MNCLHD Staff Publications - January to March 2025

Congratulations to all those who have been published!

Bakry, M. and A. May (2024). "Lifelong Severe Left Ventricular Dysfunction After Lightning Strike to the Chest: A Case Report." Heart Lung and Circulation 33(Supplement 4): S275.

Bland, A., A. Mamo, S. Eather, T. Stewart and P. Indraratna (2024). Finding a Trap With the Help of a Map: Parametric Mapping to Aid the Diagnosis of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy. Heart Lung and Circulation. 33(Supplement 4): S189-S190.

Bunting, N., R. Martynoga, H. Crayton and A. Pandita (2024). "Recovery from acute haemorrhagic leucoencephalitis secondary to COVID-19." BMJ Case Reports 17(8).

Carney, E., P. Thornberry, R. Bear, N. Bilton and D. Bilton (2024). "An inpatient mental health placement for paramedic undergraduate students: a pilot study." BMC Medical Education 24(1): 1047.

Cheng, E., J. Mui, A. Matar, Z. Bunjo, J. Wenman and W. Petrushnko (2024). "Impact of gastroenterologist-supported endoscopy training for surgical trainees in a regional hospital." ANZ Journal of Surgery 

Curley, D., L. Kinsman, G. Mooney, G. Whiteford, T. Lower, M. Hobbs, B. Morris, K. Bartlett and A. Jacob (2024). "A cross-sectional study assessing concordance with advance care directives in a rural health district." Australian Journal of Rural Health 32(5): 969-975.

Darby, J., K. Atkins, M. V. Schie and F. Guy (2024). "A rural town embracing Midwifery Group Practice." Women and Birth Conference: Australian College of Midwives National Conference. Melbourne Australia. 37(Supplement 1) (no pagination).

Delbridge, A., J. Davey, M. Galloway, A. Drummond, L. Lanyon, N. Olley, G. Mason, C. English and D. B. Simpson (2024). "Exploring post-stroke fatigue from the perspective of stroke survivors: what strategies help? A qualitative study." Disability and Rehabilitation 46(18): 4187-4193.

Dierick, N. R., B. D. Nicholson, T. R. Fanshawe, P. Sundaralingam and S. N. Kostalas (2024). "Serrated polyposis syndrome: defining the epidemiology and predicting the risk of dysplasia." BMC Gastroenterology 24(1) (no pagination).

Gyorki, D. E., S. Bae, R. C. Smith, D. A. Caruso, D. Coker, E. A. Connolly, J. Desai, A. Johnston, A. K. Lawless, S. Lazarakis, H. Lo, F. Maclean, J. Mar, J. McDonough, G. Perianayagam, M. Phillips, D. Pryor, A. Sundaram, S. R. Thompson, D. D. Zhou and A. M. Hong (2024). "Update of clinical practice guidelines for the management of patients with sarcoma." ANZ J Surg.

Hibbert, P. D., L. Raggett, C. J. Molloy, J. Westbrook, F. Magrabi, V. Mumford, R. Clay-Williams, R. Lingam, P. M. Salmon, S. Middleton, M. Roberts, P. Bradd, S. Bowden, K. Ryan, M. Zacka, K. Sketcher-Baker, A. Phillips, L. Birks, D. K. Arya, C. Trevorrow, S. Handa, G. Swaminathan, A. Carson-Stevens, S. Wiig, C. de Wet, E. E. Austin, B. Nic Giolla Easpaig, Y. Wang, G. Arnolda, G. M. Peterson and J. Braithwaite (2024). "Improving health system responses when patients are harmed: a protocol for a multistage mixed-methods study." BMJ Open 14(7): e085854.

Joseph, K., S. van der Hock, I. Seth, N. Hapangama, L. Gibson, R. Cuomo, W. M. Rozen and N. Dhupar (2024). "Association of ovarian teratoma with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis: a case report and narrative review." Archives of Obstetrics and Gynecology

McLeod, K. and P. Rashid (2024). "Supervisors-Unappreciated and under supported: who pays?" ANZ Journal of Surgery 94(7-8): 1200-1201.

McLeod, K., R. Woodward-Kron, P. Rashid, J. Archer and D. Nestel (2024). ""I'm on an island": A qualitative study of underperforming surgical trainee perspectives on remediation." American Journal of Surgery 234: 11-16.

