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• Care finder program launches 
• Dementia consumer resources web page launch
• Dementia clinical referral pathway launch
• Increasing use and availability of telehealth in residential aged care facilities equipment rollout 
• Optimising primary care coordination - National Partnership Agreement
• GP Respiratory Clinics to close
• Grant to improve national telehealth counselling and support service
• Upcoming sector events and engagement opportunities 

Care finder service launches

As part of the Australian Government Response to the Royal Commission – connecting senior Australians to aged care services, WA Primary Health Alliance has awarded contracts to 13 organisations to deliver the care finder program. This program came into effect on 1 January 2023 for older Australians who require intensive support to understand, access and connect to aged care services and other community supports. This project was informed through the care finder service tender needs assessment.

My Aged Care has more information about the care finder program.

Dementia consumer resources project 

In partnership with My Community Directory, WA Primary Health Alliance has finalised the dementia community services and support finder website. This page will assist those living with dementia and their carers by providing a clear and centralised resource to find dementia information and contact community services, helping them better plan and adapt to living with dementia. WA general practices will receive a range of communications tools to help share this new resource with patients.

Dementia clinical referral pathway 

Recently reviewed by the WA Primary Health Alliance HealthPathways WA team, the Dementia Clinical Pathway, went live December 2022. The review was completed to ensure the pathways aligned with current standards of practice to assist GPs in their diagnosis and management of patients with dementia. This process was led by a GP clinical editor, using existing guidelines, published evidence and input from a subject matter expert.

The HealthPathways WA team also localised the Dementia Support Services request page to help GPs to find local organisations that provide care and support to patients with Dementia and their carers. Both pages have been well received.

Optimising primary care coordination

Made possible through the National Partnership Agreement, End-of-Life and Palliative Care WA Department of Health grant, agreements with MyVista, Bethanie, Juniper, and Brightwater residential aged care facilities (RACFs) were executed in January 2023 to fund a clinical coordinator role to liaise with GPs, co-ordinate case conferencing and engage GPs in RACF quality improvement.

Clinical coordinators will attend an induction in February where WA Primary Health Alliance will provide an overview of the palliative care tools and reporting measures that will be applied in the role that has been established to bridge the gaps in RACFs and GP liaison to improve palliative care management.

Increasing use and availability of telehealth in RACFs equipment rollout  

The telehealth project team have complete Phase 1 registrations and technical capability assessments for 73 WA RACFs and will work to provide equipment package options to facilities over the next two months, facilitated by the telehealth coaches team. For any immediate enquiries regarding this project please email RACFTelehealthandAfterhours@wapha.org.au

Upcoming grant to improve national telehealth counselling and support service

The Swinburne Clinic has been successful at winning a $300, 000 grant from Arcare Family Foundation to improve the mental health of aged care residents, their families, and staff of aged care facilities through the free Swinburne National Telehealth Counselling and Support Service.

Upcoming sector events and engagement opportunities 

Residential Aged Care Facility Symposium hosted by Palliative and Supportive Care Education | Thursday 16 March 2023 | 5 pm - 7 pm | Burswood on Swan This free ticketed event is to celebrate residential aged care facility staff and management with the opportunity for networking and hearing from guest speakers in the industry. Learn more 

New care sector short courses developed by the McGowan Government

Community Support Skill Set is the newest addition to the FREE IN ’23 initiative announced November 2022 as part of a landmark 12-month skills agreement between the Australian and WA Governments.

The initiative aims to address current skills shortages by delivering 18,800 more fee free TAFE and vocational education places for Western Australians currently employed or looking to enter the priority care sector in 2023. Learn more

You are receiving this email as an interested party for activities related to the Primary Health Network Aged Care Program or have signed up through our website. All enquiries related to the Aged Care Program should be attention to healthpolicy@wapha.org.au

Our mailing address is:

WA Primary Health Alliance Level 2, 1 Hood Street Subiaco, WA 6008 Australia

Disclaimer

WA Primary Health Alliance’s publications and the material within them are intended for use by health professionals for general information purposes and do not replace clinical decision making. Please read our full disclaimer.

While the Australian Government contributed funding for this material, it has not reviewed the content and is not responsible for any injury, loss or damage however arising from the use of or reliance on the information provided herein.