Public Lecture - Prof. Linda Shields: Do Doctors Really Know Best? Thurs 25 July, 5.30pm

Who makes the decisions about a person’s health care will be examined in a James Cook University public lecture this week.

The presentation, titled Doctors know best: Why patients should make decisions about their health care & how they can do so, will be presented by Professor Linda Shields, Director of the Tropical Health Research Unit in JCU’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition and Townsville Hospital and Health Service.

The presentation is part of JCU’s Science & Society in the Tropics Public Lecture Series.

Professor Shields said the delivery, and acceptance, of advice on medical matters had changed over the last century.

“In years past, people who received health care were never involved in making decisions about it – that was left to the doctor, who was said to know best,” Professor Shields said.

“Such thinking has changed, and now people are becoming more aware of the issues surrounding their health and how to maintain it.”

Professor Shields said technological innovations had influenced awareness and attitudes.

“The internet has played a big part in this, but it can be misleading, with a wide range in the quality of information on offer,” she said.

“This presentation will address this and give some skills on how to sort out the good from the bad. People will be able to go to their nurse or doctor with relevant information and the confidence to be able to discuss it.”

BIOGRAPHY
Linda Shields is Director of the Tropical Health Research Unit, a partnership between James Cook University and Townsville Hospital and Health Service in Queensland, and Honorary Professor, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland. Her research includes health in tropical regions, family-centred care, paediatric perioperative nursing, and the ethics and history of nursing, in particular, in Nazi Europe. Linda is the first nurse in Australia to hold a higher doctorate, with a Doctor of Medicine from The University of Queensland. She also holds a PhD and Master’s degree from the School of Medicine at UQ.

Presentation details:
Date: Thursday 25th, July 2013
Time: 5.30pm for a 6.00pm start
Location: Education Central, Building 134-010, JCU Townsville

For more information contact: Kiara Cantamessa on tel: 07 4781 5179, mobile: 0419 547 797 or email: kiara.cantamessa1@jcu.edu.au

Visiting Scholar Professor Maggie Kovach's Visit Tremendous Success

The Center for Nursing and Midwifery Research was delighted to host Professor Maggie Kovach last week on the Cairns Campus at JCU.  Maggie was very generous with her time and provided a one day workshop, individual meetings with higher degree research candidates, a public lecture and short meetings with both the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition staff in Townsville and the APHCRI Centers for Research Excellence network.

If you go to our Flickr Photostream, you can see some photos from Maggie's visit http://flic.kr/ps/2tke9G.

Many thanks to the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences who assisted in sponsoring a number of the activities, and to the University of Saskatchewan for their support of Maggie's visit.

Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship Support Scheme (NAHSSS) opens 22 July - closes 13 September

Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship Support Scheme (NAHSSS) provides scholarship funding for nurses and midwives and students entering the profession.

Scholarships are available for:

• postgraduate study
• continuing professional development activities
• undergraduate study
• nurse re–entry programs
• clinical placements.

For detailed information and application procedures, visit the Australian College of Nursing website at http://www.acn.edu.au/australian-government-scholarships

Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarships open 22 July - close 16 September

The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme is funded by Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. The Scheme was established in recognition of Dr Arnold ‘Puggy’ Hunter's significant contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and his role as Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO). The aim of the Scheme is to encourage and assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander undergraduate students in health-related disciplines to complete their studies and join the health workforce.

The scholarship provides financial assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are intending to enrol or are enrolled in an entry level course in an eligible health related discipline at an Australian educational institution (Certificate IV and above).

Application dates
Applications open on Monday 22 July 2013 and close on Monday 16 September 2013 for studies commencing or continuing in 2014.

Eligibility criteria
Funding under this scheme is available for applicants who meet the following criteria:

• of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent
• intending to enrol or are already enrolled in an entry level health qualification
• intend to study in the academic year that the scholarship is offered.

Value of funding
Funding is provided for the normal duration of the course. Full time scholarship awardees will receive up to $15,000 per year and part time recipients will receive up to $7,500 per year.

