Online booking of first visit at RPA Women & Babies
As you would be aware, RPA Women & Babies encourage women to book their first antenatal visit via their online form.

I receive a number a calls from women who have filled in the on-line form but are concerned that they have not received any notification from the hospital as to when their appointment is scheduled.

I have been having discussions with RPA Women & Babies in regards to adding / improving their website to address these and other concerns.

I’m more than happy to answer these questions but if you can inform women that book on-line that it may be 2-3 weeks before they receive notification in the mail of their appointment – which at present ~ 8-9 weeks, may alleviate some of their concern. I’ll keep you posted as to any further information regarding RPA Women & Babies website.

Funds still available for referral through the ATAPS Program for women experiencing Perinatal Depression
Many of you will already be aware that through the ATAPS program you are able to refer women with perinatal depression (deemed to be from conception to one year postnatal) to an allied health professional (eg. Clinical Psychologist).

The programme, which is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing has funds available for this particular stream of the ATAPS program.

CSGPN is able to remunerate the allied health professional for 12 sessions in a financial year, with a further 6 sessions for patients under exceptional circumstances. Should you wish to discuss this further, please contact Mano Arumanayagam on 8752 4907 or Karen Wheeler on 8752 4906.

Do you have new mothers whom you feel are isolated?
The Infants Home Child & Family Services together with the University of NSW are conducting the Changing Life Trajectories Research Project. The project will offer free parenting education and support to assist isolated mothers in parenting their newborn. The program will include 10 sessions: 4 individual home visits and 6 parent education groups. The program aims to increase maternal responsiveness, increase knowledge and confidence in parenting, decrease social isolation, increase connectedness and use of services. For further information, please contact Nicole Bechard on ph 9799 4844 or nbechard@theinfantshome.org.au

2011 Antenatal Shared Care GP Resource Manual
We are presently in the process of updating the Antenatal Shared Care GP Resource Manual for 2011. A decision has been made that documents within the manual will primarily be available on the CSGPN website (this offers the ability to update regularly); a CD version for distribution and hard copies for those that don’t have internet access etc or request such.