Inform Them of Available Support

Not everyone living with a mental illness that affects their everyday life knows what support is available to them in Australia. You can provide them with insight by sharing information about an NDIS provider. NDIS providers can typically support, coordinate, and advocate to help people live life to the fullest. They can also help patients access additional support, mentoring, and supported accommodation where required. When patients know what help is available, they may be more likely to access it and get the help they need.

Educate Yourself

Over the course of your career, you can’t provide patients with helpful information if you don’t have that information yourself. Educate yourself on the mental health conditions you’re likely to encounter in your line of work and the available resources for those conditions. For example, anyone living with depression and anxiety in Australia can access help through mental health resources like Black Dog Institute, Beyond Blue, and This Way Up, to name a few.

Recommend Counselling

If a patient isn’t already in counselling, you may like to recommend that they do so. You might be able to refer them to receive specific services or provide support and encouragement for them to seek out the services themselves.

Counselling, like psychotherapy, can be effective for people living with mental health challenges. They can learn how to cope with traumatic experiences, navigate relationships, and deal with challenging emotions and behaviours. The skills and tools they learn from one mental health challenge can also often be helpful for a myriad of future challenges.

Explore Medication Options

Many mental health treatment providers explore medication as part of a much larger treatment plan. Talk to patients about various medication options, any potential side effects, and how medication may benefit them as they navigate their mental health challenges. Medication doesn’t have to be a standalone fix for mental illness. It can form part of a more comprehensive plan with counselling, self-care, and family and friend support networks.

Promote Self-Care

Promoting self-care is an excellent way to help patients lay a healthy foundation for improved mental health. By taking care of themselves through everyday actions, they may enjoy positive mental health changes. Talk to patients about self-care activities that are straightforward to participate in every day, such as exercise, getting enough sleep, relaxation techniques, and healthy eating.

Supporting patients with mental health challenges can be integral to their ongoing wellness. These actions are just a few of the many you may like to take to help patients reach their full potential in everyday life.

The post How to Support Patients with Mental Health Challenges appeared first on My Health Career.

Housing support workers can work closely with home occupants to put mobility measures in place, but it’s not always easy knowing where to start. Lay a foundation for independence by beginning with the following alterations and additions.

Ramps

Most experienced NDIS housing support providers understand that being able to enter and exit a home safely is one of the most crucial elements of gaining and maintaining independence. If wheelchair users must navigate stairs or steep hills to enter their homes, they might struggle to live independently without the support of caregivers and loved ones.

Once a ramp is installed at one or more entrances, they gain much-needed independence to form part of the community around them. Sometimes, ramp installation inside homes can also be necessary, especially in structures with step-down and step-up areas.

Grab Rails

Housing support providers trying to make houses more user-friendly for those with mobility challenges and to prevent falls might like to consider grab rail installation. Horizontal, vertical, inclined, and angled grab rails can all be worth considering for showers, toilets, entry points, and other parts of the home.

Falls are Australia’s leading cause of injury hospitalisation and death, resulting in 243,000 hospitalisations in 2020-2021 and 5,300 deaths the year before. In 7% of falls, stairs and steps were involved. Grab rails might not prevent all falls, but they might still contribute to lower fall statistics.

Bathroom Alterations

When occupational therapists evaluate their clients’ needs, they often recommend equipment to make their lives easier. Usually, wet areas like bathrooms are of particular importance. They might suggest permanent bathroom alterations like walk-in showers and non-slip flooring or removable equipment like support grip bars and bath chairs.

Any bathroom modification should be suggested with the safety and mobility of the client in mind. People living with mobility issues might then be able to take care of their showering and toileting needs without the assistance of others.

Wider Doorways

The standard door width in Australia is 820mm, but wheelchair users might find it challenging to navigate doorways of this width. If you intend to make home alterations to improve the independence and safety of a wheelchair user, recommend doors with a minimum width of 850mm. This measurement is the minimum unobstructed width, meaning that door handles and stops must be outside a door.

The NDIS provides Specialist Disability Accommodation Design Standards with guidance on how wide to make doorways depending on the user. For example, independent wheelchair users can be accommodated with 900mm doorways, while wheelchair users with assistants might require 950mm doorways.

Flooring Changes

Flooring can be a significant consideration when you’re planning to make a home safer for a client with mobility challenges. Loose rugs can be slip and trip hazards, and smooth tiles might increase the risk of fall injuries. Non-slip mats, short-pile carpet, and flooring options with textures for increased grip might all be options you explore.

