Introduction
North Coast Primary Health Network (NCPHN) is committed to supporting primary health care professionals be more connected with local colleagues and enhance the quality of care they deliver. A key strategy for achieving this is the establishment of Clinical Societies, along with Nurse Networks, to provide locally relevant professional development and networking opportunities for primary health care professionals.
NCPHN is calling for Expressions of Interest to establish a number of additional Clinical Societies. Further information is provided below.
Clinical Societies are primary health care professional led local forums which support peer networking, professional development and the integration of local health services. They are made up of all types of primary health care professionals including general practitioners, allied health, pharmacists, nurses and specialists.
NCPHN currently supports the following Clinical Societies and primary health care Nurse Networks across the North Coast:
- Richmond Valley Clinical Society (established September 1984; administrative support only)
- Ballina Byron Clinical Society (established November 2014)
- Hastings Macleay Primary Care Nurse Network (established May 2017)
- Mid North Coast Primary Care Nurse Network (established May 2017)
- Northern Rivers Primary Care Nurse Network (established May 2017)
- Tweed Valley Primary Care Nurse Network (established May 2017)
- Casino and Kyogle Clinical Society (established September 2017)
- Clarence Valley Clinical Society (established September 2017).
The Clinical Society and Nurse Network model has proven to be a successful locality based approach to engaging clinicians, delivering learning and development, building relationships across disciplines and fostering integration between local services.
NCPHN is committed to establishing Clinical Societies across its footprint. A key priority is to establish Clinical Societies in the Mid North Coast and Hastings Macleay regions. NCPHN will:
- Fund and provide logistical and promotional support for each Clinical Society meeting.
- Work collaboratively with each Clinical Society to plan the topics, method and delivery of each meeting.
- Provide concise and accurate information on health workforce needs and gaps to assist each Clinical Society to prioritise learning and development topics.
Each Clinical Society will need to:
- Have a small multidisciplinary working group of local clinicians that work collaboratively with NCPHN on the topics, method and delivery of each meeting and other health issues as relevant.
- Apply best practice adult education principles to professional development delivered.
- Promote clinical society meetings with local colleagues.
- Have fun at each Clinical Society meeting!
If you and some of your colleagues are interested in establishing a Clinical Society in your local region please fill in the below Expression of Interest form.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss further your local Clinical Adviser would love to hear from you.
Alternatively you can contact Diana Anderson, Acting Clinician Engagement Coordinator, [email protected] or phone 07 5589 0516.
