Applications are now open for Seqirus Australia’s 2019-2020 ‘Championing Change’ Innovation Practice Nurse Grants.
Now in their second year, the Innovation Grants recognise and support Australian practice nurses’ enhancement of community immunity through the implementation of innovative adult immunisation initiatives designed to boost coverage rates or improve the quality use of adult vaccines.
Three Innovation Grants to the value of $5,000 each, commemorative certificates and sponsorship to attend the 2020 Australian Practice Nurses Association (APNA) National Conference, including travel, accommodation and registration, will be provided to three successful grant recipients nominated by the independent expert review panel.
Practice nurses working in GP or immunisation clinics who drive, or support, patient awareness, timely uptake of, and/or compliance with adult vaccines listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule or any state funded vaccine programs are eligible to apply for the ‘Championing Change’ Innovation Practice Nurse Grants for their healthcare practice.
THE 2018 – 2019 WINNERS
Last year’s winning Innovation Grants recipients also included:
• Hamley Bridge Medical Centre – a sole medical clinic servicing a 620-person-strong farming plus transient community located north of Adelaide; and
• Wellers Hill Medical Centre – a large, family-owned Brisbane suburban practice servicing a middle class, predominantly Greek population comprising three generations; and
• Danielle Siler, team leader and nurse immuniser at IPC Health, Deer Park, Melbourne
Danielle Siler’s team implemented a novel social media and in-clinic initiative between October 1 and December 31, 2018 targeted at disadvantaged refugee communities in Melbourne’s west to increase patient awareness, timely uptake of, and compliance with adult vaccines listed on the NIP schedule.
The initiative drove an eight per cent increase in shingles vaccination within three months and the vaccination of 83 adult refugees under the catch-up program.
“We initially identified the barriers to boosting our community’s immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases, including; English as a second language, low levels of health literacy, myths surrounding vaccinations and working adult patients’ inability to attend our clinic during standard business hours”, Ms Siler said.
“Next we developed a comprehensive campaign to address our identified barriers. The campaign had two elements – a social media campaign that had the ability to reach specific target groups, and in-clinic activities to reach those not on social media and/or with low English language skills,” Ms Siler said.
“We ran a Facebook adult vaccination campaign targeting local families and in-clinic vaccination activities targeting non-English speaking patients, the elderly, homeless and refugees. We also utilised translated health materials and picture-based resources.
“Importantly, this approach and all of our campaign materials can be tailored to and replicated by other immunisation clinics or GP practices in Australia,” said Ms Siler.
ABOUT THE 2019 -2020 ‘CHAMPIONING CHANGE’ INNOVATION PRACTICE NURSE GRANT
To qualify for this year’s Innovation Grants, each applicant will be required to submit a document outlining their planned innovative initiative which must be rolled out between July 1 – November 30, 2019 and meet one or more of the following criteria:
• Improve coverage, access and/or timely delivery of adult vaccinations as per the NIP Schedule and any State-funded programs;
• Be adaptable and able to be replicated by other immunisation clinics or GP practices in Australia;
• Support the ongoing record keeping of vaccinations on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) in clinical practice; and
• Support the quality use of adult vaccines.
An independent Review Panel comprising three leading representatives from the nursing, immunisation and medical sector, including Ms Newbound, will assess all entries. The two other panellists are:
• MAGALI DE CASTRO, Accredited Nurse Immuniser, Clinical Director, HotDoc and CEO and founder of GHPS Nursing, Melbourne.
• DR SARAH CHU, GP and Fellow, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Brisbane.
Submissions are now open and close at 5pm AEST on Friday, May 31, 2019. Announcement of the Innovation Grants recipients will be issued on Sunday, June 30, 2019.
To apply, applicants must simply:
1. Register with the Community Immunity website – www.communityimmunity.com.au.
2. Upload their application to the site by 5pm AEST on Friday, May 31, 2019.
To learn more about the ‘Championing Change’ Innovation Practice Nurse Grants, including the specific criteria and Terms and Conditions, head to www.communityimmunity.com.au/championing-change.