Participants in Family Planning Australia’s Implanon courses receive hands-on, supervised training. Photo: Supplied.
Griffith clinicians will have the chance to add contraceptive implant insertion and removal to their clinical skills when specialist training comes to town next month.
Family Planning Australia will deliver its contraceptive implant course in Griffith on Wednesday 16 September, as part of a statewide push to increase access to long-acting contraception in regional and rural NSW.
The course has already been held in towns including Armidale, Broken Hill, Coffs Harbour, Lismore, Bega and Wagga Wagga, with more than 190 doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and midwives completing the training across 13 locations this year.
Wagga Wagga and Armidale have been among the locations with the strongest demand.
Family Planning Australia Medical Education Officer Dr Lucy Cho said the training could help make it easier for people in regional communities to access contraceptive options closer to home.
“The training is important for patients living in regional and rural communities who stand to benefit from an increased range of highly effective contraceptive options through their local doctor and other health services,” Dr Cho said.
“These health workers recognise that people need access to sexual and reproductive healthcare where they live and are keen to add contraceptive implants to their procedural skills.”
The course is aimed at both clinicians learning the procedure for the first time and those wanting to refresh their existing skills.
It combines online learning with hands-on training and competency assessments, covering implant insertion and removal in a primary care setting, patient consultations, local anaesthetic administration and management of common side effects.
The face-to-face course also provides six hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for clinicians registered with either the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia or Medical Board of Australia.
The online component is worth five and a half hours of CPD, including three hours of educational activities and two and a half hours of reviewing performance for RACGP-registered clinicians.
Participants in Family Planning Australia’s Implanon training courses use models to learn about insertion and removal of the device. Photo: Supplied.
Clinicians registered through either the Medical Board of Australia or the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia can apply through the AUSLARC program.
The Griffith training is fully funded for successful applicants through AUSLARC, which is designed to reduce the financial and geographic barriers facing clinicians wanting to train in long-acting reversible contraception.
Dr Cho said the practical nature of the training was particularly useful for regional clinicians.
“It’s personalised, hands-on training with one facilitator for every six students. This means there is great opportunity to ask questions and have techniques demonstrated,” she said.
The next course will be held in Bathurst on Wednesday 26 August, before the training moves to Griffith on 16 September.
The course is also available online, providing another option for clinicians working in rural and remote communities.
More information is available through the intheknow website or Family Planning Australia’s Education team at [email protected].
