A

The training will include skills in how to:

  1. Perform antimicrobial stewardship audits;
  2. use surveillance skills to collect, understand and utilise antimicrobial resistance data;
  3. advocate for antibiotic resistance issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to policy makers and the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Strategy.

AMR is a critical risk, affecting Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at some of the highest reported rates in the country. The World Health Organisation declared AMR as one of the biggest health threats, with up to 10 million lives lost by 2050, extreme poverty for 24 million by 2030 and billions of dollars in health care costs and lost productivity for the global economy.

The Antimicrobial Academy provides a meaningful opportunity to transfer skills to health professionals working in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, to create a cadre of antimicrobial stewards, advocates and spokespeople to partner with and continue to improve health care delivery, research platforms and advocacy.

Why?

Skills transfer for health care workers and health professionals to lead and advocate on safe prescribing of antimicrobials, improved stewardship and advocacy to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are included in national efforts to address antimicrobial use and resistance.

When?

The NACCHO ASA is a five-month fortnightly program commencing the second week in April 2024 and concluding in mid-September 2024. These sessions are held online during the working day, as best fits in with the Academy Team/Advisory Group and Lecturers. We will discuss the timings with you, but it will most likely be on a Wednesday afternoon, alternating with a Thursday afternoon each fortnight.

A copy of the program can be downloaded here.

How to apply?

Please fill in the application form by 5pm (AEST) Tuesday 2 April 2024.

Who?

Any health worker or health professional working in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector.

Candidate nominations to participate will come from interested health care organisations who support the candidate to develop skills and implement change in their organisation.

What?

Upskilling in antibiotic use, audit, stewardship, surveillance, and resistance.

Sessions will be delivered fortnightly online via Microsoft Teams, during work hours with organisational support, at no cost.

Benefits of participating in the Academy are: attainment of CPD points, mentoring, and networking with experts in the field, along with learning how to implement change and Quality Improvement strategies in your organisation.

We strongly encourage you to obtain approval/support from your manager or work organisation to participate in the NACCHO ASA.

A copy of the program can be downloaded here.

AMS Academy team/Advisory Group

Professor Asha Bowen, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Perth Children’s Hospital and Team Lead, Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention at Telethon Kids Institute

Dr Lorraine Kaye Anderson, Medical Director, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services, Broome

Dr Trent Yarwood, Senior Staff Specialist Infectious Diseases Physician, Cairns Hospital & Cairns Sexual Health

Professor Steven Tong, Infectious Diseases Physician and Clinician Scientist, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity at the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital

James Harris, Executive Director Professional Development, National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP)

Dr Thomas Mylne, BPharm MD MPH, Ophthalmology Registrar, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital

A/ Prof Teresa Wozniak, Principal Research Scientist, Australian e-Health Research Centre, CSIRO

Hannah Mann, Founder and Director, Kimberley Pharmacy Services Group, SPIRA Services

Dr Megan Campbell, Medical Advisor, NACCHO

Mike Stephens, Director, Medicines Policy and Programs, NACCHO

Claire Callaghan, Senior Project Officer, Medicines Policy and Programs, NACCHO

Teegan Gold, Project Officer, Medicines Policy and Programs, NACCHO

Program

8 April: Introductions, Welcome to the Academy, Projects/Audits, Introduction to Drug Resistance, pre-Academy Surveys

22 April: Antimicrobial Resistance in Aboriginal Health Services, Common Infections in Aboriginal Communities

6 May: Antimicrobial Use in Aboriginal Health Services, Projects/audits/QI perspective

20 May: What is Antimicrobial Stewardship? The National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey

3 June: Using disease Surveillance skills to collect, understand and use resistance data. Spectrum of Antimicrobials

17 June: Standard Drug lists and other tools used for stewardship, Standing Orders, Setting up an AMR committee in an AMS, Drug shortages and how to move forward

1 July: AMS in AMS, How to implement AMS in your health service

15 July: National surveillance of AMR coordination and activities, Antimicrobial Stewardship Governance, AMS in the hospital setting

29 July: International perspectives on surveillance and antimicrobial resistance, ONE health and AMS in companion animals

12 August: Sexual Health, UTIs, Skin and Soft tissue infections

26 August: Communicating drug resistance, Media training

9 September: Project presentations/certificates/post Academy surveys

*Note that the schedule might change depending on availability

Download Program