Mid North Coast - Workshops
This project was to provide professional support and clinical information to assist medical, allied health and nursing staff across the MNCAHS in their decision making in clinical practice. The workshops provided are detailed below.
Education of doctors in the recognition of child abuse and the use of PANOC Medical Examinations
38 participants attended four training sessions at Port
Macquarie, Taree, Coffs Harbour and Kempsey. This included General Practitioners,
from private practice and Aboriginal Medical Services, Medical Officers
and Resident Medical Officers, two Dentists, Specialists and three staff
from Durri Medical Service and the MNC Division of GP's. Draft Child Abuse
and Neglect Medical Guidelines were developed and distributed at the Training
Sessions. Links with the Macleay/Hastings and Mid North Coast Divisions
of GP's were made with the Child Protection (PANOC) Service and the Child
Protection Investigation Unit (Police, Coffs Harbour). Information was
provided and case discussions were held about the clinical issues involved
in cases of child abuse and neglect. Clinical texts were purchased and
the development of a CD Rom based on the presentation as well as other
material relating to roles and responsibilities was distributed to the
Macleay/Hastings Division of GP's and the libraries of the three level
4 Base Hospitals on the MNC.
Rural Connections Conference
The Rural Connections Conference, was an event held by the Mid North Coast Area Health Service, to meet the professional development needs of clinicians who work with children, adolescents and families in rural communities. This event was evaluated by the participants and was seen as a positive professional development activity which provided low cost, quality education over two days. The size of the conference (approximately 130 each day), allowed participants to 'connect', network and discuss a range of issues in concurrent workshops. Many of the speakers and workshop presenters were from the Mid North Coast and other rural area health services, making this Conference a show case for the innovation and expertise being developed in rural communities.