Listening to any of these podcasts can be recorded (in 30-minute increments) as self-directed CPD learning. RACGP members can use Quick Log to record this activity.

Episode 24: Opioids special #2: Non-pharmacological management options for chronic non-cancer pain
- 08 Mar 2021
- 27 min 21
- Transcript
Episode 24: Opioids special #2: Non-pharmacological management options for chronic non-cancer pain
- 08 Mar 2021
- 27 min 21
- Transcript
In this special edition of the NPS MedicineWise podcast, Dr Jill Thistlethwaite talks with Dr Tania Gardner, senior physiotherapist with St Vincent's Hospital’s ‘Reboot Online’ Pain Management Program, and Ms Sarah Fowler, a member of Painaustralia’s Consumer Advisory Group, about the non-pharmacological treatment options for patients with chronic non-cancer pain. The discussion draws from Sarah’s consumer experience and outlines effective strategies for motivating patients to actively participate in the shared-decision making process with their health professional. This podcast was developed with funding from the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australian Government Department of Health.
Further reading:
- Opioids, chronic pain and the bigger picture (NPS MedicineWise resources for health professionals): https://www.nps.org.au/professionals/opioids-chronic-pain
- MedicineWise News: If not opioids then what?
- NPS MedicineWise series of communication videos about opioids and chronic non-cancer pain: https://www.nps.org.au/opioids-communication-videos
- TGA Prescription Opioids Hub: https://www.tga.gov.au/hubs/prescription-opioids
- St Vincent’s Hospital’s ‘This Way Up’ online courses (including the ‘Reboot Online’ Pain Management Program):
https://thiswayup.org.au/courses/the-chronic-pain-course/ - Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) Pain Management Network: https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain
- Free ‘Better Pain Prescribing’ course from the Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM), Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA): https://www.betterpainmanagement.com/product?catalog=TGA-BPM

Episode 23: Update on COVID-19 vaccines – February 2021
- 22 Feb 2021
- 24 min
- Transcript
Episode 23: Update on COVID-19 vaccines – February 2021
- 22 Feb 2021
- 24 min
- Transcript
In this episode, recorded on 17 February 2021, NPS MedicineWise CEO Adj A/Prof Steve Morris is joined by the head of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Adj Prof John Skerritt to hear the latest information about COVID-19 vaccination in Australia, which is rolling out from this month. They discuss how the TGA makes decisions about which vaccines to approve in terms of both safety and efficacy, and how potential adverse events from the vaccines will be monitored as the vaccine is rolled out.
This information was current as at 17 February 2021. For up to date information please visit our Further Reading links.
Further reading
COVID-19 vaccines – TGA approval process [video]: www.health.gov.au/resources/videos/covid-19-vaccines-tga-approval-process
TGA information on COVID-19 vaccines: www.tga.gov.au/covid-19-vaccines
Report a problem or side effect to the TGA: www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems
Vaccines and COVID-19 – NPS MedicineWise article: www.nps.org.au/vaccines-and-covid-19

Episode 22: A lived experience of dementia and changed behaviours
- 02 Feb 2021
- 21 min
- Transcript
Episode 22: A lived experience of dementia and changed behaviours
- 02 Feb 2021
- 21 min
- Transcript
In this episode Dr Anna Samecki talks with Theresa Flavin, who has been living with dementia for many years. Theresa gives a powerful insight into how it feels being on ‘the other side’ and offers a unique patient perspective on dementia and changed behaviour care.
Further reading
NPS MedicineWise - https://www.nps.org.au/professionals/antipsychotic-medicines
Dementia Training Australia - https://dta.com.au/bpsd-quick-reference-cards/
Dementia Outcomes measurement suite - https://dementiaresearch.org.au/resources/doms/
Dementia Australia - https://www.dementia.org.au/
Older Persons Advocacy Network - https://opan.com.au/yourchoice/
The Empowered Project - https://empoweredproject.org.au/

Episode 21: Quality use of medicines in an exceptional year – a 2020 wrap up
- 21 Dec 2020
- 12 min 15
- Transcript
Episode 21: Quality use of medicines in an exceptional year – a 2020 wrap up
- 21 Dec 2020
- 12 min 15
- Transcript
After the closing address at the National Medicines Symposium 2020, Steve Morris chats with Prof Andrew McLachlan – Head of School and Dean of Pharmacy at the University of Sydney. They reflect on the symposium with the theme of Rising to the medication safety challenge, what 2020 has meant for the quality use of medicines and how COVID-19 has shown us what is possible.