Further information
For details and applications please visit the ACN website at http://www.acn.edu.au/australian-government-scholarships

Free Mental Health First Aid Courses for JCU Nursing and Midwifery Students

These tailored courses teach nursing and midwifery students how to assist their peers when they are experiencing a mental health crisis or developing a mental health problem.

This initiative is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing until June 2014.

What is Mental Health First Aid?
Mental health first aid is the help given to someone developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional treatment is received or until the crisis resolves.

What is the Mental Health First Aid for Nursing Students Courses?
The free courses for nursing and midwifery students are tailored versions of the 12-hour 3rd edition Standard Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Course (launched in 2013). The content of the course is derived from a number of consensus studies incorporating the expertise of hundreds of researchers, clinicians, mental health consumer advocates and carer advocates across the English speaking western world. This has been supplemented with materials tailored for medical and nursing students developed under the guidance of two expert working groups. Places are strictly limited. This is one off funding so students need to select a course and email jenny.kelly@jcu.edu.au to reserve their place. See course dates/times below.

Course Content
The MHFA for medical and nursing students courses teach medical and nursing students how to assist a peer who is developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis, using case-studies, videos and resources tailored to their learning needs. The mental health first aid skills learnt can be applied to help any adult.

Developing Mental Health Problems Covered:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Eating disorders
• Psychosis
• Substance misuse

Mental health crises covered:

• Suicidal thoughts and behaviours
• Non-suicidal self-injury
• Panic attacks
• Traumatic events
• Severe psychotic states
• Acute effects from alcohol or other drug misuse
• Aggressive behaviours

Participants will learn the signs and symptoms of these mental health problems, where and how to get help and what sort of help has been shown by research to be effective.

Who is This Training For?
Any interested nursing/midwifery student can attend these courses for free until June 2014. The focus of training is on how students can help their fellow peers, rather than preparing them to help their future patients. Please note this is an education course, not a therapy or support group. 

JCU TOWNSVILLE
Sat/Sun 3 & 4 Aug
Mon/Tues 12 & 13 Aug
Thurs/Fri 15 & 16 Aug
Mon/Tues 16 & 17 Dec

JCU CAIRNS
Fri/Sat  18 & 19 Oct
Sat/Sun 26 & 27 Oct
Sat/Sun 9 & 10 Nov 

JCU MACKAY
Mon/Tues 19 & 20 Aug
Thurs/Fri 22 & 23 Aug

Future dates to be advised.

How to Register
Places are strictly limited so first in will get a spot. This opportunity will not present itself again as it is a one off project.   To register, students must email jenny.kelly@jcu.edu.au advising which year level they are currently enrolled in and which site and dates they wish to attend. It is a two day course and runs from 0830–1630 each day. Students must attend both days and need to bring their own lunch.

For further information contact jenny.kelly@jcu.edu.au

ACMHN/Janssen Cilag Scholarship Program for Mental Health Nurses and Students - closing 23 August

The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) is pleased to announce the joint Scholarship Program with Janssen Cilag will again run in 2013. In addition, we are pleased to announce the continuation of the ACMHN/Janssen Student Scholarship Program - for student nurses who are specialising or majoring in mental health nursing.

The program provides funding for mental health nurses and students who are successful applicants to attend the 39th Annual International Mental Health Nursing Conference, to be held in Perth from 22-24 October 2013.

The Conference includes a fantastic program with inspiring and provocative workshops, highly regarded keynote speakers, and a full social program.

For more information about our 39th Annual International Mental Health Nursing Conference please visit our website http://acmhnconferences.acmhn.org/

Applications for the 2013 Scholarship Program are now open - closing 23rd August.

The Scholarship program will provide:
- One Full Registration
- Up to $500 towards travel and/or accommodation costs

For further information and applications visit http://www.acmhn.org/members-area/scholarships

NMC Postgraduate Scholarships in Aged Care / Palliative Care now open - close 30th August

The Nurses Memorial Centre (NMC) in association with the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women, is pleased to offer Scholarships for nurses undertaking postgraduate study in Aged Care or Palliative Care. The Scholarships are for one year of study in 2014 at an Australian University or other accredited higher education institution.

