Chair’s Report May 2022 GPSA Chair, Dr Nicole Higgins Change as a door to opportunity. Sometimes we get so caught up in what is changing we fail to pause, zoom out and put change into perspective.  The role of GP Supervision largely happens independently of the administration of GP training.  Despite multiple changes to RTOs, …

Supervisor Profile – Dr Brad Murphy Pictured: Dr Brad Murphy OAM Dr Brad Murphy OAM has had an extensive career as a GP supervisor and work within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and veterans’s health in particular. He is a proud Kamilaroi man who has also served in the Navy, and is passionate about developing …

Chair’s Report March 2022 GPSA Chair, Dr Nicole Higgins Supervisors – As servant leaders we continue to get on with the job Supervisors understand servant leadership better than most – after all, almost everything we do serves and advances a greater purpose – patient wellbeing, community health, public spending, and importantly renewing our workforce and …

Chair’s Report January 2022 GPSA Chair, Dr Nicole Higgins New year brings new registrars, renewal and optimism In the words of the late Don Chipp, the founder of the Australian Democrats, he talked about ‘keeping the bastards honest’. This relates to minor parties playing a role of keeping the major parties true to their word. …

Chair’s Report December 2021 GPSA Chair, Dr Nicole Higgins You made the difference this year – Thank YOU! Merry Christmas to you and yours this Christmas! The deluge of work all GPs, including supervisors, registrars and their support teams have sat before throughout 2021 have exemplified how to eat an elephant… one bite at a …

Supervisor Profile – Dr Graham Toohill Pictured: Dr Graham Toohill with registrar Dr Melissa Lee Dr Graham was recently recognised by GPSA for over 25 years of service as a GP Supervisor. He has worked at Leongatha Healthcare since 1994 after working in Nepal for 12 years. He is married to Sue and they have …

Supervisor Profile – Dr Alvin Chua Pictured: Dr Alvin Chua Dr Alvin Chua was recently recognised by GPSA for over 17 years of service as a GP Supervisor. Dr Chua graduated from The University of Adelaide in 1997 and has a wealth of experience in hospitals across South Australia including Modbury Hospital and Lyell McEwin …

Research – What does GP Supervision cost? GPEx, in association with the University of Adelaide and GPSA, are undertaking a study on the financial costs and revenue associated with teaching and supervision in Australian general practices . First, we want to extend our thanks to the supervisors and …

Chair’s Report December 2021 GPSA Chair, Dr Nicole Higgins Value your worth! Last week RACGP President, Dr Karen Price, called for GP’s to move away from universal bulk billing. GP training practices already take a financial hit to train the next generation of family doctors. How do we ensure that our training practices are viable? …

Supervisor Profile – Dr Paul Mercer Pictured: Dr Paul Mercer Dr Paul Mercer has enjoyed a long and varied career as a GP Supervisor since 1988 supervising 78 registrars during this time. Since establishing Silky Oaks Medical Practice in Manly west, Queensland in 1987, Paul has developed skills in chronic disease care, addiction medicine, mental …

Chair’s Report November 2021 Pictured at GP Training Tasmania (GPTT) are Joanne Folder, Dr Nicole Higgins (GPSA Chair)and Sarah Roberts. Supervisors recognised with new payment model GPSA has been successful in advocating on behalf of our members for improved Nationally Consistent Payments to Supervisors and Practices at a time when the funding pot is shrinking. …

Supervisor Profile – Dr Richard Try Pictured: Dr Richard Try and Dr Rowan Kruysse Dr Richard Try recently received a recognition of service award from GPSA recognising his work over 10 years as a GP supervisor.  Dr Richard previously worked  in supervision of junior doctors, students and registrars at The Medical Clinic in Millicent SA, …

Chair’s Report September 2021 GPSA Chair, Dr Nicole Higgins Are we willing to be taken for granted ? In our negotiations with RACGP, ACRRM and the Department of Health, the basic principle of GPSA  has been that; No supervisor should be worse off under the new system  No practice should be worse off under the …

Supervisor Profile – Dr Peta Cornwall Pictured: Dr Brian McPherin with Dr Peta Cornwall Dr Peta Cornwall recently received a recognition of service award from GPSA recognising her work over 15 years as a GP supervisor. Peta has been working at South Side Medical in McKay, Queensland since its opening in 2007. She has a …

