News and Events

Another Successful ChIPS Camp

Posted on

The Chronic Illness Peer Support (ChIPS) Program held its annual camp from 18th – 20th
January at Cave Hill Creek near Beaufort.  A highlight on the ChIPS calendar, 41 members attended this year, along with ChIPS staff, volunteers and a healthcare team.  Over the three days, teams competed for points in activities such as archery, canoeing and bouldering wall (amongst other things).

The theme for this year’s camp was Disney and a highlight of the camp was the costume party on the second night. The costumes varied from Captain Hook to Cars McQueen and everything in between!

The CampCommittee (a youth led committee that worked on the camp for a year prior)assisted by ChIPS staff kept things on track and created a relaxed vibe.  The ChIPS members were a diverse group of young people of differing ages and conditions who helped create a fantastic three days of inclusiveness, respect, challenge and fun – exactly what ChIPS Camp is all about!

For more information on the ChIPS Program please contact Jarnia Cameron
on jarnia.cameron@rch.org.au or 03 9345 6616.

Sunday Age picks up work CAH Eating Disorders Program

Posted on

Eating Disorders Program team

The outstanding results of The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Adolescent Health eating disorders program has been highlighted in the Sunday Age (22/1/12)http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/family-ties-helping-teenagers-rise-above-anorexia-20120121-1qbcy.html

Two families talked about their path to recovery by undertaking an intensive
in-home treatment known as Family Based Treatment. This form of therapy was
developed by the Maudsley Hospital, London and implemented by the Centre for
Adolescent Health in 2008.

To read the words, “Before, we were not really focused on cure because we saw it so infrequently for those who were very unwell. Cure is now expected,” in response to a complex health issue such as anorexia, gives families hope for the future.

The RCH eating disorders team won 2 prestigious awards in 2011 in recognition of the significance of this program – http://rch.org.au/blogs/cah/2011/11/23/eating-disorders-program-wins-2nd-award-in-two-days/

Further information about the Eating Disorders Program can be found in the link below:

http://www.rch.org.au/cah/services.cfm?doc_id=13464

Youth Health Nurse Study Day

Posted on

Nurses who are working with and caring for young people are invited to this one-day introduction into the role and scope of the youth health nurse.

Date: Thursday 23 February 2012
Time: 9am – 4.30pm
Venue: The Royal Children’s Hospital, West Building, Level 1, Health Education and Learning Precinct, Vernon Collins Room (via the yellow lifts)

Program overview

  • Adolescents and engaging them in their own health care
  • HEADDS and psychosocial screening tools
  • Drugs and alcohol in the adolescent context
  • Acute and chronic mental health
  • Sexual health
  • Supervision and reflective practice

This study day is equal to seven Continuing Professional Development hours.

For more info and registration details please see the Forums page.

New PhD highlights the need for cultural sensitivity in implementing (HPV) vaccines

Posted on

Congratulations to Dr. Margaret Heffernan OAM who recently graduated from The University of Melbourne with a Doctor of Philosophy. The title of Margaret’s thesis was ‘Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines: the attitudes and intentions of Australian health providers and parents from three
diverse cultural groups towards HPV vaccination of pre-adolescent children’.

Dr Heffernan’s thesis was supervised by Professor Suzanne Garland, Professor Susan Sawyer (Centre for Adolescent Health), Associate Professor Kirsten McCaffery and Professor Michael Quinn. It explored the attitudes of Australian doctors (General Practitioners in Melbourne, Victoria), and parents toward adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, and in particular the influence of cultural values on parental attitudes. Parents from three different cultural groups were recruited for the study: Anglo: Melbourne, Victoria; Aboriginal: Central Australia and Victoria; and Chinese: Melbourne, Victoria.

In Australia girls in the first year of secondary school are offered 3 doses of the HPV vaccines which offer 80% protection against HPV infection and 90% protection against genital warts. There are over 40 different types of sexually transmitted HPV. These have no symptoms, are highly contagious, and a very common infection to both men and women, especially sexually active teenagers. Two of the high risk HPV types are a known cause of cervical cancer; to be most effective, the HPV vaccines which protect against these two types need to be administered before sexual activity commences.