NDIS housing support providers aim to make their clients’ homes safer while helping them increase their independence. Start with these actions above, and you might make more of a difference in people’s lives than you think.

The post How to Increase Your Patients’ Mobility Around the Home appeared first on My Health Career.

• the type of work they do;
• where they work; and
• the people they work with

Common hazards

Safe Work Australia lists common hazards in health care and social assistance as including:

• Manual handling from lifting, supporting and moving people and repetitive tasks
• Chemical and biological hazards
• Medical equipment such as lasers and x-rays
• Workplace violence
• Bullying and harassment
• Mental health due to stress
• Fatigue and shift work
• Falls, slips and trips

Who is responsible, and what are they responsible for?

For the health care and social assistance sector, Safe Work Australia lists the following stakeholders as having specific duties in terms of Work Health and Safety regulations. These are:

• A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)
• A principal contractor
• A designer, manufacturer, importer, supplier and installer of plant, substances or structures
• An officer

PCBUs must, as far as is reasonably practicable, anywhere where workers are working (e.g. hospital, a patient’s home, a vehicle travelling between work sites), must:

• Ensure the health and safety of workers and others
• Consulting with workers and those who are likely to be directly affected by a health and safety matter
• Coordinate with all other duty holders
• Provide and maintain a work environment that does not post physical and psychological risks to health and safety
• Give workers the information, training, instruction and supervision required for safe work

Managing risks

Safe Work Australia states that the PCBU must identify hazards, manage the associated risks as far as is reasonably practicable, and ensure that the measures put in place remain effective. They provide information on control measures for hazards such as lifting, supporting and moving patients, in an effort to prevent injuries including work related repetitive strain injuries.

Further information

The Commonwealth, states and territories regulate and enforce WHS laws in their jurisdictions. Contact https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/contact-us for further information.

The post Safe Work Australia – are you aware of your responsibilities? appeared first on My Health Career.

Prevalence – Australian Adults

Insomnia:

• Around 13% to 33% of the Australian adult population having regular difficulty either getting to sleep or staying asleep (Cunnington et al., 2013)

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Insomnia, and Restless Legs:

• Diagnosed sleep apnea is reported by 8% of Australian adults, significant insomnia by 20% and restless legs by 18%

Prevalence – Australian Adolescents

We should also be aware that Australian adolescents are also at risk of poor sleep patterns. Short et al. (2013) found that on average, 13-18 year olds obtained inadequate sleep across the school week, and commonly reported difficulty falling asleep, not feeling refreshed after sleep, and subjective feelings of restless legs.

Costs

Streatfeild et al. (2021) estimated that the economic cost of common sleep disorders in Australia for 2019-2020 was $35.4 billion USD. Disorders included in the study were obstructive sleep apnea ($13.1 billion), insomnia ($13.3 billion) and restless legs syndrome ($9.0 billion). They divided the costs into:

• Financial ($10 billion) – those associated with healthcare, other care (informal), loss of productivity, non-medical accident costs, and losses from taxation/welfare inefficiencies; and
• Nonfinancial ($25.4 billion) – those associated with a loss of wellbeing

Streatfeild et al. (2021) concluded that greater expenditure on detection, treatment and prevention is warranted because the health system costs of these disorders are low relative to those associated with their consequences.

Treatments

Treatments for sleep apnea include a sleep apnea mouth guard worn overnight during sleep, continuous positive airway pressure, and surgery. Treatments for insomnia include cognitive behavioural therapy and pharmacological agents. Treatment for restless legs can include management of any related mental health conditions and pharmacological agents.

Conclusion

In light of the prevalence and economic cost of sleep disorders, it is important that clinicians are aware of these and ensure that patients are able to access appropriate treatment.

