From Erica Drazen, Caitlin Lorincz and Michael Dahlweid comes a white paper outlining best practices gleaned from early social media adopters combined with recommendations on how to develop your own social media strategy. "Social media is drastically changing the way that we communicate and you should not underestimate its ability to work for or against your organization. Even if you do not currently have an active social media presence, your employees and customers are already using social media and may be sharing information about you.

At a minimum, healthcare organizations need a “protective” policy and an outreach program to educate employees and customers about appropriate social media use. More broadly, organizations should develop an overarching strategy that leverages social media to help influence customers and accomplish strategic healthcare goals. Globally, many healthcare organizations are already using social media to help accomplish important healthcare goals related to communication, information sharing, clinical outcomes and innovation." Click here to read the White Paper.

This month Australia Post is honoring 5 medical doctors for their lasting legacies. The stamps will be issued on 10 April and will be on sale until 9 May. The three remarkable men featured are Professor Fred Hollows, Dr Victor Chang and Professor Chris O’Brien. The two remarkable medical women are Dr Jane Stocks Greig and Dame Kate Campbell.

Dr Stocks Greig (1872-1939) was a public health specialist (photo: left). In 1896 she and her sister Janet helped to found the Queen Victoria Hospital, along with Constance Stone and the other founding members of the Victorian Medical Women’s Society. She helped to improve the health and dental standards of Victorian school children and her administrative positions included membership of the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association and the Council of Public Education.

Paediatrician Dame Kate Campbell was also a graduate of the University of Melbourne medical school. Dame Campbell (photo: right) proved the link between rentrolental fibroplasia (a type of blindness in premature babies) and oxygen levels in humidicribs. She was appointed to the Order of the British Empire in 1971.

The Standing Committee on Health and Ageing has tabled its report on the inquiry into Registration Processes and Support for Overseas Trained Doctors. The "Lost in the Labyrinth" report contains 45 recommendations to improve transparency, efficiency and accountability in the registration system for IMG doctors. Recommendations include:

- abolition of the 10 year moratorium
- assistance for IMGs in navigating accreditation and registration processes
- an increase in the validity period for English language test results from two years to four years when applying for certain forms of medical registration
- establishment of a central document repository for IMG paperwork to reduce duplication and administrative inefficiency investigate options to ensure equitable and fair access to clinical supervision places for international medical graduates; and
- promotion of new and innovative technologies to increase clinical supervision capacity, particularly for medical practitioners who are employed in situations where they have little or no access to direct supervision.

To download the 'Lost in the Labyrinth' report please click here.

The New York Times article "The Plight of the Pregnant Surgeon" resonated with many Australian female surgeons and trainees. Do you feel that there is stigma to being pregnant in your medical field? Any tips for colleagues? Join the discussion on this topic on the AFMW LinkedIn Group.

The Fair Work Ombudsman assists and educates Australians about workplace laws. The functions of the Fair Work Ombudsman include promoting harmonious, productive and cooperative workplace relations and ensuring compliance with Commonwealth workplace laws. The services of the Fair Work Ombudsman are free to all workers and employers in Australia and are focused on serving the needs of everyone covered by the Australian workplace system. The Fair Work Ombudsman website www.fairwork.gov.au provides a range of information, online tools and resources to assist both employers and employers understand their workplace rights and responsibilities. Below are some links to particular resources that may be of interest to working women:

Just started your first job? www.fairwork.gov.au/youngworkers

Conditions of employment http://www.fairwork.gov.au/employment/conditions-of-employment/pages/default.aspx

Want to know more about Parental Leave? http://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/parental-leave/pages/default.aspx

Need to know more about your industry? http://www.fairwork.gov.au/industries/pages/default.aspx

What is Gender Pay Equity? http://www.fairwork.gov.au/BestPracticeGuides/06-Gender-pay-equity.doc

Facing discrimination in the workplace? http://www.fairwork.gov.au/complaints/discrimination/pages/default.aspx

"Gender equality and the empowerment of women are gaining ground worldwide.  There are more women Heads of State or Government than ever, and the highest proportion of women serving as Government ministers.  Women are exercising ever greater influence in business.  More girls are going to school, and are growing up healthier and better equipped to realize their potential.

Despite this momentum, there is a long way to go before women and girls can be said to enjoy the fundamental rights, freedom and dignity that are their birthright and that will guarantee their well-being.  Nowhere is this more apparent than in the world’s rural areas. Rural women and girls — to whom this year’s International Women’s Day is devoted — make up one quarter of the global population, yet routinely figure at the bottom of every economic, social and political indicator, from income and education to health to participation in decision-making."

Read the full message by following this link.