What's New... HARP - Asthma Management Bulletin (published byDHS) Northern Division of General Practice: Asthma Best Practice Model project is mention on page 5. View PDF of bulletin Coming Soon... The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology & Allergy (ASCIA) 14th Annual Scientific Meeting When: 10 - 13 October 2003 Where: Sheraton Towers Southgate & Sebel Lodge Hotel Yarra Valley, Melbourne, Australia ASCIA Annual Scientific Meeting IPCRG 2nd World Conference Respiratory Disease in Primary Care 'The Way Forward' When: 19 - 22 February 2004 Where: Hotel Sofitel, Melbourne, Australia IPCRG Melbourne 2004 The 2004 Australian Asthma Conference 'A fresh breath - looking to the future' When: 22 - 25 February 2004 Where: Hotel Sofitel, Melbourne, Australia Asthma Conference 2004 Last Modified: 2 September, 2003
		Asthma is one of the ten most common reasons for seeing general practitioners (GP), who play a pivotal role in early detection and management of asthma, as about 80% of Australian population consult their GP at least once a year. The prevalence of asthma in Australia is one of the highest in the world, affecting over two million people and costing $585 - $720 million a year. It is the most common chronic respiratory disease in the Australian population and the leading cause of disease in Victorian children, accounting for about one fifth of the total disease burden in children 0 - 14 years (reference). The University of Melbourne's Department of General Practice (Northern Region) is implementing this Asthma in General Practice research, evaluation and development program in the northern and western metropolitan area of Melbourne. This will comprehensively explore aspects of asthma - e.g. the nature of asthma, triggers, environmental factors, interventions, and education programs - from the perspective of general practice and primary care, and the interface between primary and acute care. This Asthma Program is a partnership including the University of Melbourne Department of General Practice, Northern Division of General Practice and the North West Melbourne Division of General Practice. Royal Children's Hospital, The Northern Hospital, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Monash University Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Department of Rural Health at Shepparton and Dianella and other Community Health Services in the region. The asthma team comprises: Dr Nabil Sulaiman, Program Leader Lucy Keatley, Asthma Educator Anne Bourke, Asthma Educator Ms Tanja Maksimovic, Research Assistant Ms Anne Lopes, Administrative Assistant Mr Chris Barton, PhD Candidate Collaborators are: Prof Teng Liaw, Head of the Department of Rural Health at Shepparton, Ex-Director of The University of Melbourne,Department of General Practice Northern Unit Dr Claire Harris, formerly GP Liaison Officer, Royal Children's Hospital Dr Craig Winter, Director ED, The Northern Hospital Mr Phillip Bain, CEO Northern Division of General Practice Ms Carolyn Searle, CEO North West Melbourne Division of General Practice Dr Shyamali Dharmage, The University of Melbourne, Department of Public Health A/Prof Susan Sawyer, Royal Children's Hospital Dr Chris Hogan, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners A/Prof Michael Abramson, Monash University, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine · Dr Nan Preswell, Medical Director, Dianella Community Health· Debra O'Connor, Director of Allied Health and Health Promotion, Dianella Community Health Dr David James, The Northern Hospital Dr Jim Goutzamanis, The Northern Hospital