

New First Nations healthy skin guide launched for health sector 

A new National Healthy Skin Guideline has been launched by Telethon Kids Institute, to help health care providers identify, diagnose and treat a range of skin conditions experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in urban and remote areas. 

The updated guideline (2nd Edition) was developed by a multi-disciplinary group, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clinicians, as part of a public health push to alleviate skin sores, scabies, tinea, eczema and head lice. 

National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) 

Preparing a diabetes emergency plan and kit can help you to self-manage your diabetes during and after an emergency or natural disaster. 

DoHAC Health updates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
DoHAC National Immunisation Program

Shingrix vaccination available from November 1, 2023a joint venture of Australian and State & Territory governments. 

Voice to Parliament

A group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, community members and organisations who supported Yes have published an open letter about their reflections on the referendum result. 

“We want to talk with our people and our supporters about establishing – independent of the Constitution or legislation – an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to take up the cause of justice for our people,” they wrote. 

“Rejection of constitutional recognition will not deter us from speaking up to governments, parliaments and to the Australian people. We have an agenda for justice in pursuit of our First Nations rights that sorely need a Voice – we will continue to follow our law and our ways, as our Elders and Ancestors have done.” 

Immunisation Foundation of Australia 

Australia’s Whooping Cough Day on November 8.  Attached is the Whooping Cough Day Campaign Toolkit with information and assets that may help you and your organisation get involved.  This includes:   

  • Poster/flyer  
  • Educational print out  
  • Animated campaign video  
  • 10 x key facts on whooping cough with corresponding social media tiles   
Nurse & Midwife Support: Advice on Health and Well-being  

As a new nurse or midwife, you will be exposed to stressful experiences. Establishing self-care practices and proactive coping skills early in your career may help you maintain good health and resilience. Here are some tips for you to try. 

If you need advice about self-care and maintaining your health and wellbeing, give Nurse & Midwife Support a call on the national 24/7 service on 1800 667 877. Check this resource out and let us know how useful it was for you by emailing enquire@catsinam.org.au (subject: N&M support).  

Monash University-Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine 

Free training in recognising and responding to adult disclosures in sexual violence, under the Commonwealth Act to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032  called AVSTAR. 

NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth (Stillbirth CRE)_ New culturally appropriate Safer Baby resources for First Nations & migrant and refugee women. 
  • Stillbirth rates are significantly higher among First Nations and some migrant and refugee communities, compared to the general population.  
  • These new free, culturally sensitive resources, which have been carefully co-designed with the communities we are seeking to reach, will be central to the work we now need to do to reduce the burden of stillbirth among women at greatest risk.  

The suite of in-language resources, called ‘Stronger Bubba Born‘ and ‘Growing a Healthy Baby‘, have been developed from the evidence-based Safer Baby Bundle to improve maternity care for these communities and contribute to reducing stillbirth rates in Australia by 20 per cent.  

  • A Stakeholder Implementation Kit has been developed – which includes a media release, proposed copy for your newsletters/emails along with key messages and project information. 
  • A Social Media Guide, which shows the assets available and proposed copy to go with the posts. 

In addition, this latest information has also been translated into 25 languages and is available on the CRE’s Safer Baby website, saferbaby.org.au/ and available with all resources for healthcare professionals at learn.stillbirthcre.org.au/ 

Stronger Bubba Born social assets are also available. As well as a suite of  Growing a Healthy Baby social assets (including some in-language). Any issues accessing these dropbox folder links please contact the CRE on stillbirthcre@mater.uq.edu.au and get a zip file.  

Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) 

The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) invites Australian Primary Health Care (PHC) nurses and midwives to participate in their annual national PHC nursing and midwifery workforce survey. 

South Australian Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards 2024 

The Excellence Awards publicly recognise and celebrate the significant contribution that nurses and midwives make to the healthcare outcomes of the South Australian community. 

2024 Award Nominations are open (until 22 December 2023)  to all nurses and midwives who are registered to practice with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), and work in the South Australian public, private, aged care, education, community or non-government sector at the time of their nomination. See details in the Nomination Guide. 

Tri-Peaks Webinars Recordings August 2023. 

Tri-Peaks Webinars supported by Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and the Department of Health, Victoria) 

Have Your Say - Public consultation and input opportunities

IHACPA – Public consultation: Development of the admitted care classifications 

The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) seeks feedback from a broad range of stakeholders across the health sector on major updates proposed for ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS Thirteenth Edition and AR-DRG Version 12.0.  

Consultation opens: Thursday 2 November2023.  Consultation closes: 5:00pm AEDT on Friday 1 December 2023. 

One of the key changes to AR-DRG Version 12.0 includes a review of Major Diagnostic Category (MDC) 14 Pregnancy Childbirth and the Puerperium and the proposed addition of several new Adjacent Diagnosis Related Groups. 

CATSINaM members are encouraged to visit the IHACPA website, read the consultation paper and have your say! 

Note that the URL to link to is: https://www.ihacpa.gov.au/consultation .

