The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has published a new Women’s Health Focus Report showing a decrease in hysterectomy rates over eight years – and an increase in the less invasive option of endometrial ablation.

Hysterectomy is one option for treating heavy menstrual bleeding, but there are a number of associated risks. Less invasive treatments are available, including oral medicines, the hormonal IUD and procedures like endometrial ablation.

The Commission has also released the updated Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Clinical Care Standard (2024), which outlines best practice care and how healthcare practitioners can support women living with this condition.

The Standard highlights key aspects of quality care for women with heavy menstrual bleeding including comprehensive assessment, ensuring they are offered appropriate treatment options, and supporting women to make informed choices about their care.

This combined work aims to improve care for women with heavy menstrual bleeding. It will ensure they are offered the most appropriate and least invasive treatment for their individual situation, and can make informed choices from the range of treatments.

Health service organisations, PHNs and clinicians can use the data in the Women’s Health Focus Report to view hysterectomy and endometrial ablation rates in their local area and reflect on what it means for their practice and patients.

If there is substantial variation in the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding, it is important to investigate if appropriate care is being delivered.

Women with heavy menstrual bleeding that is impacting their life should be offered treatment for symptom relief from first presentation, even when waiting for investigations or access to other treatments.

A trusted practitioner can help a woman understand the range of treatments. The best treatment option will differ for each woman. It is important for clinicians to ask women about their menstrual health, as some women may not recognise their heavy bleeding is unusual and can be treated, so many do not seek help.

Find out more at safetyandquality.gov.au/HMB

In accordance with Clause 14.3 of the NQPHN Constitution, the Nominations and Remuneration Committee (NRC) provides independent advice and recommendations to the Board and, where required, the NQPHN Members, in relation to the appointment of Directors (through application of a Board Skills Matrix), external committee membership, and Board performance and remuneration.

The Chair is an independent person appointed for a term (normally) of three years by NQPHN Members (after consultation with the Board) and must be a person who is not employed by, or a Director of, either the Company or of a Member, or affiliated with NQPHN.

NQPHN is a public company limited by guarantee incorporated under the Corporations Act. It is one of 31 Primary Health Networks funded by the Australian Government. It is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, funded to commission services to meet the health needs and priorities of the North Queensland region (from Sarina in the south to the Torres Strait in the north). Copies of NQPHN’s Constitution, Members Charter, Health Needs Assessment, Strategic Plan and Board Skills Matrix overview are available on the NQPHN website here.

Applications will be considered and reviewed by the NQPHN Nomination and Remuneration Committee (Committee). Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed, and the recommended applicant will be considered for appointment at the Annual General Meeting of NQPHN Members on 28 November 2024.

NQPHN is seeking EOI applications from individuals to meet the requirements of the position description and possess the qualifications, knowledge, experience, and attributes that will contribute to the organisation achieving its vision of Northern Queenslanders living happier, healthier, longer lives. The Committee applies a skills matrix to assist with the process of assessing EOI applications for the Chair role, prior to making recommendations to the NQPHN Members.

Applicants must demonstrate skills, experience, or capability in the following key criteria:

• Experience in chairing boards and committee meetings and encouraging and facilitating contributions from all committee members.
• Demonstrated experience in Board Skills Assessment and Director Succession Planning.
• Knowledge of leading practice in Director onboarding, Board and Committee remuneration, and the performance monitoring of Boards, Directors and Committees.
• Subject matter experience in the primary health sector, governance practices in the sector, and the role that the Primary Health Networks play within the sector.
• Highly developed skills in management and communication.
• Ability to work with a range of stakeholders, particularly across the primary health sector, as well as with government and community leaders.
• A commitment to working collaboratively with a diverse range of communities and with regional stakeholders.

In accordance with the NQPHN Constitution and the NRC Charter, the Independent Chair will guide the work of the NRC in the following areas:

• Board appointments, re-elections, performance:
  • Reviewing Board performance against the mix of skills on the Board annually.
  • Make recommendations to the Board and Members on a suitable skills matrix, board composition, and Director Remuneration (to be approved by Members).
  • Board and director professional development.
• Selection, appointment and succession planning:
  • Make recommendations to the Board on Director and external Committee member appointments.
  • Review Board composition and Director skill.
  • Review Board diversity.
  • Board succession planning.
• Induction and continuing professional development.
• Director Remuneration.

Applications

• Your EOI application for this position should include:
  • A written application of no more than two pages addressing why you would like to be the Independent Cahir of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, and how you think your skills, attributes and/or experience align to the key criteria and responsibilities and enhance NQPHN’s ability to deliver on its strategic plan.
    • This written application should also describe your current commitments, any perceived or actual conflicts of interest that relate to NQPHN.
  • A current copy of your curriculum vitae or LinkedIn profile.
  • Names and contact details of two referees.
• Please be aware that your application and your curriculum vitae may need to be shared with the NQPHN Members.

To submit an EOI for this position, please email your application to companysecretary@nqphn.com.au no later than close of business 9 September 2024.

Download the Independent Chair position description here.

NQPHN is a public company limited by guarantee incorporated under the Corporations Act. It is one of 31 Primary Health Networks funded by the Australian Government. NQPHN is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, funded to commission services to meet the health needs and priorities of North Queensland region (from Sarina in the south to the Torres Strait in the north). Copies of NQPHN’s Constitution, Members Charter, Health Needs Assessment, Strategic Plan, and Board Skills Matrix overview are available here.

Applications will be considered and reviewed by the NQPHN Nominations and Remuneration Committee (Committee). Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed, and the recommended applicants will be considered for appointment at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of NQPHN Members on 28 November 2024.