McMullen, B., K. Duncanson, C. Collins and L. MacDonald-Wicks (2024). "A systematic review of the mechanisms influencing engagement in diabetes prevention programmes for people with pre-diabetes." Diabetic Medicine 41(8): e15323.

Miao, Y., N. Jasim, C. Guha, A. Sluiter, K. B. Owen, B. Yudianto, M. H. Lim, B. J. Smith and K. Manera (2024). "Experiences of loneliness and social isolation among young people with chronic physical conditions: A thematic synthesis of qualitative studies." Journal of Adolescence.

Montgomery, L. R. C., M. Swain, A. B. Dario, M. O'Keeffe, T. P. Yamato, J. Hartvigsen, S. French, C. Williams and S. Kamper (2024). "Does sedentary behaviour cause spinal pain in children and adolescents? A systematic review with meta-analysis." Br J Sports Med 

Paltridge, D., J. Martin, J. Churchill, R. Grills, B. Loveday, R. D. Gupta and S. C. Rennie (2024). "Consensus statement: support for supervisors of surgical training in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand." ANZ Journal of Surgery 94(7-8): 1221-1227. 

Panwar, R., A. L. Poulter, M. Nourse, S. Rai, F. M. P. van Haren, K. Ellem, S. Tummala, C. Hore and K. Sunkara (2024). "A multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing three-times-a-day intermittent enteral postural feeding to continuous enteral feeding among mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care." Clinical Nutrition 43(9): 2149-2155.

Pitman, G. R., T. Soeyland, G. Popovic and D. Thomson (2024). "Haematoma block is the most efficient technique for closed forearm fracture reduction: a retrospective cohort study." Emergency Medicine Journal 41(10): 595-601.

Qian, W., J. Soares, I. D. Jayewardene and N. Peck (2024). "Bouveret syndrome preceding classical gallstone ileus: a rare presentation of a cholecystoduodenal fistula." Journal of Surgical Case Reports 2024(7): rjae421.

Spiro, J., T. J. Ford, A. Yong, C. Zeitz, J. F. Beltrame and Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand Coronary Vasomotor dysfunction Working Group (incl. Lambert, B.) (2024). "Protocol Variation in Functional Coronary Angiography Among Patients With Suspected Angina With Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries: A Nationwide Snapshot of Current Practice Within Australia and New Zealand." Heart Lung Circ 33(9): 1287-1296.

Sritharan, H. P., J. Chia, K. Gardiner, K. Hellestrand, D. Whalley, L. Kanagaratnam, R. Bhindi and K. K. M. Chia (2024). "Utility of conversational artificial intelligence with large language models for patient information on cardiac electrophysiology procedures." Heart Rhythm: S1547-5271.

Taylor, M. E., M. Ambrens, H. Hawley-Hague, C. Todd, J. C. T. Close, S. R. Lord, L. Clemson, T. Lung, D. Berlowitz, J. Blennerhassett, J. Dayhew, A. Gluchowski, W. Hodge, P. Johnson, R. Lasrado, M. Merlene, L. Miles, S. O'Rourke, C. M. Said, L. White, N. Wilson, A. Zask and K. Delbaere (2024). "Implementation of a digital exercise programme in health services to prevent falls in older people." Age Ageing 53(8).

Taylor, M. E., M. Ambrens, H. Hawley-Hague, C. Todd, J. C. T. Close, S. R. Lord, L. Clemson, T. Lung, D. Berlowitz, J. Blennerhassett, J. Dayhew, A. Gluchowski, W. Hodge, P. Johnson, R. Lasrado, M. Merlene, L. Miles, S. O'Rourke, C. M. Said, L. White, N. Wilson, A. Zask and K. Delbaere (2024). "Implementation of a digital exercise programme in health services to prevent falls in older people." Age and Ageing 53(8) (no pagination).

Thomas, B., A. Jacob, D. McCann, P. Buykx, R. Schultz, L. Kinsman, P. O'Meara, K. Edvardsson and E. Spelten (2024). "Analysis of Violent Incidents at Five Regional and Remote Australian Emergency Departments: A Retrospective Descriptive Study." SAGE Open Nurs 10: 23779608241261597.

Are you and your patient's measles immunsations up to date?

How to check your immunistaion status in Australia.

Adults in Australia can access their Immunisation History Statment through myGov, the Express Medicare mobile app, or by contacting the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Parents can check for their children.