References

Adams, Robert J., MBBS, MD, Appleton, Sarah L., BSc, PhD, Taylor, Anne W., MPH, PhD, Gill, Tiffany K., MPH, PhD, Lang, Carol, MPH, PhD, McEvoy, R. Douglas, MPH, PhD, & Antic, Nick A., MPH, PhD. (2016). Sleep health of Australian adults in 2016: results of the 2016 Sleep Health Foundation national survey. Sleep Health, 3(1), 35–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2016.11.005

Bjornsdottir, E., Lindberg, E., Benediktsdottir, B., Gislason, T., Garcia Larsen, V., Franklin, K., Jarvis, D., Demoly, P., Perret, J. L., Garcia Aymerich, J., Arenas, S. D., Heinrich, J., Torén, K., Jögi, R., & Janson, C. (2020). Are symptoms of insomnia related to respiratory symptoms? Cross-sectional results from 10 European countries and Australia. BMJ Open, 10(4), e032511. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032511

Cunnington, D., Junge, M. F., & Fernando, A. T. (2013). Insomnia: prevalence, consequences and effective treatment. Medical Journal of Australia, 199(8), S36–S40. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja13.10718

Short, M. A., Gradisar, M., Lack, L. C., Wright, H. R., & Dohnt, H. (2013). The sleep patterns and well-being of Australian adolescents. Journal of Adolescence (London, England.), 36(1), 103–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2012.09.008

Streatfeild, J., Smith, J., Mansfield, D., Pezzullo, L., & Hillman, D. (2021). The social and economic cost of sleep disorders. Sleep (New York, N.Y.), 44(11), 1. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsab132

The post Sleep disorders – more prevalent than we think? appeared first on My Health Career.

Consumer website Compare The Market cites that 73.4% of Australians are satisfied with their healthcare, compared with 54.2% of Americans. Their survey showed that affordability was the biggest factor in satisfaction, and they cited that 64% of Australians found healthcare affordable versus 33% of Americans.

Universal Health Care and Subsidised Medications

On top of cheaper overall health care costs (made up of both government and personal funds) in Australia, services such as Medicare, touted as the nation’s universal health care system, and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which provides access to subsidised medicines in Australia, provide a health care safety net for Australians. The US government doesn’t directly regulate drug prices nor subsidise them. As a result, pharmaceutical companies can price their drugs more freely while the citizens essentially pay for commercialised medicines.

In a 2020 article published by the Grattan Institute, health economist Dr Stephen Duckett described the US health system as “more expensive but less effective”. He cited multiple health systems with no coherence as the main issue, and gave examples:

• Armed services veterans have access to a comprehensive, centralized, government-run health service
• Those over 65 are covered by Medicare which is federally funded
• Those with low financial means will receive income-threshold tested health care through the federally funded, state-run Medicaid system
• Those who are employed may have an employment package which includes health insurance
• Those without other coverage are able to access federal and state marketplaces for insurance via the Affordable Care Act

Even though there are a range of options available in the US, an Office of Health Policy document titled National Uninsured Rate Reaches All-Time Low in Early 2022 states that there are still over 26 million Americans who do not have insurance. In October 2022 the American Academy of Family Physicians reported on their advocacy being involved in more than 1 million previously ineligible Americans being able to receive primary care in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Dr Stephen Duckett also pointed out the inequities of more than half of US hospitals being not-for-profit and negotiating contracts with multiple insurers for their income, which health insurers limiting the number of service providers covered by their plans.

General Practitioners

The American health care system is primarily based around specialty care for individual medical issues. In Australia, the first port of call for all medical conditions, regardless of age, has traditionally been a general practitioner (GP).  Roles of the general practitioner include patient care continuity, patient advocacy, and appropriate referral to specific medical specialists when required. Importantly, GPs manage a patient’s overall health.

However, according to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, “significant funding for general practice care is urgently needed to address the GP crisis”. The RACGP states:

“The (October 2022-2023) Budget includes a re-commitment to $250 million per year in GP funding over three years following the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce Report which is due later this year, as well as $143.3 million for rural and remote healthcare, and $229.7 million in general practice support grants to build better infrastructure. However, it does not address the immediate challenges facing general practice care, including a lack of funding following years of Medicare freezes and inadequate indexation of patient rebates.

The RACGP holds grave concerns that without major investment into general practice care by the federal Government the current shortage of GPs being felt by communities throughout Australia will intensify, waiting times to see a doctor will increase, and the health and wellbeing of Australians will suffer.”

