The Rural Health Channel (RHC 600), which is owned and managed by the Rural Health Education Foundation will begin broadcasting its professionally accredited programs as well as other health education information and programs.

The channel will be on-air, 24 hours per week; with sessions on weekday afternoons (1-3.30pm) and weekday evenings (7.30-9.30pm) and a late afternoon session on Sundays (4.30-6pm).

A variety of programs during the sessions will be screened; from live panel discussions to pre-recorded & encore screenings of educational programs. The first week’s schedule of programs during our themed Aged Care Week is listed on the Rural Health Channel TV Guide.

Our first Live panel discussion will be a program on Parkinson’s on the 22nd May. It will be a simultaneous online webcast and broadcast on NITV. Visit the Parkinson’s: The Latest Approaches webpage for more information.

Closed Captions are text descriptions of the speech, music and sound effects of a TV program. They are described as “closed” as they are only visible if turned on by the viewer. These are created primarily for people who are Deaf or hearing impaired and their families, but are also used to clarify speech that may be difficult to understand due to foreign accents or the use of technical medical terms.

For more information about the use of Closed Captions on the Foundation’s television programs contact us.

Ms Fiona Lange, Health Promotion Officer, Indigenous Eye Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population Health will be speaking about Indigenous communities and what they are doing to improve eye health.

We will be giving complimentary copies of the DVD to delegates during the conference. For more information about the See Strong DVD visit the program webpage See Strong: Improving Indigenous Eye Health.

The program, presented by  Traci Williams of Newslines Radio on the National Indigenous Radio Service, features successful Indigenous community projects and initiatives that are taking positive steps to address the environmental and social factors behind the high rates of accident and injury, as well as their immediate causes. Highlighted initiatives in the program are:

• The Cherbourg Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion project in Queensland
• A range of interventions conducted by the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress in Alice Springs
• Amata Community Safety Committee initiatives in the APY Lands, South Australia
• Burns prevention programs in Indigenous communities under the auspices of the Julian Burton Burns Trust. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are three times more likely to die from injury and accident than other Australians. Rates are almost twice as high for Indigenous people living in rural and remote areas.

Injury and accident from burns, road accidents, alcohol related and family violence are major contributing factors to the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and other Australians.

For more information about the program click the program webpage here.

The Rural Health Education Foundation will be holding an online webcast entitled, The A to Z of Hepatitis,  on Tuesday 8th November at 8pm AEDT which will focus on early diagnosis and on-going monitoring by GPs and primary health care providers as the best defence in reducing the prevalence and impact of hepatitis B and C.

“There is compelling evidence internationally, nationally and locally that hepatitis B is directly responsible for liver cancer, which is one of the fastest growing cancers amongst culturally and linguistically diverse people (CALD) who come from high prevalence countries.”  Mrs Enaam Oudih, Manager Personal Education and Community Empowerment (PEACE) program through Relationships Australia SA.

Interact with a live panel
Interact with the panel, chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National and Tonic on ABC24 TV through the live webcast and simultaneous satellite television broadcast which will air nationally.  The panel features:

• Professor Robert Batey AM - Clinical Director, Viral Hepatitis Program ASHM, NSW
• Dr Benjamin Cowie - Epidemiologist, Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, VIC
• Ms Tracey Jones - RN and Clinical Hepatology Nurse Consultant, NSW
• Mrs Enaam Oudih - Manager PEACE Multicultural Services, Relationships Australia, SA

Program funding
The A to Z of Hepatitis program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and Gilead Sciences.

Viewing Details
The A to Z of Hepatitis will be a live webcast which can be viewed online or at a Foundation satellite television receiving site on Tuesday 8th November at 8.00pm (AEDT). The program will be repeated on the Foundation satellite network at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday 11th November. For satellite viewing locations visit our satellite site viewing webpage.

Also available online or on DVD
The program will be recorded and kept on the website to view or to listen at your convenience. Free DVD copies of this program can be ordered by completing the Fax Back Order Form on the Free DVDs and Resources webpage or through the Foundation.

Resources
Resource papers, guidelines and links to related organisations in the area of hepatitis can be found in the resources section from the The A to Z of Hepatitis program webpage.

More information
For more information about the The A to Z of Hepatitis program - including presenter details and associated educational resources - go to the online program summary or contact the Foundation.

The Foundation’s 26 minute program Breathe Strong: Tackling Smoking in Indigenous Communities will be broadcast on Tuesday 25th October. This documentary style program features Mary G, Queen of the Kimberley as she shows us what different communities are doing to quit smoking and “break the chain”. 

The documentary features:

• The Smokers Program, Maari Ma Primary Health Care, Broken Hill, NSW: Justin and his team help community members in the Broken Hill region to quit smoking.
• Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service, WA: Mena, the Healthy Lifestyle Worker, and Sharon, the Tobacco Action Worker, are running community education and activities to promote fitness and limit tobacco use.
• Clean Air Gippsland Campaign, Victoria: Paul, from the Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative, and the film crew from nbsproductions have worked with six young Indigenous people to produce television and radio ads discouraging smoking.