NQPHN is seeking EOI applications from individuals with the qualifications, knowledge, experience, and attributes that will contribute to the organisation achieving its vision of northern Queenslanders living happier, healthier, longer lives. The Committee applies the Board Skills Matrix to assist with the process of assessing EOI applications to complement continuing directors, prior to making recommendations to the NQPHN Members.

As part of the skills matrix process, preference will be provided to applicants who can demonstrate skills, experience, or capability in the following key criteria:

• skills and experience in community primary health care, including clinical governance, practice and service models in the following fields:
  • community mental health.
  • community general practice
• strong knowledge, expertise and networks in one or more of the following areas:
  • legal experience in areas applicable to the activities of NQPHN
  • financial strategy, analysis, and performance
  • community and stakeholder engagement
• evidence of high professional and ethical standards of behaviour, including team participation, sound judgment, capacity to investigate information constructively and relate effectively with a range of stakeholders and partners
• a willingness and demonstrated ability to devote time and energy to the role
• applicants residing within the areas of Mackay-Sarina, Townsville, Torres Strait and Cape York, and adjacent communities are sought, to broaden the current Board membership
• candidates with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background and cultural competence are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications

• Your EOI application for this position should include:

  • a written application of no more than two pages addressing why you would like to serve on the NQPHN board, how you think your skills, attributes and/or experience align to the above criteria and enhance our ability to deliver on our strategic plan, and the key and desirable criteria.

    • This written application should also describe your current commitments, any perceived or actual conflicts of interest that relate to NQPHN.

  • A current copy of your curriculum vitae or LinkedIn profile.

  • Names and contact details of two referees.

• Please be aware that your application and your curriculum vitae may need to be shared with the NQPHN Members.

To submit an EOI for this position, please email your application to companysecretary@nqphn.com.au no later than close of business 9 September 2024.

Download the EOI as a PDF here.

North Queensland Allied Health Social Worker Akpene Attakey helps connect extremely vulnerable older persons to appropriate aged care and other local services they need so they can lead a quality life.  

She is a care finder. 

Recently Ms Attakey, who works at Better Together Community Support, helped an older person with a history of homelessness find emergency respite and a permanent place to live in a residential aged care home (RACH) in Cairns. 

Her client had been receiving emergency relief services from a local community centre, including food vouchers and parcels, transportation, laundry, and bathroom facilities, since 2021. At the time, they had expressed their preference for “sleeping rough” as it gave them more freedom and flexibility to travel and pursue their busking activities. 

However, Ms Attakey said thanks to the care finder program, the older person had now moved into a RACH in Cairns and was doing well. 

“After several conversations with community centre staff, the older person revealed they wanted to explore accessing an aged-care facility as they couldn’t continue to live on the streets,” Ms Attakey said. 

“The community centre then referred the individual to the care finder program, and we helped them to access My Aged Care, emergency respite, and a permanent place in an aged-care home. 

“It’s been a positive outcome, and they are doing well and enjoying their new home.  

“They’ve also stopped busking because they believed it encouraged their smoking habit.” 

Ms Attakey said without assistance from the community centre and care finder team the older person would have been admitted to hospital. 

“We had observed that their health was in decline with untreated health issues and wounds, and we knew they needed emergency respite,” she said. 

“By working with other health services and government departments, we were able to access respite services for the older person within two days. 

“Since admission to the aged-care home, the client has reported they are now sleeping well without the constant worry for their safety and their health has improved significantly with access to regular meals, medication, and personal care.” 

The care finder program is funded by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) and delivered in the Cairns and Hinterland region by Footprints Community through Better Together Community Support. Footprints Community also delivers the program in the Mackay region. 

Under the program, a network of “care finders” was established. Care finders are professionals in the community who can provide intensive, face-to-face support for vulnerable older persons who are isolated, or have no support person, and who are experiencing barriers to receiving the necessary support, including homelessness, mental health challenges, and alcohol or drug dependence. 

“As a care finder, I was able to help this person in accessing the services they needed to get emergency respite in a residential aged care home, first to help them off the streets and then to attend to their health concerns,” Ms Attakey said. 

“It’s important to show compassion and understanding when you are helping someone to get the assistance they need, especially those who may be vulnerable.” 

The care finder program is part of a suite of aged-care reforms in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. 

Nine general practices in North Queensland have received grants to help enhance chronic condition management and deliver better team-based patient care.  

The Chronic Conditions Primary Care Pilot Programs is part of Northern Queensland Primary Health Network’s (NQPHN’s) ongoing commitment to assist general practices with reform readiness, while improving health outcomes for people across the region.  

NQPHN is pleased to announce the successful providers in the greater Cairns, Townsville, and Mackay regions, including:  

NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Sean Rooney said programs were a pivotal initiative aimed at enhancing chronic condition management within primary care settings, including shared appointments, care coordination, social prescribing, and self-management support. 

“This initiative provides grant funding that can pay for services delivered by nursing or allied health working closely with a GP to target people with a diagnosed chronic condition,” Mr Rooney said. 

“Each practice has developed a specific approach that targets a group identified through their local data as needing extra support.” 

Mr Rooney said the programs and grant funding would also help address workforce challenges. 

“Many of the successful practices are in a designated thin market, which refers to areas where access to healthcare services and health professionals are limited,” he said. 

“NQPHN is using a range of initiatives to support practices to deliver quality care and overcome workforce challenges. 

“The programs are also designed to help address the current burden of chronic diseases, while preparing practices for future healthcare reforms.” 

The Chronic Conditions Primary Care Pilot Programs is an initiative under NQPHN’s five-year Chronic Conditions Strategy developed in 2022-2023 in consultation with stakeholders.