Australian General Practitioner Dr Louise Stone has taken to Twitter to express concern about the potential flow-on effects of fragmentation to patient care with fewer GPs (click the “Read full conversation on Twitter” button to access the full thread of 14 tweets):

@stephenjduckett @markbutler @SophieScamps @brookmanknight a genuine question. Let’s say the system behaves like it’s designed to do & GP dies. We are endangered now, with not enough replacements coming in to keep the species alive for long 1/

— Louise stone (@GPswampwarrior) October 14, 2022

Reducing Health Care Costs to Individuals in the US

Medical costs, insurance premiums, out-of-pocket costs, and copays are all part of the health care system in the US. Americans can reduce these expenses with supplemental insurance typically offered by Medicare-approved private insurers. For example, Americans can opt for Medicare G plans if they want to reduce out-of-pocket costs. It’s among the complete Medigap plans available to new Medicare beneficiaries because it nearly covers 100% of the Medicare gaps. However, it doesn’t cover the Part B deductible, which is $233 per year as of 2022.

The post Universal health care will we keep it in Australia, and how do we compare to the US appeared first on My Health Career.

• Dentistry – The Australian Dental Association’s pre-budget submission included advocacy for a review of Vocational Education and Training certificate courses in aged care to include oral health as a core competency, and proposed a budget for $1.3 Billion per year for a Senior Dental Benefits Scheme and $13.9 Million per year for registered dental practitioners to become integral members of aged care teams
• Dietetics – Dietitians Australia advocated for the aged care sector to engage Accredited Practising Dietitians to improve malnutrition screening practices and nutrition, food and dining experiences in aged care
• Nursing – the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and Australian College of nursing both welcomed the news of increased Registered Nurse to resident ratios in private aged care facilities
• Pharmacy – The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia welcomed the announcement to progress funding for onsite pharmacists in aged care
• Physiotherapy – following the federal election, the Australian Physiotherapy Association was still calling for better access to physiotherapy for those in aged care, those living with dementia, and those living with chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease

With the care residents will receive in aged care facilities set to improve, one possible flow-on effect is that this may impact the decision-making process families are involved in when considering care options for their older family members. For example:

• Safety – will elderly family members be safer in their own homes, living with extended family, or in a residential aged care facility?
• Independence – there are a range of considerations here, with the less obvious including a choice of incontinence products, and more obvious relating to outings and shopping
• Personality – which living arrangement would be best for an introverted or extroverted older family member?

The post Caring for older Australians: RACF vs the home appeared first on My Health Career.

Alternative career options

Doctors from all over the world are traveling to Australia to work in remote areas with large populations. This is a great option for those who want to work and see a whole new part of Australia outside of cities like Sydney and Melbourne. There are also plenty of opportunities for those who don’t know where they want to end up yet – because it’s possible to transfer or travel on a one-year contract, there is no need to decide right away.

Applying and planning your move

This is a decision that you need to spend time researching and planning for before actually making. Having done so, you will be able to better weigh up your options, even if they involve staying in Australia.

The best places to live abroad as an expat doctor

The hot springs in Iceland are a great way to relax and unwind. It’s also good for an expat doctor looking for some quality time with family.

Why working overseas is a great move for doctors

Doctors are in demand globally, and by taking a chance to work abroad, you can earn a more competitive salary while gaining valuable experience and life skills. It also gives you an opportunity to try something new and give back through volunteer work. Plus, you’ll have a better idea what it’s like living in another country because you’ll be going through it first hand.

Pursuing an alternative career path for medical professionals

Choosing a new profession, pursuing an alternative career path, or simply broadening your horizons are all things that may appeal to many professionals in any industry. If you’re looking for some international experience but aren’t quite ready to swap life as a doctor for that of a lawyer or engineer, then take a look at these ten top positions abroad.

Top countries that accept foreign doctors

Australian citizens and residents with full medical qualifications from recognised universities, who are also registered with their state or territory’s medical board, are eligible to apply for limited registration in an approved country. Full registration will depend on both the individual and the country involved. Some countries will accept a general medical practitioner who does not have experience in obstetrics or surgery but needs those skills, while others do not recognise experience gained outside their own country.

The post How Australian Doctors Can Make The Most Of Mid-Career Opportunities Overseas appeared first on My Health Career.

When applying for an NDIS plan, it’s important to understand the kind of support packages that can be included in the budget. Whether a person is assisting an acquaintance, friend, or family member with their application, knowing they are well supported is sure to give peace of mind to everyone involved. So, what kind of supports can be funded in an NDIS plan?

The Core Supports budget

The core supports budget includes assistance with self-care activities such as getting dressed, showering, meal preparation, and engaging in recreational activities.

No matter how small the goal may be, the Core Support budget can make a lot of positive changes to one’s daily life, and encourage confidence. The budget also aids the purchase consumables such as continence products.

