Updated public health guidance for avian influenza is now available within the Health New Zealand Communicable Disease Control (CDC) Manual.

The University of Waikato Research Masters Scholarship and Taught Postgraduate Scholarship are now available for eligible students. If you meet eligibility criteria, and have not applied for or received funding for your current or future study, we encourage you to apply. Applications close 31 October 2024.

Beginning 2025, The University of Waikato will offer nurses a specific Primary, Community and Rural Health postgraduate pathway for those wishing to complete a PG Cert, PG Dip or Master of Health Science. Email pgnursing@waikato.ac.nz to learn more.

To increase access and boost immunisation rates, Te Whatu Ora and Whānau Āwhina Plunket will pilot the delivery of childhood immunisations at a select number of sites across the country.

The Registered Nurse Prescribing Development Grant 2 is now open for applications. Information on the criteria and how to apply can be found on the NZSSD website. Applications close 6 December.

There has been a significant increase in Pertussis cases across the motu, which Te Whatu Ora is asking healthcare professionals to be alert to. For the month of September 2024, there were 187 confirmed, probable and suspect cases notified. ESR’s assessment is that the overall risk of a national pertussis outbreak is high.

Pathlab is now testing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) tumour marker requests.

From 1 October 2024, invasive group A streptococcal infection (iGAS) has been added to Aotearoa New Zealand’s schedule of notifiable diseases. This places new legal requirements on health practitioners and laboratories for the management and reporting of both suspected and confirmed iGAS cases.

Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) Diploma in Enrolled Nursing students are seeking clinical placements and employment at your workplace.

Nominations have opened for members of the new Rural Health National Clinical Network. Self-nominations and nominations of others are welcome, please submit your nominations by 20 October 2024 using the expression of interest form.

Hato Hone St John received formal notification last week from FIRST Union that members, including both ambulance personnel and Ambulance Communications Centre staff, will withdraw labour for six hours, from the start of their shifts on 27 September, and again on 30 September.