Education and training
Pictured: NWMPHN's Max Garnery (L) with Dr Owen Harris, a member of our Mental Health Expert Advisory Group and GP trainer for the VHHITAL sex worker health project. (Image: Leigh Henningham)
In 2023-24, NWMPHN partnered with hospitals, universities, peak bodies, business advisers, cultural consultants and primary care subject matter experts to host more than 100 education sessions. Many of these events were accredited by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
We also hosted 17 community of practice sessions. These proved to be effective and popular ways for clinicians to connect and share insights across disciplines and geographic boundaries.
primary care providers attended education sessions in 2023-24
of attendees would recommend our education sessions to colleagues
Victorian HIV and Hepatitis Integrated Training and Learning (VHHITAL)
NWMPHN leads the VHHITAL program, which provides comprehensive education and training for the primary health care workforce for the diagnosis, treatment and management of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and sexually transmitted infections.
In 2023-24, 887 people from 56 local government areas attended VHHITAL education sessions. These events included crucial training and certification for practitioners who prescribe highly specialised drugs administered under Section 100 of the National Health Act 1953.
Pictured: Professor Ben Cowie is a VHHITAL faculty member and regular guest speaker at education sessions. (Image supplied.)
Working with sex workers: health and wellbeing under decriminalisation
In 2022, Victoria became the third jurisdiction in Australia, after NSW and the Northern Territory, to decriminalise sex work. At the time, University of NSW research showed that 46 per cent of health care workers self-reported negative behaviours toward sex worker patients. Since then, VHHITAL has led a team of peer workers and GPs to deliver an education program to reduce stigma and ensure sex workers receive equitable care.
Pictured: Lena Van Hale, Operations Manager at Vixen, Victoria's peer-only sex worker organisation. (Image: Leigh Henningham)
Better palliative care
Through the Australian Government's Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care measure, general practices in our region are improving their support for people with life-limiting conditions, helping more to receive care in the comfort of their own homes.
In 2023-24, we hosted six education sessions on palliative care, and six voluntary assisted dying training sessions for GPs and medical specialists.
Education on demand
While real-time attendance at our education sessions is preferred – and is required to receive continuing professional development points – thousands of people chose to watch our webinars on demand. In 2023-24, our extensive YouTube library received more than 40,000 views.
Assessment and referral training
NWMPHN continues to support adoption of the Australian Government's Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool. This is a useful complement to clinical judgement and assessment, and GPs and mental health clinicians are increasingly using it to recommend the most appropriate level of care for a person seeking mental health support.
More than 450 GPs in the NWMPHN region have now completed our training, which has also been rolled out across our commissioned mental health services.
Supporting general practice
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We acknowledge the people of the Kulin nations as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our work in the community takes place. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
We also recognise, respect and affirm the central role played in our work by people with lived experience, their families and carers.
All photos by Leigh Henningham unless otherwise noted.
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