Face-to-face workshops

Part of the National Asthma Council Australia's Asthma Education Program.

The Asthma and Respiratory Management Seminar for Practice Nurses provides role-specific education on best-practice asthma and respiratory management for practice nurses. Starting with the principles of diagnosis and management, each session then covers current statistics, paediatric and adult asthma, allergy, medications, device technique and COPD followed by an overview of conducting spirometry in general practice.

As a new component of the Seminar in this iteration of our education program, we are offering an additional optional module, Nurse-Led Asthma & Respiratory Clinics. This module provides role specific education on creating and running asthma and respiratory clinics in general practice. Concentrating on business skills and MBS item numbers, this session will help practice nurses learn the skills necessary to run as asthma and respiratory clinic in their practice. These skills are also transferrable to other chronic diseases. This module is designed so that the Practice Manager can also attend.

Workshops are presented by health professional peer educators from our team of experts, which includes asthma and respiratory educators and practice nurses.

Our Seminar has been extremely popular with practice nurses since it was established in 2009, with consistently positive feedback from participants. Under the last series (held 2021-2023):

• > 97% of survey respondents believed the workshop met all the expected learning objectives.
• 93% of survey respondents reported the presenter’s knowledge of workshop subject matter was ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’.

Key details

• Participants: Practice nurses, asthma and respiratory educators
• Duration: 6.5 hours (including breaks)

Learning objectives

Learning objectives for practice nurses:

• Identify the guideline resources to diagnose and manage asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Describe ways to implement current guidelines into your practice (including device use, patient education, and spirometry)
• Identify the importance of a written action plans for both asthma and COPD
• Describe the steps in managing acute asthma in primary care

Professional development recognition

• This activity has been endorsed by APNA according to approved quality standards criteria (6 CPD hours)

Workshop request

Each workshop is held in conjunction with a local host organisation. Hosting a workshop is generally quite straightforward, as the NAC coordinates the presenters and resource materials (including associated expenses).

The host organisation will need to:

• Schedule and organise the session, use the request form to express an interest in hosting
• Arrange the venue, audio-visual equipment and catering
• Promote the workshop to local practice nurses and asthma & respiratory educators
• Receive registrations and confirm attendee participation
• Be on-hand to coordinate the running of the workshop
• Provide a brief report on the workshop after the session

Comprehensive training in the application, measurement and interpretation of spirometry for GPs and practice nurses.

Part of the National Asthma Council Australia's Asthma Education Program.

The Spirometry Training Course provides comprehensive training in the application, measurement and interpretation of expiratory spirometry in general practice. The 7-hour interactive workshop includes hands-on components to allow participants to apply their new knowledge in a practical setting.

The course is the result of an extensive consultation and development process involving members of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science (ANZSRS) and the NAC's GP Asthma Group as well as expert asthma and respiratory educators.

Workshops are presented by health professional peer educators from our team of experts, usually one GP and one respiratory scientist. Suitably qualified demonstrators may also be involved to ensure a maximum ratio of participants to educators of 5:1 during the practical components.

Launched in 2007, the course is Australia's first truly national spirometry training course for GPs and practice nurses. Under the last series (held 2021-2023):

• 99% of survey respondents believe the workshop met all the expected learning outcomes.
• 99% of survey respondents believed the workshop would influence clinical management.
• 86% of survey respondents either ‘partially’ or ‘entirely’ retained confidence at six months to perform quality spirometry.

Key details

• Participants: GPs, practice nurses, asthma and respiratory educators
• Prerequisites: Completion of pre-reading provided by NAC via host organisation
• Duration: 7 hours (including breaks)

Health professionals who have previously completed formal spirometry training may find our short refresher workshop more suitable for their needs. For details, go to the Spirometry Training Update section below.

Learning objectives

Learning objectives for participants:

• Identify the clinical indications where spirometry is recommended
• Demonstrate how to correctly perform a spirometry test using role play and peer review
• Interpret spirometry results to differentiate between respiratory conditions, such as asthma & COPD
• Assess practice quality assurance procedures for spirometry

Professional development recognition

Participants may be eligible for continuing professional development (CPD) hours from the following organisations:

• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP): Allocated 4.5 hours of Educational Activity and 1.5 hours of Reviewing Performance for the 2023-2025 triennium, Activity Number: 409754
• Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM): Accredited by ACRRM as an educational event for 6 CPD educational hours
• This activity has been endorsed by APNA according to approved quality standards criteria

Workshop request

Each workshop is held in conjunction with a local host organisation. Hosting a workshop is generally quite straightforward, as the NAC coordinates the presenters and resource materials (including associated expenses).

