Other organisations attending the dinner were Foxtel, ABC, SBS, Sydney Opera House and all the commercial channels. We were the smallest organisation there and likely the only non-profit group there aside from the Deafness Forum.

There were a number of very powerful and moving comments from the MC and the Chair of the Deafness Forum about the impact captions have in helping their inclusion in the world.  From the Forum’s website “Captions, like Auslan interpreters, are such a benefit to the one in six Australians who are Deaf or have a hearing impairment or chronic ear disorder. Captions are an essential part of our daily communications, entertainment and social needs, providing us with enjoyment and information about what is happening in the world around us.”

The Foundation is very thankful of its supportive supplier Captioning and Subtitling International (CSI) who have assisted us in navigating the requirements of captioning conducted the captioning of our previous 2 years of programs for our website and DVDs.

Importantly the Foundation would like to thank the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) who provided generous funding to caption more than 30 programs from the past two years.

The conference was opened by The Hon. Chris Davis on Wednesday evening. Thursday’s proceedings began with a fantastic keynote address by The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG.

The Foundation is pleased to be a supporter of CRANAplus and held a trade stand during the conference. Delegates were able to find out more about the Rural Health Channel and its expansion out of the clinics and into homes and more areas around Australia. Delegates were also able to take DVD copies of programs that they missed or weren’t able to access.

It was a clear from talking to the delegates who are the Foundation’s main audience that computer and Internet access is still very limited and patchy. While they welcome online education and our programs availability free on the website it is not a feasible option for many – that free satellite TV and DVDs are a much appreciated education resource.

The conference brings together agri-professionals, health professionals and industry leaders, researchers, policy makers, local government, health agencies, community members and farming men and women and allied industries all in the pursuit of improved health, well-being and safety for farming men, women and agricultural workers.

Liana will be presenting on the Taking Stock: Health Hazards of Farming project and the comprehensive educational resources the Foundation has recently released.

Taking Stock: The Health Hazards of Farming is an educational resource developed to help raise the awareness of the health and medical community about the specific health risks faced by farmers and their families; the importance of screening, effective diagnosis and appropriate management of farming patients; and the role of health promotion, health literacy and prevention programs in farming communities.

It can be accessed by distance using the DVD and Learning Guide or online, depending on your preference or circumstances.

Distance Learning – DVD & Learning Guide
The DVD includes two hours of audio visual material, including the 60 minute program Taking Stock: The Health Hazards of Farming and interviews with agricultural workers.  It also contains a comprehensive Learning Guide complete with resource links, self-assessment questionnaires and reflective learning activities.  Combined it offers over six hours of structured learning and qualifies for CPD points.

To order the DVD click “add to cart” button on the right or the program webpage or print the DVD Order Form (PDF)

The online active learning module will be available late September 2012.

The Foundation sells DVDs of its live panel discussions and documentaries. The advantage of a DVD copy is the high quality of video which lends itself well as a teaching resource on large screen.

Feedback from our users was that the DVD prices were prohibitive and for many if the price was over $100 managment approval of the spend was required. The cost of duplication has also reduced so we are able to pass that saving on to our users.

We’ve listened and hope this change gives you more of an opportunity to own a DVD copy of any of our programs.

To view a comprehensive list of our programs available to order on DVD click our All Programs webpage. Order directly online by clicking ‘add to cart’ from a program page or print a blank Order Form and fax or post it to us.

Professor Sabina Knight, Director for the Centre of Rural and Remote Health in Mount Isa and Rural Health Education Foundation board member, says the conference aims to change the way quad bikes are used, and even the way they’re engineered.

“We’re going to pull together all the recommendations from our speakers around quad bike safety in this context and present a statement,” she said. This statement will be submitted to the Electronic Journal of Rural and Remote Health, to get the information out there as fast as possible and to get it into the local media and press so people can hear about it.”

The conference, ‘Are you remotely interested?‘, while continuing to build on the past themes of remote possibility, challenges and bringing evidence into practice, will recognise the roles Injury Prevention, Farm Safety, Occupational Health and Safety, Rural and Remote Workforce play in rural Australia health and productive industry outcomes. It will also aim to recognise challenges and developments through Clinical Training and Simulation, Cultural Safety, secondary prevention and chronic disease and Innovation.

Key elements of the conference has been filmed by the Rural Health Education Foundation to be edited into a highlights program to be broadcast on the Rural Health Channel on VAST over the coming months.

These resources were developed to help health professionals manage those 15% of consultations that are considered difficult.  GPs and other health professionals often encounter a range of difficult consultations arising from situations such as drug-seeking, somatisation, poor communications and anger.  The key for health professionals is not to ‘label’ patients but to examine the communication process, be aware of the different agendas, listen more carefully and respond appropriately to the cues.

The resources can be used for self-directed professional development or can be incorporated into other education and training.  It is a package of resource material combining audio visual material and structured learning activities.

There is no cost to work through and complete the online learning module and it is available to all health professionals.  The module is a 6 hour learning activity and is accredited with RACGP as a Category 1 Distance Learning Activity.

To access the online learning module or to order copy of the DVD visit the The Discomfort Zone: A Guide to Managing Difficult Consultations webpage.

The channel provides regular and reliable health education and information to areas sorely lacking in medical facilities. The overall mortality rate is 12 per cent higher in country towns and surrounding areas than in the metropolitan areas, and one-fifth of GPs cater to one third of the Australian population, including almost two thirds of Indigenous peoples.

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said improving health care services for rural, regional and remote Australia is an important priority for the Gillard Government.

“Improving access to information on healthy lifestyles and reducing risks factors will make a significant difference in local communities. The Rural Health Education Foundation is making a real contribution to closing the gap between rural and urban Australia,” she said.

