Chair Report December 2018

The end of a year is always a time for reflection. GPSA has continued to enhance our role in the General Practice training space. Our open access educational resources are used widely nationally and in attending WONCA in Seoul this October I was able to take them onto an International stage.

Our employment and practice support resources provide valuable advice to training practices and Supervisors. The NTCER will continue in its current form with Medicare indexed salary increases.

Australian General Practice is one of the best in the world. To maintain that, we need high quality training practices and Supervisors, that are well supported.

The Federal Government recognises this and funds GPSA to:

1. Support activities for GP Supervisors to ensure continuity and stability
2. Encourage support networks for GP Supervisors with the broader GP network
3. Support general practice education and training to meet the needs of Australian communities

GPSA also represent and support you, our members :

• on the General Practice Training advisory committee (GPTAC) which provides advice to the Federal Government on General Practice training.
• through professional development presentations provided by our CEO Glen Wallace at RTO workshops.
• in conducting and publishing important research overseen by Joan Burns our Manager, policy and research. One study looked at “why GP’s do or don’t Supervise” (in partnership with GPTT and Monash University). Two other studies “Measured the educational alliance from the Supervisor’s perspective” (in partnership with GPTT and Monash University) and “the registrar’s perspective” (in partnership with GPEX, GPTT and Monash University). GPSA will continue to support research into General Practice Supervision.

2019-2021 will see more change in the General Practice training environment with the transition of control of training to the two Colleges. We will work closely with the Colleges, GPTAC, RTOs and GPRA to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for our all training practices and supervisors.

It is with great pleasure that I welcome Dr Sarah Chalmers to the GPSA board. Sarah brings a wealth of experience as a remote GP, Senior lecturer in Remote medicine and SLO for NTGPE. Her knowledge will assist GPSA to play its part in encouraging more GPs to train and stay in rural and remote areas.

I would like to thank the GPSA Board, our CEO and staff for a year of hard work and achievement and to our members and all who read this newsletter for the support you give us.

I wish you all a happy festive season.

Gerard Connors
GPSA Chair