Professional Development
Scholarships and Awards
Information about the 2017 Scholarships is now available on the Conference website here.
Have you initiated a successful infection control strategy or would like to develop or implement one? If so, Medtronic wants to recognise your excellence! The Medtronic 2017 Infection Control Scholarship has been designed to encourage Australian and New Zealand infection control practitioners to share their successes and innovations and to gain support for further work in these areas. The scholarship is to support critical infection control projects to ultimately enhance patient safety and assist best practice procedures and work place outcomes. Funding of $50,000 will be awarded across three categories, to promote excellence in infection control: Major Research Projects: Two grants for research projects requiring funding up to $15,000. (Total award = $30,000) Minor Research Projects: Two grants for research projects requiring funding up to $5,000. (Total award = $10,000) Educational Grants: $10,000 to further educational requests related to infection control i.e. oral/poster presentations at either national or international conferences. All applications must complete an application form.
UPDATE: Please note the closing date for all applications was 31 May 2017.
The Elaine Graham Robertson Award is presented at the Annual Conference- having commenced in the ACT Branch of AICA. The award is the result of a gift from Elaine Graham Robertson – a pioneer infection control professional in the ACT and funds that were previously provided by the ACT Infection Control Association. Click here for more information.
Background
Elaine Graham Robertson became the first full time Infection Control Practitioner at Woden Valley Hospital (now The Canberra Hospital) in 1983 and remained in that position until her marriage to Paul Robertson and their move to Wollongong in 1999. She became an Infection Control Consultant in the Illawarra and southern Sydney until her retirement and a move to Brisbane in 2004. In 1985 Elaine chaired the inaugural meeting of the Infection Control Association ACT (ICA ACT) and also in 1985 she was a member of the group that formed the Australian Infection Control Association (AICA). In 1987 she was convener for the first AICA conference held in Canberra and co-ordinated the writing of the first Infection Control Manual for the ACT. In 2004 Elaine drafted three sections of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing Infection Control Guidelines (2004). She has held Executive positions in ICA ACT and AICA. With others, she has been involved in research involving endoscopes. Elaine completed writing the History of AICA – The First Ten Years. Until her retirement she was a member of the Royal College of Nursing Australia and is a Fellow of ICA NSW as well as a Life Member of AICA/ACIPC. It is in Elaine’s honour and to perpetuate her ideals that this award was established in 2005 by ICA ACT.
Purpose
The Award has the following aims : Recognise Elaine’s many years of valuable contribution to infection control in the ACT and nationally. Reward excellence in infection control either by research or significant contribution to infection prevention and management practices within the recipient’s hospital or community by the way of an oral abstract presentation at the annual conference.
The recipients of the award since inception have been; Cathryn Murphy – 2006 – Inaugural recipient Marija Juraja – 2008 Sue van Der Graaf – 2010 Brett Mitchell – 2012 Deb Rhodes – 2013 Sue Borrell – 2015
CLAIRE BOARDMAN CICP MEDAL
The Claire Boardman CICP Medal for Leadership in Infection Prevention and Control is the highest honour of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control in recognition of the College’s Inaugural President, Ms Claire Boardman, and her leadership in establishing the College.
It is bestowed upon a member of the College who demonstrates outstanding commitment to, the leadership of, the profession and practice of infection prevention and control, and to the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control.
The award is biennial and offered in perpetuity from 2014, and includes;
The Claire Boardman CICP Medal for Leadership in Infection Prevention and Control,
Entry onto the Claire Boardman CICP Medal for Leadership in Infection Prevention and Control Memorial Trophy; and
$1000 prize money
Award Rules:
- The Claire Boardman CICP Medal for Leadership in Infection Prevention and Control shall be a biennial award offered in perpetuity from 2014.
- A Selection Panel will be appointed by the ACIPC Board comprising the Chair as Censor-in-Chief, Ms Claire Boardman, and 2 external panel members one of whom is an experienced ICP.