Interviews with 111 parents revealed that, regardless of their background, they shared common values toward protecting their child’s health through vaccination. However, not all parents were found to support a HPV vaccine being given to their daughters at a young age. There were differences in parent attitudes toward teenage sexuality, and parents’ preferences for age of vaccination were influenced by their culturally derived sexual norms, and the lack of data on the vaccine’s safety and efficacy.

Parents had almost no awareness of important facts about genital HPV infection, and whilst most parents had heard of cervical cancer not all had heard of genital warts. The Government HPV vaccine information resources were regarded as lacking in sufficient detail to help parents understand HPV or the vaccine’s benefit for young girls.

Many women were surprised that their doctors had not previously shared HPV information with them during routine health checks. Whilst the 15 GPs agreed with the HPV vaccines in principle, many of them did not see their role as the main group to educate the public about HPV (unless a woman presented with an abnormal Pap screen result), or specific details of the new vaccines, and many GPs were found to lack sufficient information.

Parents’ reluctance toward vaccination of young adolescent girls highlights improvements that need to be made to the implementation strategies for new vaccines. The GPs’ knowledge levels indicate a review of their information training needs is required before public offerings of future controversial vaccines. In the initial roll-out of the HPV vaccine through schools and clinics, generalisations were made about the resources that would help parents give their consent and for GPs to make recommendations; important cultural, social and system factors were ignored.

Dr Heffernan’s study shows that a universal approach to the introduction of sexually-related vaccines does not satisfy a diverse population’s needs. Australia is now embarking on the next wave of its HPV vaccine program. This study suggests
that before further implementation of the HPV vaccine program in our diverse population, a socio-ecological approach may contribute to informed consent.

Another PhD for CAH team member

Posted on

Exploring the experiences of adolescents who have a brother or sister with an acquired brain injury

Dr. Angela Gent recently completed her PhD thesis, under the supervision of Professor Susan Sawyer and Professor Vicki Anderson, exploring the experiences of adolescents living with a brother or sister with an acquired brain injury (ABI). Paediatric ABI is a
major cause of disability in Australia that can have long-lasting consequences for injured children and the families who care for them, yet, little is known about any specific impacts on non-injured siblings.

Interviews with 30 adolescent-aged siblings revealed that the ABI led to significant
disruption to siblings’ lives across a number of areas (e.g. school performance, friends, family relationships), in addition to the trauma of the injury event causing disruptions to their sense of meaning and security in the world. Despite playing a significant role in the daily care of their injured brother or sister, siblings described having a lack of information and feeling left out and unheard by parents and health professionals. Siblings showed, however, that despite these challenges they were able to mobilise their own internal resources to make positive meanings and find personal benefits from
their experiences. Of particular interest was that taking part in this talking-based research study addressed some of the unmet needs expressed by siblings, giving them a voice and providing a confidential space to talk, sometimes for the first time since the injury.

The study’s findings suggest efforts to provide siblings with ongoing injury-related information and a safe and confidential space to talk and gain some meaning from their experiences could contribute to their own efforts to adjust to the challenges of ABI in a brother or sister.

THe CAH has left the building!

Posted on

How do you say goodbye to your home aftermore than 20 years? With a farewell party of course!

After months and months of planning, the reality of moving into the new Royal Children’s Hospital on Monday December 5 set in when over 200 crates arrived at William Buckland House, No 6 and No 8 Gatehouse Street. It felt like we’d been invaded by orange and blue aliens as offices and corridors were inundated with empty crates waiting to be filled with the contents of Centre for Adolescent Health. This was not only a chance for a big clean out, but staff found themselves reflecting on the depth and volume of work produced over 20 years.

In the week leading up to the move we held a final briefing session in the William Buckland House seminar room. Centre for Adolescent Director, Professor Susan Sawyer produced a photo presentation featuring past staff and significant moments in the Centre’s history and passionately reflected on the years of advancing young people’s health from William Buckland House. Professor George Patton, Director of Research also spoke of the significant research produced by staff over 20 years and the new opportunities for strengthening collaborations in the future.

With the bulk of packing completed, it was time to farewell our old home with a party in the courtyard Lots of past staff members joined in the celebrations where there was much reminiscing, laughter,  some sadness and another rousing speech by our Director.