The AIR is a national register that records vaccines given to people of all ages in Australia. 

Accessing Your Immunisation History Statement:

myGov: Link your Medicare online account to your myGov account and access your immunisation history statement. 

Express Plus Medicare mobile app: Use the app to access your immunisation history statement. 

AIR Enquiries Line: Call the AIR enquiries line at 1800 653 809. 

Ask your Doctor or Immunisation Provider: They can access the AIR and print a copy for you.

What if you can't find records?

If you cannot find records of past vaccinations, it's generally safe to restart vaccinations from scratch. 

Blood Tests: Your GP may also perform blood tests to check for immunity to certain diseases, including measles, mumps, and rubella. 

Measles vaccines given before 1994 are less likely to be recorded on the AIR, so you may need to check with your vaccination provider or parents for records. 

Health professionals working in the community can remind their clients to check their immunisation history as measles has once again become an issue in the community. Measles is one of the most contagious viral illnesses. It spreads through the air when a person breathes, coughs or sneezes. On average, one person can infect 12 to 18 others who are not immune.

Measles is severe in around one in ten children. Complications can include ear infection, diarrhoea and pneumonia, and, more rarely, encephalitis (brain swelling).

However, adults can also catch and spread the disease, making up 10–20% of measles cases during outbreaks.

On March 26 NSW Health issued an alert advising people to be vigilant for signs of measles after an infectious person visited Sydney Airport and two locations in western New South Wales. Download a NSW Health Measles fact sheet here.

There are active measles outbreaks in several countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. If you are traveling, ensure you are vaccinated.

Vaccination has saved millions of lives

The measles vaccine has changed the trajectory of this disease. In the 21st century alone, measles vaccination is thought to have saved more than 60 million lives globally.

The measles vaccine is free through Australia’s National Immunisation Program. It’s routinely given at 12 and 18 months of age. The first dose is combined with mumps and rubella (the MMR vaccine) and the second adds protection against chickenpox, or varicella (MMRV).

False suggestions that the measles vaccination is linked with disorders such as autism have been thoroughly disproven. The vaccine is very safe and highly effective.

This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.

 Library Resources: Spotlight on Physiotherapy!

Books:

Essential skills for physiotherapists : a personal and professional development framework / edited by David Clancy, Stuart Porter, Jeff Konin, Amelia J. H. Arundale, Grant Downie, Ciaran Dunne.

Practical evidence-based physiotherapy / Rob Herbert, Gro Jamtvedt, Kåre Birger Hagen, Mark R. Elkins.

Brukner & Kahn's clinical sports medicine : foundations of clinical practice / Peter Brukner et al.

Respiratory physiotherapy pocketbook : an on-call survival guide / [edited by] Jane Cross, Mary Ann Broad, Matthew Quint, Paul Ritson and Sandy Thomas.

Manual therapy for musculoskeletal pain syndromes César Fernández-de-las-Peñas, Joshua A. Cleland, Jan Dommerholt ; forewords by Ola Grimsby, Rob A.B. Oostendorp, Prof. Dr. Andry Vleeming.

Pocketbook of taping techniques / edited by Rose Macdonald.

Guccione's geriatric physical therapy / edited by Dale Avers and Rita A. Wong

Essentials of cardiopulmonary physical therapy [edited by] Ellen Hillegass.

Campbell's physical therapy for children / Robert J. Palisano

Neurologic rehabilitation : neuroscience and neuroplasticity in physical therapy practice / Deborah S. Nichols Larsen, Deborah Kegelmeyer, John Buford, Anne Kloos, Jill Heathcock, D. Michele Basso.

Evidence-based physical therapy for the pelvic floor : bridging science and clinical practice / edited by Kari B, Bary Berghmans, Siv Mrkved, Marijke Van Kampen.

Manual therapy : NAGS, SNAGS, MWMs etc. / Brian R. Mulligan

eBooks:

Therapeutic Exercise: Foundations and Techniques -8th ed

Rehabilitation of the Spine: A Patient-Centered Approach-3rd ed

Journals:

Archives of Physiotherapy (2015 to current)

JOSPT: The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy (1979 to current)

British Journal of Sports Medicine (1970 to 90 days ago)

Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal (1999 to current)

Databases:

PEDro (via CiAP)

Contact the library or visit our website if you would like to access any of these resources.

RR-Clan Rural Research Collaborative Learning Network - Education Opportunity

Please use this link - Click here to register  OR the QR code above.