- The Award is bestowed upon an individual by the Board of the College on the recommendation of the Censor-in-Chief of the award, Ms Claire Boardman, via the Selection Panel
- The award will only be made where the Censor makes a recommendation to the Board where a suitable nomination is received and deemed appropriate. The Censor-in-Chief and Board of the College may elect to not bestow the award in any given year. The decision of the Censor-in-Chief and the Board of the College is final.
- The Medal shall be announced at the 2016 Annual Conference.
Entry Criteria
Nominations must address the following selection criteria:
- Demonstrate excellence in leadership in infection prevention and control practice over a consistent period. Leaders may have implemented change within their group, their peers or organisation that has altered the way people think and perform. They may have overcome significant difficulty or adversity to achieve excellent outcomes within the profession or for their organisation. By setting an example through their leadership and drive the nominee may have worked toward improving patient care, health systems, governance or knowledge.
- Demonstrate outstanding commitment to the leadership of the profession and discipline of infection prevention and control, and to the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control;
- Demonstrated excellence in commitment to promoting infection prevention and control practice widely;
- The nominee must at time of nomination be a current financial member of ACIPC;
- The nominee (or delegate) must register and attend the ACIPC 2016 Annual Conference.
Application Process
- Individuals may self-nominate or be nominated by a third party. Please advise if the nominee is aware or not aware of their nomination at the time of submission
- Entry forms & templates can be downloaded from the ACIPC website (www.acipc.org.au)
- Nominations must be submitted using the online portal and address all entry criteria.
- Completed nominations must be received by the close of business Wednesday 31st August 2016. Nominations received after the closing date or those that do not address the entry criteria will be excluded from selection.
- All nominations are confidential and the decision of the Selection Panel and Board is final.
Presentation of the Award
The Claire Boardman CICP Medal for Leadership in Infection Prevention and Control will be announced and awarded at the 2016 ACIPC Annual Conference: The nominee or their delegate must register to attend the ACIPC Conference and be available to collect the prize (or arrange for a proxy to be there on their behalf). The name and photos of the winner will be entered into the Claire Boardman CICP Medal for Leadership in Infection Prevention and Control Memorial Trophy, and published in official publications of ACIPC.
For more information, please contact the ACIPC Secretariat at admin@acipc.org.au
Click here for PDF details.
Click here for Nomination Form.
Webinars
Presented by Ms Susan Martland. Susan has worked in the healthcare sector for more than 25 years, beginning her career as a technical officer in a private pathology laboratory and later moving into the medical technology corporate world in various roles including government affairs, stakeholder relations, corporate communications, strategic marketing and sales.
Susan is recognised as an independent expert in sharps safety and needlestick injury prevention and is a longstanding College member. She is a passionate advocate for improving healthcare worker safety and was the driving force behind the formation of the Alliance for Sharps Safety and Needlestick Prevention in Healthcare (of which ACIPC is a foundation member).
Susan was Chair of the Alliance until February 2015 and a member of the Safework Australia expert advisory group responsible for drafting a Code of Practice for managing the risk of occupationally acquired infectious diseases.
In 2013, Susan worked closely with senior Members of Parliament in Canberra, to have (for the first time in Australia) the issue of sharps safety debated as a Private Members motion in Federal Parliament. Today she remains committed to raising awareness of the significant risk to healthcare workers from occupational exposure to blood and body fluids and in particular, the importance of sharps safety and needlestick injury prevention in healthcare.
Presented by Professor Michael Whitby.
Professor Whitby is professor of medicine and head of Greenslopes Clinical School. He is a graduate of The University of Queensland. He trained in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology, in Queensland, Glasgow, Nottingham and Nairobi. He was for many years, Director, Infection Management Services, Metropolitan South, based at Princess Alexandra Hospital.
His research has focussed on patient and healthcare worker safety, in particular related to the epidemiology and prevention of infections associated with healthcare.
Prevention of blood and body fluid exposures – what to do next. To register, please click here.
Presented by Ms Nicole Vause, a Clinical Practice Consultant in Infection Prevention and Control from Mt Gambier and Districts Health Service.
Thinking of preparing an abstract either to have your article accepted for publication or for presentation as a paper or poster for a scientific conference but finding the first step a little overwhelming?