The program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing as part of its initiative in tackling smoking and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Viewing details
Breathe Strong: Tackling Smoking in Indigenous Communities will be broadcast across the Rural Health Education Foundation’s satellite television network on Tuesday 25th October at 8.00pm (AEDT) on Channel 4, with repeats at 8.00pm WA time on Channel 23 that same evening (three hours later) and on Channel 23 at 12.30pm on Thursday 27th October.

Also available to order free on DVD

Free DVD copies of this program are also available to order via the program page or by completing the Fax Back Order form. The DVD includes;

• Breathe Strong documentary
• Smoking: An Indigenous Health Challenge- panel discussion previously aired in May 2011
• Short videos- conversation starters about smoking
• Smoking Cessation Guidelines for General Practitioners provided by the RACGP
• Live Longer! Health Promotion Action Pack

The program will also be available to view online. Click on the ‘view high res’ or ‘view low res’ button on the program page.

About the Oceania Tobacco Control Conference

The Oceania Tobacco Control Conference 2011 is being held this week, with our Patron, Dr Tom Calma - National Coordinator, Tackling Indigenous Smoking, speaking. The conference is recognised as the Oceania region’s foremost leadership summit on tobacco control, engaging some of the world’s leading health experts and disease control specialists.

As many as 400 delegates from across Australia and the Oceania region are expected to attend the Conference, which is being held in Brisbane, Queensland, from October 18 to 20, 2011.

The live interactive webcast and simultaneous satellite television broadcast will air nationally on October 11th at 8pm AEDT. The program will be a live panel discussion with leading health practitioners including Associate Professor Thomas Gottlieb, president of Australasian Society of Infectious Diseaseswho says “The time to act is now — before we lose these “miracle” drugs for good. We need to think twice each time we plan to give an antibiotic course”.

With the 25th anniversary of International Infection Prevention Week (16 – 22nd October) coming up this is a timely program to acknowledge the clinical work and preventive measures being undertaken by health practitioners to enhance the safety of patients and staff.

Presented by an expert panel
The program format is a panel discussion chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National and Tonic on ABC24 TV.  The panel of health practitioners features:
• Associate Professor Thomas Gottlieb - Senior Specialist in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Concord Hospital, NSW
• Dr Marilyn Cruikshank - RN, Clinical Policy Advisor, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Sydney NSW
• Ms Margaret Duguid - Senior Pharmaceutical Advisor, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, Sydney, NSW
• Dr Gary Franks - General Practitioner, Illawong Christian Medical Centre, Illawong, Sydney, NSW
• Mr John Bell - Pharmacist & Past President of Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

Program funding
Outsmarting Bacteria: Confronting Antibiotic Resistance is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Viewing Details
Outsmarting Bacteria: Confronting Antibiotic Resistance will be a live webcast which can be viewed online or at a Foundation satellite television receiving site on Tuesday October 11th  at 8.00pm (AEDT). The program will be repeated on the Foundation satellite network at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday October 14th. For satellite viewing locations visit our satellite site viewing webpage.

Also available online or on DVD
The program will be recorded and kept on the website to view or to listen at your convenience. DVD copies of this program can be ordered through the Foundation.

Resources
Resource papers, guidelines and links to related organisations in the area of microbiology and antibiotic resistance can be found in the resources section from the Outsmarting Bacteria: Confronting Antibiotic Resistance program web page.

More information
For more information about the Outsmarting Bacteria: Confronting Antibiotic Resistance program - including presenter details and associated educational resources - go to the online program summary or contact the Foundation.

Produced by the Rural Health Education Foundation and filmed in various locations within the Northern Territory  the documentary features three case studies which include:

• The Trachoma Story Kit: a trachoma prevention program being implemented in the Bulla community in the Northern Territory.
• Regional Eye Health Program, Katherine, Northern Territory: a model of coordinated eye care in Katherine, NT through the Regional Eye Health Program filmed at Wurli Wurlinjang Aboriginal Health Service
• Eye Health in Central Australia: Ophthamologist, Tim Henderson, discusses his role in the Central Australian and Barkly Integrated Eye Health Service.

This documentary is part of the Rural Health Education Foundation’s Improving Indigenous Eye Health Project which incorporates two educational television programs on Indigenous eye health. These programs are A Clear View: Improving Indigenous Eye Health for health professionals and See Strong: A Focus on Indigenous Eye Health for the community.

Foundation satellite airing of the documentary
The documentary will be broadcast across the Foundation’s satellite network and online at 8pm (AEST) on Tuesday September 27th, with broadcast repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and at 12.30pm (AEST) on Friday September 30th.