Who are the Rural Research Collaborative Learning Network (RR-CLaN)?

The RR-CLaN is a rural led initiative that aims to provide high-quality research education and training to healthcare staff working in rural, regional and remote areas. Our aim is to provide you with the education and training opportunities to build key skills in how to use and undertake research to improve healthcare delivery.

RR-CLaN collaborators:

NSW: Central Coast Local Health District; Far West Local Health District; Hunter New England Local Health District; Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District; Mid North Coast Local Health District; Murrumbidgee Local Health District; Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District; Northern New South Wales Local Health District; Southern New South Wales Local Health District; Western New South Wales Local Health District; Health Education and Training Institute (HETI).

QLD: Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre (supporting Townsville Hospital and Health Service; Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service; Mackay Hospital and Health Service; North West Hospital and Health Service; Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service); Darling Downs Health Innovation and Research Collaborative; Darling Downs, South West Hospital and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service.

 Proceed with Caution: AI as a Search Tool

Are you using AI to conduct academic research?  Or maybe just to find out about a topic relevant to your practice?

You’re not the only one!  Coffey (2024) reports some kind of AI is being used by 75% of researchers….even though 92% of them don’t trust it.

This distrust is not without reason, and its good to see.  There are some serious pitfalls to using AI to find factual information or even to find research articles.  However, there are also some helpful AI based tools that may support your information seeking.

Traditionally, academic databases and more recently, institution-hosted discovery tools have been the way to find published, peer-reviewed information.  However, since the development of generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT and CoPilot, information seeking in all its forms has evolved (Ayre et al, 2025).

Some major issues with AI generated search results are bias and misinformation.  Bias can occur due to the fact that generative AI learns from previous data (Williamson & Fernandez, 2025) and anyone, anywhere can be inputting that data.  A major source of misinformation are hallucinations, where AI conjures up information that is inaccurate or false or a citation that does not exist (Williamson & Fernandez, 2025).  Here at District Library Services, we have been asked to retrieve articles generated by AI searches which we have found to be a hallucinations, despite how real they look!

Along with these issues, many AI search tools do not make it simple to retrieve the citations you need to then locate the articles (Williamson & Fernandez, 2025).

Its good to remember that those traditional old academic databases are more complex for a reason.  They have boundaries around what they search so that the results they retrieve are of higher quality and more easily analysed for relevance (Williamson & Fernandez, 2025) having been mapped to subject headings.

So why then do people use AI for these type of searches?

Part of the reason is NLP or Natural Language Processing.  Developing a search strategy for an academic database can be time consuming and if you are not skilled in this area, lead to less than desirable results.  But AI tools allow you to search in natural language which means you can type in a whole question or sentence and it will bring up relevant results (Gorton, 2025).

One of the positive aspects of AI’s ability to learn is that it can provide results more tailored to the individual user (Gorton, 2025).  Some tools will even provide suggestions of additional searches you could undertake!

So what next?  Do we throw the baby out with the bathwater? AI is here to stay and there are some tools that have a reduced risk of use.

Monash Health have helpfully analysed these tools for you and even provide a handy matrix for you to use to decide which to use (Gorton, 2025).

Each tool has its pluses and minuses and its individual characteristics may influence which you choose, but Monash recommend Consensus.app and Semantic Scholar and suggest you steer clear of Copilot and ChatGPT amongst others (Gorton, 2025).

If you choose to use AI for your searching, please keep this sage advice from Williamson & Fernandez (2025) in mind "It should be emphasized that while AI search may function as a valuable time saver, for high-stakes searchers, it remains unreliable enough that it is inherently problematic if it is to be used as the only method of research."

So while it can be a useful tool, it is no replacement for a thorough search strategy put through a variety of academic databases.  Reach out to the library for assistance with this.  We can undertake a literature search for you or provide training so that you are more equipped to undertake your own.  You can contact us here.

Monash Health’s fantastic Literature Searching Guide can be accessed here.  Look for the AI search tools section at the bottom.

Ayre, J., Cvejic, E. & McCaffery, K. J., (2025). Use of ChatGPT to obtain health information in Australia, 2024: insights from a nationally representative survey. Medical Journal of Australia, 222(4), 210-212. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52598

Coffey, L. (2024). Most researchers use AI-Powered tools despite distrust. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/05/24/report-most-researchers-use-ai-tools-despite-distrusting-it

Gorton, C. (2025). Tech Showdown – AI Search Tools Special Issue. Journal of Health Information and Libraries Australia, 5(1), 5-8.

