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• HEARING HEALTH ROADMAP

  Australia’s first Hearing Health Roadmap has been created to improve the lives of the millions of Australians affected by hearing loss. 

  The Roadmap was reviewed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council on Friday 8th of March, to spearhead a coordinated effort to improve hearing health.

  The Roadmap can be accessed here :

  https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/CDFD1B86FA5F437CCA2583B7000465DB/$File/Roadmap%20for%20Hearing%20Health.pdf

• World Head and Neck Cancer Day

  The International Federation of Head & Neck Oncologic Societies invites you to observeJuly 27th World Head & Neck Cancer Day.

  Together with 55 Head and Neck Societies, 51 Countries, several Government Agencies and UICC.

• 2023 NAIDOC Person of the Year Award

  Congratulations to Professor Kelvin Kong on receiving this award. Professor Kelvin Kong is a Worimi man who grew up on Country in Port Stephens, on the New South Wales mid-north-coast. Kelvin graduated from the University of New South Wales to become Australia's first Indigenous surgeon. He credits his mother, Grace Kinsella, a pioneering Indigenous registered nurse, for inspiring him and his older sisters, twins Marlene and Marilyn, to become doctors. Their father, Kong Cheok Seng, a Malaysian Chinese man, is also a doctor. 

  Professor Kong, now works on Awabakal and Worimi Country, and is associated with the University of Newcastle's School of Medicine and Public Health. He is an Otolaryngology, Head and Neck surgeon and a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). Kelvin works at Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital and John Hunter Children’s Hospital, and he explains that hearing loss, often caused by Otitis Media (middle ear disease), significantly contributes to poor educational outcomes for children and can lead to higher unemployment rates in adults as a result. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children experience the highest levels of chronic otitis media in the world, affecting up to 70% of children in remote communities. 

  Determined to change the statistics, Dr Kong has dedicated his career to early intervention. Dr Kong says “If we can reduce the risk of hearing loss, we can have a direct impact on a child's ability to learn and develop. The change that we see is remarkable - we can take them from limited hearing and language skills to fully functioning teenagers with real employment prospects”. 

  Dr Kong is passionate about addressing the disparity in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. Each year, he spends a portion of his time working in, and for, remote Indigenous communities providing access to quality healthcare that would otherwise be limited or completely unavailable. This includes visiting the Kimberley’s each year to perform specialist consultations and surgery.  

  He is also passionate about improving pathways into specialist medical training and improving Indigenous workforce across the health and research sector. Dr Kong mentors high school students to encourage more Indigenous people to consider careers in medicine and surgery. 

  In 2011, Dr Kong joined other medical practitioners in the Care for Kids' Ears campaign to address the ongoing issues experienced by remote communities. The campaign was designed to encourage communities to be empowered with resources and information about ear health to reduce the risk of ear disease and hearing loss. Dr Kong is passionate in his advocacy in which he centres the importance of working together as a community - "When we work together with a community, we can address all the issues that arise from ear disease. Our job is to improve kids' health so they can get the education they need." 

  Some of Dr Kong's many roles include:  

  • First ever identified Indigenous Fellow, and current Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons’ (RACS). 
  • Examiner, Royal Australasian College Surgeons 
  • Mentor Surgical Pathways for Indigenous Australians 
  • Public and Private practice in Newcastle, at Hunter ENT Surgery 
  • Professor and mentor at the University of Newcastle 
  • Honorary Professor Macquarie University 
  • Associate Professor UNSW 
  • Clinical lead, ENT Outreach services HNELHD 
  • Indigenous Lead, Australian Society Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery 
  • Researcher; Successful in numerous NHMRC grants, awards and collaboration 
  • Chair, Advisory Group for reporting on the Ear and Hearing Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 
  • Member, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ear and Hearing Health Partnership Committee 
  • Served on multiple advisory boards and committee’s including the Indigenous Health and Fellowship Services Committee 
  • Previous Board member for the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) 
  • Previous Board member Cancer Australia’s Advisory Board 
  • Previous Board Member Hearing Australia 
  • Previous secretary of Australia and New Zealand Society Paediatric Otolaryngology (ANZSPO) 
  • Recently, Dr Kong received an Honour Roll mention for Australian of the Year 

  Many of our young Mob are labelled as problems, too difficult, described as having learning difficulties, or as not wanting to learn. The truth is that due to the complex legacy of colonisation, under-funded communities, and racism, many of our young people are living with undiagnosed and treatable medical issues that create barriers to learning, education, employment and healthy living.  

