Clinical Guidance and Online Learning
This section provides a comprehensive collection of clinical resources, manuals, and online learning modules tailored for healthcare professionals working in remote settings. It includes vital clinical guidelines and protocols that ensure effective care delivery in Aboriginal health services across various regions.
Each remote Aboriginal health service may adhere to different clinical guidelines based on regional regulations. This resource hub serves to equip healthcare professionals with the necessary tools and training to enhance their practice in remote Aboriginal health services.
Users are encouraged to verify the specific guidelines applicable to their clinic or area of practice.
- Remote Health Manuals: A range of manuals and handbooks offering clinical guidance for remote health practice, including the Kimberley Aboriginal Health Clinical Protocols and Guidelines and the CARPA Standard Treatment Manual.
- Clinical Resources: Access to essential clinical tools, such as the Australian Immunisation Handbook, Therapeutic Guidelines Australia, and deprescribing resources, to support informed medical decisions.
- Online Learning: A variety of online courses designed for nurses, prescribers, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers, covering topics such as wound care, diabetes management, and medication safety.
Remote Health Manuals
A range of manuals and handbooks offering clinical guidance for remote health practice, including the Kimberley Aboriginal Health Clinical Protocols and Guidelines and the CARPA Standard Treatment Manual.
- Kimberley Aboriginal Health Clinical Protocols and Guidelines
- NACCHO Medicines Management Guidelines
- QLD Health – Primary Clinical Care Manual 11th Edition
- Remote Health Atlas NT – All Resources
Remote Primary Health Care Manuals:
- CARPA Standard Treatment Manual 8th Edition
- Minymaku Kutju Tjukurpa – Women’s Business Manual 6th Edition
- Clinical Procedures Manual for Remote and Rural Practice 5th Edition
- Medicines Book for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners and workers 5th Edition
- Rural and remote emergency services standardisation guidelines (RRESSG), Qld
- The Chronic Conditions Manual, 3rd edition
- Tropical Health Orientation Manual
Clinical Resources
Federal guidelines, legislation and standards that guide medicine use in Australia.
- The Poisons Standard: SUSMP Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons
- The National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards: Standard 4
- National Framework for Determining Scope of Practice for the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Health Practitioner Workforce
- National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan
- Ahpra: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board – Codes and Guidelines
- Ahpra – Code of conduct
- Therapeutic Goods Act 2001
- NACCHO Medicines Management Guidelines
Storage & cold chain management
Effective medicine management is essential for the safe and quality use of medications. This includes maintaining documented processes for ordering and storing medicines, particularly refrigerated and high-risk items. The available resources and guidelines assist with ordering, cold chain management, stock management, and audits. Health workers new to remote Aboriginal health services should also familiarise themselves with site-specific policies and procedures related to medicine storage to ensure safety.
Resources for cold chain management, and guidance on what to do in the case of a cold chain breach.
Online Learning
The resources on this page provide guidance on the supply and prescribing of medicines. Some information will change depending on the state, territory, region, or healthcare site you are working in.
Please follow the healthcare site’s procedures if available. These resources may support current practices or provide guidance if no procedures are currently available.
Information to support the supply and administration of medicines. Especially useful in locations without a pharmacist.
- Issuing and Administering Medicines PHC Remote Guideline, NT
- National standard for labelling dispensed medicines
Guidelines to support correct and effective use of dose administration aids including Webster-packs, sachets etc.
- Repackaging medicines into a dose administration aid – Guidelines for registered nurses
- PSA Guidelines for pharmacist providing dose administration aid services (Australia)
Regulations and legislation for prescribing or issuing medicines. Each Australian state and territory have different rules or conditions, which may also differ depending on remoteness of practice.
- Writing lawful prescriptions, QLD
- Application forms for authority to prescribe, NSW
- Medical practitioners and schedule 8 medicines, NT
- Prescribing approvals, QLD
- Opioids, benzodiazepines and other Schedule 8 medicines, WA
- Forms and resources for the Drugs of Dependence Unit, SA
- Acute health conditions at isolated sites, QLD
- National Real Time Prescription Monitoring (links for each state and territory)
Contact
For any inquiries or further information about the Medicines and Pharmacy team at: medicines@naccho.org.au.
