COVID-19 has brought unprecedented focus on the Medical Technology, Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical (MTP) sector; highlighting the importance of research and development, new technologies and advancements to navigate human health challenges. This coupled, with the importance of sovereign capability and a robust supply chain to support the provision of essential MTP products. This has created unique opportunities to invigorate and invest for a stronger sector, which in 2019 supported 70,000 Australian Jobs and contributed more than $5B in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the Australian Economy.
As Australia’s growth centre for the sector, MTPConnect is responsible for delivering the $32M Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry (REDI) initiative, funded by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). MTPConnect partners with research, training and industry organisations to increase skill levels and aid workforce development for the MTP sector nationally.
Skilled labour, in particular skilled in the manufacture of MTP products, namely competency in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), was identified as one of the key priorities, according to Jarrod Belcher, Director of the REDI Program at MTPConnect. Through a competitive process, MTPConnect selected additional industry training providers to deliver new programs addressing key skills gaps in the sector workforce.
Launched in September 2022, one of these programs is GMP Uplift developed by the Centre for Biopharmaceutical Excellence (CBE). CBE bring experience across large and small Biologics, Pharmaceuticals and Regenerative Medicine companies, both in consulting and GMP related enterprise training. CBE staff also have extensive experience in GMP operations, compliance, auditing and QMS design, a wide industry network for guest lecturers and readily available case studies.
In developing the training, CBE Director Steve Williams states, “The Federal Government took the initiative to commence this uplift program because they recognised that bringing manufacturing back into Australia was a national imperative. In order to do that, they needed to make sure that the human resources were available and were knowledgeable around compliance in GMP, to make us internationally competitive.”
CBE GMP Uplift Programs provide participants with a real-world perspective on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and are designed to assist with the interpretation and application of GMP into practice, for those involved in human health products. CBE brings strong technical credentials, with experience across large and small Biologics, Pharmaceuticals and Regenerative Medicine companies, both in consulting and GMP related enterprise training. Collectively the CBE staff delivering the training; Steve Williams, Justine Mann, Maurice Parlane, Andrew Watson and Jeff Davies have over 200 years experience in GMP.
The CBE GMP Uplift training programs have been developed with the help of a consortia of associations; ARCS Australia, Translational Research Institute Australia (TRI T3 Cleanrooms), University of Technology Sydney (BIF UTS), Merck Life Sciences and CBE Pure Solutions. The program is available for entry level staff and for those with more than 12 months industry experience:
– Essential GMP Program designed for entry level employees (new starts up to 12 months). A 5-day equivalent course, designed for participant flexibility and to upskill in core GMP principles.
– Advanced GMP Program, for those working in a GMP role (12 months+) looking for an in depth understanding of the critical areas that underpin GMP compliance in practice.
Students who have taken training programs in September and October have commented favourably on the range of case studies, the depth of material, real world examples and hands on experience.
Interviews filmed at the BioProcessing Network Conference 2022, in Sydney.
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Allied Health Building Leadership Experience in Tasmania
A notable program run by Hospitals South is the ABLE program, or Allied Health Building Leadership Experience. This program was created to address the challenge of allied health professionals being seen as a single entity, rather than as individual disciplines, when it comes to leadership and management opportunities. The program is delivered entirely internally, with seminars presented by senior staff and mentorship opportunities for participants to become more effective representatives of allied health in meetings and working groups.
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Victorian social prescribing program underway
n Part 2 of the Models of Care on Social Prescribing, Australian Health Journal spoke to 4 people involved in the Connect Local program under the Connecting Communities to Care 4 year program. The free program for over 65’s promotes wellbeing through social connection and is underway in the Glen Eira community in Melbourne.
– Deidre McGill, Executive General Manager, At Home Support, Bolton Clarke
– Ann Van Leerdam, Connect Local Community Connector, Bolton Clarke
– Dr Rajna Ogrin, Senior Research Fellow, Bolton Clarke Research Institute, Bolton Clarke - Dr Daniel Fineberg, Deputy Director General Medicine, Alfred Hospital, Victoria -
Dental and oral health care priorities for the elderly
In 2023, there are a number of changes occurring in dental services including the start of a new Senate inquiry and new registered nurses in residential aged care. Yet in the meantime there are gaps and delays in dental and oral health interventions for elderly Australians, unless training is more widely deployed.
Australian Health Journal spoke to Leonie Short, a dental therapist working for Seniors Dental Care Australia on what she considers are dental and oral health priorities for the elderly, based on her work in the aged, home and disability sectors.