The new Royal Children’s Hospital provides a wonderful space for our adolescent patients and their families.  It houses state of the art educational and teaching facilities that will support quality teaching within our undergraduate and postgraduate training programs. It will also allow us to grow our professional collaborations with The Royal Children’s Hospital, the Department of Paediatrics at The University of Melbourne and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.

Some things won’t change; our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of
young people by advancing knowledge, practice and policy remains undiminished.
Specifically, the Centre for Adolescent Health will continue to provide health care services in the community for the most disadvantaged young people through the Young People’s Health Service at Frontyard (CBD), a primary care service for homeless youth, and through the Adolescent Forensic Health Service, a primary health and specialist forensic health service located in Park Street, Parkville.

Just as adolescence is viewed as the 2nd critical developmental period, filled with opportunities as well as risks, the Centre for Adolescent Health sees the move to the RCH as its 2nd critical period: we are excited about the many benefits of being located within the new hospital.

P.S. Well we’re here now; we’ve had our first day at the new RCH. Yes it’s different, but we’re all settling into our new desks and offices with a sense of excitement. We have unpacked our crates! We look forward to the new and exciting advances to be made in adolescent health over the next 20 years.

Photos from top, left to right:

Di Garner, Craig Hodges, Sarah Glover, George Patton & Susan Saywer.
Alex Crooke, Stephen Hearps, Angela Khor, Lisa, Meagan Hunt, Rony Duncan.
Libby Hughes, Erica Allen, Sam Van Staalduinen, Stephanie Plenty.
Mick Creati, Cathy Crock, John Toumbourou.

Complex issues for young people at school with chronic health conditions

Posted on

A recent article in Education Review highlights the complexity of the health-educationinterface for young people with chronic health conditions (see attached article). This paper is by Eve Bowtell who is undertaking a PhD student based at the Centre for Adolescent Health through the Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, under the supervision of Professor Susan Sawyer (The University of Melbourne), Dr Julie Green (RCH Education Institute) and Dr Rosalie Aroni (Monash University).

In Eve’s study, parents with a child with one of three chronic health conditions in the final years of secondary education were invited to participate via an indepth interview. The three health conditions were: cystic fibrosis, a largely invisible condition that is life-long and usually diagnosed within the first year of life; cancer, a condition well-recognised by the community; and anorexia nervosa, a mental health condition with clear physical impact. Stakeholders from both the education and health sectors were also invited to share their perceptions and experiences of seeking or providing support for these young people.

The preliminary findings suggest that to usefully support students with chronic health conditions the following are important: clear communication between the health and education sectors; confidentiality of student health information; and clear pathways that respect this but simultaneously enable teachers, including emergency teachers, to understand individual students’ needs. Of particular interest has been the comparative differences across the three conditions and what this means for the provision of support for students with chronic health conditions, which is the focus of subsequent qualitative analysis.

To read the article click here: At School with a Chronic Condition. Eve Bowtell

One in twelve teens self harm, study finds

Posted on

Professor George Patton from the Centre Adolescent Health, participated last night in the media launch by The Lancet in London of a new research paper that will be published this week on self-harming in adolescents.

See this link for the article in The Lancet: The natural history of self-harm from adolescence to young adulthood: a population based study .

This longitudinal paper, a collaboration with the Institute of Psychiatry in London, reports the natural history of self-harming within the Victorian Adolescent Cohort Study – it highlights the changing prevalence across the adolescent and young adult years. A very large number of media agencies were present at the launch in London.

Congratulations to Prof George Patton, Dr Craig Olsson, Dr Helena Romaniuk and Dr Carolyn Coffey who were co-authors.

This publication marks the 3rd paper this year in The Lancet by the Centre for Adolescent Heath/MCRI which is another fairly remarkable achievement by Prof Patton and the research team.

For further information go to MCRI’s web site on the launch.

Eating Disorders Program wins 2nd Award in two days!

Posted on

For the second time in two days Professor Susan Sawyer found herself accepting an award on behalf of the wonderful team who work on the Eating Disorders Program.

Professor Susan Sawyer Director, Centre for Adolescent
Health, and Dr Andrew Court, co-lead of the RCH Eating Disorder program, were delighted to attend the Premier’s Health Awards ceremony last week following the shortlisting of the RCH Eating Disorder program in the category of ‘Outstanding achievement by an individual or team in mental health”. In the photo is Dr Andrew Court, Christine Kilpatrick (CEO RCH), Prof Susan Sawyer, Health Minister Mary Wooldridge and Dr Peter McDougall (Chief of Medicine RCH).

