Australian Capital Territory COVID-19 updates

• Public health contact: 
  ACT Health Communicable Disease Control (CDC) Section, can be contacted (02) 5124 9213 during business hours, or 0409 185 412 after hours. There is no requirement to notify CDC of patients who are undergoing COVID-19 testing. However, clinicians are welcome to discuss any case with CDC at any time.
• ACT Health key links:
  • Current testing criteria
  • Latest updates
  • Respiratory clinics
• COVID-19 Primary Health Care Support Framework – Uploaded 7 December 2020 
  Read full document.
• MASK order forms
  MASKS are available via your local PHN. Apply here.

 

Join the RACGP NSW&ACT Facebook group to chat with your colleagues and stay up to date.

Upcoming webinars

• TBA

View previous webinars

• TBA

Podcasts

RACGP has an ongoing series of COVID-19 podcasts to assist you to keep up to date. Most of them are 5–10 minutes long,  you can listen to them anytime. Whilst those podcasts are NSW focused much of the information will be applicable in ACT.

Practice THAT! is the RACGP NSW&ACT series of podcasts developed to support practice managers in their support of general practitioners. Each Practice THAT! episode provides Practice Managers with expert information and practical advice. Latest episodes:

• COVID – Data value during COVID with Katrina Otto -  Recorded 23 February 2021
• COVID – Vaccine #1 with Mareeka Hair -  Recorded 3 December 2020
• COVID – WC update with SIRA - Recorded 22 April 2020
• COVID – Prescription images with NSW Health - Recorded 22 April 2020
• COVID – MBS Update with Brett McPherson - Recorded 22 April 2020
• COVID – Accreditation with ACSQHC Margaret Banks - Recorded 2 April 2020
• COVID – PIP update with Brett McPherson - Recorded 31 March 2020
• COVID – Reception infection control with Penny Burns - Recorded 28 March 2020
• COVID – The future of COVID with Penny Burns - Recorded 28 March 2020
• COVID – WHS with Avant - Recorded 20 March 2020
• COVID – Positive COVID? Practice closure? with NSW Health - Recorded 27 March 2020
• COVID – WC item numbers with SIRA - Recorded 26 March 2020
• COVID – Case Study: A staff member tests positive for COVID with Avant - Recorded 20 March 2020
• COVID – Protecting staff with Avant - Recorded 20 March 2020
• COVID – Quality information with Avant - Recorded 20 March 2020
• COVID – Close or Casual with Avant - Recorded 20 March 2020

View all Practice THAT podcasts

 

Just a GP explores the layered complexities of General Practice through topical discussions about leadership, quality in clinical practice, self-care and wellbeing and GP research. Latest episodes:

• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics | Dr Annabel Kain – Recorded 20 March 2021
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics | Dr Colin Pearce – Recorded 4 March 2021
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics | Dr Kean-Seng Lim – Recorded 4 March 2021
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics | Dr Rebekah Hoffman – Recorded 26 February 2021
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics | Dr Andrew Bonney – Recorded 22 February 2021
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics | Dr Michelle Redford – Recorded 19 February 2021
•  RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 PODCAST | Update – Recorded 17 April 2020
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 PODCAST | Media in times of crisis with Dr Harry Nespolon – Recorded 3 April 2020
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 PODCAST | Working group update – Recorded 27 March 2020
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 PODCAST | Mindful moments - Recorded 27 March 2020
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 PODCAST | NSW&ACT Update – Recorded 27 March 2020
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 | Telehealth good for now, but not forever with Kean-Seng Lim - Recorded 25 March 2020
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID - 19 PODCAST | Implementing telehealth with Dr Amandeep Hansra – Recorded 24 March 2020
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 PODCAST | How we do it? with Dr Wally Jamal – Recorded 17 March 2020
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 | How do we lead the way? with Dr Harry Nespolon – Recorded 17 March 2020
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 PODCAST | Talking to children about COVID-19 - Recorded17 March 2020
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 PODCAST | Self-care – Recorded 17 March 2020
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 PODCAST | Flu Clinics – Recorded 17 March 2020
• RACGP SPECIAL COVID-19 PODCAST | Slowing the Pandemic - Recorded 13 March 2020

View all Just a GP podcasts

 

Suddenly I'm a Leader

Suddenly I'm a Leader is a series of podcasts and webinars for GPs who are suddenly faced with more leadership responsibilities. Are you a GP who finds that people are turning to you for leadership advice in your practice? Have you been asked to take on more decision-making responsibility? Do you feel ‘at sea’ and need a leadership launch pad? If, yes, register for our future online events, or listen to our previous recordings:

Available webinars:

• Changing perceptions of self when moving into leadership roles and self-sabotage – Recorded 17 November 2020
• Coping with change and change resistance – Recorded 20 October 2020
• Suddenly I'm a leader – Recorded 15 September 2020

Available podcast:

• All podcasts are accessible via our ‘Suddenly I am a leader’ soundcloud library. Please access them here.

Articles

• Financial assistance for practices

RACGP NSW&ACT

Phone: (02) 9886 4700 

Email: nswact.faculty@racgp.org.au

Join the RACGP NSW&ACT Facebook group to chat with your colleagues and stay up to date

 

2021 Wellbeing Weekend
You can spend mindful and enjoyable time with other GPs at our first face-to-face event since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wellbeing Weekend at Novotel Beach Newcastle on Saturday and Sunday 10–11 April.

Designed and led by doctors, the weekend is designed to recharge your batteries after what has been a very difficult time for so many.

Saturday’s practical sessions are designed to inspire you to make time for your health and wellbeing, and help you develop the skills you need to do it. Sunday is free for you to enjoy beautiful Newcastle and relax at the beach right outside the venue.

View the flyer or register now

CHN survey: Covid-19 vaccine readiness in general practice
CHN is asking ACT GPs to complete the survey about COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Take the survey before Friday 22 January 2021.

ANU Quick COVID Clinician Survey
ANU conducts a series of survey on regular basis on COVID. To view all previous reports, please visit ANU website.

ACT Free Wellbeing Calls Service – uploaded 9 September 2020
A new service available to Canberra-based patients who would benefit from check-in or wellbeing calls from a friendly Red Cross volunteer. Calls are available in various languages and are an important way to help people maintain connection and wellbeing, especially during COVID-19. Patients can contact the services on (02) 6234 7630 between 8.00 am – 4.00 pm Monday – Friday. Read more.

Free online courses on communicating COVID-19
The University of Melbourne have developed an online course with the Doherty Institute on COVID-19. It is delivered via a series of eight tutorials with the first one available online now. It is FREE and whilst primarily designed for clinicians in primary care and hospital-based settings, it also has a broader secondary audience of pharmacists, nursing and allied health staff, aged care workers, and disability care workers. Enrol here.

Winnunga Health Service
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services has collected the most important information about COVID-19 for their clients on their website.