ASA February 2010 e-newsletter

By now all members will have received formal notification of a SGM to be held on Tuesday 23 February 2010 to consider proposed changes to the ASA Constitution and Code of Professional Conduct. As a valued member of the ASA, the ASA Board of Directors seeks your endorsement of the proposed changes which will provide for the introduction of a complaints handling process. The ASA Board of Directors encourage you to view carefully the summary of proposed changes, as well as the proposed Constitution and Code of Professional Conduct and seek to attend the SGM. If you are unable to attend, please consider completing the Appointment of Proxy form by 5pm on Sunday 21 February. You can also visit the ASA website which is being updated regularly based on the comments we receive from our members. Through this avenue we are aiming to provide you with as much information as possible, so you can fully consider the resolutions before recording your vote.

ASA2010 Melbourne – Don’t miss out on prizes and grants of up to $5000. Submission deadline 28 February

Abstract submissions are now being accepted for ASA2010 Melbourne. Presentations in the form of posters, electronic posters and oral presentations are being sought. All presentations at the conference will be assessed and prizes to the value of $750 each will be awarded for Best Clinical Presentation, Best Research Presentation, Best Proffered Oral Presentation, Best Poster/Case Report and Best First Time Presenter/Student Paper.

In addition to a range of cash prizes, sonographers who present an original research paper at ASA2010 Melbourne will be eligible for the Best Research Paper Grant of up to $5000. This grant, sponsored by the ASA will enable the recipient to attend and present their research at a relevant international conference.

Branch meetings are an excellent opportunity for professional development, attaining CPD points and networking. As a volunteer on a Branch committee you can build on your knowledge base and exchange ideas in a friendly and supportive environment.

The ASA is now seeking nominations for positions on all Branch Committees in Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and the soon to be launched New Zealand Branch. As a member of the Branch Committee you can contribute to the development of a diverse program of educational meetings for members with full support from the ASA National Office.

The ASA Sub-branches seek to provide an opportunity for sonographers in regional Australia to connect and run educational meetings that meet their particular and unique needs. Current Sub-branches of the ASA include:

The Chairpersons of each the current Sub-branches are interested in hearing from anyone who would like to become involved. We also welcome enquiries from anyone wishing to establish a Sub-branch in their region.

The ASA values the support and contribution of its members and each year the ASA Member Survey provides us with valuable feedback as to how we can better meet your needs. All information gained from the annual survey ensures we can continue to tailor and improve our range of membership benefits and also develop new benefits to suit your needs. We encourage you to take approximately 10 minutes to complete the survey and go into the draw to win a $150 voucher.

Building expertise and managing your professional development more effectively, PD-asa offers the simple solution to support your continuing professional development (CPD). Free and exclusive to ASA members, PD-asa is now the preferred professional development program for members of the ASA with our 2009 PD-asa survey indicating that the majority of participants agree that PD-asa eased the CPD administrative burden, is a worthwhile benefit to ASA members and that the annual cycle assisted in managing CPD appropriately.

· Access a dedicated PD-asa Administrator who will liaise directly with ASAR on your behalf to submit your activity reports.

· It is ASAR approved so you can maintain your ASAR accreditation without the fuss of doubling up.

· Review your CPD history to ensure your program is meeting your ASAR triennium requirements.

· Manually log all your non-ASA CPD activities to ensure your CPD is managed securely from one location.

· Benefit from the support and expertise of the PD-asa Administrator working with you to navigate the ASAR audit process.

Your ASAR renewal will arrive shortly at which time you can nominate PD-asa as your default program to maximise the benefits of your participation. To finalise your registration to PD-asa or easily review your current status, visit the ASA website, email your dedicated PD-asa Administrator or phone 03 9585 2996.

Find the ideal candidate with the ASA’s FREE employment advertising
Target your search for the ideal candidate more effectively using the ASA’s employment pages. Take advantage of this free service and advertise your vacancies to over 2,600 ASA members within Australia and New Zealand. Visit our employment pages to post a job now.

