NEWS from our ………………INAUGURAL BOARD MEETING
held 9th of June 2014 5:30 PM at Victoria District Medical Centre 151 Durlacher Street Geraldton.
#1 Election of office bearers
Chair Kim Pedlow, Deputy Chair Nigel Holmes, Administrative Secretary Josie Blakeney, Company Secretary Alan Bradley, Treasurer Andrew Ford, Board members, Melissa Barrett, Gaby Bracks, Wendy Mann. Anne Pedlow.
#2 The interim constitution was considered, copies sent to board members. Will be discussed at the next general meeting.
#3 General discussion regarding activities of the Abrolhos Group. Our areas of interest are………….
– Point of care in obstetric ultrasound training………….. coordinator Kim Pedlow
– Assisting identification and management of learning and behavioural difficulties in children……….. coordinator Kim Pedlow
– Orphanage support coordinators……………….. Jackie Donelly, Melinda Borcherds, Anne Pedlow
– Health Interest Advisory Body…………….. coordinator Nigel Holmes
#4 Communication will be by electronic means, this will include e-mail, messaging, website with interactive potential, the website is being coordinated by Ricky Elsum at Everything Geraldton. All board members and friends of the Abrolhos Group are asked to provide current e-mail and mobile phone numbers.
#5 Tarts and Co will help with catering.
NEWS from BOARD MEETING
9th of July 2014 5:30 PM at Victoria District Medical Centre 151 Durlacher Street Geraldton.
Business Ongoing work on the interim constitution aiming for tax deductibility, electronic copies to be sent to board members. Will be discussed at the next meeting.
#2 INTEREST GROUP REPORTS
– Point of care obstetric ultrasound training coordinator Kim Pedlow
Broome workshop on 20 June 2014 was well received, attended by 16 local health professionals. These were mainly midwives and a smattering of junior doctors.
Lessons learned…… Always have more pregnant subjects and ultrasound machines than you think is necessary. Don’t assume the communication in all areas is perfect. Sonosite gives terrific support. The locals were very supportive and keen to have us back in 3 to 6 months. Other abrolhos group members are welcome to accompany Kim but would need to pay their own way.
No costs were incurred to AG. Sonosite, Kim and Anne Pedlow paid their own way. No income as attendees were all midwives and junior doctors. Gifts to presenters donated by Kim and Anne.
F- Assisting identification and management of learning and behavioural difficulties in children. coordinator Kim Pedlow
Ongoing discussions with Shine, midwest football Academy and flexible learning Centre.
Kim Pedlow will liaise with some of our friends as to the best way forward.
– Orphanage support coordinator Jackie Donelly, Melinda Borcherds, Anne Pedlow
$500 donation from AG given to Jackie Donnelly to take to West Timor and given to a Catholic orphanage, school and medical Centre………see photos on web page “orphanages”.
– HIAB………Health Interest Advisory Body coordinator Nigel Holmes
wide-ranging discussion about the pros and cons of how we can best improve health in country WA. Nigel will use his position as silver chain regional manager to facilitate progress. In particular the matter of public comment was discussed. It was thought reasonable to issue press statements from time to time and then feedback be handled by the chair.
NEWS from BOARD MEETING
12 th of August 2014 5:30 PM at Victoria District Medical Centre 151 Durlacher Street Geraldton.
#1 The interim constitution was again considered. Fine tuning required to fit with transition to charitable status and enabling tax free donations.
#2 INTEREST GROUP REPORTS
– Point of care obstetric ultrasound training Kim Pedlow
Following negotiations with the regional hospital two ultrasonographers joined the meeting namely Annette Yaksich and Paul Whitehead. We plan to have an advanced point of care obstetric ultrasound workshop dealing with biophysical profile. Annette will be available to assist with teaching.
– Assisting identification and management of learning and behavioural difficulties in children. Kim Pedlow
Flexible Learning Centre is in the process of developing a relationship with Victoria District Medical Centre. Specifically nurse practitioner Melissa with Dr Pedlow support will attend periodically and have agreed to help out.
Contact has been made with Beachlands and Wandina primary schools with regards to providing information sessions on learning difficulties, ADHD, accessing the system. Pencilled in Monday, 13 October between 2 and 3 PM at Beachlands presenters Kim Pedlow, Gary Bresland educational psychologist and Paula Duggin.
Ongoing discussions with Shine, Midwest Football Academy and flexible learning Centre.
– Orphanage support Jackie Donelly, Melinda Borcherds, Anne Pedlow
Recent critical TV documentary, with regards to the APT orphanage in Cambodia has been analysed and on balance Dr Pedlow suggests it is very reasonable to continue supporting this learning centre for disadvantaged children..
– HIAB………Health Interest Advisory Body coordinator Nigel Holmes
wide-ranging discussion about the pros and cons of how we can best improve health in country WA.
Since the meeting Pedlow and Melissa Barrett has spoken with the Department of Health Federal Workforce Division. They are looking to apply innovative approaches to improve training for particularly rural Australia. In the first quarter of next year they will be putting in place a competitive tender aimed at reforming GP training organisations. This will come into play 2016. Our telephone conference was in confidence but I can say that the Department sounds sympathetic towards our wish to improve the rural generalist training pathway in WA.
It is probably worth spending some time and effort trying to achieve innovative approaches along the lines of the Queensland rural generalist model. Caveat is we need to achieve a link between industrial and training pathway. There is attractive pay for Queensland rural generalist and a clearly signposted pathway. They are talking about maybe across the top of Australia a clinical training network and maybe we could be part of that or maybe part of an East Coast arrangement to give more flexibility with access to graduates.
#3 WEBSITE/ COMMUNICATIONS
Website looking reasonable, now high resolution photos up to 50 MB can be included. They look good.
NEWS from BOARD MEETING
9TH September 2014 5.30pm at Victoria District Medical Centre 151 Durlacher Street, Geraldton.
#1 Our constitution was fine tuned to facilitate our application for Australian charity status. Estimated to take a month. Thanks to Andrew Ford, Alan Bradlet and Gaby Bracks.
#2 INTEREST GROUPS
– Learning Difficulties Kim Pedlow and Paula Duggin will present to the teachers at each land school 13th of October 2014 between 2 and 3 PM.
– Ultrasound point of care ultrasound workshop pending later this year. Targeted Friday 2 and 8 PM at St John of God’s medical Centre Geralton.
#3 Communication/Website.
We have four free hours of WordPress instruction by Ben Horne who is associated with pollinators. Kim Pedlow and Gaby Bracks to attend. Room for others.
Wendy Mann to establish new facebook page – Abrolhos Group.
next meeting is the second Tuesday of October at 5:30 PM.