Having just won the RCH Team Award for the same program the night before at the 141st RCH Annual General Meeting and Awards night, Professor Sawyer said that she’d managed to persuade herself that the team couldn’t possibly get up two night in a row.

“But as I listened to the Minister for Health, the Minister for Mental Health and the Premier of Victoria each speak in turn about what these awards were about – excellence, innovation, patient and family centred care, team work, integrated services – Andrew and I looked at each other and held our breath, knowing that the results we have achieved are as remarkable as they were challenging to acheive.” she said.

“And suddenly, it was our turn – and we won!  It was even more of a buzz than the night before”, she said, referring to same team being awarded the RCH Team Award at the 141st RCH Annual General Meeting and Awards Night.

The award was one of three awards that the RCH took home on the night.

Last night’s award makes it two in a row for the Centre for Adolescent Health. Last
year, the Chronic Illness Peer Support program was awarded a Premier’s Health
Award for excellence in ‘Tackling chronic disease and improving public health’.

CAH shines at 8th Australian and New Zealand Adolescent Health Conference

Posted on

The Centre for Adolescent Health was well represented at the 8th Australian and New Zealand Adololescent Health Conference 2011 held in Sydney from 9-11th November. There was a strong theme of indigenous health and of raising the profile of youth health within our region. Young people themselves were bothy vibrantly engaged and engaging through many different theatre and dance events within the conference together with a series
of formal presentations and feedback by young people themselves.

The Centre for Adolescent Health’s research, clinical and education programs were well represented, as were many staff and students, both current and past (see photos).

The conference program is available at www.youthhealth2011.com.au.

Presentations involving Centre for Adolescent Health staff and students (in italics):

  • Becoming an Adolescent Friendly Hospital (Susan Sawyer)
  • How complete is our picture of adolescent health? (George Patton)
  • Delivering primary health services in custodial to young people in custodial services (LynneFountain, Loretta Bellato, Dianne Garner)
  • Early interventions for young people with challenging behaviours (Monica Hadges)
  • Distance Education in Adolescent Health: Challenges and opportunities. (Andrea Krelle, Sam Van Staalduinen)
  • Workforce development in adolescent and young adult cancer care (Andrea Krelle, Sam Van Staalduinen, Kate Thompson, Lucy Holland, Lisa Orme, Susan Sawyer)
  • Consumer perspectives on adolescent friendly cancer care (Sarah Drew, Sharon DeGraves, Maria McCarthy, Tamara Bugge, Lisa Orme)
  • The Critical Friend: Things will change but not necessarily the way you expect them to! (Andrea Krelle, Helen Butler, Lea Trafford, Ian Seal)
  • Critical friends supporting change in schools (Andrea Krelle, Helen Butler)
  • Confidentiality with adolescents in the medicalsetting: What do parents think? (Rony Duncan, Maureen Jekel, Flora Pearce, Avihu Boneh, Anouk Derkes, Moya
    Vandeleur    , Michelle O’Connell, Susan Sawyer)
  • “It would have destroyed her life”. Interviews with psychologists about limits to confidentiality with adolescents (Rony Duncan, Annette Hall, Ann Knowles).
  • Program Evaluation: What’s so good about the Chronic Illness Peer Support Program? (Sarah Drew, Jessica Walton, Meagan Hunt, Loretta Bellato, Susan Sawyer)
  • Type 2 diabetes in Australian indigenous young people: A position statement on diagnosis, screening, management and prevention. Alex Brown, Paul Zimmet, R Fahy, Peter Azzopardi)
  • The health and wellbeing of Australian indigenous young people: A snapshot of current health status and programmatic approaches. (Peter Azzopardi, Robert Power, Elissa Kennedy, Rob Roseby, Susan Sawyer, George Patton, Alex Brown)
  • Adolescent fertility and family planning in East Asia and the Pacific: A review of DHS reports. (Elissa Kennedy, Natalie Gray, Peter Azzopardi, Mick Creati)
  • Jordan Hammond, youth mentor to the Youth Advisory Committee of the RCH and a past chairman of the Chronic Illness Peer Support Program, also attended as a youth representative.