Good Medicine Better Health

Good Medicine Better Health is a series of CPD-accredited learning modules and consumer resources on a range of topics developed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and their communities to improve quality use of medicines and medical tests. They have been developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, including National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP), National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT).

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CPD-accredited modules

Antibiotics and respiratory tract infections

This 30-minute module will update participants’ knowledge on common respiratory tract infections and treatments, including the use of antibiotic medicines. It will help support informed conversations with clients and community members about respiratory tract infections and antibiotic medicines.

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Anxiety and depression

This course consists of two 45-minute modules. Participants will learn about risk factors for anxiety and depression, strategies to manage low mood, medicines that are commonly used to manage depression and how to identify and manage potential side effects.

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Asthma

This course consists of four 30-minute modules that aim to increase the confidence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners to educate patients about their asthma, their asthma medicines and devices, and how to support a person having an asthma attack.

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Chronic pain

This course consists of three 30-minute modules. Participants will gain an understanding of pain, identify non-medicine treatments used to manage chronic pain and explain the benefits and risks of common medicines used for acute and chronic pain.

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Hepatitis C

This 15-minute module will give learners an understanding of hep C, including that it can be cured. The module aims to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners knowledge and confidence to educate and support clients during their hep C journey.

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High blood pressure

This course consists of two 40-minute modules that aim to help participants assess cardiovascular risk factors, identify common blood pressure-lowering medicines and educate clients and community members about high blood pressure and how to manage it.

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Quality use of medicines foundation

This course consists of two 45-minute modules that cover why quality use of medicines (QUM) is important and how to practice QUM in clinics and community settings. The modules include the safe use of medicines, identifying potential side-effects and interactions, safe storage and disposal of unused medicines.

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Type 2 diabetes

This 40-minute module aims to increase the confidence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners to educate clients and community members on how to manage their type 2 diabetes, including lifestyle changes and use of medicines to reduce the risk of developing complications.

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More about the modules and resources

In this video, Advanced Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Jude Parnham shares her views on the range of modules available through the Good Medicines Better Health program.

Resources to use with your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients

We have a range of resources to help you talk with your patients about their medicines. These resources have been developed in partnership with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and other peak bodies.

Find all the resources here

Preparing a medicines list

A medicines list tailored to clients’ and communities’ needs will contribute to informed decision-making about medicines, and improve quality of care when people transition between healthcare providers.

NACCHO Medicines Resources Group and NPS MedicineWise have used available evidence, current guidelines and practical experience to outline five principles to guide the healthcare industry and professionals in developing medicines lists that are appropriate for use by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

These principles are now available to download as separate pages or as the complete booklet.

Medicines lists for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Single pages

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Booklet

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Medicines list templates

A medicines list template has also been prepared, to support quality use of medicines among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families and healthcare providers.

The Medicine List template is available as a PowerPoint (.pptx) or PDF (.pdf) file. The PowerPoint (.pptx) template can be edited, allowing providers to personalise the list if required. Versions of the template have also been created, with instructions on how to complete the entry fields, including example medicines and images.

Medicine List editable form

See Medicine List instructions

Medicine List PowerPoint template

See Medicine List PowerPoint instructions