Practice manager brings peers’ voice to GPSA board

GPSA board member Leonie Chamberlain.

Victorian practice manager Leonie Chamberlain has become the first practice manager appointed to the board of General Practice Supervisors Australia (GPSA).

Ms Chamberlain, who joined the board at the November 6 meeting this month, said she was excited about bringing the experience of practice managers to GPSA governance.

“Joining the GPSA board will allow me to expand my knowledge, and give a practice managers’ perspective on issues such as on the workability of future drafts of the NTCER.

“I think a practice manager is an important part of the team when it comes to GP training, and it’s nice to have a voice representing practice managers at GPSA.”

The mother of two children, aged 17 and 20, Ms Chamberlain is the finance and administration manager at one of Victoria’s longest training practices, Blackburn Clinic in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Her role at the Blackburn Clinic includes all financial aspects of the business; HR for 40 part-time nursing, reception and administration staff members; business development; and strategic planning.

During her 18 years at the clinic, Ms Chamberlain has been committed to ensuring registrars receive exceptional clinical training and education about the business of general practice.

“I am passionate about ensuring registrars not only receive great clinical training, but they are also prepared to enter the world of general practice as educated and informed business people,” Ms Chamberlain said.

The recipient of the inaugural Victorian Metropolitan Alliance Practice Manager of the Year Award in 2015, Ms Chamberlain is a respected voice at industry events, Regional Training Organisation (RTO) and practice manager workshops.

She enjoys presenting to registrars on the business of general practice at workshops for Murray City Coast Country General Practice Training (MCCCGPT) and Eastern Victoria General Practice Training (EVGPT).

Ms Chamberlain also shows leadership among her peers, presenting to practice managers on the National Terms and Conditions for the Employment of Registrars (NTCER), recruitment and business development.

Prior to her time at Blackburn Clinic, Ms Chamberlain worked at KPMG’s Melbourne office in the taxation division and more comprehensively in its Middle Market Advisory division, providing services and support to small and medium businesses and high-wealth individuals.