Tamra Karolewicz, 23 of Port Lincoln, was awarded the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency Rural Health Award in the 2016 Channel 9 Young Achiever Awards. This is RDWA's seventh year of proudly supporting the Awards.

Presented with her award by RDWA Director of Recruitment, Angela Tridente, Tamra was one of eleven category winners announced on Saturday evening at the Hilton Adelaide.

Tamra has a Bachelor of Medical Science, Masters of Optometry and in 2014 received the Clinical Excellence Award in Optometry. In addition to her optometry work in Port Lincoln and significant voluntary commitment, she undertakes fortnightly trips to Ceduna to give eye care to Indigenous communities and people living in remote areas. This year, Tamra aims to implement a new culturally safe eye examination procedure to benefit Indigenous communities, and a school policy to protect children’s vision.

Congratulations Tamra from the RDWA!

The RDWA recognises the professional and personal development needs of the partners and spouses of resident GPs.

The RDWA is offering grants of up to $3,000 to support partners and spouses to develop career or business opportunities, or to assist in study, professional development or personal development.

Applications must be received by 5pm Thursday 21 April 2016. Visit RDWA Family Programs for further information or contact Family Programs on 08 8234 8277 or email FamilyPrograms@ruraldoc.com.au.

The RDWA Board has long celebrated the achievements of GPs and Specialists working in and supporting rural and remote communities by awarding Long Service Medals.  In addition to the traditional 25 years long service award, this year we will also be recognising the doctors who have given 35 years or more of service.

Eligibility for the awards is based on the following criteria:

• 25 or 35 years or more in rural or remote general practice in Australia, including a significant period working in South Australia
• resident rural or remote GP
• resident or visiting Specialist to rural or remote areas
• also open to retired rural or remote GPs

The period of rural or remote practice does not have to be continuous however a total number of 25 or 35 or more years needs to be completed as at May 2016.

If you are a GP or Specialist who meets the above criteria, or you are aware of a GP or Specialist who may be eligible, please contact Sandy Hammat on 08 8234 8277 or email your nomination to sandy.hammat@ruraldoc.com.au by Wednesday 30 March 2016.

The Long Service Medals Awards will be presented as part of the RDWA Annual Conference Dinner on Saturday 14 May 2016 at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (University of Adelaide) and Doctor of Medicine (Flinders University) students who are members of either AURHA or FURHS are eligible to apply for this event.

The program provides an up close opportunity to experience rural medicine and get a better understanding of the support and lifestyle offered in a community that borders the beautiful landscape that is the Flinders Ranges.

Positions to participate in RDWA’s clinical skills days are highly sought after and places are limited. Successful applicants will be offered a fully funded place that includes travel and meals.

To apply, visit Quorn Clinical Skills Weekend. Applications close 9am Monday 28 March 2016.
 

The Annual RDWA Conference this year is focussed on managing today to fulfil our hopes for tomorrow.

Our country kids make up 30% of our population but will be 100% of our future. This year’s conference is all about the health of country kids.

The program we have put together covers many of the topics that you as rural GPs face on a daily basis. There are sessions on trauma management, pain management, immunisation, asthma, diabetes management, allergies, child trauma, behavioural development, ENT, burns management and otitis media.

It is well understood that the scope of practice required for rural GPs goes beyond what is required by your metro counterparts. To ensure that you have access to the latest information and clinical knowledge we have sourced the best in their fields to present sessions at this year’s conference. This also reinforces the connections to the specialists in each of the areas that support services that you manage locally.

We will also be running a half day pre-conference workshop for our doctors who are on their pathway to Fellowship focussing on musculoskeletal management.

We have a concurrent Family Program with activities for children of all ages and for parents and partners.

Our student program has become a regular feature and there will be a full day of activities for up to 100 University students from the three rural clubs. As part of the student program this year RDWA is pleased to provide a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to be involved in the Helping Hands project to build prosthetic hands.

It’s also a special year as we celebrate with the doctors who have given 25 years of service to rural communities. This year we will also be recognising the doctors who have given 35 years or more service. This black tie event will be held on the Saturday night of the Conference at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

We look forward to seeing you in May.

Register now for the RDWA Annual Conference.

Obesity and Surgery, Eyre Peninsula
Friday 20 May 2016 6.30 to 9.00pm, Mortlock Room, Port Lincoln Hotel, Port Lincoln

Presented by Mr Justin Bessell, this presentation will aim to increase GPs knowledge of evidence-based weight management programs, therapies and multidisciplinary interventions for managing obesity and discuss the recommended approach to weight management in children and adolescents. Mr Bessell will also outline the process for identification of suitable patients for Bariatric management of metabolic disease including how to select patients for Bariatric surgery and describe how to manage patients who present with "Bariatric emergencies” or problems after surgery.

For more information and to register for this event, please contact Meredith Carlier at meredith.carlier@ruraldoc.com.au.

Country Health SA Local Health Network (CHSALHN) have released a Safety and Quality Alert for information of all country health services and rural doctors:
• Urgent recall for product correction - Boston Scientific Surgical Meshes
• Urgent medical device recall - Power heart G3 Defib Electrodes; Mums The One Pregnancy Test
• Safety Alerts - Volcano Sterile and Spinvision Drapes; TGA Alerts & Recalls Summary, January 2016

Please see the alert for full information.

Rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) were recently declared notifiable conditions under the Public Health Act 2011. Please see the communication from the CDCB for a guide to notifying patients who have established RHD or visit the SA Health website for more information.