Williamson, J. M. & Fernandez, P. (2025). “Through the looking glass: envisioning new library technologies” academic search using artificial intelligence tools. Library Hi Tech News, 42(2), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-01-2024-0014.

 CiAP Online Training

Need to brush up on your database searching skills? Sign up today!

 Happy Mardi Gras!

Spotlight on LGBTQIA+ Health Resources

Resources held by District Library Services - MNCLHD:

Visit or contact the Library to borrow.

Fast facts about LGBTQ+ care for nurses : How to deliver culturally competent and inclusive care by Tyler Traister

"I wrote this book to provide nurses from all practice settings and experience levels the knowledge and understanding of how to care for the LGBTQ population. The first of its kind, this book offers the nurse concise and pragmatic information to deliver culturally competent and inclusive care. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other gender minorities (LGBTQ) face unique challenges and barriers to accessing healthcare, resulting in poor health outcomes. Studies have consistently shown the greater risk for poor health outcomes due to fear or mistrust of healthcare providers, such as nurses, because of past discrimination and refusal of care and acceptance, which have created systemic health disparities. Nursing textbooks and education predominantly focus on cisgender heteronormative populations - leaving the nurse without the knowledge and information needed to care for this diverse population" – Tyler Traister

You be you! : the kid's guide to gender, sexuality, and family by Jonathan Branfman ; illustrated by Julie Benbassat

This is an illustrated children's book that makes gender identity, sexual orientation and family diversity easy to explain to children. Throughout the book kids learn that there are many kinds of people in the world and that diversity is something to be celebrated. It covers gender, romantic orientation, discrimination, intersectionality, privilege, and how to stand up for what's right. With charming illustrations, clear explanations, and short sections that can be dipped in and out of, this book helps children think about how to create a kinder, more tolerant world.

Transgender health : a practitioner's guide to binary and non-binary trans patient care by Ben Vincent (available in hardcopy or eBook)

This guide shows how to sensitively treat and care for transgender patients in healthcare settings. Distilling cutting edge research into practical advice, it covers everything from referral procedures to respectful language and insights on the wider social and ethical issues experienced by this growing client group

Other Resources:

Rainbow Resource for Mental Health Care from NSW Health's Agency for Clinical Innovation

"A toolkit for child and adolescent mental health clinicians supporting LGBTIQ+ young people and their families.  This resource offers guidance for mental health clinicians to understand the needs of LGBTIQ+ young people and effectively support their mental health and wellbeing through affirming, best-practice care."

ACON

ACON is an LGBTQIA+ Community Organisation that focuses on the health of its community.  They have metropolitan and regional branches as well as many online resources.

 Spotlight on Resources: New eBooks!

Access these titles and more via our Discovery site.

ACLS Review Made Incredibly Easy! 4th Edition (2023)

The 4th Edition of ACLS Review Made Incredibly Easy! is filled with simple definitions and clear, step-by-step instructions on the newest algorithms. It provides the confidence to pass the ACLS certification exam and equips you with the necessary knowledge and skills for advanced cardiac life support.

Anatomy & Physiology Made Incredibly Easy! 6th Edition (2023)

Don't worry about anatomy and physiology—understanding basic terms and concepts is simple with the 6th Edition of Anatomy and Physiology Made Incredibly Easy. This engaging, colorful, and clearly written guide makes fundamental anatomy and physiology concepts easy to grasp, offering enjoyable and friendly guidance to support your success throughout your nursing career. Packed with vibrant illustrations and labeled diagrams, this quick-reference text shows how every major body structure interacts with the body's systems and covers topics like genetics, nutrition, and reproduction. Whether you're a nursing student preparing for the NCLEX®, a practicing nurse seeking quick answers, or a healthcare or fitness professional needing a refresher, this easy-to-read, up-to-date edition makes essential information more accessible than ever.

