Rural infection control practice group

Key messages

  • The Rural Infection Control Practice Group (RICPRAC) is a voluntary collaborative network encompassing 5 regional areas in Victorian made up of Senior Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Consultants.
  • RICPRAC, in accordance with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care ‘Preventing and Controlling Infections Standard 3, aims to strengthen IPC Programs across 53 rural health services through collaboration, shared expertise and consistent, high-quality guidance.

RICPRAC forms part of a coordinated approach to the implementation of statewide IPC programs within hospitals throughout rural and regional Victoria. They work collaboratively with regional Local Public Health Units to address issues and adopt strategies for the prevention and management of infectious and communicable diseases in regional Victoria.

RICPRAC provides audit tools to assess IPC organisational, clinical and AS/NZS5369:2023 compliance, providing regional hospitals that participate with comparative reports and benchmarking. This in turn enables regional hospitals to identify strengths, address gaps, and target future IPC efforts effectively.

Each region also offers mentoring, professional development days and shared resources.

Rural regions

RICPRAC is made up of 2 IPC Consultants from each of the 5 rural health regions

Practice group objectives

The objectives of RICPRAC are to:

  • Develop and promote standardised IPC resources.
  • Provide a forum for liaison between Rural Infection Control Consultants.
  • Provide the forum for collaborative and cost-effective resource development in Rural Victoria.
  • Develop and implement a three-year strategic plan, with annual review.
  • Conduct inter-regional benchmarking projects.

RICPRAC group contact details

NameRegionAgencyAddressPhoneEmail
Name
Bern Squires
Region
Hume
Agency
Albury Wodonga Health
Address
PO Box 326, Albury 2640
Phone
Email
Name
Sue Flockhart
Region
Grampians
Agency
Grampians Health
Address
1 Drummond Street North, Ballarat 3350
Phone
Email
Name
Amanda Ayres
Region
Lodden Mallee
Agency
Bendigo Health
Address
PO Box 126, Bendigo 3550
Phone
Email
Name
Robyn Freeman
Region
Lodde Mallee
Agency
Bendigo Health
Address
PO Box 126, Bendigo 3550
Phone
Email
Name
Katherine Summerhayes
Region
Grampians
Agency
West Wimmera Health Care Group
Address
28 Marma Street, Murtoa 3390
Phone
Email
Name
Michelle Punton
Region
Barwon
Agency
Portland District Health
Address
Bentick Street, Portland 3305
Phone
Email
Name
Cathy Mowat
Region
Gippsland
Agency
Central Gippsland Health Service
Address
155 Guthridge Parade, Sale 3850
Phone
Email
Name
Pamela Boon
Region
Hume
Agency
GV Health
Address
Graham Street, Shepparton 3630
Phone
Email
Name
Geraldine Freriks
Region
Gippsland
Agency
West Gippsland Healthcare Group
Address
41 Landsborough Street, Warragul 3820
Phone
Email
Name
Jenny Lukies
Region
Barwon
Agency
South West Healthcare
Address
Ryot St, Warrnambool 3280
Phone
Email

Updated

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