Episode 20: Medicines for COVID-19 – where did we land?
- 10 Dec 2020
- 14 min 58
- Transcript
Episode 20: Medicines for COVID-19 – where did we land?
- 10 Dec 2020
- 14 min 58
- Transcript
In this episode NPS MedicineWise CEO Adj A/Prof Steve Morris catches up with Executive Director of the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce A/Prof Julian Elliott. They discuss how 2020 played out in terms of the top medicines that were touted as treatments for COVID-19, the emerging areas of evidence, and how clinicians on the ground have been applying the living guidelines.
Further reading
The National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce and its Living Guidelines: https://covid19evidence.net.au/
NPS MedicineWise COVID-19 information hub: www.nps.org.au/coronavirus

Episode 19: Opioids special #1: Tapering opioids in partnership with patients with chronic non-cancer pain
- 30 Nov 2020
- 38 min 52
- Transcript
Episode 19: Opioids special #1: Tapering opioids in partnership with patients with chronic non-cancer pain
- 30 Nov 2020
- 38 min 52
- Transcript
In this special edition of the NPS MedicineWise podcast, Dr Jill Thistlethwaite talks with Associate Professor Michael Vagg, pain physician and Dean of the Faculty of Pain Medicine Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and Mr Don Firth, a member of Painaustralia’s Consumer Advisory Group, about the challenges involved in tapering opioids. They discuss the practical aspects of tapering, drawing from their different experiences, and sharing examples from clinical practice.
This podcast was developed with funding from the Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australian Government Department of Health.
Further reading:
- Opioids, chronic pain and the bigger picture (resources for health professionals): https://www.nps.org.au/professionals/opioids-chronic-pain
- Starting a conversation about opioid tapering with patients (PDF): https://www.nps.org.au/assets/NPS_MedicineWise_Opioids_Conversation_Starter_FINAL.pdf
- Series of communication videos about opioids and chronic non-cancer pain: https://www.nps.org.au/opioids-communication-videos
- Tapering algorithm: https://www.nps.org.au/assets/NPS-MedicineWise-opioid-tapering-algorithm.pdf
- TGA Prescription Opioids Hub: https://www.tga.gov.au/hubs/prescription-opioids
- TGA Clinician information sheet on opioid analgesic tapering: https://www.tga.gov.au/resource/clinician-information-sheet-opioid-analgesic-tapering
- Free ‘Better Pain Prescribing’ course from the Faculty of Pain Medicine (FPM), Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA): https://www.betterpainmanagement.com/product?catalog=TGA-BPM

Episode 18: Dementia and changed behaviours: a person-centred approach
- 18 Nov 2020
- 10 min 47
- Transcript
Episode 18: Dementia and changed behaviours: a person-centred approach
- 18 Nov 2020
- 10 min 47
- Transcript
In this episode Dr Anna Samecki talks with accredited pharmacist Kara Joyce, who has been overseeing the new NPS MedicineWise program on Dementia and changed behaviours: a person-centred approach.
They discuss the main issues facing aged care, specifically from a dementia and changed behaviours perspective, the impact of COVID-19 on this space, the importance of person-centred care, and what resources are available for health professionals to support consumers, their families and carers.
Further reading
- NPS MedicineWise - https://www.nps.org.au/professionals/antipsychotic-medicines
- Dementia Training Australia - https://dta.com.au/bpsd-quick-reference-cards/
- Dementia Outcomes measurement suite - https://dementiaresearch.org.au/resources/doms/
- Dementia Australia - https://www.dementia.org.au/
- Older Persons Advocacy Network - https://opan.com.au/yourchoice/
- The Empowered Project - https://empoweredproject.org.au/
- National Medicines Symposium (NMS) 2020 - https://www.nps.org.au/nms2020

Episode 17: Supporting clinicians to provide safe and quality health care
- 06 Nov 2020
- 14 min 57
- Transcript
Episode 17: Supporting clinicians to provide safe and quality health care
- 06 Nov 2020
- 14 min 57
- Transcript
In this episode Steve Morris interviews Dr Robert Herkes, Chief Medical Officer with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and past Director of Intensive Care at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. They discuss the ways in which the Commission has been supporting clinicians during COVID-19 and touch on some of the important lessons learned as a result of the pandemic. They also discuss why medication safety has proved to be such a difficult challenge over the years, and invite listeners to hear more at an upcoming panel discussion at the virtual National Medicines Symposium (NMS) 2020 to be held on Monday 7 December.
Further reading:
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care: www.safetyandquality.gov.au
National Medicines Symposium (NMS) 2020: www.nps.org.au/nms2020

Episode 13: Talking about medicines in culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- 08 Sep 2020
- 14 min 49
- Transcript
Episode 13: Talking about medicines in culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- 08 Sep 2020
- 14 min 49
- Transcript
In this episode NPS MedicineWise medical adviser and GP Dr Anna Samecki talks with Veronica Nou, a community pharmacist working in western Sydney and recipient of a 2020 NSW Humanitarian Award.
This week (7-11 September 2020) is NSW Multicultural Health Week, with a focus on health literacy and the safe use of medicines. In this podcast, Anna and Veronica discuss some of the health issues experienced by culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and some practical ways health professionals can help improve medicines literacy and communications, especially among vulnerable populations.
Further reading:
NSW Multicultural Health Week: www.multiculturalhealthweek.com/
Ethnolink: COVID-19 translated resources www.ethnolink.com.au/covid-19-coronavirus-translated-resources/
The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National): www.tisnational.gov.au/
NPS MedicineWise: Download the NPS MedicineWise Medicines List in English and 10 additional community languages www.nps.org.au/medicineslist
NPS MedicineWise: Links to COVID-19 information translated into community languages www.nps.org.au/COVID-19-in-language