National seminar aimed at GPs

The Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria (CDDHV) will host the inaugural National Medical Professionals Seminar in Developmental Disability on November 8 and 9 at the Edmund Barton Centre, Melbourne.

The seminar has been organised in response to a survey conducted by the CDDHV into the educational needs of Victorian GPs in developmental disability health.

CDDHV is a joint initiative of the Departments of General Practice at Monash University and The University of Melbourne and is funded by the Department of Human Services.

Its main objective is to improve the quality of health care available to adults with developmental disabilities throughout Victoria.

Education of medical practitioners through training and clinical services is a key element in the CDDHV achieving this goal.

The Centre employs GPs, RACGP registrars, a psychiatrist, speech pathologist, clinical psychologists, developmental disability nurses, a human relations educator, researchers and administrative personnel, all of whom have specific interests in developmental disability health.

GPs from the CDDHV designed the National Medical Professionals Seminar in Developmental Disability as an opportunity for GPs and other medical professionals to meet with local, national and international practitioners and specialists who have clinical and/or research expertise in the provision of developmental disability health care.

During conference sessions medical professionals can increase their knowledge about developmental disability, based on the latest information; practice new skills in workshops; discuss issues in developmental disability health and increase their networks, professional supports and resource base in developmental disability health care.

Topics to be covered by the seminar include:

• Behavioural and psychiatric issues;

• Syndrome-specific medical problems including genetics and the impact of current and future genetic advances;

• Neurological issues, such as epilepsy;

• Management of the transition from childhood to adulthood and ageing in the context of medical issues and collaborating with other professionals and carers;

• The role of allied health therapies, including speech and physiotherapy;

• Human relations and sexuality issues;

• Preventative health and primary health care and complex medical problems as they relate to specific syndromes.

Keynote speakers at the seminar will include University of Glasgow Intellectual Disabilities Chair Professor Sally-Ann Cooper, New York Medical College Professor of Paediatrics Pasquale Accardo and Lecturer in Developmental Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge Dr Tony Holland.

• For further information contact Jenny Morrison at the Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria, Suite 202, 3 Chester Street, Oakleigh, telephone 9567 1518, fax 9564 8330, email jenny.morrison@med.monash.edu.au or visit www.med.monash.edu.au/general-practice/units/cddh.