Having your work published advances the knowledge available to your peers who can benefit from it and is also an achievement for yourself. If you are interested in finding out how to write an abstract for conference and for publication, this webinar will assist you to:
- Describe the importance of abstracts
- Outline the key attributes of high quality abstracts
- Discuss how peer review for conferences abstracts works
- List the ‘dos and don’ts’ for conference posters and oral presentations
Webinar Presenter – Dr Jon Otter
Dr Jon Otter is currently a Research Fellow at the Centre for Clinical Infection and Diagnostics Research (CIDR) (King’s College London / Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London) and the Scientific Director of the Healthcare Division at Bioquell (a company specializing in hydrogen peroxide vapor decontamination). He is the author/co-author of more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, 3 book chapters, numerous abstracts, and invited oral presentations. He also writes a regular healthcare microbiology and epidemiology blog. The Webinar is chaired and facilitated by Dr Brett Mitchell – Editor in Chief Healthcare Infection.
The STRUTI project is a research collaborative between researchers and infection control experts at Australian Catholic University, Avondale College for Higher Education, Canberra Hospital and Victorian Healthcare Associated Infection Surveillance Coordinating Centre.
This three phase project involves developing and piloting an online database and national approach for healthcare associated UTI surveillance in Australian hospitals and aged care facilities.
The webinar session provided an overview of the STRUTI project to date and report on the findings of the recently completed Phase II and was recorded in early February 2016..
Presenters
- Professor Anne Gardener – School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine at the Australian Catholic University on the Canberra Campus.
- Associate Professor Brett Mitchell – Associate Professor of Nursing, Director of the Lifestyle Research Centre Avondale and Interim Editor-in-Chief Infection Disease and Health.
- Ms Oyebola Fasugba – research associate in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine at Australian Catholic University.
Special Interest Groups and ACIPC Resources
Special Interest Groups provide an opportunity to share information and network on topics of interest. Membership of these groups is open to all ACIPC members from novice to expert.
Special Interest Groups that may be of interest are:
Low and Middle Income Country
Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol
Surveillance and Applied Epidemiology
Cleaning Disinfection and Sterilisation
Residential Aged Care (e.g. Long Term Aged Care Facilities)
Office Based Practice
State Based
To express an interest in joining or starting a SIG please contact the ACIPC Office Manager by emailing admin@acipc.org.au
WA Special Interest Group Resources can be found HERE
This page will be updated soon.
Useful Links
The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)
The Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID)
The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS)
The Healthcare Infection Society (HIS)
Asia Pacific Society of Infection Control (APSIC)
Infection Prevention Society – UK (IPS)
NZNO National Division of Infection Control Nurses
Infection Control Guidelines – Dept. of Health and Ageing
Infection Prevention and Control – Canada (IPAC)
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC)
ACIPC Courses
The ACIPC Foundations of Infection Prevention and Control course provides a valuable pathway for further learning and is an important resource for those wishing to pursue a career as an infection control professional.
Enrolments for 2017 have now closed. If you would like to register your interest in attending this course in 2018, please contact the ACIPC Office by emailing admin@acipc.org.au
With 11 carefully paced modules running from May to September 2017, it allows participants to apply knowledge to their own practice and is a key component to achieving the ACIPC Primary Credential (CICP-P).
The program has been designed to accommodate busy work schedules, with a series of self-directed learning units supported by a structured online curriculum. Topics include environmental hygiene, outbreak management, employee health, surveillance, epidemiology and microbiology.
Module 1 |
Overview of International and Australian IPC strategies |
Module 2 |
Microbiology and the role of the laboratory |
Module 3 |
Healthcare associated infection, standard and transmission based precautions |
Module 4 |
Surveillance and epidemiology |
Module 5 |
Environmental hygiene |
Module 6 |
Outbreak management |
Module 7 |
Multi-resistant organisms and antimicrobial stewardship |
Module 8 |
Aseptic technique and invasive devices |
Module 9 |
Employee health |
Module 10 |
Practice specific settings |
Module 11 |
Professional issues |
Course Assessment
Assessments include written assignments, discussion forums and a series of online questionnaires. Participants who successfully complete the course will be issues with a certificate recognising their achievement.