Capacity Building Supports budget

The Capacity Building funding is allocated across 8 sub-categories, where each is matched with the goals in the participant’s NDIS Plan. The sub-categories are:

1. Choice and Control (e.g. training in planning and plan management)
2. Daily Activity (e.g. therapy aimed at capacity building
3. Employment (e.g. assessment and counselling related to employment)
4. Health and Wellbeing (e.g. exercise advice related to the impact of the disability
5. Home living (e.g. support to acquire and retain suitable accommodation)
6. Lifelong Learning (e.g. assistance in moving to further education from school)
7. Relationships (e.g. strategies to reduce concerning behaviours)
8. Social and Community Participation (e.g. development of life skills such as using public transport, and developing skills for social and recreational participation)

Capital Support budget

The Capital Support budget has two categories:

• Assistive Technology – this is equipment or devices that can help a person do things that they otherwise can’t because of their disability. It may also help them do something more safely or easily. Assistive technology can include a custom shower chair, a powered wheelchair, communication devices, and ankle-foot orthotics.
• Home modifications are changes to the layout, fittings, or structure of an NDIS participant’s home, which allow them to access it safely and move around comfortably in areas of frequent use. An example is rails in the bathroom.

Choosing a provider

Choosing a passionate and NDIS-approved provider is key to improving not just daily life, but the quality of life, too. Individuals can feel empowered with empathetic and flexible support.

This article refers to information available on the NDIS website.

The post The 3 Main Support Purpose Categories in the NDIS: What You Need to Know appeared first on My Health Career.

Pre-budget submission

The AAPi pre-budget submission for the 2022-2023 federal budget focused on 4 items:
1. A one-tier Medicare rebate system for the clients of all registered psychologists in Australia, replacing the current two-tier system
2. Raising the Medicare rebate to $150 per 50 minute session
3. Implementing the Productivity Commission recommendation for up to 40 rebated sessions for clients each year
4. Establishing a provisional psychologist Medicare rebate

Post-budget

Following the handing down of the federal budget, AAPi Executive Director Tegan Carrison said it was unfortunate that the budged only allowed for an additional $648 million in spending for mental health.

Ms Carrison stated that “Some of the positive budget announcements include:

• Funding towards workforce development
• Continuation of item numbers for bushfire victims and the additional funding for mental health care of those impacted by the floods
• Mental health support for vulnerable community members, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, multicultural communities and victims of domestic violence
• Permanent telehealth

“AAPi also welcomes the much-needed investment in suicide prevention, eating disorder treatment and services such as crisis lines, but more is needed to ease the escalation of our mental health crisis and support our existing and future mental health workforce.

“We are happy to see that our calls for more investment and support of provisional psychologists have been noticed – with 75 internships for provisional psychologists announced and support for the safe use of the provisional psychologist workforce to deliver services, and the provision of 150 free Psychology Board of Australia endorsed supervisor training sessions – the question remains as to whether this will lead to more psychologists achieving full registration.

“We have a serious problem in that the measures announced don’t fully address the elephant in the room: a workforce that is smaller than demand, areas of psychology facing extinction, and insufficient rebates for the majority of Australians.

“Too much of this budget is a band-aid solution, and the stakes are too high for that. As a nation, our mental health has been collectively challenged like never before. The frustration of getting help when we really need it is wearing us thin and those providing the help are even more fed up. Our late 2021 Private Practice Survey showed 78% of clients exhibited more distress, anxiety, or depression, with 47% of psychologists unable to take on new clients.

“This Budget did not address AAPi’s key concerns with regards to workforce shortages and chronic underfunding of pivotal services such as Medicare, rural and remote services and school psychologists. Without raising the Medicare rebate to $150 for the clients of all psychologists, access to affordable mental health care remains out of reach for hundreds of thousands of people.

The APS expressed disappointment in the budget, but stated that there were some welcome announcements.

APS President Tamara Cavenett said ““The government is only meeting 35% of their workforce target while one in three psychologists are unable to take on new patients. Before the pandemic, it was 1 in 100.

“Making university funding on par with dentists, GPs, psychiatrists and veterinarians is critical to the future of the psychology in Australia. The government can’t deliver on its promises without the workforce to back it up.