NAIDOC Week 2021 NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme is ‘Heal Country’. Country is more than just land, it is inherent to identity, sustaining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life in every aspect. Country is family, kin, …

Chair’s Report July 2021 Supervisors are Superheros Thank you. Life is pretty tough at the moment being a GP, let alone being a supervisor. On top of looking after your own patients and staff, you are caring for the welfare and training of the next generation of family doctors. It is exhausting having to continually …

Supervisor Profile – Dr Mark Zagorski Mt Beauty GP Supervisors Dr Mark Zagorski and colleague Dr Libby Garoni (pictured above) were recognised with Recognition of Service awards from GP Supervisors Australia (GPSA) in May 2021 for their outstanding contribution of over 60 years combined contribution to Mt Beauty and the surrounding community nurturing the next …

Supervisor Profile – Dr Libby Garoni Mt Beauty GP Supervisor Dr Libby Garoni was recognised with a Recognition of Service award from GP Supervisors Australia (GPSA) in May 2021 for her outstanding contribution to Mt Beauty and the surrounding community nurturing the next generation of GPs. Libby was born and bred in the Kiewa Valley, …

Chair’s Report May/June 2021   More than a Word. Reconciliation Takes Action Reconciliation means ‘coming together’. This is a time for us to reflect on the  relationship between the  broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. National Reconciliation Week is an opportunity to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements.  Let’s use …

Chair’s Report May 2021   The Devil is Always in the Detail… GPSA welcomes the return of training to the colleges. Supervisors are the experts in knowing how to mentor and nurture our learners into the profession. GP’s are the experts in knowing what is best for their profession and their patients. What we need …

Chair’s Report April 2021   Like you all, my practice has welcomed a new cohort of registrars and medical students and celebrated registrars achieving fellowship. This is happening at a time when we grapple with the logistics of covid vaccination, future funding models of general practice, GP shortages in rural and regional areas and remuneration …

Exploring the financial costs and revenue associated with teaching and supervision in general practice     Teaching practices and supervisors are critical in the delivery of general practice training in Australia. However, recent data from the General Practice Supervisors Australia (GPSA) National Survey indicates that 83% of supervisors feel they are not receiving adequate recognition …

Chair’s Report September 2020 Nothing should be decided about us, without us GPSA ..the expert in the supervision of our next generation of family doctors If the rumours are true, there is about to be a seismic shift in how we train our next generation of GPs. If the rumours are true, the Department of Health …

RTO Network Chair Report How did we go from “seamless transition” to disruption? GP17 seems so long ago. In his annual address the Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, was met with acclamation when he announced the return of general practice training to the profession. For too long both our general practice colleges have been the …

Chairs Report for August As I write this from Melbourne in Stage 4 lockdown, the nation is sobered by an ever rising death toll and sustained community transmission; it is punctuating the way we live and work as GPs. Two Doctors are occupying Melbourne ICU beds One a 30+ yo emergency doctor, the other a …

Chair’s Report June 2020 2020 will be reflected upon through many lenses for years to come. Through a positive lense COVID 19 has grounded supervisors, registrars and patients with pragmatic solutions to complex problems. It has brought into focus what really matters and it’s been pretty good for the darker humour meme train too. We …

Chair Report May 2020 GPSA helping you with COVID19 support resources We are now more than a month into the ‘Black Swan’ event that has changed all of our lives. We are fortunate that General Practice is an essential service, but providing that service carries risks. The new telehealth item numbers have made it easier …

Have a say on medical workforce strategy   Do you have an interest in helping to shape planning for the future medical workforce? As part of the consultation process around the Department of Health’s National Medical Workforce Strategy, a webinar is being held on February 17 to help explore and refine the potential solutions to …

Majority of rural GPs are supervisors: study More than half of respondents based in rural areas to the Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL) survey Australia’s general practitioners are supervising GP registrars, GPSA researchers have found. The finding is part of an Australia-first study that looks at factors related to rural general practitioners …

Val’s legacy to help close the gap It was the great hope of Moree elder Val Dahlstrom that a better understanding of Indigenous culture and history could help close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, particularly when it came to health. While watching people glued to their phones at an airport one day, she …

Case Study: “I got sent home and didn’t get paid” Rebecca* a GPT4 registrar arrives for work as rostered to discover that the GP training practice she works for has over staffed and there is no consulting room for her to use. Rebecca is sent home from what would have otherwise been a 10 hour …

