ANZSOM - The society supporting
Occupational Health Nurses
Nurses' Focused Learning Opportunities from ANZSOM
Upcoming webinar
We are currently in the process of planning for 2023, which will include the return of our Nurse Focus webinars. We have 3 webinars planned for 2023, so stay tuned for details!
Previous webinars
#itswhatyouknow
Creating a Workplace Mental Health Strategy
Nurses' Focus Webinar
Presenters: Brianna Cattanach, Practice Leader and Senior Occupational Therapist
Date: Wednesday 7 December 2022
Session outline:
Mental illness in Australia is extremely common with one in five working Australians experiencing a mental illness each year. Since COVID-19, contact with mental health services has increased by 42%. Unfortunately, over 60% of Australian’s attribute at least in part, their mental health challenges to the workplace, as such it is unsurprising that the safety authorities nationally are increasing their focus, expectations and regulations around the way that workplaces of all nature, manage and prevent psychosocial risk.
There has never been a more important time for businesses to build a mental health strategy for their workforce focusing on culture, early support and best practice processes to manage risk.
This session covered how to address growing compliance requirements, build a meaningful mental health program and offer practical strategies to improve the psychological safety and mental wellbeing of employees.
#itswhatyouknow
Respiratory Protection Programs and the role of the OHN
Nurses' Focus Webinar
Presenters: Helen Truscott & Emma McCartney
Date: Wednesday 25 May 2022, 7pm (AEST)
Session outline:
- Why do we conduct fit testing?
- What does the legislation say?
- Fit testing and the OHN Competency Standards
- Who can perform a fit test?
- Quantitative Vs qualitative testing
- Policies and procedures
- Trouble shooting when fit testing
- Respirator types and how to use different adaptors
- Workplace Respiratory Protection Programs - where do I start?
- Selection of RPE for my workplace
- Medical evaluation
- Education and training
- Maintenance
- Record keeping
ANZSOM Nurse Award 2022
Congratulations to Helen Truscott as the recipient of the 2022 Nurse Award for her involvement with ANZSOM, through the Nurse Strategy Group, assisting with the ASM2022, and presenting at the inaugural Nurse Focus Webinar in May this year. She has also demonstrated a great contribution to workplace health in Australia.
Other resources and opportunities
The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) is the professional association of licensed nurses engaged in the practice of occupation and environmental health nursing in the US. AAOHN have a number of resources that are freely available - see the website for details.
Occupational Health Nursing Pulse: The AAOHN Podcast provides a deep dive into the hot topics, new trends, best practices, and trending research in occupational health nursing. Featuring interviews with industry experts and current AAOHN members, each episode aims to address best practices in an easy, on-the-go format. The AAOHN Podcast Series will release on a bimonthly schedule.
Subscribe to Occupational Health Nursing Pulse: The AAOHN Podcast on your preferred platform, and stay up to date with each episode release.
What it means to be an occupational health nurse
This video introduces you to some of the specialist community public health Nursing/Occupational health nurses that share their roles in the industry.
Career pathways & courses
Are you looking to expand your career or improve your skills in occupational medicine or occupational nursing? Head over to our Career pathways and courses page to help you along your career journey.
For more information about Occupational Health Nursing visit the Career in nursing FAQ page
Nurse Strategy Working Group
The Nurse Strategy Working Group meets every two months, aiming to progress the representation of Occupational Health Nurse (OHN) interests in ANZSOM. The group focuses on growing nurse membership, and securing education, support and recognition for occupational health nurses. The group is currently working on a recognition program aimed at providing formal recognition of occupational health nursing as a field of specific expertise.
If you're interested in joining the Nurse Strategy Working Group, please contact the Secretariat.
Nurse liaison roles
The Federal Nurse Liaison Officer role provides a nursing perspective at the level of the Executive and General Council and thus ensures the needs of occupational health nurses are addressed in our ongoing strategic development and operational planning. Sally Kane from Victoria is the current Nurse Liaison Officer.
Nurse Liaison representatives are also involved in each state branch - click here for details.
ANZSOM joins CoNNMO
ANZSOM is pleased to be a member of the Coalition of National Nursing & Midwifery Organisations (CoNNMO). CoNNMO is made up of more than 58 national nursing and midwifery organisations in an alliance to work collectively to advance the nursing and midwifery profession to improve health care.
Earning and recording CPD points
ANZSOM provides continual professional development opportunities via online learning resources, the Annual Scientific Meeting and state branch meetings. Generally these activities are not formally accredited with the Royal Australian College of Nursing, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners or Royal Australasian College of Physicians (AFOEM) however, you can claim CPD points for participation in non-accredited activities. Participation in ANZSOM Committees may also count towards CPD points.
Completion of ANZSOM CPD activities, including the ASM, Branch educational meetings, webinars and online learning modules, can be recorded in My Profile (CPD activity record).
For more details regarding profession-specific CPD requirements and how ANZSOM CPD contributes, download the document below or for more details please contact your governing / registration body directly.