Super Clinic opens months late
EMMA HOPE | July 05, 2011 12.01am
SOUTHERN Tasmania's first GP Super Clinic finally opened its doors yesterday -- but patients were unable to phone to make appointments as the number was not listed.
And the new Rosny centre, which was already five months behind its scheduled opening, began with a completely new staff after all the previous clinic's doctors took redundancies.
Royal Hobart Hospital spokeswoman Pene Snashall said phone calls to the old Rosny clinic were supposed to be diverted to the new clinic.
"There was an error with the diversion of the phone that has now been rectified," Ms Snashall said.
"There is a new number but patients won't have to know it for a while as the phone will continue to be diverted."
The $5.5 million Federal Government-funded Clarence GP Super Clinic is being run by the Independent Practitioners' Network, though the network does not list the new clinic on its official website and staff contacted at its other Tasmanian clinics had no information or contact number.
None of the doctors from the previous Rosny GP clinic are employed at the new GP Super Clinic.
Ms Snashall said it was their decision to take voluntary redundancies.
"Six or eight GPs were employed at the old clinic," she said.
"About a year ago we started discussions with them about what they might like to do.
"All the permanent members of staff were offered the opportunity to get a comparable job in the department or the other offer was that they could apply for a position with the new provider.
"They all chose to take a voluntary redundancy.
"It doesn't prevent them in the future from applying to the new provider.
"I think over time that logically that will happen.
"They've got that good local community knowledge about that cohort of patients. I think some of them will say 'we've had a bit of a break and now we'll go back'.
"There was one overseas-trained doctor who had a temporary contract that expired at the end of June and that contract was not renewed."
The GP Super Clinics were a 2007 election promise by federal Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services Julie Collins.
The Clarence clinic was about five months behind schedule opening.
GP Super Clinics are running in Devonport and Burnie.
Work on a $2.7 million Super Clinic at Sorell has not begun.
hopee@news.net.au
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
libs plan to save schools
Libs' plan to save schools
DANIELLE McKAY | July 04, 2011 12.01am
LIBERAL leader Will Hodgman has challenged his political foes to join forces and support legislation he will table this week that could save 20 schools from closure.
Mr Hodgman has asked his Greens and Labor counterparts to put their "money where their mouth is" and support the Bill that backs savings outlined in the Liberals' alternative budget.
Mr Hodgman said by accepting sections of the Liberals' budget, including sacking the state architect and abolishing the fox taskforce, the Government could meet necessary savings and keep the 20 rural and suburban schools open for at least the next year.
"The savings that are necessary to keep these 20 schools open, just over $3 million in this coming year, can easily be found in other areas," he said.
"In our alternative budget we have identified a number of savings measures, places we would rather cut funding before you start shutting schools.
"We will move to amend this Budget and that will give members of this Parliament, both Labor and Green, an opportunity to say and to show clearly that they are serious about keeping these schools open."
Premier Lara Giddings said until the exact proposed amendments were seen, she could not speculate on the Government's position.
However, Ms Giddings said immediate action was necessary to avoid a $4 billion debt and an annual interest bill of $300 million in four years' time.
"It would be unusual to amend the State Budget, which is based on careful research and financial modelling," she said.
"The Opposition's proposed amendments would have to be based on real economic and educational sense, not just more shallow populism and opportunism.
"The Liberals' track record doesn't inspire confidence on that front."
Mr Hodgman's challenge comes as Education Minister Nick McKim faces angry protests from communities as he meets school associations at the 20 schools flagged for potential closure.
Hundreds of parents, friends and students have met at Save Our School public meetings statewide over past weeks, many addressed by Liberal, Labor and Greens MPs.
Mr Hodgman said that if his political counterparts were genuine in their belief that schools should not be closed, he would give them the chance to express that this week.
"They've been running around the state for the last week saying they want to support these schools, well this is their chance," he said.