Young gun of GP supervision gets a gong The call to GP supervision found Dr Nicholas Hamilton early in his career. In 2015, two years post fellowship, the young doctor registered as a supervisor “through circumstance” to help facilitate supervisor capacity at the newly opened East Canberra General Practice. “My supervisor during my final training term …

Has your practice caught up with changes to personal/carer’s leave? The Full Federal Court  handed down on 21 August 2019 a decision that has landed a sizable shift in how employers treat full and part-time employees in relation to personal/carer’s leave. Previously, the National Employment Standards provided for 10 days personal leave for full-time employees …

Novel corona virus distracts from bushfire devastation   The novel corona virus now occupying our thoughts internationally has shifted much focus away from those who still need us. While we should expect that with a 24/7 news cycle that one singular issue is not likely to remain topical, GPSA has been considering how best to …

Celebrating the achievements of our members It’s time to hang up the “out of office” sign at GPSA and wish all our members a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. For those who are unable to take a break or will be on-call over the festive season, thank you for your work and we hope …

Help build a clinical training framework A best practice clinical learning framework is being developed specifically for general practice. Rather than having a quality framework imposed on GP supervisors we would like to inform government, colleges and RTOs what GP Supervisors consider to be the winning recipe for a best practice learning environment for General …

Have a say on the future of GP supervision funding “Nothing about us without us” was the mantra Dr Louise Stone, a former Senior Medical Advisor from the Department of Health recommended as she left her role to stakeholders. Meaning decisions about the profession need to be made in consultation with the profession. Now GP …

Is there a recipe for a good GP supervisor? What makes a good GP supervisor? It’s a great question for a robust dinner conversation among peers but GPSA is taking it further and documenting the characteristics of “GP supervisors of the Year” to support the development of a GP supervisor curriculum. To do this we …

Chair’s report – November 2019 It’s been a busy time since I last wrote to you. RMA19 and GP19 have come and gone. Glen Wallace (GPSA CEO) and myself were able to speak to many members and senior GP training people at those meetings on your behalf. Single employer model There has been much discussion regarding …

Working group on Reconciliation Action Plan GP Supervisors Australia is seeking expressions of interest from members who would like to be part of a working group to establish a reconciliation action plan for the organisation. The plan is being developed under Reconciliation Australia guidelines and will support GPSA’s strategic direction so that the organisation moves …

Single employer model headache for practice managers Practice managers would face a myriad of administrative headaches if a single employer model is introduced to GP training, according to Victorian practice manager Leonie Chamberlain. Ms Chamberlain, the first practice manager elected to the General Practice Supervisors Australia (GPSA) board, believes a single employer model would negatively …

Practice manager brings peers’ voice to GPSA board 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 …

The novation of RTO contracts to college leadership that was expected in May 2020 has very sensibly been deferred to 1 January 2022 according to industry sources. This is sensible because there are a number of items that require more time to work through, namely: Single employer model While regional training organisations (RTOs) and local …

With the end of the year rapidly approaching, questions around annual leave and other entitlements often arise. GPSA can assist in explaining employment law and employer responsibilities as well as providing advice to practices on how to manage situations if they arise. The first step is to check our website for resources and frequently asked …

Recognition of Service Awards Twenty-seven GP supervisors with a combined 470-plus years of service have been recognised so far in 2019 for their long-term commitment to training Australia’s future family doctors. The dedicated supervisors who have received Recognition of Service Awards between January and September, 2019, represent a diverse range of practices in rural, remote, …

The Dancing Doctor teaches value of self-care Leading a flash mob dance in his signature mullet wig has been a joyful step to new health for Victorian GP supervisor Dr Richard Mayes. The Dancing Doctor, also known as Mullet Man, has inspired a troupe of about 100 Castlemaine adults to reap the physical and mental …

How to help registrars talk to vaccine-hesitant parents With about 30 years of GP supervision under his belt, and as developer of the vaccine safety surveillance program SmartVax, Perth doctor Alan Leeb offers sage advice to registrars dealing with vaccine-hesitant parents. “Our approach to vaccine-hesitant parents has changed during recent years. “It’s important to accept …

