Extraordinary Fremantle…amazing architecture, fabulous food, rich maritime and penal colony history and of course the recent location of our Annual Scientific Meeting, Better Together, and it was better together!! What a success! I had forgotten how special Fremantle was I know many delegates enjoyed the delights of the area including Rottnest Island.

The ASM program was outstanding presenters were eminent local WA leaders who contributed to a cohesive program engaging and inspiring our delegates to focus on future opportunities for occupational health.

The feedback has been very positive thank you to all who attended the conference; it did reaffirm for me the great benefit of working across disciplines to achieve improvements in workplace health.

Again many thanks to the WA organising committee led by Miguel. Well done, as previous the bar is set very high, our VIC/TAS organising committee already set for the challenge. 

ASM presentations and recordings will be uploaded online shortly - watch this space
 

Updates:

AFOEM

It was thrilling to sign the inaugural Model of Collaboration, MOC between AFOEM and ANZSOM. Very fitting the setting was our ASM in Fremantle where our meeting theme “Better Together” reflected precisely the intent of the MOC. Peter Connaughton and I have worked to ensure the relationship between our two organisations is constructive and productive. It was very significant and poignant to have Peter opening our ASM. I sensed very strong support for Peter’s call for greater collaboration between ANZSOM and AFOEM, and for the MOC. Peter has asked me to attend as a guest at the September AFOEM Council meeting, which is immensely inspiring for our future work together. 

Strategic Plan 2018-2021
Development of the Strategic Plan 2018-2021 has been progressing since March. The General Council reviewed a draft at the August meeting and I look forward to finalising this at our next meeting in November. The 2018- 2021 Strategic Plan builds on the significant achievements of the last three years and sets out an agreed direction for the organisation, securing the future of the organisation as a sustainable and relevant contributor in the field of occupational health

Thank you for your input and contribution, together with analysis from General Council members, this ensures ANZSOM remains relevant and progressive; we must grow sustain and engage.

Other activities and representation include:  

• Coal Miners Health Scheme (CMHS)
• Health Benefits of Good Work (HBGW)
• Body of Knowledge (BOK)
• Australian Health Professionals Association (ASHPA)
• Scientific Committee ICOH
• AFOEM Council
• Australian OHS Education Accreditation Board  

ANZSOM representative members continue to work with a number of professional societies, stakeholders, associations, regulators, governments, boards and committees in Australia and around the world. We are proud of the invitations and opportunities ANZSOM receives; our extensive expertise and professional standing is recognised and sought after. Productive interactions, cooperative collaborations our mission and goals of advocacy and partnerships are met; growing and sustaining to secure the future of ANZSOM as a relevant contributor in the field of occupational health. We also supported Project Health, ANZSOM’s Secretariat, (Fiona Landgren as Director) in their application for the tender for the QLD Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Coal Miners’ Health Scheme opportunities.

Election of Executive positions  
Elections were held at our ASM for the positions of President Elect and Secretary General in accordance with our governance processes and policy. Virginia Li was elected Secretary General and myself as President Elect.

AGM minutes and other documents are available here (member log in required)

I would like to take the opportunity to thank outgoing Secretary General Maggie Goldie for her efforts over the past three years and in particular her leadership of the CPD Committee. Thanks Maggie we acknowledge your dedication to all the committees you participated in and recognise the role you have played in the growth of ANZSOM, best wishes always.  

We look forward to working with Virginia and congratulate her on her election. 

Best wishes to all,
Melinda Miller
ANZSOM Federal President

ASM 2018 will be held at the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne from 7th to 10th October. 2018 will prove to be a very exciting year as ANZSOM celebrates its 50th Anniversary! Be sure to save the date and watch this space!

The National Organising Committee (NOC) for ICOH2021 has met several times since our last newsletter. Planning is well under way for the selection and appointment of the Professional Conference Organizer (PCO). The Melbourne Convention Bureau, MCB, is assisting the NOC with this process and will provide ongoing support for the congress, including assisting with promotion at Dublin in 2018. 

This is an extremely exciting opportunity for all ANZSOM members raising our profile and leadership of Occupational Health both regionally and internationally as we participate in and host the largest occupational health congress in the world. ANZSOM members are encouraged to attend Dublin 2018.

Join ICOH as a member and receive exclusive benefits including:

• Reduction on registration fees of the Congress and other ICOH-sponsored conferences *savings of up to €100 (~AUD150) for early bird registration for ICOH2018!*
• 20-30% savings of on subscription rates to international journals
• 50% savings on the price of all ILO publications
• 40% savings on all WHO information products

Visit www.icohweb.org for more information.

Topic: Substance misuse and safety critical work
Facilitated by: Professor Edward Ogden and Dr Bruce Hocking

The learning objectives of the meeting are:

• Understand DSM-5 nomenclature regarding substance misuse.
• Be aware of issues in determining when a worker with substance misuse may return to safety critical work.
• Facilitate professional interaction between the craft groups of addiction medicine and occupational medicine.

Attendees will need to work through these case studies and a pre-reading prior to the meeting. The pre-reading material will be sent to attendees only after registration.

​​Date: Monday 23rd October, 6.00-9.00pm
Venue: RACP Melbourne, Level 2, 417 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
Cost: $50 pp (dinner cost). Attendance online via videoconference is also available

Click here for more information or to register

Chris will be speaking on how we can improve the NSW workers compensation system.