Fluids & Electrolytes Made Incredibly Easy! 8th Edition (2024)

The 8th Edition of Fluids & Electrolytes Made Incredibly Easy® is your go-to quick-reference guide for mastering fluids and electrolytes throughout your nursing career—whether in class, on the unit, preparing for the NCLEX®, or needing a refresher. This invaluable resource, written in the engaging Incredibly Easy® style, makes essential information both approachable and entertaining, while clarifying real-world applications. Step-by-step instructions build your confidence in balancing fluids and electrolytes, understanding fluid imbalances and related disorders, treating imbalances, and more. Helpful tips reinforce key concepts, provide important care reminders, and enhance your problem-solving and patient teaching skills. This thoroughly updated 8th Edition includes the latest insights and practices to ensure your success in today's nursing practice and beyond.

Wound Care Made Incredibly Easy! 4th Edition (2024)

Wound Care Made Incredibly Easy, 4th Edition is packed with real-life, full-color images and offers a lighthearted approach to complex concepts, making it easier to master essential wound care skills and treatments. This highly visual text helps you excel both in the classroom and on the unit, providing up-to-date insights, clear and concise explanations, and plenty of vibrant images.

Spotlight on a CiAP Resource

 Clinical Equipment User Manual Library

Having problems with a Medical Device? This handy tool is available via CiAP and houses the user manuals for a wide range of Clinical Equipment.

To access: go to CiAP and click on tools.  

The Clinical Equipment User Manual Library is at the top of the middle column.

Then search for the device you are interested in.

And download the guide!

 Welcome to our New Graduate Nurses!

The first cohort of New Grads have started at MNCLHD for 2025.  Below are some resources that interest them as they adjust to their new role.

 

From Novice to Expert: Excellence and Power in Clinic Nursing Practice / Patricia Benner

Benner’s seminal text remains pertinent to all nurses, especially those beginning their practice as it highlights how a newcomer to the profession or specialty develops their skills, knowledge and clinical judgement to eventually become an expert.

 

How to Survive and Maybe Even Love Your Life as a Nurse / Kelli S. Dunham & Staci J. Smith

Guides the reader from graduation to their initial nursing position and onward to a thriving, rewarding nursing career. It acts as both a mentor and a cheerleader, offering guidance and support to new nurses throughout their journey from student to assured professional.

 

Just Sit: A Meditation Guidebook for People Who Know They Should But Don’t / Sukey & Elizabeth Novogratz

This engaging and informative meditation guidebook features playful illustrations and is designed for ease of use. It includes an eight-week plan tailored for busy beginners, helping even the most hectic schedules integrate meditation and reap its numerous physical and emotional rewards.

 

The Library!

Drop in or visit our website to discover what we have to offer.  Borrow one of the above books or another text relevant to the specialty you are working in.

In the literature - Workplace Violence and Job Stress

Workplace Violence and Job Stress

The article, titled "The effects of workplace violence on the job stress of health care workers: buffering effects of wellbeing HRM practices," explores how workplace violence impacts job stress among healthcare workers and how wellbeing-oriented human resource management (HRM) practices can help mitigate these effects. The study, grounded in the conservation of resources theory, examines data from healthcare workers in Australia and China ₁. It finds that wellbeing HRM practices can moderate the relationship between workplace violence and job stress, ultimately improving the quality of care provided by healthcare workers ₁.

To support stressed healthcare workers, there are several free government resources available:

1.       Patricia Pariona-Cabrera, Timothy Bartram, Jillian Cavanagh, Beni Halvorsen, Bo Shao & Feifei Yang (2024) The effects of workplace violence on the job stress of health care workers: buffering effects of wellbeing HRM practices, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 35:9, 1654-1680, DOI: 10.1080/09585192.2023.2237876

2.      Head to Health: Provides a Stress Management Program based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) principles, available online for free.

3.      icare: Offers stress management strategies specifically for healthcare workers, including tips on self-care, communication, and support from colleagues and leaders.

4. Wellbeing and Staff Support offers links to a range of programs to support the health and wellbeing of NSW Health staff in the Mid North Coast Local Health District.

These resources can help healthcare workers manage stress and improve their mental wellbeing.

In addition District Library services has these books and more that you can read to inspire your self care journey.

Mindful self-compassion for burnout : tools to help you heal and recharge when you're wrung out by stress / Kristin Neff, PhD, Christopher Germer, PhD.

Every doctor : healthier doctors = healthier patients / Leanne Rowe, Michael Kidd, Vihangi Abeygunawardana.

Breath : the new science of a lost art / James Nestor.

Do less be more : ban busy and make space for what matters / Martina Sheehan & Susan Pearse.

The article referenced is available through Open Access online. MNCLHD staff can contact the library if they have any problems downloading the full article or would like to borrow any of the above books.