"We'll see whether or not their priority is keeping schools open or if they'll keep wasting money."
mckaydm@news.net.au
DANIELLE McKAY | July 04, 2011 12.01am
LIBERAL leader Will Hodgman has challenged his political foes to join forces and support legislation he will table this week that could save 20 schools from closure.
Mr Hodgman has asked his Greens and Labor counterparts to put their "money where their mouth is" and support the Bill that backs savings outlined in the Liberals' alternative budget.
Mr Hodgman said by accepting sections of the Liberals' budget, including sacking the state architect and abolishing the fox taskforce, the Government could meet necessary savings and keep the 20 rural and suburban schools open for at least the next year.
"The savings that are necessary to keep these 20 schools open, just over $3 million in this coming year, can easily be found in other areas," he said.
"In our alternative budget we have identified a number of savings measures, places we would rather cut funding before you start shutting schools.
"We will move to amend this Budget and that will give members of this Parliament, both Labor and Green, an opportunity to say and to show clearly that they are serious about keeping these schools open."
Premier Lara Giddings said until the exact proposed amendments were seen, she could not speculate on the Government's position.
However, Ms Giddings said immediate action was necessary to avoid a $4 billion debt and an annual interest bill of $300 million in four years' time.
"It would be unusual to amend the State Budget, which is based on careful research and financial modelling," she said.
"The Opposition's proposed amendments would have to be based on real economic and educational sense, not just more shallow populism and opportunism.
"The Liberals' track record doesn't inspire confidence on that front."
Mr Hodgman's challenge comes as Education Minister Nick McKim faces angry protests from communities as he meets school associations at the 20 schools flagged for potential closure.
Hundreds of parents, friends and students have met at Save Our School public meetings statewide over past weeks, many addressed by Liberal, Labor and Greens MPs.
Mr Hodgman said that if his political counterparts were genuine in their belief that schools should not be closed, he would give them the chance to express that this week.
"They've been running around the state for the last week saying they want to support these schools, well this is their chance," he said.
"We'll see whether or not their priority is keeping schools open or if they'll keep wasting money."
mckaydm@news.net.au
Friday, July 1, 2011
Facebook and teenagers
http://images.smh.com.au/2011/07/01/2466798/ipad-art-wide-pg3-parents-420x0.jpg
Parental guidance is recommended: the Riddle children (from left) Charlotte, Oliver and Georgina with their mother Sharon Williams, CEO of Taurus Marketing. Photo: Brendan Esposito
PARENTS must teach children as young as eight how to craft a ''personal brand'', as social media sites threaten to record the worst of adolescent behaviour, says mother and brand manager Sharon Williams.
Parents need to take a greater policing role, argues Ms Williams, with schools and lawyers struggling to keep up with the malicious behaviour of children online.
Ms Williams, a corporate brand manager, has applied her work to her children, teaching her teenage daughters to avoid posting comments and photos that would cause a future self to cringe.
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''It's like a tattoo,'' Ms Williams, of Artarmon, said.
Not only do Charlotte, 15, and Georgina, 14, consider their own feelings in years to come; the teens pause to think about the reactions of a withering host of strangers.
''Imagine sitting on your shoulder as you're typing the local justice of the peace, your future boyfriend, the man you're going to marry, the mother-in-law of the man you're going to marry and your future employer for the job of your dreams,'' Ms Williams said.
Both girls said they used social media but updated their status less frequently than friends. Ms Williams said Charlotte had been oblivious to the potential dangers of an internet trail before the coaching.
''Her online brand is available for all time,'' Ms Williams said. ''Parents need to take control and be responsible for their personal brand because as a child, you have no idea that in 15 years' time or five years' time, the effects of what you're doing today will be wide-ranging and have the most extraordinary repercussions.''
This week, the Herald exposed school students using a website to rate each other's sexual performance and bully some students. Principals at the five schools that form the Northern Beaches Secondary College emailed parents to emphasise school cyber-bullying policies.