Master of Ceremonies, The Hon Warren Snowdon conducted the launch which was also attended by The Hon Simon Crean, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government; Independants Rob Oakshot and Tony Windsor; and Senator Claire Moore. The channel has been set up by the Rural Health Education Foundation, an independent, non-profit organisation that over the last 20 years has provided free distance learning education programs to more than 50,000 health professionals.

Until now, this service was only available to health professionals in their clinics or workplaces, and only for two hours per fortnight, and the Foundation had no way to reach members of the wider community.
The Rural Health Channel is being broadcast via satellite on the new Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) platform. VAST services provide digital TV to people who cannot receive terrestrial digital television and currently reach 75,000 households. Government estimates expect this number to grow to 250,000 by the end of next year.

The Rural Health Channel is the first narrowcaster (specialised non-commercial channel) to use VAST. It is broadcasting from 1.30 to 3.30pm and 7.30 to 9.30pm on weekdays, and 4.30 to 6pm on Sundays.

“VAST is evidence of the Government’s commitment to address the inferior television services regional and remote Australian audiences have had to put up with for far too long. I commend the Rural Health Channel for harnessing this new platform so effectively,” Senator Conroy said.

The channel, which began broadcasting on 21st May, is serving as a conduit for government and not-for-profit health initiatives. Already Palliative Care Australia, Lifeline and the Heart Foundation are among the organisations that have used the channel to spread their health messages.

“On behalf of the Rural Health Education Foundation’s Board and staff we are enthusiastic in recognising your achievement that reflects the thought and effort that you contribute to Australian life and society.” said Dr David Rosenthal, Chair of the Foundation.

Dr Calma is the inaugural National Coordinator for Tackling Indigenous Smoking.  Immediately prior to the appointment he was the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission for five and a half years. Prior to that he was Race Discrimination Commissioner.

In addition to being the Patron of the Rural Health Education Foundation, Dr Calma is also the National Patron of the Wakakirri National Story Festival (since 2006), National Patron of the Poche Centres for Indigenous Health Network and Deputy Chair of the Cooperative Research Centre for Remote Economic Participation. He is on the board of many organisations including Reconciliation Australia.

He features in The Australian newspaper in a piece written by Natasha Robinson  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/queens-birthday-honours-2012/tapped-for-indigenous-health-work/story-fne95kwp-1226390609529

PCA’s Education Forum, which was held in Canberra this week, will be broadcast on the newly established Rural Health Channel this Friday, 25th May.

‘We know that rural workers find it difficult to access training and support in palliative and end of life care,’
said Dr Yvonne Luxford, PCA chief executive officer. ‘Having our Education Forum available on the Rural Health Channel provides a great opportunity to reach health and aged care professionals in the bush, along with raising awareness across the population. It is great to be able to broadcast this during National Palliative Care Week.’

The program Palliative Care: It’s Not Just About Dying is a one hour highlights package from PCA’s Education Forum, featuring sessions including:
• Professor Jeffrey Braithwaite presenting on the Future of Healthcare in Australia: how will palliative
care fit?
• Dr Scott Blackwell presenting Show me the money! A step by step guide to billing, MBS items and
palliative care
• Dr Robyn Brogan presenting on Aged care and eHealth – exploring better ways to deliver quality care
to an ageing population
• Ms Theodora Ahilas presenting Will I get sued for carrying out a patient’s wishes? Untangling the legal
ramifications of advance care directives and substitute decision makers
• This program also includes elements of the panel discussion Dying isn’t the point led by Dr Norman
Swan.

During National Palliative Care Week, the Foundation is also broadcasting a number of related programs, including the award-winning documentary about palliative care and pain management, Life before Death.

Ms Helen Craig, CEO Rural Health Education Foundation said: ‘We hope that through the Rural Health
Channel, people in rural and remote areas will be able to learn more about palliative and end of life care. This
collaboration will help ensure that all Australians, regardless of their location, can have access to this
important information, and ultimately, receive quality care at the end of life.’

For more information about the Rural Health Channel, and to view the program guide, visit
http://www.rhef.com.au/rhc/

The channel provides regular and reliable health education and information to areas sorely lacking in medical facilities. The overall mortality rate is 12 per cent higher in country towns and surrounding areas than in the metropolitan areas, and one-fifth of GPs cater to one third of the Australian population, including almost two thirds of Indigenous peoples.

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said improving health care services for rural, regional and remote Australia is an important priority for the Gillard Government.

“Improving access to information on healthy lifestyles and reducing risks factors will make a significant difference in local communities. The Rural Health Education Foundation is making a real contribution to closing the gap between rural and urban Australia,” she said.

The channel has been set up by the Rural Health Education Foundation, an independent, non-profit organisation that over the last 20 years has provided free distance learning education programs to more than 50,000 health professionals.

Until now, this service was only available to health professionals in their clinics or workplaces, and only for two hours per fortnight, and the Foundation had no way to reach members of the wider community.
The Rural Health Channel is being broadcast via satellite on the new Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) platform. VAST services provide digital TV to people who cannot receive terrestrial digital television and currently reach 75,000 households. Government estimates expect this number to grow to 250,000 by the end of next year.

The Rural Health Channel is the first narrowcaster (specialised non-commercial channel) to use VAST. It is broadcasting from 1.30 to 3.30pm and 7.30 to 9.30pm on weekdays, and 4.30 to 6pm on Sundays.

“VAST is evidence of the Government’s commitment to address the inferior television services regional and remote Australian audiences have had to put up with for far too long. I commend the Rural Health Channel for harnessing this new platform so effectively,” Senator Conroy said.

The channel, which began broadcasting on 21st May, is serving as a conduit for government and not-for-profit health initiatives. Already Palliative Care Australia, Lifeline and the Heart Foundation are among the organisations that have used the channel to spread their health messages.