Date: Tuesday November 21, 2017
Venue: Northbridge Golf Club, Sailors Bay Rd, Northbridge
Time: 6pm-7pm welcome drinks and canapes on the front lawn overlooking the harbour; 7pm onwards, dinner and talk
Cost: $60pp, inclusive of welcome drinks and canapes, full Christmas dinner including all the lashings prepared by the Italian chef at NGC's Harbourview restaurant, premium wines, Christmas dessert, coffee/tea, and a very interesting talk

Click here for more information and to register

The Radiation Health and Safety Advisory Council (the Council) is currently calling for nominees to nine part-time Member positions.
 
The Council is established under the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998 as an advisory body to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).
 
The role of the Council is to identify emerging issues relating to radiation protection and nuclear safety, including matters of major concern to the community, and to advise the CEO of the ARPANSA on those matters.
 
Members of the Council are part-time appointments for a period of up to three years, made by the Assistant Minister for Health in consultation with the CEO of ARPANSA. Members are expected to attend three meetings each year, with each meeting taking between 1.5 to 2 days. Members receive sitting fees, as determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.
 
The terms of the nine expiring Member positions end on 31 March 2018. The Council is looking to maintain a diverse membership to achieve the statutory responsibilities of the Council.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 31 October 2017.
 
Further details on the call for nominations is here.

The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand has finalised lung function (spirometry) standards. They are now available to view or download:

• Standards for the delivery of spirometry for coal miner workers (pdf)
• Standards for spirometry training (pdf)

These standards have been developed specifically for the needs of Queensland coal mine workers and are based upon recognised international  best practice.

Click here to read more

The Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) has further progressed the Monash Review recommendations relating to the way coal mine workers' chest X-rays are taken and read. These measures are the latest in a series of improvements in response to the Monash Review, including the introduction of a register of doctors and medical providers, and updated standards for spirometry (lung function) testing.

Click here to read more

This new book released by Dr Herman Koren is a one source major response to all of the environmental issues that affect global health and the worldwide protection and preservation of the natural environment. It compiles broad-based and comprehensive coverage of environmental topics, broken down by specialized fields. Topics range from children’s environmental health to food protection and technology, water and waste systems, infection control, bioterrorism and pandemic health emergencies, and HAZMAT. Plus, it includes an overview of the current state of the profession and sections on programmatic techniques. This book helps solve the problems of disease and injury by presenting expert, evidence-based best practices.

This first of the kind handbook is essential reading for all environmental and public health undergraduate students, as well as a fantastic overview for professionals in all environmental health, pollution and protection areas.

Purchase it here

A recent workshop at the ASM in Fremantle cast a spotlight on the changing face of occupational health nursing and led to some spirited discussions about the factors influencing this role, as well as the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Facilitated by Jo McNeilly from Facilitating Possibilities, the session involved both nurses and medical practitioners and sought to inform the review of the competency standards for OHNs. These standards were developed in the 1990s by the Australian College of Occupational Health Nurses, which subsequently merged with ANZSOM.

The outputs of the session will form the basis of further action by ANZSOM and collaboration with other organisations, including educational institutions, professional organisations and the registering body AHPRA.

Please click here to read the full report
 

The State Scope of Clinical Practice Unit (SSoCPU) continues to progress the project to develop model Scopes of Clinical Practice (SoCP) for each medical and dental specialty in NSW Health. The draft model SoCPs was developed with working groups which consists of representation of specialists nominated by Local Health Districts and Specialty Networks, as well as nominees from medical colleges and relevant specialty societies or associations. Dr Mark Burns and Dr Ian Cheng are ANZSOM's representatives in the working group.

The Society has released the fifth tranche of draft model SoCPs and are seeking feedback and comments.

• 10 October 2017 - Building a bully-free workplace (now available)
  For World Mental Healh day, our expert panelists discuss practical tactics to design bullying out of the workplace and how to respond effectively if it occurs.
• 24 October 2017 - Fun, exciting and safe: WHS in major events (coming up)
  Music festivals, sporting events and cultural celebrations are exciting and fun – but are they safe for the countless staff, contractors and volunteers who make them happen?

Click here to find out more​

Details of job vacancies related to occupational medicine are regularly posted on the ANZSOM website, emarketing and via social media. Below are a list of current opportunities:

• Fit for Work NZ - Occupational physician roles available (NZ)
• Precision Health - Occupational Physician needed (VIC)
• Occmedi - Occupational Physician / Practitioner required (NSW, VIC)
• Brisbane Industrial Health Services- Vocationally Registered Doctor (QLD)
• Advance Healthcare - Occupational Physician needed (VIC)
• IMMEX​ - Occupational physician/trainee (NSW)

The Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR) Congress 2017 will be held at the International Convention Centre, Sydney from 23-26 November 2017. The APSR Congress will be hosted by the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand in conjunction with APSR.

Click here to find out more

The Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH) is a nationally and internationally renowned professional organisation with the key focus of promoting and preserving the health and wellbeing of Australia workers. The AIOH achieves this mission through applying knowledge and practice of occupational health and occupational hygiene. Members of the AIOH use and develop human health and worker risk assessment to determine effective methods of controlling exposure and managing exposure control programmes. Thus, AIOH members share common approaches and a passion for occupational health with ANZSOM members. A glance at the program will show there is much to interest ANZSOM members.
 
The AIOH warmly welcomes the attendance of ANZSOM members at the 2017 AIOH Annual Conference and Exhibition in Canberra, 2nd – 6th December. The preliminary continuing education session and conference program can be accessed at:  www.aioh.org.au/aioh2017/welcome