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Head of School Medical Sciences

Telephone:	(61 8)  63043678
Facsimile:	(61 8)  63042424
Email:	m.sim@ecu.edu.au
Campus:	Joondalup
Room:	JO21.533

 

Current Teaching

• Medicine
• Communication in healthcare

Background

Associate Professor Moira Sim is a general practitioner and a specialist addiction medicine physician with over 25 years in clinical practice in the community and has been at ECU since 2004. Moira heads the School of Medical Sciences at Edith Cowan University and is a member of the Systems Intervention Research Centre for Health. She has worked to increase access to quality care through professional education, advocacy and the establishment of system change through many roles in the healthcare system.

Moira is a Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Western Australia, Medical Director of Home Hospital at Silver Chain, a member of the Impairment Review Committee at the Nurses and Midwives Board and a panellist on the Impairment Review Committee and Professional Standards Committee for the Medical Board for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. She leads a team which provides medical advice for the Health and Disability Services Complaints Office in Western Australia, chairs the Medical Safety and Quality Committee for Home Hospital, and is a member of the Psychotherapeutic Drugs Committee of the Western Australian Therapeutics Advisory Group. She has served as a member of the Medical Defence Association President’s Medical Liaison Council, the Western Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care, the Musculoskeletal Network Executive Advisory Group and the Care and Strategic Services Advisory Group at Amana Living.  

Moira has previously been Chair of the Osborne Division of General Practitioners, Deputy Chair of General Practice Divisions of Western Australia, Deputy Chairperson of the Western Australian Faculty of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Board Director of Australian Divisions of General Practice. She is a peer reviewer for the journals Australian Family Physician, the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, and Drug and Alcohol Review. She is a Fellow of both the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine.

Professional Memberships

• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (Chapter of Addiction Medicine)
• Chapter of Addiction Medicine, Royal Australian College of Physicians
• Perth Primary Care Network
• Medical Defence Association

Research Areas and Interests

• Translation of evidence to clinical practice, alcohol and other drugs, prevention in health, managing behaviour in clinical practice.

Staff Qualifications

• Graduate Dip Alcohol & Drugs, The University of Western Australia, 1996 .
• Bachelor of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, 1985 .
• Bachelor of Surgery, The University of Western Australia, 1985 .

Research

Recent Research Grants

• For the development and implementation of a blended learning program, including e-learning, for the management of sexually transmissible infections as part of a state-wide workforce development progra,  Department of Health WA,  Grant,  2011,  $100,157.
• Standards and Quality Indicators for Best Practice in Paramedic and Inter-Professional Experiential Practica,  Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations,  Novated ALTC Grant,  2011,  $93,580.
• Promoting Physical Activity to Improve the Outcome of Depression in Later Life (ACTIVEDEP),  University of Western Australia,  Grant - Healthway,  2011,  $45,121.
• Creating cultural empathy and challenging attitudes through Indigenous narratives,  Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations,  Novated ALTC Grant,  2011,  $108,901.
• PARAMED Home (Paramedic Assessment and Referral to Access MEDical care at home: a randomised trial,  Department of Health WA,  SHRAC Research Translation Projects,  2011,  $145,000.
• Workforce Development: Hepatitis B and C Health Professional Engagement and Education,  Department of Health WA,  Grant,  2011,  $98,678.
• Promoting Physical Activity to Improve the Outcome of Depression in Later Life (ACTIVEDEP),  University of Western Australia,  Grant - Healthway(**),  2010,  $49,487.
• Creating cultural empathy and challenging attitudes through Indigenous narratives,  Australian Learning and Teaching Council,  Grant(**),  2010,  $111,099.
• Workforce Development: Hepatitis B and C Health Professional Engagement and Education,  Dept of Health WA,  Grant(**),  2010,  $115,091.
• Promoting Physical Activity to Improve the Outcome of Depression in Later Life (ACTIVEDEP),  University of Western Australia,  Grant - Healthway,  2009,  $48,937.
• Workforce Development: Hepatitis B and C Health Professional Engagement and Education,  Dept of Health WA,  Grant,  2009,  $32,826.
• Provision of an E-learning package,  Dept of Health WA,  Grant,  2009,  $18,000.
• Hepatitis C Workforce Development,  Dept of Health WA,  Grant,  2009,  $10,091.
• Evaluation of Falls Linkage Independence Program,  Dept of Health WA,  Grant,  2008,  $14,400.
• Hepatitis C Workforce Development,  Dept of Health WA,  Grant,  2008,  $122,360.
• Kids and Parents for Optimal Weight (KAPOW),  Osborne Division of General Practice,  Grant,  2008,  $10,000.
• Making changes Across the Hospital in the Treatment of Patients with Alcohol and Drug Issues,  Edith Cowan University,  Grant - Industry Collaboration,  2007,  $5,000.
• Kids and Parents for Optimal Weight (KAPOW),  Osborne Division of General Practice,  Grant,  2007,  $10,000.
• Establishing a practice policy for the management of manipulative and aggressive behaviour,  Osborne Division of General Practice,  Grant,  2007,  $4,545.
• Review and provision of recommendations for the updating of four government publications by the Health Department of Western Australia on abortion and abortion counselling,  University of Western Australia,  Grant,  2007,  $8,479.
• Review and provision of recommendations for the updating of four government publications by the Health Department of Western Australia on abortion and abortion counselling,  University of Western Australia,  Grant,  2006,  $15,181.
• Economic Cost of Caring and Anxiety Depression and Social Dysfunction Amongst Carers,  Carers Association of Western Australia,  Grant,  2006,  $8,900.