SmartVax helps lift flu vaccination rates GP supervisor and vaccine safety program developer Dr Alan Leeb said SmartVax is helping restore consumer confidence and immunisation rates in flu vaccinations. Dr Alan Leeb, of Illawarra Medical Centre in Perth, was motivated to create SmartVax by the 2010 CSL Fluvax crisis which resulted in an unanticipated spike …

Check again – overpayment of registrars is common and difficult to resolve GP training practices are being urged to double check registrar contracts and payroll after a significant number of practices have contacted GPSA having discovered overpayments of $40k – $60k. GPSA CEO Glen Wallace said it was disturbing that such a significant overpayment could …

Recognition of service shows value of mentorship Dr Madhara Weerasinghe’s love for general practice is testament to the impact a GP supervisor can have on the life of a registrar. Like many of her peers, Madhara was “a little bit nervous” when transitioning from hospital training into the unknown of general practice in February this …

What is a supervisor worth? GPSA recently compared the programs in relation to practice subsidies, supervisor payment and percentage retention and were astounded by the incoherence of supervisor funding between the programs. It is complicated to unpick but the end result is stark. The figures tell a story about the most vulnerable and least equipped …

Teaching plans resonate with supervisors A growing suite of teaching plans provided free by GPSA is the organisation’s most popular member resource, according to this year’s GPSA Supervisor Satisfaction Survey. GPSA has 63 teaching plans with topics falling under one of three categories: diagnoses, presentations and processes. While new plans are in the process of …

Lifelong learning in supervision There is always more to learn as a GP supervisor – even after three decades in the role, according to Queensland doctor Simon Hosking. Simon estimates he has taught “between 50 to 60 registrars” since becoming a supervisor at Aberdovy Clinic, Bundaberg, on February 22, 1989. “I say to medical students …

GP Supervisors: A vital part of General Practice training GP supervisors and their practices have been the cornerstone of the AGPT program since its inception and GP supervisors value the respect, recognition and reward they receive as a key enabler to GP training. Now that the Australian GP Training (AGPT) program, The RACGP’s Practice Experience …

Gayle goes the extra mile to welcome registrars Going the extra mile to support GP supervisors and registrars is all in a day’s work for rural Victorian practice manager Gayle Bloch. While passionate about helping registrars enjoy their experience in general practice, she is equally committed to nurturing their sense of community belonging. The theory, …

Headaches arise when expectations don’t match A common theme to problems faced by training practices stems from failing to determine at the interview if the registrar and practice are on the same page. Some interviewers will only find out about the interviewee, and fail to explain the practice’s values and expectations; this initial lack of …

Dr Sultan’s Quest to ensure each registrar reaches their potential GP registrars under Dr Mohammed Sultan’s supervision experience a prime example of cradle-to-grave care in a small community. In one instance, Dr Sultan treated up to four generations of one family – and happily accepted the family’s invitation to attend a milestone celebration for the …

Geoff driven to learn and guide After 36 years as a GP supervisor Dr Geoff Norman is first to admit a supervisor does not need to know everything; but should be ready to learn. “Remember you do not have to be a great learned teacher. I certainly am not,” the Nambour Medical Centre doctor on …

Managing expectations around in-practice teaching One of the most common critiques of supervisors by GPT1/ PRRT1 registrars is that they are not getting their three hours of in-practice teaching. In reality, when they are investigated, most practices actually are fulfilling their in-practice teaching, but like feedback, many registrars don’t recognise when it is being given. …

Do I have to pay travel time for a registrar’s educational release? This is a common question asked by practices. There are a number of factors relevant to working out the answer appropriate to your circumstances. Generally speaking if the registrar is rostered to work and is attending educational release for the full day then …

Calm Your Chaos Overwhelm is the result of trying to do everything and not playing to your strengths. GP supervisors typically teach, employ, mentor, manage, supervise on top of their own patient load. Then for good measure we also participate in CPD during our own time, squish in family, relationships, cleaning, cooking, research, swimming lessons …

A starker jolt than the New Zealand massacre we will hopefully not experience again. We unreservedly share our sympathies with those directly affected with the loss of loved ones. The tragedy brings into focus the role of tolerance and the need for inclusive diversity. I read with interest over the past month the MBS review …

Are your registrar percentage summaries at risk of breaching privacy laws? Under the NTCER, practices are required to supply a percentage summary at whatever interval has been agreed to in the employment agreement between the registrar and the practice. Importantly, the requirement to provide a summary does not negate a practice’s duty to maintain confidentiality …