  It is Dr Kong’s goal to ensure that these barriers are eradicated and that our Mob have equal access to quality health care to enable them to have every opportunity in life. 

  From https://www.naidoc.org.au/award-finalist/professor-kelvin-kong

• ASOHNS 2019 INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP

  We would like to announce that Dr Tika Ram Adhikari from Bhutan is the 2019 recipient of the International scholarship from the Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery (ASOHNS), to attend surgical training courses and to observe Otolaryngology Head and Neck surgeons in Australia.

  After a competitive process the committee selected Dr Adhikari from a strong and worthy field of candidates. 

  The Royal Government of Bhutan provides its population of 0.7 million free health care through a three-tier system. There are no private hospitals or clinics in Bhutan. Any advanced and complicated diseased that cannot be treated in Bhutan are referred outside the country at government expense.

  Dr Adhikari is one of five ENT surgeons who serve the needs of the whole nation and they don't have a trained Otologist in the country to work with the treatment of the approximate 18,000 ear cases they see. The annual health bulletin shows ear disease as among the top diseases across all districts in the country. Dr Adhikari is also a faculty member in the Khesar Gyelpo University of Medical Science of Bhutan actively involved in teaching ENT technicians, nurses, interns and residents. 

  While in Australia in November Dr Adhikari will attend a Temporal Bone course in Perth and spend observation time with Professor Peter Friedland. With limited opportunity to upgrade his skill and knowledge at home Dr Adhikari is very pleased to be this year's scholarship recipient. 

• RACS NSW SURGEONS MONTH

  Each November, RACS NSW celebrates the achievements of our surgeons.

  This recognition and celebration has become much more significant this year and especially so for the ENT community.

  ENT surgeons have been a highlight at Surgeon's evening in the past years, with the prestigious Graham Coupland Lecture being given by Dr Gillian Dunlop 2018 and A.Prof Kelvin Kong in 2019. This year Prof Raymond Sacks will be awarded the Educator of Merit award and the Graham Coupland lecture will be on the head and neck cancer surgery.  

  Secretary of health, Elizabeth Koff will the guest of honour at this formal evening, with members of the NSW health ministry and CEO's of our public and private hospitals in attendance, to show their appreciation for the Surgical workforce.

  RACS NSW State committee hope you will join us with your partners and family. 

  NSW SURGEONS' EVENING - FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2020 

  The pinnacle event of the month - NSW Surgeons’ Evening is where we celebrate surgeons through the Graham Coupland Lecture presented by Professor Jonathan Clark on the topic of The Face of Head and Neck Cancer, we present awards and come together to recognise the leadership our surgeons have shown, especially throughout this unprecedented year.

  Please join us for seated, two course meal and a celebration of “Leadership in a time of Crisis”.

  $45 - Dinner & non-Alcoholic Beverages

  $60 - Dinner and alcoholic beverages

  Invitation (PDF 153.84KB)

  For further information, please email or phone +61 2 8298 4500

  Register now (login required)

  WOMEN IN SURGERY LUNCH - SUNDAY 29TH NOVEMBER 2020

  Please join us to hear from our exceptional speakers the Hon Bronnie Taylor MLC and Ms Carrie Marr Chief Executive of the Clinical Excellence Commission (CEC)   

  Venue: RACS NSW Office, Suite 1, Level 26, 201 Kent Street, Sydney

  Arrival 12.15pm, Lunch and Program 12.30pm – 2.30pm

  Tickets:

  Lunch and Alcoholic Beverages - $40

  Lunch and Non-Alcoholic Beverages - $30

  Event information:  Click here

  Due to current restrictions, limited spaces available.