Recent Publications (within the last five years)

Book Chapters

• Wilkinson, A., Sim, M., (2009), End-of-Life Decision-Making. Encyclopedia of the Life Course and Human Development, 3(108), 134-137, Detroit, MI USA.
• Sim, M., Cheng, W., Dore, G., Beers, K., (2008), Signs and symptoms of chronic hepatitis C. HIV/Viral hepatitis: A guide for primary care, 71-79, Darlinghurst, NSW.

Journal Articles

• Almeida, OP., Draper, B., Pirkis, J., Snowdon, J., Lautenschlager, NT., Byrne, G., Sim, M., Stocks, N., Kerse, N., Flicker, L., Pfaff, JJ., (2012), Anxiety, depression, and comorbid anxiety and depression: Risk factors and outcome over two years. International Psychogeriatrics, 24(10), 1622-1632, DOI: 10.1017/S104161021200107X.
• Almeida, O., Draper, B., Snowdon, J., Lautenschlager, N., Pirkis, J., Byrne, G., Sim, M., Stocks, N., Flicker, L., Pfaff, J., (2012), Factors associated with suicidal thoughts in a large community study of older adults. British Journal of Psychiatry, 201(6), 466-472, DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.112.110130.
• Meng, C., Lan, J., Wang, Y., Song, M., Gao, X., Ran, L., Sim, M., Wang, W., (2012), Influence of brain-derived neurotrophic factor genetic polymorphisms on the ages of onset for heroin dependence in a Chinese population. Genetic Testing and Biomarkers , 16(9), 1044-1050, DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2012.0016.
• Briggs, A., Lee, N., Sim, M., Leys, T., Yates, P., (2012), Hospital discharge information after elective total hip or knee joint replacement surgery: a clinical audit of preferences among general practitioners. Australasian Medical Journal, 5(10), 544-550.
• Almeida, O., Pirkis, J., Kerse, N., Sim, M., Flicker, L., Snowdon, J., Draper, B., Byrne, G., Goldney, R., Lautenschlager, N., Stocks, N., Alfonso, H., Pfaff, J., (2012), A randomized trial to reduce the prevalence of depression and self-harm behaviour in older primary care patients. Annals of Family Medicine, 10(4), 347-356, DOI: 10.1370/afm.1368.
• Almeida, O., Draper, B., Pirkis, J., Snowdon, J., Lautenschlager, N., Byrne, G., Sim, M., Stocks, N., Kerse, N., Flicker, L., Pfaff, J., (2012), Anxiety, depression and comorbid anxiety and depression: risk factors and outcome over two years. International Psychogeriatrics, 24(10), 1622-1632, DOI: 10.1017/S104161021200107X.
• Almeida, O., Pirkis, J., Kerse, N., Sim, M., Flicker, L., Snowdon, J., Draper, B., Byrne, G., Lautenschlager, N., Stocks, N., Alfonso, H., Pfaff, J., (2012), Socioeconomic Disadvantage Increases Risk of Prevalent and Persistent Depression in Later Life. Journal of Affective Disorders, 138(3), 322-331, DOI: 10.1016j.jad02012.01.021.
• Arendts, G., Sim, M., Johnston, S., Brightwell, R., (2011), ParaMED Home: A protocol for a randomised controlled trial of paramedic assessment and referral to access medical care at home. BMC Emergency Medicine, 11(7), 1-4, DOI: 10.1186/1471-227X-11-7.
