Juvenile arthritis: Late diagnosis, lifelong consequences
It was recently Juvenile Arthritis Week (16-23 March 2025). The average time from symptom onset to diagnosis of juvenile arthritis is 10 months, with lifelong consequences such as lifelong disability, pain, lost schooling, social isolation, mental health challenges, and dependence. Juvenile arthritis, or Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), is chronic joint inflammation of unknown cause in
Ensuring medicine safety: A call to action
Healthy North Coast is looking for general practitioners, practice managers, and pharmacists to share your insights on patient engagement with Electronic Prescriptions (EP) and Active Script Lists (ASL). Your participation will shape future initiatives and educational resources, contributing to a safer and more efficient healthcare system. In an era where digital health is transforming the
Applications open now for 2025 Opioid Treatment Accreditation Course (OTAC) Scholarship
The Opioid Treatment Accreditation Course (OTAC) Scholarship supports general practitioners and nurse practitioners in regional, remote and metropolitan areas in NSW to complete the training program, become accredited prescribers of opioid pharmacotherapies, and to prescribe opioid pharmacotherapies for the treatment of opioid dependence. Scholarship value Successful applicants will receive a scholarship valued at up to
Looking for ways to help your patients live well and thrive?
Registrations are now open for Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association’s (APNA) Chronic Disease Management and Healthy Ageing Program. Delivered over six months, it is designed for nurses who want to expand their knowledge in the growing area of primary health care. Best of all, it takes place entirely online! Their first workshop will be
Bulk billing benefits for all Australian general practices
From 1 November 2025, every general practice will benefit from expanded eligibility for MBS bulk billing incentives to all Australians with a Medicare card. The expanded eligibility of the existing MBS bulk billing incentive to all Australians means that current bulk billing incentives payable to practices that bulk bill children under 16 years of age
Cyclone Alfred update – 4 March 2025
Watch a short video update from CEO Monika Wheeler. Dear North Coast primary health practitioners, Healthy North Coast is working with the Mid North Coast and Northern NSW Local Health Districts, as well as the NSW and Australian governments, to coordinate the health response to Cyclone Alfred. Since our last major disaster, the Northern
Join the North Coast Allied Health Association’s Member Portal
Are you an allied health professional on the North Coast? Are you a member of the North Coast Allied Health Association? (If not, sign up!) NCAHA have recently launched an online Member Portal which offers the opportunity to: Easily collaborate with other allied health professionals in the region Share your thoughts, questions, papers and reports
General Practice in Aged Care Incentive update
The second assessment quarter for the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive (GPACI) is now complete. The payments due to providers and practices were processed in late January 2025. Are you getting all your entitlements? Now is a good time to take a ‘health check’ of your practice’s participation in this incentive, including reviewing your
Looking for resources to support your work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients?
WellMob is a digital library of social and emotional wellbeing resources developed by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. They have just updated all of their Resource Sheets for Workers. These are shortcuts to the best social and emotional wellbeing resources on WellMob. Curated for practitioners and teams working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait
New year, new look for Healthy North Coast education & events
Introducing Dr Chris Bentley, Dr Geoff Arthurson and Dr Beth Allin (pictured above L-R) – three new faces to Healthy North Coast’s Education team. These passionate professionals bring diverse perspectives and expertise, and we’re thrilled to have them on board! We sat down with each of them to learn more about their work, the future
Update on mental health support in NSW
NSW public health services may continue to be impacted by the resignation of a significant number of public health psychiatrists. Psychiatrists play a crucial role in providing specialist care to people experiencing serious mental illnesses, both in hospital and community settings. Below is some information from NSW Health to assist GPs during this time: NSW
Healthy North Coast welcomes 41 new GP registrars
On Thursday 6 February, Healthy North Coast’s Workforce Development team hosted a welcome dinner for the region’s newest GP registrars at Opal Cove Resort, Coffs Harbour. The registrars were on the North Coast for their RACGP orientation, making it the perfect opportunity to bring everyone together. This cohort of 41 first year GP registrars is
