April 2013 Vol 6 No 3 here from Mar 21 2013 - Communitywebs.org

www.psaadelaide.org Page 5Prostate Cancer Support and Awareness: ADELAIDE GROUPLearning the importance ofour national health schemeThe new year started with a new insight into the national system for regulating healthpractitioners, as Adelaide Prostate Cancer Support Group’s Ian Fisk reports.Prior to our invitedspeaker’s presentation inFebruary, the AdelaideProstate Cancer Support Groupheld its Annual General Meeting.There were few changes inthe officers for the group. JeffRoberts and Ian Fisk remainco-convenors of the group, thesecretary and treasurer is IanFisk, Pam Fisk will continuelooking after name tags and– most importantly – PatDelpin will continue as supperco-ordinator. Violetta kindlyvolunteered to look after ourlibrary.Thanks to all those who haveassisted during the past year.The support group is alsofinancial thanks to money raisedat the Bunnings barbecue inSeptember.The speaker at our February 18meeting was Bradley Williamsfrom the Australian HealthPractitioner Regulation Agency.The AHPRA is responsiblefor implementing the NationalRegistration and AccreditationScheme and Bradley explainedthe organisation’s structure andfunction.The Council of AustralianGovernments decided in 2008to establish a single NationalRegistration and AccreditationScheme for registered healthpractitioners, as each state hadits own independent body.On July 1, 2010, the followingprofessions became nationallyGuest speaker Bradley Williams, from the AustralianHealth Practitioner Regulation Agency.regulated by a correspondingNational Board: chiropractors,dental practitioners (includingdentists, dental hygienists, dentalprosthetists and dental therapists),medical practitioners, nursesand midwives, optometrists,osteopaths, pharmacists,physiotherapists, podiatrists, andpsychologists,In July 2012, four additionalprofessions joined the nationalscheme: Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander healthpractitioners, Chinese medicinepractitioners (acupuncturists,Chinese herbal medicinepractitioners and Chineseherbal dispensers), medicalradiation practitioners (includingdiagnostic radiographers,radiation therapists and nuclearmedicine technologists) andoccupational therapists.A service charter sets out thevalues that guide the AHPRA,the standards of service you canexpect, and steps you can take ifthese standards are not met.Anyone can notify AHPRAabout the conduct, health orperformance of a practitioner.Concerns should be lodged ona notifications form or contactAHPRA on 1300 419 495.Details about any practitionerin Australia can be looked up onthe website www.ahpra.gov.auIt was a very interestingpresentation, and we thankedBradley for informing us clearlyabout the AHPRA.The support group’s Maymeeting and some later in theyear may have to be convenedby someone other than Jeff orIan, as both may be away atmeetings. Therefore, volunteersare needed please!COMINGEVENTSAPRIL MEETING:The AdelaideProstate CancerSupport Groupmeets on thethird Monday ofeach month in theCommunity Roomof the Fullarton ParkCentre, 411 FullartonRd, Fullarton,starting at 7pm.The April 15 meetingwill feature guestspeaker DavidCronin, who willshow us howFun, Laughter,Humour and Playhave helped manypatients throughillnesses, and howto increase ourenjoyment levelsin life with somehelpful tools andmodels.• For moreinformation and adetailed archive, visitthe Adelaide SupportGroup’s dedicatedwebsite at www.psaadelaide.orgor phone Ian Fiskon 8296 3350, orsend email to info@psaadelaide.orgThe Prostate Cancer Foundation of of Australia freecall hotline is is 1800 1800 22 22 00 00 99 99or visit the website www.prostate.org.au