Priority will be given to nurses who are either ex-service personnel or a family member of someone (a close or distant relative), who has served in the Australian or an overseas military service at any time. Priority will also be given to nurses who are committed to working in a rural or regional area on completion of their study program. The purpose of these Scholarships is to increase access to postgraduate study for nurses as part of the NMC’s mission to act as “a living memorial” by advancing the nursing profession through education.

The value of these Scholarships is up to AUD $15,000 (maximum per award).

For further information and applications, please visit http://www.nursesmemorialcentre.org.au/scholarships-ales.php

CRANAplus Undergraduate Remote Placement Scholarships close JULY 31ST

Don’t miss this opportunity! The CRANAplus Undergraduate Remote Placement Scholarships CLOSE JULY 31st. The scholarship specifically targets undergraduate students studying in a health discipline at an Australian University and who have a genuine interest in remote health.

The purpose of the scholarships is to assist with travel costs, meals and accommodation incurred by a student undertaking a placement in a remote area of Australia and its external Territories. 

Visit the CRANAplus website for further information and application details.

Aged Care Nursing Scholarships now open - closing 30 August

Applications for the Aged Care Nursing Scholarships [ACNS] are now open for study in 2014.  ACNS is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, and administered by the Australian College of Nursing.  Funding is available for activities and courses in the following areas:

• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Nurse Practitioner
• Continuing Professional Development
• Nurse Re-entry

ACNS open for application on Monday 1 July 2013 and close on Friday 30 August 2013.  Online applications are available on the ACN website at http://www.acn.edu.au/australian-government-scholarships

Aurora Indigenous Scholars International Study Tour to the US and UK

The Aurora Project is offering an opportunity to visit Stanford, Harvard, Columbia and New York University in the US, and Cambridge and Oxford in the UK, commencing in late October 2013. 

We are seeking applications from high achieving Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander undergraduates in any field of study, who have completed at least two years of their course of study.  University graduates are also welcome to apply. 

Applicants may elect to join the full Tour, or only the UK or US legs (the schedule is currently being finalised).

You can watch a short video about the Tour on the Indigenous Scholarships website, or view our flyer below for more information.

Please note, our application process has changed.  To lodge your application, please visit http://www.auroraproject.com.au/node/1390

Please email any questions to allison.wong@auroraproject.com.au, and include your contact telephone number.

PNG mental health nurses train in Cairns

A plea for help from mental health nurses in Papua New Guinea has been answered by academics from James Cook University’s World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) for Nursing, Midwifery and Research Capacity Building.

PNG nurses and community health workers wanted to improve their skills and knowledge so they approached WHOCC director Professor Kim Usher at a conference in PNG last year.

“Most of the people who work in mental health in PNG were trained a long time ago and there are few opportunities for continuing professional development in their country,” Professor Usher said.

Papua New Guinea has a mental health facility on the outskirts of Port Moresby, treatment is also offered at Port Moresby General Hospital and in the community.

“We developed a proposal for an AusAID Australian Fellowship Award grant and our team was successful in obtaining a grant to run a mental health course,” Professor Usher said.

The result is a four-week course to be run out of JCU Cairns, which will be attended by 20 nurses and health care professionals from seven Pacific nations - Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Palau, Niue, Cook Islands and Kiribati.

The course starts on July 1 and includes lectures, workshops, clinical visits to public and private mental health facilities and a mental health first aid course. Participants will attend presentations by people living with mental illness and mental health support groups like headspace.

Professor Usher said the course was one way to help improve mental health care delivery in the Pacific.“We are doing this to improve the care of people with mental health generally … there is a shortage of qualified mental health workers and a shortage of ongoing training opportunities in the Pacific,” she said. “We cannot train everyone from every country so we have targeted this course at nurses and professionals who will then go back to their home countries to teach others. Our concern for the future is to give professional people the tools and skills they need to go back to their homes and improve the mental health care of others.”

You can follow proceedings on Twitter @JCU_Nursing #alajcu2013 or view album on our Facebook page at  http://www.facebook.com/JCUNursingMidwiferyNutrition