“Despite record demand to see a psychologist and worsening cost of living pressure the budget fails to reduce gap fees for people in crisis and contemplating suicide.
“We needed a budget that lowered gap fees and got psychologists into schools and the regions. Sadly, the opportunity has been missed.

The APS also felt that the following reforms were crucial, and had not been addressed in the budget:

• Funding university places on par with GPs, veterinarians, dentists and psychiatrists
• Committing to the 1:500 psychologist to student ratio at all public, private and independent high schools in line with the government’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Inquiry
• Expanding Medicare coverage and lowering the gap fee for patients
• Providing regional relocation incentives to psychologists on par with GPs, and
• Making the additional 10 per annum Medicare-funded psychology sessions a permanent feature of the Better Access program

Pre-federal election

In the lead up to the federal election, the APS called on all parties to commit to ensuring that Australians in regional, rural and remote areas do not have to fend for themselves instead of being able to access mental health support.

The APS quoted a figure of 20% of psychologists being in regional Australia servicing the 28% of the population who live there.

APS President Tamara Cavenett said “Your postcode should never determine your mental health, yet we continue to see 7 million Australians, in some of the most disadvantaged parts of the country, left to fend for themselves.

With some of the highest rates of alcoholism, depression, self-harm and suicide found in regional, rural and remote Australia, how long will the government stand by and continue to think this is good enough?

“These people put food on our plates, clothes on our backs and power our homes but we can’t help them when they’re at their lowest ebb? This national shame must be brought to light.

The APS stated that the Federal Government was meeting only 35% of its psychology workforce target, the largest shortfall of any mental health workforce and, that unlike GPs, there are no incentives for psychologists to relocate to regional areas.

Ms Cavenett said “GPs save lives each day and deserve the support they get, but we have to address the mental health deserts sweeping across regional Australia during the shadow pandemic.

“In regional, rural and remote Australia many people are lucky to simply get onto a wait list, and even then wait times of more than 12-months are common in some areas.

Also in the lead up to the election, the APS developed a 10-point election manifesto:
1. Invest in a surge workforce to ensure effective disaster readiness and response
2. Perinatal mental health for all Australian parents
3. Get psychologists into schools
4. Support child mental health hubs
5. Introduce a youth mental health safety net
6. Ensure COVID-19 mental health recovery through bulk billing and rural incentives
7. Improve digital mental health services
8. Future-proof the psychology workforce
9. Strengthen the psychology workforce
10. Get graduates to clients faster

Post-federal election

AAPi released an association update following on from the federal election. It stated that the association members had reached all election candidates a number of times with their key advocacy items for a more accessible and fair mental health care system.

Following the federal election, AAPI Executive Director Tegan Carrison stated that “AAPi has built strong relationships over the years with all sides of politics and will continue these conversations with the incoming ministers, advocating for our shared vision for mental health care in Australia.

“With the new Labor government foreshadowing a focus on Medicare, NDIS and aged care, there has never been a more important time for AAPi to take the lead in advocating for an equitable and diverse psychology profession.”

The APS urged the Albanese government to commit to addressing mental health challenges faced by Australians, and congratulated Ministers Butler and Clare on their appointments (Health and Aged Care, and Education, respectively).

APS President Tamara Cavenett said ““During a time of uncertainty and national crises our mental health system is on the brink. Psychologists on the frontline are telling us the anxiety that people are feeling about climate change and natural disasters is palpable right across the country.

“We are committed to working with the incoming government to create a more sustainable sector that values patients and psychologists alike.

“By increasing university funding we can begin to address the problems facing the community.”

In June, the APS welcomed the federal government’s announcement to an overhaul of the national school chaplaincy program, stating that they saw it as an opportunity to implement the ratio of 1 psychologist to every 500 students.

With the news that schools would be able to choose between hiring a religious or secular pastoral care worker, APS President Tamara Cavenett said “Investment of government funds into placement of qualified mental health experts such as psychologists into schools just makes sense.

“The APS has raised significant concerns over many years about the national school chaplaincy program. We’ve repeatedly stated that while we are not opposed to the presence of chaplains in schools for pastoral care, the investment of scarce government-funded resources should be redirected to professional qualified experts, such as psychologists.

“This is a step in the right direction for evidence-based pastoral and mental health care for Australian school students. It is common sense, and it is entirely appropriate.

“Young Aussies have experienced turmoil, uncertainty, and major disruption to their schooling and major childhood milestones over the past two years. Never has it been more important to ensure they are receiving mental health care from qualified experts.