Target Audience
This course is designed for professionals working in the areas of health and allied health care, acute care, rural and remote health, office based practice, residential aged care, community health and health policy.
This course will also benefit professionals who work in environments that require infection prevention and control strategies to be implemented such as veterinary practice, tattooing and beauty therapy.
Cost
ACIPC member $1420 (inclusive of GST)
Non-member $1700 (inclusive of GST)
For enquiries, please contact admin@acipc.org.au
The ACIPC Infection Prevention and Control in Residential Care is a two day program that will provide participants with a body of knowledge and essential information specific for infection prevention and control in the Residential Care setting. Planning is underway for locations in 2017. We anticipate courses will be held in NSW, WA, TAS, QLD, VIC and SA. We will update this page with details on each course.
Registration will open shortly. Please email the ACIPC Office to register your interest in attending the course. Please contact us if you are interested in sponsoring a course.
Target Audience
Health and allied health care professionals and support staff from Residential Care settings. Participants may work in aged care settings or provide home care, or work with disabled clients in group care settings, or the home environment.
- Health Care Assistants (aged care, disability care, home care)
- Nurses
- Infection control link staff
- Environmental hygiene and Cleaning staff
- Residential Care managers (age care, NDIS providers)
- Catering staff
- Disability Support staff
- Home care
Program Learning Outcomes
The learning outcomes for this course are for participants to:
- Have an understanding of infection prevention and control issues that are important in residential aged care settings
- Have an understanding of important management concepts to improve resident health
- Be able to respond appropriately to infection prevention and control events, including outbreak management and staff and resident health issue
Course structure
Content will be delivered across two consecutive days.
Workshop 1 |
The target audience is all staff who work in residential care. |
Workshop 2 |
The target Audience is those who require more detailed knowledge of infection prevention/control; have an interest in the specialty, hold an infection prevention/control portfolio or responsibility, or have accountability for managing staff/clients. |
Cost
1 Day workshop
ACIPC member $155
Non-member $230
2 Day Workshop
ACIPC member $310
Non-member $465
Workshop 1
1. Principles of Infection Control in the Residential Care setting
Chain of infection
Basic microbiology
Transmission
Standard precautions
Transmission based precautions
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2. Work Practices, including |
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3. Staff Health |
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4. Resident Health |
Workshop 2
Facilitated by experience Infection Prevention and Control Consultants, the second workshop is intended to be follow on from the first workshop, allowing attendees to bring back questions from Day 1.This workshop can also be attended as a stand alone program. |
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1. Organisms of significance |
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2. Outbreak Management |
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3. Surveillance and Antimicrobial Stewardship |
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4. Governance and policy |
ACIPC Event Registration, Cancellation and Refund Policy
The Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) is the peak body for infection prevention and control professionals in the Australasian region. Education and research are a key focus area of ACIPC and events enable members and non-members to undertake education and identify areas for research that will lead to improved knowledge, evidence-based education and practice and improved patient outcomes.
The purpose of this policy is to provide a standardised, transparent approach to ACIPC event registration, cancellation and refund of registrant payment to both ACIPC members and nonmembers. Registration for ACIPC events is made via the on-line registration process through the ACIPC website for any College event.
- SCOPE
This policy covers registration, cancellation and refunds for ACIPC educational events.
2. DEFINITIONS
ACIPC – Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control
EFT – electronic funds transfer
Registrant – any person registering for an ACIPC event or course
3. LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK
The Registration, Cancellation and Refund policy will be published on the ACIPC website. All event and course registrants must agree to the Terms and Conditions prior to registering and paying for an event.
4. POLICY STATEMENT
The registration fees do not include insurance of any kind. Registrants are advised to consider personal insurance, including cover for travel, accommodation and personal possessions in the event of attending a face-to-face activity. ACIPC does not cover individuals against the cancellation or postponement of an event or for theft or damage to belongings. ACIPC reserves the right to cancel or postpone an activity.