The head of St Andrew's Cathedral School, John Collier, said parents should not let children use social media sites without physical supervision - at least until the ''later teens''. The principal of the Northern Beaches Christian School, Stephen Harris, said it was an ''immense parenting mistake'' for parents to allow young children to use Facebook.
Legally, children are not meant to use Facebook until age 13 but Ms Williams said teaching on image control had to happen from about age 8.
Bullying victims are embracing social media to fight back. More than 3000 people joined the Facebook community, 'Draw a heart on your wrist if you're against bullying' with photos of decorated wrists posted by affected students and adults from all over the world.
Kari Anne Begg, of Kellyville, said she and her husband were both bullied as children. They chose a school for their eldest daughter on the basis of a strong stance against bullying.
''Mrs Begg was concerned cyber-bullying presented an added threat for her children but planned to teach them how to use Facebook responsibly.
''It's up to parents to talk to them,'' she said.
edu@smh.com.au
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/styled-by-mother--children-taught-to-build-online-brand-20110701-1gv6j.html#ixzz1Qu7H9Zgh
Parental guidance is recommended: the Riddle children (from left) Charlotte, Oliver and Georgina with their mother Sharon Williams, CEO of Taurus Marketing. Photo: Brendan Esposito
PARENTS must teach children as young as eight how to craft a ''personal brand'', as social media sites threaten to record the worst of adolescent behaviour, says mother and brand manager Sharon Williams.
Parents need to take a greater policing role, argues Ms Williams, with schools and lawyers struggling to keep up with the malicious behaviour of children online.
Ms Williams, a corporate brand manager, has applied her work to her children, teaching her teenage daughters to avoid posting comments and photos that would cause a future self to cringe.
Advertisement: Story continues below
''It's like a tattoo,'' Ms Williams, of Artarmon, said.
Not only do Charlotte, 15, and Georgina, 14, consider their own feelings in years to come; the teens pause to think about the reactions of a withering host of strangers.
''Imagine sitting on your shoulder as you're typing the local justice of the peace, your future boyfriend, the man you're going to marry, the mother-in-law of the man you're going to marry and your future employer for the job of your dreams,'' Ms Williams said.
Both girls said they used social media but updated their status less frequently than friends. Ms Williams said Charlotte had been oblivious to the potential dangers of an internet trail before the coaching.
''Her online brand is available for all time,'' Ms Williams said. ''Parents need to take control and be responsible for their personal brand because as a child, you have no idea that in 15 years' time or five years' time, the effects of what you're doing today will be wide-ranging and have the most extraordinary repercussions.''
This week, the Herald exposed school students using a website to rate each other's sexual performance and bully some students. Principals at the five schools that form the Northern Beaches Secondary College emailed parents to emphasise school cyber-bullying policies.
The head of St Andrew's Cathedral School, John Collier, said parents should not let children use social media sites without physical supervision - at least until the ''later teens''. The principal of the Northern Beaches Christian School, Stephen Harris, said it was an ''immense parenting mistake'' for parents to allow young children to use Facebook.
Legally, children are not meant to use Facebook until age 13 but Ms Williams said teaching on image control had to happen from about age 8.
Bullying victims are embracing social media to fight back. More than 3000 people joined the Facebook community, 'Draw a heart on your wrist if you're against bullying' with photos of decorated wrists posted by affected students and adults from all over the world.
Kari Anne Begg, of Kellyville, said she and her husband were both bullied as children. They chose a school for their eldest daughter on the basis of a strong stance against bullying.
''Mrs Begg was concerned cyber-bullying presented an added threat for her children but planned to teach them how to use Facebook responsibly.
''It's up to parents to talk to them,'' she said.
edu@smh.com.au
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/styled-by-mother--children-taught-to-build-online-brand-20110701-1gv6j.html#ixzz1Qu7H9Zgh
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