Upcoming eventsClinical Supervision Support Program

One day workshops at foundational or intermediate level have been funded by HWA and the Department of Health (Victoria). In Melbourne North and Melbourne West CTNs they are being run by The University of Melbourne.

Foundational and Intermediate Levels Contact: Christine Perugini, cjperu@unimelb.edu.au

Full details on the first release of training for the Melbourne North and Melbourne West CTNs, including all dates for 2014, the course outline and full registration details are available here:

 Information sheet – Melbourne North and Melbourne West CTNs Clinical Supervision Support Program dates

June - July NewsletterClinical placement planning in 2014

Clinical placement planning in 2014 is in full swing and the Melbourne North CTN has been supporting 72 registered participants from 8 clinical placement provider and 10 education provider organisations.

Please remember to upload all of your relevant documents into the viCPlace document library. Karen O'Shannessy, Melbourne North CTN Information Support Officer is your local support person for viCPlace queries. Email Karen at karen.oshannessy@austin.org.au or call on mobile 0422 517 993.

Melbourne North CTN Funded Projects to date

Melbourne North CTN is currently funded $650,000 for 2014 projects via the simulation-based education and training and local innovations funding streams. Below are details of some of our projects.

People leading learning - a model for engaging volunteers in student teaching

Northern Health is the lead agency aiming to develop a statewide relevant project, to develop a sustainable governance framework, engagement and support approach to the management of a network of volunteer patients involved in student learning.

This project aims to:

Develop a governance framework to support the recruitment/engagement, training, support and management of volunteer patients as partners in student education. Pilot the framework and tools within the Melbourne North Clinical Training Network. Provide the framework and tools for application in Victoria.

For more information email Robyn Smith, robyn.smith@nh.org.au

Simulation-Based Education and Training

The development and integration of centres of excellence in simulation-based education and training project, continues to offer simulation services for all of Melbourne North CTN stakeholders.

St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne have appointed Lisa Pearce as project coordinator and started progressing through deliverables. This project aims to continue the development of the resource and utilise the three centres of excellence to immerse students from a variety of disciplines in a range of simulation activities.

For more information contact Lisa Pearce, Melbourne North CTN Project Coordinator, Medical Education Unit, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, 0417 728 221 or lisa.pearce@svhm.org.au

Virtual Simulated Patient Resource (VSPR) is led by Monica Peddle at La Trobe University. The VSPR project provides opportunities for professional entry students from a range of professions to prepare themselves prior to the commencement of a clinical placement through online exposure to a range of clinical situations and navigate through a range of decision points.

For more information visit www.vspr.net.au

Best Practice Clinical Learning Environment (BPCLE)

Melbourne North CTN has seven placement providers implementing the BPCLEtool into their organisation, including a range of public, private and not-for-profit community organisations.

Tony McGillion has been assisting organisations implement this tool across the CTN and welcomes queries and requests for more information. A generic 'sand pit' has now been developed for education providers who would like to explore the BPCLEtool to better understand how it can support the development and maintenance of quality clinical learning environments for their students.

For support with BPCLE implementation, email Karen at karen.oshannessy@austin.org.au or call on mobile 0422 517 993.

People in Health Summit

More than 500 delegates from across the health and explore issues and opportunities for learning and development, across all health professions and at all stages of a health career.

It was great to see so many Melbourne North CTN members at the Summit and so many Melbourne North CTN project initiatives featured in the abstract sessions. Monica Peddle presented the work of the Victorian Simulated Patient Resource, and the achievementsof the three Melbourne North centres of excellence in simulation-based education and training were also featured in the program.

Congratulations go to St Vincent's Hospital in winning The Victorian Clinical Training Award (ViCTA) (joint winners with Barwon Health).

Call for nomination

There is now a vacancy to nominate to be part of Melbourne North CTN committee to represent General Practice and Medicare Local. If you have an interest in CTN work and would like to nominate yourself, please contact Liz Paul, Melbourne North CTN Coordinator.

Cross-CTN UpdatePeople in Health Summit and Awards

The People in Health Summit was held 22-23 May 2014 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and brought together over 500 delegates from health services, education providers, professional associations and government to engage on health workforce issues. The Summit showcased over 90 abstract and poster presentations on health workforce initiatives.

The inaugural People in Health Awards dinner was a notable highlight with over 350 guests attending the event at the Melbourne Museum on the night of 22 May. Over 95 nominations were received across the 12 categories, with the quality of nominees and finalists universally praised by the judging panel. Congratulations to all winners and finalists.

The survey evaluation has revealed that over 87% of respondents thought the Summit provided them with valuable information, 83% recognising that it provided a good opportunity to build relationships and networks, and over 76% reporting that the event met or exceeded expectations.

The Department of Health would like to thank all delegates and presenters for attending and participating in the event, and the Steering Committee for their valuable guidance and advice.

Best Practice Clinical Learning Environment (BPCLE) Framework

Public Health Services have now completed initial implementation of the BPCLE Framework using the web-based BPCLEtool. Initial evaluation survey results indicate that:

Over 90% of organisations utilised a whole-of-organisation approach. Over 60% of respondents indicated that a key enabler is the support of a senior staff member. Close to 80% of respondents indicated that implementation was either a good or very good learning experience in relation to internal systems and structures. Over 75% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that the BPCLE Framework will have a positive impact on the organisation's learning environment.

Over 70% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they would recommend other health services implement the BPCLE Framework using the BPCLEtool.

The latest version of BPCLEtool is now live and includes indicator monitoring and comparison reporting functionality. The new version also includes updates to the resource library. To start using the new functionality, it is recommended that users log into BPCLEtool and create their master list of indicators for monitoring.

