Preventive Health SA

It’s always great to work with The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre. Their expertise and insights made for a highly productive session in systems thinking and applying it to our own work. Looking forward to more collaborations. 

Preventive Health SA are joining South Australian Council on Intellectual Disability (SACID) Strong Women Peer Action co-design group at a free event for women and people with a cervix Thursday 5 September 9:00 am-11:45 am.   Senior Project Officer Screening, Megan van Zanten will be presenting on the importance of bowel and cervical screening and attendees will hear from the SACID Strong Women co-design group. Morning refreshments will also be provided.   Register to attend this free, fun, positive and affirming session to celebrate women’s health at Weigall Oval Clubrooms in Plympton: https://lnkd.in/gJ-PNmDa

We are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the LGBTQI+ community we have partnered with SHINE SA to increase cervical cancer screening rates and create safer and more inclusive screening services. We currently fund free cervical screening and self-collection clinics at Shine SA sites for people aged 25-74 years, run by nurses trained in inclusivity and trauma awareness. This builds on work we have previously funded including: - Peer supported cervical cancer clinics for the transmasculine community. - Training for people working in the health sector working with trans and gender diverse people. - Updates to the TransHealthSA community directory to identify “trans friendly” GPs who are set up for self-collection. - A grant to Cancer Council SA to develop a video to promote cervical screening in transgender and gender diverse communities https://lnkd.in/gMPGRst6

There is no place for illegal e-cigarettes and tobacco in this state. Smoking is still the leading cause of preventable illness and death in South Australia, with 28 people dying each week from tobacco-related diseases. Proposed new laws will increase controls and penalties relating to the sale and use of tobacco and vaping products in South Australia. The proposed legislation includes: • an increase in penalties – up to $1.5 million for some breaches • a ban on vending machine sales of tobacco products in public areas • a ban on supply of therapeutic vapes to any person under 18 • new authority to ban novel products which are marketed as an alternative to vapes • creation of a five-metre buffer zone around smoke-free areas at covered public transport areas. This will protect our community, particularly children and vulnerable people from the harms of tobacco and e-cigarettes. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/d4k3nBVS

It was great to be part of the most recent Healthy Development Adelaide (HDA) forum last week. Dr Natasha Schranz, Manager, Mental Wellbeing, and Suicide and Injury Prevention, represented Preventive Health SA and spoke to attendees about our collaborative partnership with Flinders Caring Futures Institute. This partnership is committed to supporting families for improved health and wellbeing in the early years. Thanks to HDA for another insightful event. 

We’re pleased to share the appointment of Mel Bradley as our Executive Director, Population Health and Nathan Rigney as our Executive Director, Aboriginal Health and Health Equity. Melissa steps into her new role today and brings a wealth of executive experience to the agency, having worked most recently at Central Adelaide Local Health Network and previously in both the public and private sectors, across mental health, child and family health, primary care, and policy and service planning.    Nathan is a proud Ngarrindjeri man who has strong connections in the South Australian Aboriginal community and across the sector and previously held the position of Associate Director, Aboriginal Health Promotion Branch, within Preventive Health SA. Nathan brings invaluable expertise in delivering evidence-based approaches to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal people and people experiencing marginalisation or disadvantage in our state.    These two appointed positions form part of our recently revised executive leadership team and we look forward to further driving a preventive health agenda to improve the health and wellbeing of all South Australians. 

New rules now apply to all vapes and vape products, regardless of nicotine content or therapeutic claims. Nicotine vapes are only available as therapeutic products sold by pharmacies to help people quit smoking or manage nicotine dependence. It is illegal for other retailers, such as tobacconists, vape shops and convenience stores, to supply any type of vape. See more information for prescribers: https://lnkd.in/gVEiAYuD See more information for pharmacists: https://lnkd.in/e8dPNUav

We’re partnering with South Australian councils to create focused programs promoting physical, social and mental wellbeing across the community. These programs and spaces are known as Wellbeing Hubs. Following extensive consultation and community engagement we are delighted to be commencing new partnerships with the City of Tea Tree Gully at the newly developed Harpers Field Wellbeing Hub and the District Council of Streaky Bay for the Streaky Bay Wellbeing Project. We look forward to developing these projects in partnership with the councils and supporting positive wellbeing outcomes in their communities. Learn more about Wellbeing Hubs: https://lnkd.in/gYntQrbs

As part of our commitment to support South Australians to quit using tobacco and e-cigarettes (vapes), we’re working with the Australian Government to invest $1.265 million into coordinating: - continuous quality improvements to the Quitline service - the expansion of the world-first ‘Incentive to Quit’ (I2Q) smoking and vaping cessation pilot program - the ‘Tackling Tobacco’ program, run by Cancer Council SA, to support community organisations in helping staff and clients to quit - a statewide campaign encouraging South Australians to quit smoking and vaping - besmokefree.com.au and bevapefree.sa.gov.au websites.   This work forms part of the South Australian Tobacco Control Strategy 2023-2027 which aims to reduce daily smoking prevalence to 6% in 2027 to achieve our vision of the lowest rate of smoking nationally, as well as the lowest rate of e-cigarette use among young people.    Learn more about the South Australian Tobacco Control Strategy 2023-2027: https://lnkd.in/gFj-wiNA

As part of our commitment to preventing skin cancer, we supported University of South Australia to conduct an AI assisted skin cancer clinic in Coober Pedy in June. 82 people took part in the clinic, with some travelling up to four hours to be involved. From the images taken at the clinic, the following preliminary findings were identified:   1. 4 potential melanomas 2. 20 basal cell carcinomas 3. 8 potential squamous cell carcinomas 4. 13 atypical nevi for monitoring These findings are an important reminder to both get our skin checked and protect our skin from the sun. Learn more about our work in skin cancer prevention: https://lnkd.in/gzeW7tMw