The government has
announced the next phase of the National Drugs Campaign to help tackle the use of illicit drugs, particularly ice, among young Australians.
The campaign illustrates the range of risks associated with drug use and provides information on the range of resources, support and treatment options available. Resources are also available for parents, including the Positive Choices Online Portal and there is a new National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline 1800 250 015 which links to existing services that offer free and confidential support, information, counselling and referral.
The successful teams for the second round Local Drug Action Teams (LDATs) have been announced and include the following four in our region:
- Alpine LGA: Communities That Care Alpine
- Greater Bendigo LGA: Regional Victoria LGBTIQ Local Drug Action Team
- Buloke LGA: Wycheproof and Sea Lake LDAT
- Mildura and Wentworth LGAs: Northern Mallee Local Drug Action Team
More Supercare Pharmacies to give round-the-clock care Mildura and Shepparton
The final eight of 20 locations Supercare Pharmacies have been announced and include Mildura and Shepparton Chemist Warehouses which are set to open by 30 June 2018.
The Supercare Pharmacies are open 24/7 with a nurse on site from 6pm-10pm daily. Community pharmacists across Victoria, including Supercare pharmacists, have played a key role in providing access to vaccinations, advice and treatment for people suffering from flu symptoms. They have also been important during the thunderstorm asthma event last year, and continue to raise awareness of better asthma and hay fever management for the upcoming pollen season.
The free nursing service also assists with support and advice for minor injury and illness, whooping cough immunisations, health screening, sexual health advice and referrals to other services.
Healthier smiles for Aboriginal kids in the Loddon Mallee region Indigenous health
Aboriginal children in the Loddon Mallee region will receive free fluoride varnish as part of a new state government outreach program to prevent tooth decay. The program will be implemented by the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC) who will coordinate the delivery of fluoride varnish applications and oral health promotion with tooth packs to Aboriginal preschool children at their local early childhood services and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.
Many Aboriginal children have higher levels of tooth decay in their baby teeth compared to non-Aboriginal children. Tooth decay is one of the most prevalent diseases in Victoria and the highest cause of preventable hospitalisations for Victorian children under 10. For more information click here.
Collection of family histories of breast and ovarian cancers cancer screening
BreastScreen Victoria (BSV) is now collecting information on family histories of breast and ovarian cancer when they have a breast screen through the service. This information informs an analysis for predicting an increased risk of breast cancer which determines if tailored screening is required.
This analysis is done using the BSV Family History Tool ,developed in conjunction with experts and based on the Cancer Australia Familial Risk Assessment Tool for Breast and Ovarian Cancer (FRA-BOC), the eviQ Clinical Guidelines from the Cancer Institute NSW and the NICE Guidelines from the United Kingdom. The information is analysed and and allocates participants to one of three groups based on their calculated risk (relative to the general population) of developing breast cancer. Click here for more information.
If you have any questions or queries, you can e: BreastScreen Victoria or t: 03 9660 6861.
Advance care planning in general practice advance care planning
Advance is a free toolkit of screening and assessment tools and a training package, specifically designed to support nurses in Australian general practices to work with general practitioners initiate advance care planning (ACP) and palliative care in everyday general practice.
The Advance Toolkit consists of six screening and assessment tools and a guide, which indicates how to implement the screening tools in a systematic way in general practice. The toolkit was informed by a literature review of the best available evidence about tools to support palliative care and ACP in general practice, as well as input from an expert advisory group and feedback from general practice nurses, general practitioners and Carers Australia. For more information click here.
Preparing for the end of OTC codeine alcohol and other drugs
From 1 February 2018 all pharmacy products containing codeine will no longer be available over-the-counter. To assist the community and health workforce to understand and be prepared for the changes, national advocacy group Scriptwise has produced
a website containing resources for
community members, pharmacists and doctors.
The information includes: understanding the risks associated with codeine-containing products, managing pain â€" alternative and more effective strategies, what to do if there is a possible dependency on codeine, how to discuss concerns with your patient and referring for further help.