Should I be paying a leave loading? Paid leave attracts the same base rate of remuneration as in ordinary hours. We recently receieved a query from a practice whose registrar was wondering why they hadn’t seen the 17.5% leave loading they’d expected to see on their payslip. The registrar was new to general practice and …

Double time on Sundays? After hours /work outside of ordinary hours attracts the same base rate of remuneration as in ordinary hours. We recently received a query from a practice whose registrar was adamant that they should be paid double time on a Sunday. The registrar wanted to work Sundays, because it suited their personal …

What are Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) payments Immunisations and the associated actions attract an Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) payment, which falls under the Service Incentive Payment (SIP) Scheme – Service Incentive Payments (SIPs) are made to General Practitioners who work with a practice that is enrolled in the Practice Incentives Program (PIP). Should AIR payments …

As we move into a new training year you will be farewelling your current registrar and welcoming the new one. Some registrars will be staying on as Fellows to become a permanent part of the practice team and hopefully one day a Supervisor. So, the cycle of learning, consolidation and eventually teaching and supervision goes …

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. …

POLICY NEWS DECEMBER 2018   New Medical Board guidelines on sexual boundaries The Medical Board of Australia has released new guidelines – Sexual boundaries in the doctor-patient relationship. These guidelines replace the previous Sexual Boundaries: Guidelines for Doctors. The new guidelines came into force on 12 December 2018 and apply to all registered medical practitioners …

Research Roundup – DEC 2018 Finishing the year with a bang! In this month’s Research RoundUp we present the paper on the Supervisory Relationship Measure, let you know how mobile devices can best be used in clinical placements, provide the valuable tips on giving feedback to your peers, and finish with a dose of festive …

Chair Report As the year races to an end, I am always impressed at how our large multinational service industries draw on big data to anticipate and deliver what they think we need when, where and how we need it. That is not to say that despite all of the data and responsiveness that they …

POLICY NEWS – NOVEMBER 2018 This month in Policy News we look to the areas where future policy will be needed, particularly around.you guessed it! artificial intelligence and all things robotic! Rail as we might against change it’s always more effective with good policy Read on! New Chair of the Medical Board of Australia announced …

  Clinical supervision in Australia – challenges and opportunities A paper by Martin et al in the MJA highlights the need to build clinical supervision capacity to support the rural medical workforce. It provides an example using the Queensland Rural Generalist Program and the Central West Single Practice Service Model, which approaches managing the district’s …

Policy News – October Current consultations AHPRA is currently consulting on amendments to the National Law in order to keep the Law up to date and fit for purpose. In particular, there are specific consultation questions relating to a number of issues including: Governance of the national scheme: cultural safety, chairing of National Boards Registration …

Research Roundup – October In this edition of Research Roundup we have a selection of 5 papers on some topics close to every GP’s heart! Selection and recruitment, CPD, emotional intelligence, accreditation and continuity of care. Feast your eyes on these! Emotional intelligence – 12 tips So all of you who have been following developments …

Become an ACRRM member today The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) is committed to making a positive difference to members through their exclusive member benefits. By becoming a member with ACRRM you’ll get: Access to their highly regarded Professional Development Program. Exclusive member discounts to the Rural Medicine Australia (RMA) annual conference …

Rural supervision valued and rewarding There is great satisfaction in mentoring GP registrars in a rural practice, according to veteran South Australian GP supervisor Dr Martin Altmann. These rewards range from helping registrars develop confidence and experience, teaching procedural skills needed in rural settings, to inspiring young doctors to immerse themselves in rural practice and …

Ewen’s mission to train and retain rural doctors It is difficult to quantify the number of doctors veteran GP supervisor Dr Ewen McPhee has mentored in an official and unofficial capacity since his early career in rural medicine. That’s because the GP Supervisors Australia Recognition of Service Award (30-plus years) recipient has supported young doctors …

Health professionals are invited to take part in the free Dementia Care Training and Education Program (DCTEP) developed by General Practice Training Tasmania to assist in recognising, diagnosing, managing and supporting dementia patients in their care. This innovative Australian-first dementia care resource was launched in Hobart in March 2018 by Federal Aged Care Minister Ken …