Payments for events
Payment for ACIPC events occurs as an online function of registration on the ACIPC website
Credit Card Payment
Credit cards accepted are Visa and MasterCard.
Currency and GST
All prices are quoted in Australian Dollars (AUD$) and include 10% GST.
EFT Payments
Please include the EFT reference shown on your ACIPC Tax Invoice when submitting an EFT and email the details including date, amount and your bank’s reference to the ACIPC Secretariat admin@acipc.org.au
Confirmations and Tax Invoices
A confirmation with a PDF Tax Invoice will be emailed automatically when you submit your registration. If you pay by credit card a receipt will also be attached. If you elect for EFT/bank transfer an invoice will be emailed to you with payment due within 14 days.
If you are registering within 7 days of the event, you will be required to pay with a credit card when registering online. Direct debit method will not be available.
Cancellation & Refund
If a registrant is unable to attend an event, withdrawing from an event or applying for a refund, the following will apply.
Foundations of Infection Prevention and Control
Registration Online registration Credit Card payment at time of registration or EFT/Bank transfer to be paid BEFORE course commencement. EFT option not available in last 7 days before course commencement.
Cancellation no later than 7 days prior to course commencement Full refund will be issued within 14 days of cancellation notification
Cancellation less than 7 days prior to course commencement $100 cancellation fee applies to cover administration costs. Remainder of fees will be refunded within 30 days from receipt of cancellation.
Cancellation fees during Modules 1 – 5 Cancellation fee of $300 will apply. Remainder will be refunded within 30 days of receipt of cancellation.
Cancellation during Modules 6-11 No refund.
Residential Aged Care Workshop
Registration Online via credit card or EFT/bank transfer. NOTE: EFT not
available within 7 days of a workshop. Payment will be by credit card only.
Cancellation greater than 5 working days before workshop Full refund where payment is made online via credit card. $50 administration fee applies if payment via direct deposit/EFT. Refunds will occur within 14 days.
Cancellation inside 5 days before workshop No refund given. Subject to full payment to cover cost commitments.
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Registrants must take into consideration prior to requesting a refund that venue, food and beverage etc. may have been finalised and confirmed prior to the event and have incurred considerable and non-refundable costs to ACIPC.Refunds will only be processed to the credit card or bank account of the individual, organisation or institution from which the payment was received.
- Event registration fees will not be refunded or allocated to another event unless there are extenuating circumstances that prevents attendance. ACIPC cannot accept responsibility for changes to work commitments, illness or other personal circumstances within the specific cut-off periods as outlined.
- All cancellations must be advised via email to the ACIPC Secretariat at admin@acipc.org.au.
Please Note:
Attendees can elect for another person to attend the event in their place with no added cost.
In the event of a cancellation by ACIPC:
A full refund will be given to all registrants if a session has been cancelled by ACIPC.
Non Attendance
If a registered attendee fails to attend an event for which they had registered, the event registration fees will not be refunded or allocated to another event.
General
ACIPC reserves the right to cancel, postpone or re-schedule events due to low enrolments or unforeseen circumstances. Where a refund is due to a participant a full refund will be made within 14 days via the same method of payment. All registrants will be emailed informing them of the change in event circumstances at the College’s earliest convenience.
ACIPC Education Committee Members
Sharon Salmon – Chair
Sue Atkins – Committee Member
Robyn Donnellan – Committee Member
Sue Flockhart – Committee Member
Sally Havers – Committee Member
Allison Roderick – Committee Member
Belinda Henderson – Committee Member
Vanessa Sparke – Committee Member
Nicole Vause – Committee Member
ACIPC is the peak body for Infection Prevention and Control professionals in the Australasian region.
Our vision is to be the peak body and voice for infection prevention and control professionals focused on providing leadership and promoting education and evidence-based practice outcomes for a healthy community.
- Call for ACIPC Members to participate in PPE survey July 19, 2017
- Latest CARAlert report July 19, 2017
- 2017 ACIPC International Conference July 16, 2017
ACIPC Ltd
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E admin@acipc.org.au
W www.acipc.org.au
The office is open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday.