February PD Opportunities

Some of the amazing professional development opportunities for AOD and MH workers in February.  Most of these are available online and accessible to all.  Post any additions in the comments or email library@healthyoptions.org.au with events for March.

Write – presentations and papers

TheMHS Conference: Translating best practice into reality

The call for papers is now open.  The conference will examine what is “best practice” in Mental Health Services.  Topic ideas include consumer led services, workforce development, and cross cultural translation.
Submissions due: 6^th March, 2015
http://www.themhs.org/pages/themhs-conference-2015.html

 

Suicide and self-harm prevention conference 2015
Conference organisers are now taking submissions for presentations. 
Conference themes explore new concepts, research and practices in suicide prevention:
Ø  Adults
Ø  Youth
Ø  Elderly adults
Ø  Indigenous communities
Ø  CALD communities
Ø  In self-harm prevention
Ø  In post suicide support
Submissions due: 24^th March, 2015
http://www.kochfoundation.org.au/fileadmin/content/Suicide_Prevention_Conference_2015/Call_for_Abstracts_2015_01.pdf

 

Aboriginal Health Conference 2015: Healthy families – healthy futures
Abstract submissions are now open.  The conference looks at building strong rural and remote communities to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal communities.  Abstracts about research and projects across all areas of Aboriginal health, community engagement, education and workforce development are sought. 
Submissions due: 30^th March, 2015
http://www.ruralhealthwest.com.au/professional-development/conferences-events/2014/10/13/aboriginal-health-conference-2015

 

Read – professional reading

Mendrek, A., Dinh-Williams, L., Bourque, J., & Potvin, S. (2014). Sex Differences and Menstrual Cycle Phase-Dependent Modulation of Craving for Cigarette: An fMRI Pilot Study. Psychiatry journal, 2014. http://www.hindawi.com/journals/psychiatry/2014/723632/

Torchalla I, Linden I, Strehlau V, Neilson EK, Krausz M. (2015). “Like a lots happened with my whole childhood”: violence, trauma, and addiction in pregnant and postpartum women from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Harm Reduction Journal, 12 :1.

http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/12/1/1
 

Hogarth, L., Maynard, O. M., & Munafò, M. R. (2015). Plain cigarette packs do not exert Pavlovian to instrumental transfer of control over tobacco‐seeking. Addiction, 110(1), 174-182.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.12756/pdf

 

Attend – informal learning sessions, journal club, seminar series

Journal club (available to Healthy Options workers only)
Internal professional development session held in the library and on the Queensland teleconference line. February’s session is presented by Nicole Cooper, Queensland CAFSS placement student. This session’s article:
Best, D., Gow, J., Knox, T., Taylor, A., Groshkova, T., & White, W. (2012). Mapping the recovery stories of drinkers and drug users in Glasgow: quality of life and its associations with measures of recovery capital. Drug and alcohol review, 31(3), 334-341.
When: Wednesday, 18th February, 10am.

 

Online course - Connecting with families: conversations that make a difference
This elearning course has been developed by KidsMatter to support early childhood educators and teachers in their work with families. However, the resources will be useful for anyone building relationships and connections with families or other professionals.   
The course provides a practical framework and model to help structure conversations. It also offers extensive strategies, tips and downloadable resources which can be saved and shared with colleagues. 
Health and community professionals may also wish to use the e-learning course and resources in their work with early childhood education and care (ECEC) services and schools; for example, by directing educators or teachers to the site.  
Each module can be stopped, started and finished as time permits. A certificate is provided upon completion of each module for recognition of professional development. 
Can be completed anytime
http://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/health-and-community/professional-development/elearning

 

Online course - Understanding drugs and addiction – Kings College London
Kings College are again offering this free online course.  The course looks at:
1)      How addiction develops – including the personal, environmental and societal risk factors
2)      How it can be treated – what happens to the body and mind when taking drugs and the treatment interventions that are supported by the evidence
3)      How it can be prevented – including examining national and international policy
Free online course – receive a Statement of Participation or option to pay to receive a Statement of Attainment
Duration: 6 weeks
Time commitment of about 4hr/week
Enrol before: 9^th March
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/understanding-drugs-and-addiction

 

Workshop in Qld NSW and SA – Mental Illness and Bereavement – SANE
Aimed at mental health professionals, this workshop looks at:

• Understand the importance of supporting bereaved family and friends of people with mental illness who have died by suicide
• Understand grief responses to mental illness
• Understand new models of grief
• Understand new ways of working to support families and friends after suicide
• Knowledge of current resources and referrals to effectively support bereaved family and friends

Dates:   Sydney – Wednesday 11^th February

             Adelaide – Tuesday 3^rd March
             Brisbane – Wednesday 18^th March
Cost - $125
http://www.sane.org/workshops

 

Attend - Conferences

2015 TheMHS Summer Forum - Men’s Mental Health: building a healthier future
TheMHS Summer Forum 2015 will bring together men and women from all walks of life to discuss new thinking, latest research, and innovative programs for improving men’s mental health. It will ask us to reflect, to listen and to work together for a healthier future for men. Improving men’s mental health is everyone’s business.
Registration now open – costs listed on website
Date: 19-20 February
http://www.themhs.org/pages/2015-summerforum.html

 

Listen – podcasts, webinars

Podcast – Monitoring the Future: Teleconference 2014

Dr. Nora Volkow, NIDA Director, discusses the results of the 2014 “Monitoring the Future” survey during a teleconference on December 16, 2014. Monitoring the Future tracks annual drug abuse trends of 8th, 10th, and 12th-grade students in America, including attitudes and perceived risk of specific drugs of abuse.
Duration – 33mins
http://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/podcasts/2014/12/monitoring-future-teleconference-2014#content-area

 

 

Assessed learning – short courses, certificates, diplomas, bachelor, post-grad

Master of Addictive Behaviours @ Monash University/ Turning Point

The Master of Addictive Behaviours is to be offered through Turning Point, part of Eastern Health Clinical School. The course aims to produce graduates who have both theoretical and practical knowledge around current perspectives and advances in the substance misuse and gambling fields, and its relationship to other fields including nursing, social work, medicine and psychology. As work in the addiction field is multidisciplinary, the course will be relevant to a range of professionals including those working directly in the field of addiction or those who wish to specialise in addiction-related issues in their area of expertise. This could include health and allied health clinicians, researchers, academics, teachers, policy-makers or professionals in human resources, justice, the education system or sports administration. The course provides a comprehensive overview of the disciplines that inform addiction science and will provide critical awareness around policy, practice and research. It will allow students to enhance their career prospects towards a number of roles, such as a specialist clinician, treatment service manager, public health planner or policy advisor.
http://www.monash.edu/study/coursefinder/course/4519/?courseview=domestic
Course is available to external students
Applications close: 6^th February