  Register now: Click here

• JOINT MEDIA RELEASE FROM BRENDAN MURPHY AND NICK COATSWORTH AUTHORISED BY GREG HUNT, THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH

  Dear Members / Trainees

  Please see message below and a link to the joint media statement from Brendan Murphy & Nick Coatsworth, authorised by Greg Hunt, on the easing of certain elective surgery restrictions. 

  We will be in touch with further detail as this becomes available.

  Kind regards,

  Federal Secretariat 

  ---------------------------------------------------------------

  Click here for the full media release in PDF

  Minister Hunt’s office issued the media release regarding the easing of elective surgery restrictions.

  The Prime Minister’s office has also issued a media statement, Update on Coronavirus Measures, that includes the following section about elective surgery.

  Elective surgery

  National Cabinet received up-to-date data on the stock of personnel protective equipment (PPE) in the National Medical Stockpile, and PPE held by state and territory health systems. PPE stocks and other equipment such as ventilators are now largely sufficient to meet expected demand for Australia’s COVID19 response through to December 2020, with current social distancing and travel restriction measures in place. 

  National Cabinet noted that the National Medical Stockpile does not replace state, territory or private processes to source and deliver PPE to meet their needs. To date, the National Medical Stockpile has dispatched over 22 million masks primarily to state and territories, GP’s, Community Pharmacy, ACHHOS and aged care, with a further 11.5 million being dispatched this week.

  Unnecessarily delaying elective surgeries can worsen health outcomes, increase anxiety and reduce social and economic productivity. 

  As result of Australia’s success in flattening the curve, our low rates of COVID related hospitalisation and new data on stocks of PPE, National Cabinet agreed that from 27 April 2020, category 2 and equivalent procedures can recommence across the public and private hospital sectors. 

  As result of Australia’s success in flattening the curve, our low rates of COVID related hospitalisation and new data on stocks of PPE, National Cabinet agreed that from 27 April 2020, category 2 and some important category 3 procedures can recommence across the public and private hospital sectors. 

  National Cabinet further agreed that the following procedures can recommence from 27 April 2020:

  ·         IVF

  ·         Screening programs (cancer and other diseases)

  ·         Post cancer reconstruction procedures (such as breast reconstruction)

  ·         Procedures for children under 18 years of age.

  ·         Joint replacements (incl knees, hips, shoulders)

  ·         Cataracts and eye procedures

  ·         Endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures

  PPE stocks for these elective surgeries and procedures will not be taken from the National Medical Stockpile.

  It is estimated that a gradual restart of elective surgeries will see 1 in 4 closed elective surgery operating lists reopen, with flexibility for states to determine the appropriate levels of elective surgery within this general framework.

  Reintroduction of elective surgery in a staged manner balances the ongoing need for the capacity to treat COVID-19 patients, while allowing our hospitals to treat elective surgery patients.

  These arrangements will be reviewed by 11 May 2020, to determine if other elective surgeries and procedures can recommence and volumes increased.

  National Cabinet further agreed to the Australian Dental Association recommendation that dentists move to level 2 restrictions (such as fitting dentures, braces, non-high speed drill fillings and basic fillings), allowing a broader range of dental interventions to occur where the risk of transmission can be managed and PPE stocks procured by the private sector.

  National Cabinet again thanked Australia’s health care professionals for their work to support our COVID-19 response.

  Kind regards,

  Ben Houston

  Acting Director – Health Communication

   

  Communication and Change Branch | People, Communication and Parliamentary Division

  Australian Government Department of Health

  T: 02.6289.5745 | E: benjamin.houston@health.gov.au

  PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601

  Level 3 Sirius Building North, Furze St. Woden ACT

   

  The Department of Health acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders both past and present.