Victoria's Health Workforce Knowledge Bank

Victoria's Health Workforce Knowledge Bank is a new comprehensive and interactive online repository for data on the health workforce in Victoria. Knowledge Bank has grown out of viCProfile, and has been designed based upon stakeholder feedback requesting greater data reliability, relevance and integrity. It is available at www.vicknowledgebank.net.au

Knowledge Bank is intended to assist stakeholders with accessible data to inform evidence-based approaches for better planning and development of strategic workforce initiatives. Currently, data contained on the site relates primarily to professional-entry clinical placements across all disciplines, with further data sets and visualisations to be added as they become available, including organisation-level reports, overviews of geographic regions and Clinical Training Networks, postgraduate training activity, as well as workforce demographic and service activity data.

If you would like to submit ideas about reports, data presentation or if you are the custodian of a relevant data set and would like it included on Knowledge Bank, please email  peopleinhealth@health.vic.gov.au.

Clinical placement planning in 2014

Clinical placement planning has commenced for 2014, with the first of the three-phase facilitated process having been conducted from 12 June to 19 June 2014.

Phase 1 commenced on 12 June, with participants meeting to network with colleagues, develop partnerships and discuss their placement arrangements for 2015. Paramedicine and allied health science disciplines attended statewide meetings in Melbourne, while allied health therapy disciplines, nursing and midwifery attended meetings in their local CTN(s).

Phase 2 commenced on 23 June, with participants accessing viCPlace and booking precommitted placements. Phase 3 will commence on 21 July, with participants having the opportunity to arrange 2015 placements using viCPlace.

The Medicine Senior Reference Group on clinical placement planning met on 23 June 2014 to consider medicine's participation in the process. The minutes of the meeting will be published at www.health.vic.gov.au/placements/epg.htm when available.

viCPlace: release 7.1

The release of viCPlace 7.1 on 23 June 2014 represents a major update to improve the look, use and feel of the system which coincides with the beginning of Phase 2 of Clinical placement planning in 2014. This version of viCPlace has incorporated stakeholder feedback received through the evaluation of Clinical placement planning in 2013 and via requests to both the viCPlace "helpdesk" and CTN Information Support Officers (ISOs).

A quick guide to the changes can be downloaded from the dashboard within viCPlace or at https://vicplace.net.au/content/userguide/vicplace-ep-quickguide.pdf.

viCPlace: API

The department is leading development of an application programming interface (API) to enable interoperability between viCPlace and in-house or third-party placement management systems.

The department has sought education provider nominees to the viCPlace API Advisory Group, and has obtained information from group members about their current systems.

The first meeting of the Advisory Group is scheduled for mid-July 2014, and it is anticipated the API will be available for Clinical placement planning in 2015.

Simulation-Based Education and Training (SBET) Expert Advisory Group (EAG)

The SBET EAG provides a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral, state-wide mechanism to inform and support the strategic development of SBET in Victoria. As part of its remit, the EAG has identified three priority areas of focus for 2014. These are to:

ensure sustainability of simulation; widen the simulation community of practice (CoP); and develop an evidence base supported by research and data.

The SBET EAG is currently considering how to best support simulation personnel and the use of assets for clinincal education and training in Victoria through development of a state-wide sustainability plan.

To complement this work, the EAG is also supporting other activities including:

supporting travel awards to attend SimHealth/SimTecT on 25-28 August 2014 in Adelaide (see next item); hosting an 'Ask an Expert' open session on Friday 25 July 2014, 2.00-4.00pm at the Department of Health (RSVP by 16 July to peopleinhealth@health.vic.gov.au); publishing an education and training resource guide for simulation educators, coordinators and technicians; developing a research agenda to better understand the link between simulation and outcomes such as patient safety; and contributing to the agenda for co-hosting a symposium with the Clinical Supervision and Expanded Settings EAGs later in the year.

Simulation-Based Education and Training (SBET) - Awards to attend SimHealth/SimTecT 2014

SimHealth/SimTecT 2014 (25-28 August) brings together international and local experts in simulation education, research and development, human factors, system design and quality improvement.

The department is sponsoring five awards (up to $2000 each) to cover individual expenses associated with attending SimHealth/SimTecT 2014 (conference fees, accommodation and airfare, train/bus fares to Adelaide).

Award applications are now open. The guidelines, including eligibility criteria and a link to the application form, are available at www.healthinnovation.org.au/simulation/simhealth-conference. Applications close 5.00pm (AEST) Tuesday 15 July 2014.

For further details about this opportunity please email peopleinhealth@health.vic.gov.au.

Expanded Settings Program: Update

The Expanded Settings Expert Advisory Group (EAG) held a facilitated workshop on 27 May 2014 to prioritise the activity and focus of Victoria's Expanded Settings Program. Outcomes will be available shortly.

For further details about regarding the Expanded Settings Program and EAG are now available at www.health.vic.gov.au/placements/esp.htm.

Clinical Supervision Support Program: Update

The clinical supervision skills training workshops are underway. Register now to secure your place.

Over 150 workshops are being held over the next year to provide free foundation and intermediate level training for the supervision workforce in Victoria's health services.

To find out about workshops being held near you, please ask your CTN Coordinator or read the 'Upcoming events' (above on this page).

If you have any questions about the training or the Clinical Supervision Support Program, please email peopleinhealth@health.vic.gov.au.

VSA Metropolitan Symposium

Registrations are now open for the VSA Metropolitan Symposium to be held on Friday 18 July 2014 at Holmesglen Simulation Centre, Moorabbin, Victoria

The VSA welcomes Professor Robert P. O'Brien Professor and Director of Edith Cowen University Health Simulation Centre, as keynote speaker, addressing "Health Simulation in Australia: it's time to stand up as a world leader".

Details are available on the VSA website www.vicsim.org.au