The host organisation will need to:

• Schedule and organise the session, use the request form to express an interest in hosting
• Arrange the venue, audio-visual equipment and catering
• Promote the workshop to local GPs, practice nurses and asthma & respiratory educators
• Receive registrations and confirm attendee participation
• Be on-hand to coordinate the running of the workshop
• Provide a brief report on the workshop after the session

Refresher training for GPs and practice nurses who have previously undertaken formal spirometry training.

Part of the National Asthma Council Australia's Asthma Education Program.

The Spirometry Training Update provides refresher training in the application, measurement and interpretation of spirometry in general practice for GPs and practice nurses who have previously undertaken formal spirometry training.

Developed in response to feedback from participants and presenters of the NAC's Spirometry Training Course, the Update workshops were held for the first time in late 2010. Results from the 2021-2023 round of workshops demonstrate:

• 100% of survey respondents believed the workshop learning outcomes had been met.
• 92% of survey respondents believed the workshop would influence clinical management.

Workshops are presented by health professional peer educators from our team of experts, which includes GPs, respiratory scientists and asthma & respiratory educators.

Key details

• Participants: GPs, practice nurses, asthma & respiratory educators
• Prerequisites: Completion of formal training in spirometry (e.g. NAC's Spirometry Training Course)
• Duration: 2.5 hours (not including breaks)

Learning objective

Learning objectives for participants:

• Identify the clinical indications where spirometry is recommended
• Demonstrate the ability to correctly perform a spirometry test, using role play and peer review
• Interpret spirometry results to differentiate between respiratory conditions, such as asthma and COPD
• Assess your own practice quality assurance procedures for spirometry

Professional development recognition

Workshop participants may be eligible for continuing professional development (CPD) points from the following organisations:

• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP): Allocated 2.5 hours of Educational Activities for the 2023-2025 triennium, Activity Number: 407448
• Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM): Accredited by ACRRM as an educational event for 2.5 CPD educational hours
• This activity has been endorsed by APNA according to approved quality standards criteria

Workshop request

Hosting a workshop is generally quite straightforward, as the NAC coordinates the presenters and resource materials (including associated expenses).

The host organisation will need to:

• Schedule and organise the session, use the request form to express an interest in hosting
• Arrange the venue, audio-visual equipment and catering
• Promote the workshop to local GPs, practice nurses and asthma & respiratory educators
• Receive registrations and confirm attendee participation
• Be on-hand to coordinate the running of the workshop
• Provide a brief report on the workshop after the session

Role-specific education for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners.

Part of the National Asthma Council Australia's Asthma Education Program.

The Asthma Update for Aboriginal Health Workers and Practitioners provides an overview of asthma and spirometry tailored to the specific needs of Aboriginal health workers and Aboriginal Health Practitioners. Topics include asthma, medications, correct inhaler device use, written asthma action plans, emergency management and spirometry.

Workshops are presented by health professional peer educators from our team of experts, which includes asthma and respiratory educators and respiratory scientists. Under the last series (held 2018-2021), 100% of AHW presenters strongly agreed the workshop met its learning objectives.

Key details

• Participants: Aboriginal Health Workers, Aboriginal Health Practitioners, Aboriginal Outreach Workers and Aboriginal Liaison Workers working within Primary Care, e.g. with device use education.
• Duration: 4 hours (including breaks)

Learning objectives

Learning objectives for participants:

• Increase knowledge and awareness of asthma management and medications
• Develop practical skills to teach correct device use
• Increase confidence in managing patients with asthma
• Discuss acute asthma management
• Increase knowledge and awareness of the role of spirometry

Workshop request

Each workshop is held in conjunction with a local host organisation, which is usually an Aboriginal Medical Service. Hosting a workshop is generally quite straightforward, as the NAC coordinates the presenters and resource materials (including associated expenses).

The host organisation will need to:

• Schedule and organise the session, use the request form to express an interest in hosting
• Arrange the venue, audio visual equipment and catering
• Promote the workshop to local Aboriginal Health Workers
• Receive registrations and confirm attendee participation
• Be on-hand to coordinate the running of the workshop
• Provide a brief report on the workshop after the session