ARCS Australia Ltd, the peak body representing professionals in the MedTech and Pharmaceutical sector, this week announced a series of significant changes at its annual conference.
Dr Tim Boyle, CEO of ARCS Australia Ltd speaking to Australian Health Journal says, “These initiatives are central to strategy to build professionalism within the sector, increase capability and enhance the professional standing of its members.”
ARCS has launched a comprehensive Core Competency Framework tailored for the Medtech and Pharmaceutical sectors. The framework is designed to ensure members possess the specialised knowledge and skills required to excel within the sector, aiming to set benchmark for professional excellence.
“Our Core Competency Framework is a milestone in our journey to elevate professional standards for those working within the sector,” said Dr Boyle,. “It provides a structured pathway for continuous professional development common to all sectorial occupations and ensures our members are equipped with the expertise needed to meet professional demands.”
Expanding upon the Core Competency Framework, ARCS has also established international partnerships with the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS), and the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP) to recognise their occupation specific competency frameworks and accreditation standards. These partnerships aim to facilitate the creation of professional training pathways aligned with globally recognised best practice for sectorial occupations.
“Our alliances with ACRP, RAPS, and ISoP are pivotal in offering our members access to globally recognised professional pathways and raising the standard of Australian professionals through globally recognised professional accreditation,” said Dr Boyle.
“These collaborations help raise the bar and advance the professional standing of Australian Medtech and Pharmaceutical professionals on a global playing field.”
In recognition of professional excellence, ARCS will now issue postnominals to professional members based on their expertise. The aim of this designation is to underscore a member’s commitment to the highest standards of practice and their specialised expertise.
“The initiatives we are announcing today mark a new era for ARCS,” Dr Boyle concluded. “By establishing a robust competency framework, recognising professional excellence through postnominals, fostering international collaborations, and honouring our distinguished Fellows, we are setting a new standard for professionalism within the Australian Medtech and Pharmaceutical sectors.”
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Intervention in hearing loss for patients
In her role as an audiologist and trainer, Lauren McNee emphasises the urgency of addressing sudden hearing loss, highlighting the time-sensitive nature of available treatment options. She advises healthcare professionals, including GPs, pharmacists, primary care nurses and specialists, to remain vigilant for subtle signs of hearing loss in their patients. Such signs may include difficulty following prescription guidelines, miscommunication during conversations, or non-verbal cues like a tilt of the head or asking for repetitions.
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Awareness campaigns and HCP Toolkits for thyroid health
In 2021, the Australian Thyroid Foundation released analysis to show, well over 1 million Australian are living with an undiagnosed thyroid disorder, including thyroid cancer, lower IQs, lifelong disability, and a causal or possible contributory factor – in the development of other neurological disorders such as ADHD and autism. Some of the challenges for diagnosis and treatment can be addressed by producing material for health care practitioners during patient presentations.
‘Recent statistics show well over 1 million Australians are living with an undiagnosed thyroid disorder, awareness and testing can prevent unwarranted outcomes for mothers and their babies’ says ATF CEO Beverley Garside OAM
The Australian Thyroid Foundation has lodged a Pre-Budget Submission for the Federal Budget 2024-25 to counter increasing misinformation on social media creating dietary deficiencies such as an increasing number of young women, who are planning pregnancy or already pregnant opting for plant based milks such almond, soy or oat milk coffee as an alternative to standard cow’s milk, which is a source of iodine and alternate milks do not include.
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Investments to address health inequities in Prostate Cancer Care
Income, education, geographical location, and discrimination based on ethnicity, race, gender and sexual orientation, are only a fraction of factors that can negatively affect a person’s quality of cancer care. This is defined as the “equity gap” and it’s costing people their lives.
Timed to coincide with World Cancer Day 4th February 2025, Movember announced prostate cancer investment of $5.5 million. Eighteen grants (16 proposals and 2 community development grants) are slated to directly tackle inequities in prostate cancer care. The funding will be over three years with the grants spread across five countries – six in Canada, five in the United Kingdom, three in Australia, three in the United States and one in Ireland – each having a specific focus population and care area.