• Almeida, O., Alfonso, H., Pirkis, J., Kerse, N., Sim, M., Flicker, L., Snowdon, J., Draper, B., Byrne, G., Goldney, R., Lautenschlager, N., Stocks, N., Scazufca, M., Huisman, M., Araya, R., Pfaff, J., (2011), A practical approach to assess depression risk and to guide risk reduction strategies in later life. International Psychogeriatrics, 23(2), 280-291, DOI: 10.1017/S1041610210001870.
• Sim, M., Wain, T., Khong, E., (2011), Aggressive behaviour prevention and management in the general practice environment. Australian Family Physician, 40(11), 866-872, South Melbourne, Victoria.
• Almeida, O., Alfonso, H., Pirkis, J., Kerse, N., Sim, M., Flicker, L., Snowdon, J., Draper, B., Byrne, G., Goldney, R., Lautenschlager, N., Stocks, N., Scazufca, M., Huisman, M., Araya, R., Pfaff, J., (2010), A practical approach to assess depression risk and to guide risk reduction strategies in later life. International Psychogeriatrics, 23(2), 280-291, United Kingdom, DOI: 10.1017/S1041610210001870.
• Pfaff, J., Draper, B., Pirkis, J., Stocks, N., Snowdon, J., Sim, M., Byrne, G., Lautenschlager, N., Flicker, L., Kerse, N., Goldney, R., Almeida, O., (2009), Medical morbidity and severity of depression in a large primary care sample of older Australians: the DEPS-GP project. Medical Journal of Australia, 190(7), S75-S80, Australia.
• Sim, M., Khong, E., Wain, T., (2009), Motivational Interviewing in general practice. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners: CHECK Program, October 2009(451), 1-30, Melbourne.
• Sim, M., Wain, T., Khong, E., (2009), Influencing behaviour change in general practice (Part 2): Motivational interviewing approaches. Australian Family Physician, 38(12), 986-989, South Melbourne, Victoria.
• Sim, M., Wain, T., Khong, E., (2009), Influencing behaviour change in general practice (Part 1): Brief intervention and motivational interviewing. Australian Family Physician, 38(11), 885-888, South Melbourne, Victoria.
• Khong, E., Sim, M., (2008), Benzodiazepine dependence: an update on management. BMJ Learning, 2008, , London, UK.
• Kerse, N., Flicker, L., Pfaff, JJ., Draper, B., Lautenschlager, NT., Sim, M., Snowdon, J., Almeida, OP., (2008), Falls, Depression and antidepressants in Later Life: A Large Primary Care Appraisal. PLoS ONE, 3(6), 2423, San Francisco.
• Sim, M., Khong, E., Wain, T., (2008), Dylematy dotyczace przepisywania benzodiazepin. Lekarz Rodzinny, 129(5), 584-587.
• Sim, M., Khong, E., Jiwa, M., (2008), Does General Practice Google?. Australian Family Physician, 37(6), 471-474, South Melbourne, Victoria.

Conference Publications

• Wang, W., Bittles, A., Sim, M., Roberts, P., (2012), Adapting to life in Asian mega-cities. Proceedings of the International Association of Physiological Anthropology conference 2012, 1-46, Beijing.

Creative Works

• Hood, S., Ayonrinde, D., Davidson, R., Martin-Iverson, M., Samuel, M., Schenk, M., Sim, M., Wynn Owen, P., Lyon, D., Hince, D., Trivedi, D., Caunt, N., Islett, K., Kristensen, J., (2008), Anxiety Disorders Drug Treatment Guidelines., Perth, Western Australia.