Supporting the Health of Australian Veterans

 Introduction

The health and well-being of Australian veterans is a topic of paramount importance. With nearly 600,000 veterans in Australia, representing 2.8% of the population aged 15 years and over, understanding their unique health needs is crucial for providing effective medical care and support.

Key Statistics on Australian Veterans

• Population: As of the latest census, there are 581,139 Australians who have served or are currently serving in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This includes 496,276 former serving members and 84,865 current serving members.
• Demographics: The largest age group among veterans is 65-74 years, with 90% of these veterans being male. Additionally, 13.4% of the veteran population are female.
• Geographical Distribution: Townsville, home to the largest Army base in the country, has the highest number of veterans (8,700) and current serving ADF members (5,500).

Health Challenges Faced by Veterans

Veterans often face unique health challenges due to their service. Common issues include:

• Mental Health: Conditions such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety are prevalent among veterans. The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) provides extensive mental health support, including counselling and rehabilitation services.
• Physical Health: Injuries sustained during service can lead to chronic pain and mobility issues. The DVA offers treatment and rehabilitation programs to help veterans manage these conditions.
• Access to Healthcare: Veterans are entitled to treatment at departmental expense through the DVA Gold or White card system. These cards cover a range of medical services, ensuring veterans receive the care they need.

Support Services for Veterans

The Australian government provides a variety of support services to veterans, including:

• Pension and Compensation: Veterans may be eligible for pensions and compensation under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA), Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA).
• Employment and Education: Programs are available to help veterans transition to civilian life, including employment assistance and educational opportunities.
• Community Engagement: Veterans are more likely to participate in volunteer work compared to the general population, highlighting their ongoing contributions to the community.

Suicide and Suicidality in Australian Defence Force Veterans

Increased suicidality and suicide deaths among veterans of the Australian Defence Force have gained recent prominence. A systematic scoping review identified several key findings:

• Increased Suicidality: Findings indicate increased suicidality in the veteran population, particularly during the transition out of the military.
• Mental Illness: Mental illness, especially depression and PTSD, is a significant risk factor for suicide and suicidality.
• Protective Factors: Current military service was identified as a protective factor against suicide.
• Research Gaps: Gaps were identified in understanding the relative contributions to risk from transition, psychosocial correlates, and health service utilization.

Veterans' Wellbeing Network Programs MNCLHD

The Veterans' Wellbeing Network Mid North Coast (VWNMNC) offers a variety of programs aimed at supporting the wellbeing of veterans and their families. These programs include:

• Hospital and Home Visits: Wellbeing Advocates visit hospitals, homes, and aged care facilities as needed.
• Bereavement Support: Assistance during times of loss.
• Liaison Services: Coordination with local government bodies, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and other relevant organizations.
• Transitional Management: Support for discharging Australian Defence Force personnel.

Health Pathways Veterans Health Pages

The Health Pathways team has developed new Veterans Health pages to help clinicians assess and address the specific health needs of veterans. These pages include:

• Veterans’ Health Assessment
• Veteran Care Practice Management
• Guide to DVA Compensation Claim Forms
• Veteran Referral and Support
• Defence and Veteran Family Support

These pathways provide detailed information on navigating various services and programs available to veterans, including mental health support, treatment for service-related injuries, and guidance on DVA billing.

Link to Mid North Coast Local Health District

The Veterans' Wellbeing Network and the Health Pathways Veterans Health pages are both integral parts of the support system for veterans in the Mid North Coast Local Health District. The Veterans' Wellbeing Network collaborates with the Health Pathways team to ensure that veterans receive comprehensive care and support. This collaboration helps streamline access to health services, making it easier for veterans to find and utilize the resources they need.

Conclusion

Understanding and addressing the health needs of Australian veterans is essential for their well-being. By providing comprehensive medical care and support services, we can honour their service and ensure they lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

For more information on veteran support services, visit the Department of Veterans' Affairs

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Census of Population and Housing: Reflecting Australia - Stories from the Census, 2021
2. Health services for the veteran community. Department of Veterans' Affairs
3. Oltvolgyi, C. G., Meurk, C., & Heffernan, E. (2024). Suicide and suicidality in Australian Defence Force veterans: A systematic scoping review. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
4. Veterans' Wellbeing Network Programs
5.  Health Pathways Veterans Health Pages

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