Thank you again for your support of our consultation. 

Southern Cross University – Every Nurse’s Business Final Survey 

 The survey is for all Australian Registered Nurses, and focuses on nursing education, professional roles, and experiences caring for people with intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism (ASD). Findings from the survey will aim to build knowledge about nursing capacity to care for people with ID and/or ASD and improve future outcomes. It takes up to 9 minutes to complete the survey.

Closing the gap through research co-design 

The Australian Journal of Rural Health (AJRH) is deeply committed to the health and broader wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Many First Nations people live in rural and remote regions, especially including those living on Country. 

Employment Opportunities

Looking for work? Need a new employee? – Check out IndigenousX 

CATSINaM is referring all employment opportunities for nurses and midwives to IndigenousX.

IndigenousX is 100% Indigenous owned and operated and has grown to become one of Australia’s most trusted and respected Indigenous media platforms. Their new and improved jobs board is a great way to find and promote job opportunities.

Advertise a job or search for work opportunities by going to https://indigenousx.com.au/job-board/

Scholarships & Education

CATSINaM Student Members, are you looking for Clinical Placement Support? 

Northern Territory Primary Health Networks (NT PHN) are offering remote NT clinical placement grants through CRANAplus.  Allied health, nursing and midwifery, and medical students living in the Northern Territory or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health students across Australia are eligible to apply. 

Round 2, 2023 – Open 1July – 31 December 2023More info and how to apply can be found at this site.

Women in Health Eligible for Leadership Development Scholarships

Women & Leadership Australia has announced new scholarships to enable more women to access world-class leadership and workplace skill development programs.

By combining cutting-edge leadership theory with practical application, and a flexible part-time delivery, Women & Leadership Australia offers an unparalleled learning experience designed to fit into your busy schedule.

With partial scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, there are four programs to suit women in non-leadership roles all the way up to senior executives.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity! Learn more and apply now by visiting: www.wla.edu.au/industry/health

Applications close Friday 24 November 2023. Limited places available.

Aboriginal Undergraduate Scholarships
  • Scholarships of $1,000 per subject are available for Aboriginal students undertaking a Bachelor of Nursing or Bachelor of Midwifery. 
  • Aboriginal Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse Scholarships Scholarships of up to $15,000 are available for Aboriginal students with a Diploma of Nursing qualification undertaking a Bachelor of Nursing.
  • Aboriginal Postgraduate Scholarships If you’re an Aboriginal person currently working as a registered nurse or registered midwife in the NSW public health system, a postgraduate scholarship of up to $10,000 is available to support your postgraduate study and help with educational expenses.

The formal scholarship applications portal on their website opens 11th December 2023 and closes 4th February 2024, however they are more than happy to accept manual applications all year round. Enquiries on how to submit a manual application can be made to MOH-AboriginalNursing@health.nsw.gov.au

Aged Care Nursing Clinical Placements Program 

The Aged Care Nursing Clinical Placements Program is available to Bachelor of Nursing students until December 2024. For more information, visit the Aged Care Nursing Clinical Placements Program.   All nursing students and aged care workers can access a variety of free placement tools and aged care resources through the Aged Care Knowledge Hub.  

Australian Government Grant Opportunities 

 GO ID: GO6508 
GO Title: MRFF – EPCDRI & PHCRI – 2023 Multidisciplinary Models of Primary Care Grant Opportunity (Streams 1, 2 and 3) 
Agency: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 
Primary Category: Medical Research 
Close Date and Time: 10-Apr-2024 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) 

GO ID: GO6536 
GO Title: NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence 2024 
Agency: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 
Primary Category: Medical Research 
Close Date and Time: 29-Nov-2023 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) 

GO ID: GO6509 
GO Title: MRFF – EPCDRI & PHCRI – 2023 Multidisciplinary Models of Primary Care Grant Opportunity (Stream 4) 
Agency: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 
Primary Category: Medical Research 
Close Date and Time: 07-Aug-2024 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) 

Events - Conferences

  • November: Jawun Research Centre Seminar Series: Is it business as usual after the Referendum? presented by Professor Adrian Miller. Wednesday, 1st November 2023 
    3pm to 5pm AEST (Qld time). 
    • In person: Room 2.26, CQUniversity Cairns Campus, Corner Abbott Street and Shields Street – To register: Email: jrc@cqu.edu.au; Phone: 0400 305 315
    • Online:Zoom (Passcode: 041048) 
  • November: Homebirth Australia Conference  17-19 November 2023.  Homebirth Australia Conference offers $150 discount tickets to CATSINaM Members.
    • To claim the discount, please forward this CATSINaM newsletter to conference@homebirthaustralia.org and mention that you would like to take advantage of the discount. A member of our committee with respond with a discount code you can use at the checkout. 

We look forward to your feedback and queries. Please email us at: enquire@catsinam.org.au or follow our social media platforms.

Thank you 
CATSINaM Secretariat

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contain images, videos, voices and names of people who have since passed away.