The Pru Pratten Memorial Award for Sonographer Achievement recognises excellence and outstanding achievement in sonography. There are a number of compelling reasons why you may like to consider participating in the 2010 Pru Pratten Memorial Award including recognition in front of fellow practitioners and industry leaders, rewarding outstanding effort and simply taking a moment to acknowledge the achievements of one of your peers. Now is the time to nominate someone who you feel has made a significant contribution to the field of medical sonography..Nominations close 10 April 2010.

Are you interested in becoming a Travelling Workshop educator? Join the team of Travelling Workshop educators for the 2010/2011 series.

Experienced sonographers required to present “1st trimester obstetric examinations, including counselling patients”.

· Obtain CPD points (restrictions apply, please contact the PD-asa Administrator for more information)

The Rural Allied Health Postgraduate Scholarship Program and CPD Subsidy Fund support rural allied health practitioners who have demonstrated their involvement in, and commitment to, rural allied health practice to improve their skills and expertise. Visit Victorian Healthcare Association website to find out if you are eligible for the scholarships and subsidy programs.

Pre-employment screening Working With Children Checks and Police Checks in the Health Sector.

Children are among the most vulnerable members in society and their wellbeing and protection from harm is the paramount consideration when complying with policy and legislation that provides for the pre-employment screening of adults who work or volunteer in child-related organisations including the healthcare setting.

Most states and territories have introduced legislation providing for child-related employment pre-screening and it is the responsibility of employees to understand and fulfil the requirements in the jurisdiction(s) in which you are working. If you are unsure whether you need to obtain a Working With Children Check, it is advisable that you check with the relevant body in your state or territory. The Australian Institute of Family Studies provides a comprehensive overview of each state and territory including the types of settings subject to the regulation.

The ASA encourages contributions from members who may have news items, updates, information or opportunities that may be of interest to ASA members. You can email your contribution to the ASA Membership Officer. Please note, the decision to publish in e-mode is at the discretion of the ASA.

ASA2010 Melbourne promises to be another outstanding professional development experience delivering more than 150 presentations over three days. The ASA are particularly proud to welcome distinguished international keynote speakers Anne Sandoval and George L. Berdejo, experts in their fields to present at ASA2010 Melbourne.

George is the Director or Vascular Ultrasound Services at Montifiore Medical Centre in New York and will present plenary sessions on: Lower limb graft surveillance, post surgical varicose veins, the unusual carotid, assessment of AAA and endovascular grafts and a workshop on leg vascular graft and endovascular A graft.

Anne is the Supervisor and Chief Sonographer of Ultrasound at the University of California San Francisco and will present plenary sessions on: predicting post natal renal outcomes in utero, fetal surgery, abnormalities of the endometrium and a workshop on renal and pancreatic transplant.

Visit the ASA website for full program details and to register online or contact the ASA National Office for your ASA2010 Melbourne program.

The ASA Travelling Workshops promote best practice in sonography by providing continuing education and a forum for communication. Continuing on the success of the 2009 series, the 2010 Travelling Workshop Series will present the following topics:

Saturday 20 February 2010
Bendigo	Beyond the Basics – Upper Limb MSK sonography	Greg Lammers
Newcastle	What every sonographer needs to know –Abdominal Doppler sonography	Patrick Nielsen
Saturday 13 March 2010
Christchurch	Beyond the Basics – Upper Limb MSK sonography	Scott Allen
Adelaide	What every sonographer needs to know –Abdominal Doppler sonography	Tracey Harrington
Caloundra/Nambour	What every sonographer needs to know – Abdominal Doppler sonography	Patrick Nielsen
Saturday 20 March 2010
Perth	Beyond the basics – Obstetric sonography	Ann Quinton
Cairns	Beyond the basics – Vascular sonography	Jane Keating

Visit the ASA website for the full 2010 calendar of branch and sub-branch meetings.

Please note: dates and topics are subject to change. Please check the ASA website for updates.

The next e-mode
The next edition of e-mode will be circulated on Friday 5 March 2010.

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