“Fifty per cent of lifelong mental health issues start before the age of 14 years, so school is the appropriate setting to catch early signs and provide early intervention.
“For many years we have been urging the Federal Government to develop a national benchmark for school-based psychologist to student ratios.

“Evidence shows by aiming for a benchmark of 1 psychologist to every 500 students would benefit the whole school community an provide vital support to teachers, principals and families.

“Psychologists employed in schools work at a whole-of-school level on programs to support children’s’ mental health, development and learning. The benefits of access to a psychologist at the right time, can be seen for years to come. It simply makes good economic sense to look after the mental health of our children.

“Psychologists can assess children for mental health issues, learning difficulties, intellectual disability, and can work with teachers and families to support children with behavioural issues and learning difficulties” said Ms Cavenett.

The post Psychology 2022: The Profession’s Priorities in an Election Year appeared first on My Health Career.

Pre-budget submission

The APA’s 2022 pre-budget submission incorporated four solutions, which it said would strengthen care for all Australians:

1. Improve the patient pathway by addressing structural barriers to reform.

The APA called for a change to the Medicare Benefits Schedule requirement for a GP referral to allow physiotherapists to refer patients directly to the most suitable medical practitioner. They also called for the lifting of barriers to allow physiotherapists to refer patients for musculoskeletal images.

2. Reform primary health care through new public funded physiotherapy treatment pathways.

The APA called for expansion of the chronic disease and pain-related MBS items encompassing physiotherapy, for a funded pilot to strengthen access to diagnosis, treatment and care of musculoskeletal pain and conditions in primary care, and for investment in public funded physiotherapy to increase the coverage of preventative health services in Australia. They also called for a leading role for physiotherapists in Long COVID care, rehabilitation for cancer care, as well as for pre-and post-natal physiotherapy.

3. Shift priorities to ensure those most in need are not waiting for care.

The APA called for funding and/or better access to physiotherapy services in aged care, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Department of Veterans’ Affairs card holders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, rural services, and patients with mental health conditions.

4. Implement health care reform by acting on the many plans already in place.

Following the USA model, the APA called for the establishment of a health ‘czar’ to coordinate the implementation and evaluation of agreed on recommendations and actions from Inquiries, Commissions and Strategies, as a means of ensuring ensure whole-of-government responses.

Post-budget

After the federal budget was handed down, the APA expressed disappointment that it did not provide investment in public funded physiotherapy.

“The APA’s pre-Budget submission provided the Morrison Government with evidence-based initiatives that would improve patient outcomes, reduce costs and enhance health care. We are disappointed the Government chose to ignore our submission,” APA National President Scott Willis said.

“The Budget has failed to set the fair foundations we needed for health equity and access.

APA National President Scott Willis said “it was an opportunity to lay the groundwork for the systemic reform needed to reorientate the health system towards primary care encompassing physiotherapy.

“Instead, the Morrison Government has abandoned health for their own political survival — at this critical time in health care reform we see implementation measures against the Primary Care 10 Year Plan that sets aside just $3.9 million to improve access to allied health services.

“This Budget again overlooks the value and impact that allied health professionals have on communities. Significant investment was needed to strengthen care and reduce disparities and this Budget in no way achieves reform which requires sustained investment towards integrated team-based care.

“The APA provided our most detailed and expansive ever pre-Budget submission, offering solutions and options that we know offer substantial improvements to patient care and improved referral pathways. None of these were adopted.

“We called on the Government to initiate fundamental reform to provide a way forward to overcome the barriers to integrated multidisciplinary team-based care.

“There are many welcome measures in the Budget, however, the Primary Care and Rural Health measures ignore the vital role of physiotherapy in health care. Millions of Australians rely on physiotherapists for diagnosis, treatment and services.

“The Government hasn’t properly delivered on the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Standards, and while we welcome some initiatives, we are disappointed with the lack of aged care measures announced in the Budget.

“Reform isn’t just about pumping money into the health system — it’s about redesigning it so that people can have unencumbered access to the care they need.

“Patients are not funded to access physiotherapy services beyond current and very limited MBS chronic disease items. Physiotherapy provides a path to better health and wellbeing but for too many Australians access is denied or inadequately funded” said Mr Willis.