Also available free on DVD
DVD copies of this program and the 1 hour panel discussion, A Clear View: Improving Indigenous Eye Health are available free to order on DVD. Order online through the program page or complete the Indigenous Eye Health Fax Back Form.

The program will also be available free on the Internet to view as a streamed video or to listen or to download the audio podcast.

Funding of the program and DVD distribution
See Strong: A Focus on Indigenous Eye Health is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, the IOOF Foundation, the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation and Allergan Australia.

About Indigenous eye health
Despite the fact that Indigenous children are born with better eyesight than their non-Indigenous counterparts, they are six times more likely to be blind and three times more likely to have low vision by the time they reach adulthood.

The recent AIHW report Eye Health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (May 2011) found that the leading causes of vision loss include uncorrected refractive error, cataracts, trachoma and diabetic retinopathy. Up to 94% of this vision loss is preventable or treatable.  Research has concluded that much of the current state of poor eye health of Indigenous people is due to inappropriate or inadequate health service delivery.

Cataracts are the most common cause of bilateral blindness, and only two thirds of Indigenous people with cataracts receive surgery.  There is a need for culturally appropriate awareness and understanding on the part of health professionals to enhance early detection and treatment.

More information
For more information about See Strong: A Focus on Indigenous Eye Health - including case study details,  viewing instructions and associated educational resources – go to the online program summary or contact the Foundation

At a time when a record number of baby boomers in Australia are experiencing menopause, the Rural Health Education Foundation has put together a panel of health experts to answer these and many other questions.

One of those experts, Dr Christine Read, says, “Menopause is a time of transition, it is not a disease. Key elements of management include active listening, validation of the woman’s experience and the provision of sound, evidence based information and treatment options.”

For an up to date discussion of the latest evidence, treatment options and multi-disciplinary approach don’t miss Feeling the Heat: Managing Menopause, on Tuesday 13 September.

A live panel will discuss the efficacy and safety of evidence based treatments; the latest research on hormone replacement therapy and its relative risks and benefits; the impact of lifestyle interventions; and the evidence base for complementary or “natural” treatments. The program, Feeling the Heat: Managing Menopause,  emphasises the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach to the management of problems associated with menopause.

Presented by an expert panel
The program format is a panel discussion chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National and Tonic on ABC24 TV.  The panel of expert health practitioners features:

• Mrs Jenny Bath - Women’s Health Nurse, Tamworth Community Health Centre, NSW;
• Dr Elizabeth Gallagher - Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Deakin, ACT;
• Dr Christine Read - Sexual Health Physician, Lismore NSW;
• Ms Dimitra Tsucalas - Community Pharmacist, Ascot Vale, VIC.

Program funding
Feeling the Heat: Managing Menopause is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Viewing Details
Feeling the Heat: Managing Menopause will be broadcast live across the Rural Health Education Foundation’s satellite television network on Tuesday September 13th at 8.00pm (AEST), with repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday September 16th. For viewing locations visit our satellite site viewing webpage.

Also available free on DVD and on online
DVD copies of this program will be available free to Australian healthcare professionals thanks to funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. A video of the program will also be uploaded to the website to view or to listen at your convenience.

About menopause in Australia
There are over 2 million post-menopausal women in Australia, and about 80,000 new women join this group every year.

These women constitute 40% of all health care visits in Australia.

Healthcare professionals have to work with women in managing their all round health by encouraging them to quit smoking, eat well, exercise regularly and incorporating some relaxation techniques.

More information
For more information about the Feeling the Heat: Managing Menopause program - including presenter details and associated educational resources - go to the online program summary or contact the Foundation.

“It is with confidence and pleasure that I announce the appointment of Ms Craig. She has a great deal of corporate knowledge, having worked with the Board and with Foundation senior staff over recent months,” said Foundation Chair, Dr David Rosenthal who continued saying that “the Board selection committee members were unanimous in their decision, that she was a clear choice, highlighting her strong leadership skills and extensive experience in strategic planning and business development.” 

Ms Craig was previously Senior Policy Manager with MSD Australia where she was responsible for the development of public policy for MSD and the company’s interaction with a broad range of government and healthcare stakeholders. She also has a special focus on the quality use of medicines (QUM) and previously managed a joint venture of three pharmaceutical companies working in this area. Ms Craig’s background includes experience in external affairs, strategic planning eHealth and business development. Prior to moving to Australia, Ms Craig worked for Reuters Health Information Systems in the UK and led the development and marketing of the UK’s #1 clinical management system for primary care and worked on a number of eHealth initiatives involving clinician educational tools and chronic disease management.

The Foundation’s strategic goal of producing quality and accessible health education for remote and rural health teams remains key.  Ms Craig will lead the Foundation in this continued endeavour.

Ms Lesley Peters will be acting CEO until Ms Craig starts in October. All correspondence should be directed to her in the Canberra office via email to ceo@rhef.com.au or by telephone (02) 6232 5480.