Dear QMWS Members and Friends,
Thank you to all that attended and helped out with the QMWS dinner on 19th August, which was moved to an online platform because of the recent Covid threat. However, this made it seem like we all, also those from wider Queensland and interstate, were sitting next to each other.
The event was proudly sponsored by Eve Health and Drs Kellie Tatham and Julie Buchanan shared some of their experiences with patient’s perinatal mental health.
Professor Christel Middeldorp, Child and Youth Psychiatrist and co-chair of the Strategy expert group, updated us on the brand-new National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy. This has become even more important with the added stressors of the Covid pandemic.
Our own Dr Emily Horan, QMWS committee member (who makes our beautiful newsletters) and young AFMW member gave us a short overview of the impact of Covid-19 on children and youth. She had presented at the AFMW parallel event for the UN Committee on the Status of Women earlier this year together with several other yAFMW and QMWS members. We hope to also hear them present at future QMWS events.
With the increased pressure on the health system, we know that a growing number of us have difficulty referring patients to mental health providers, especially children and youth. We were very grateful to have Carol Markie-Dadds give us more information about the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program.
There was a lively discussion and Dr Shannon Morton, child psychiatrist, shared her initiative to provide group supervision for GP’s. Information about the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program and Dr Morton’s supervision sessions will be shared with attendees.
Please email us if you know of any more worthwhile support structures for children and teen’s mental health ([email protected]) as we would like to share this with our members.
We are delighted that the raffle to fundraise for the 2022 QMWS/NCWQ bursary made almost $400.
Depending on the unfolding Covid situation we hope to have an in-person dinner at United Services Club on 28th October to make up for missing the dinner in August.
The Christmas party will be held at Medley Cafe on Sunday 28th November with a presentation from Dr Jennifer Schafer, medical director of Doctors’ Health in Queensland. This will also be the opportunity to hear from our 2021 bursary winners.
QMWS will be hosting the online Masterclass Re:Set by Self-Compassion expert Dr Marga Gooren. This Masterclass is specifically designed for female doctors and medical students. The generous support of Avant Mutual has made it possible to offer the Masterclass twice, one on 11th September and 20th November 2021.
Research has shown that Self-Compassion decreases stress, anxiety, depression, burnout and compassion fatigue, and improves resilience, self-care, engagement, wellbeing and quality of care in doctors and other healthcare workers. This is especially important for the many of us that are at risk of or already experiencing Pandemic Fatigue, Compassion Fatigue and/or Burnout.
There are limited tickets still available so don’t miss out.
We hope you will follow us on social media or join as a member to keep up with the QMWS updates.
Dr Ira van der Steenstraten, QMWS President
About the speakers
Professor Christel Middeldorp
Dr Christel Middeldorp is Professor of Child & Youth Psychiatry, a conjoint position with the University of Queensland and Children’s Health Queensland. Her research focuses on improving the identification of children that are at risk for a chronic course of their mental disorder and to develop treatment targeted at these groups to prevent an unfavorable course. In 2019, she was appointed by minister Greg Hunt to co-chair the expert group for the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy. In 2017 she received the international scholar award from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Dr Emily Horan
Dr Emily Horan is a junior doctor currently working as a senior house officer at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. She holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Medical Studies, a Doctor of Medicine from Bond University and is currently completing a Masters of Public Health and Tropical Medicine from James Cook University.
She has experience working in plastic and reconstructive surgery, dermatology and in emergency and rural health. She is an active member on the Queensland Medical Women’s Society, and the Young Australian Federation of Medical Women.
Carol Markie-Dadds
Carol is a Country Director at Triple P International (TPI), the company responsible for the worldwide dissemination of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program. In this role, Carol leads the TPI business strategy development for Australia, and since 2015, has led the state-wide rollout of Triple P, funded by the Queensland Government. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and is co-author of many Triple P practitioner and parent resources. Prior to joining TPI, Carol held Senior Executive roles with the Queensland Government, leading strategic policy and implementation teams in the Department of Education. She has previously operated a private practice and published extensively about children’s mental health and well-being, the influence of parenting and effective family interventions.
Raffle prize winners
1st PRIZE WINNER
Ticket Number: #163
2nd PRIZE WINNER
Ticket Number: #207
3rd PRIZE WINNER
Ticket Number: #201
4th PRIZE WINNER
Ticket Number: #160
5th PRIZE WINNER
Ticket Number: #136