Pre-federal election

Physiotherapy in aged care was an area of focus for the APA in the lead up to the federal election. This was following on from what the APA deemed to be a failure of the Morrison Government to se the fair foundations required for health equity and access in the 2022-2023 Federal Budget. The APA noted the intention in then Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese’s budget reply speech to put security, dignity, quality and humanity back into aged care.

“The position and priorities offered by Labor, in unveiling a package of major aged care reforms, as the centrepiece of his pre-election Budget reply, and commitment to the NDIS and strengthening Medicare, sets us back on a reform pathway that would make a real difference for so many Australians unable to access the care they need.” APA National President Scott Willis said.

“Health inequity is a longstanding challenge, and one that certainly didn’t arrive with the pandemic. A worsening of inequality is now evident and this is deeply embedded in our structural and health system failures.

“We need to move beyond traditional structures and conventional primary care towards more integrated care models that include allied health services such as physiotherapy.

“Real primary care reform and a properly funded public health system would see a significant expansion of Medicare.

“Real reform would allow for stronger investment in publicly funded physiotherapy to allow access to physiotherapy as first contact practitioners.

“Our health system fails to facilitate this essential care and patients are not funded to access physiotherapy services beyond current and very limited MBS chronic disease items,” Mr Willis said.

“Labor’s commitment to mandate that every Australian living in aged care receives a minimum of 215 minutes of care per day, as recommended by the Royal Commission, is welcomed. However, we await the detail to see the role of physiotherapy and allied health in this care.

“The APA also welcomes Labor’s commitments on integrity and accountability, and new funding, to better support the aged care sector.

“Neither the LNP or Labor used their Budget speeches to address easy reform fixes that would significantly improve the patient journey and provide savings to the health system.

“A key shift would be to allow physiotherapists to directly refer to the most suitable medical practitioner and to request imaging for musculoskeletal conditions.

“Similarly, in enabling more multidisciplinary team-based care, there is a need for stronger measures to deliver structural transformations by funding the full team.

“But nationally we still await fundamental reform to provide a way forward to overcome the barriers to integrated multidisciplinary team-based care.

“Labor has provided a solid start towards advancing health equity in outlining a plan that would set some solid foundations for the future and we look forward to seeing the detail in the coming weeks,” he said.

In the days prior to the federal election, the APA expressed the concern that a long-term vision for health was nowhere to be found in the election campaign.

“With the first federal election since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an expectation that commitment to funding healthcare reform would be a stronger focus from all parties,” Mr Willis said.

“The APA welcomed the commitments made by Labor, Coalition and Greens, especially to include mental and dental in Medicare, the commitment to fund greater access to allied health and multidisciplinary care in primary care, and to implement the 10-Year Primary Care Plan.

“Where is the long-term vision for health and clear commitment to fund and implement the reform plans developed during the last term of government?”

“We believe in a policy vision that values and recognises the whole health workforce; a vision that values the full benefits of physiotherapy for better health outcomes for patients and a more cost-effective health system.

“For the 1 in 3 Australians experiencing musculoskeletal pain and conditions, the 1 in 2 Australians that will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85, and the 1 in 3 older Australians living at home who fall each year funded access to physiotherapy could be life changing, not to mention saving up to $9.2 billion in direct health costs and reduced productivity.

“As physiotherapists, we have the solutions to strengthen the patient journey and deliver great health outcomes for all. We are looking forward to working with the incoming government to ensure everyone has greater access to the health care they need, when they need it,” Mr Willis said.

Post-federal election

In the two months following on from the federal election, the APA called for:

• timely and ongoing access to appropriately funded physiotherapy for Australians living with dementia
• better access to preventative and restorative health care services including physiotherapy for those in aged care
• preventative health reform to address growing rates of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease and dementia

By late July, the APA was urging the Albanese government to prioritise allied health care involving the inclusion of physiotherapy for aged care residents with chronic pain.

APA National President Scott Willis said “it is critical for aged care residents to receive pain management therapy as an effective alternative to medication use.

“The vast majority of older people living in residential aged care live with debilitating pain and rely on expert healthcare such as physiotherapy to maintain their quality of life.

“For example, many older Australians live with crippling arthritis that affects their ability to participate in everyday activities and enjoy life. Aged care residents living with dementia depend on their physiotherapists to identify and treat the causes of pain,” Mr Willis said.

“It is critical to maintain access to high-quality care such as physiotherapy that improves sleep and function and reduces the number of falls in older people living with chronic pain.”

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