Chair’s Report – August 2018 We see this week what disunity and discord represents to the people of Australia – self-interest, futility and almost certain demise. Yet within the context of organisations, atmospherics can emerge and prevail from a raft of actions, feelings, internal and external factors. It is clear in recent times that the …

ACRRM launches new online learning system   The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) have launched their brand-new online education platform, ACRRM Online Learning. The new platform replaces the existing RRMEO system with state-of-the-art, industry-leading software, making it easier for you to access our wide range of education resources. ACRRM Online Learning provides …

Registrar performance awareness Training practices are boosting patient care and registrar development with the help of GP-designed software package Doctors Control Panel (DCP). Belgrave Medical Clinic practice principal and GP supervisor Dr Dennis Gration likens DCP to “a personal assistant that thinks like a GP”. “It’s a fantastic tool: it’s probably better than a stethoscope,” …

Teaching is at heart of clinic’s mission Moving to a purpose-built GP teaching clinic in regional Victoria has brought career growth and lifestyle rewards for United Kingdom-trained doctor Robert Campbell and his peers. Empty nesters Robert and his GP wife Dr Elizabeth Kennedy embraced the unique opportunity to move Down Under in 2013 to practice …

Peer support key to Aline’s supervision Long-time GP supervisor Dr Aline Smith is not only passionate about educating the next generation of family doctors, but also supporting her peer supervisors in their mentoring role.Having supervised more than 50 registrars in a GP career spanning 30-plus years, Aline is well placed to advise peers on effective …

Dear fellow teachers of perspective, 2018 is a re-negotiation year for the NTCER and as many of you have noted, the NTCER negotiations highlight just how tough general practice is for everyone. When it comes to decision making around earning potential and which medical specialty one will choose one thing is clear: no-one chooses general …

RMA18 full program announced Rural Medicine Australia 2018 (RMA18) is the peak national event for rural and remote doctors of Australia, presented by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA).  RMA18 will be held at the Darwin Convention Centre from Thursday 25 – Saturday 27 …

Supervision a shared journey From sharing the same surname to place of medical practice, Victorian GP supervisors Dr Janet McDonald (pictured left) and Dr Andrew McDonald (pictured middle) also have another link: their GP registrars. They have each recently received the GPSA Recognition of Service Award for more than 10 years’ service as a GP …

Rural Medicine Australia (RMA) is the peak national event for rural and remote doctors of Australia. This year, RMA will be held at the Darwin Convention Centre from Thursday 25 – Saturday 27 October 2018. RMA attracts a diverse and collaborative community of junior doctors, students, educators, academics, and medical practitioners who are passionate about …

  GP Training it’s all about quality and managing risk. I marvel at the Australian GP Training System. I marvel because as GP Supervisors we are driven by more than money and fear. Despite the risk to our patients, our careers, our businesses and ourselves, we take on the commitment to supervise registrars. These junior …

Bruce Willett nominates for RACGP presidency Former GPSA Chair Dr Bruce Willett has nominated for the presidency of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, pledging to continue making the organisation more member focused. The current RACGP Queensland chair and long-time GP supervisor said his focus as president would be listening and responding to member …

POLICY NEWS JUNE 2018 MABEL (Medicine in Australia – balancing employment and life)  There has been a fair bit of attention in the medical media to recently released MABEL data and in particular, its revealing stats on GP earnings compared to other specialties. None of this will be news to GPs who have endured the medicare …

RESEARCH ROUNDUP JUNE 2018 In this month’s Research Roundup, we look at some of the latest papers on professionalism including a handy app for students, quality indicators of postgraduate medical e-learning and.early predictors of exam performance for GP training! Read on! 2018 GPSA National GP Supervisor Survey Yes, it’s early this year! In response to …

GPSA NTCER Update – May 2018 2018 is a re-negotiation year for the NTCER and the process formally commenced in January 2018. We have listened to our members’ concerns and are approaching the NTCER process with diligence and in good faith in the interests of the GP community – both current supervisors and registrars, who …

Last month the latest KFP results came out and, as has become common to results week, the GPSA office fielded a number of calls from concerned supervisors. As supervisors, we want our registrars to do well, so when they don’t, not only does it significantly affect them, we feel their pain. So far 2018 has …

POLICY NEWS APRIL 2018 NTCER 2018 is a re-negotiation year for the NTCER. Thanks to all of those who responded to our quick survey on issues or changes they would like to the next NTCER. GPSA provided the names of the GPSA Negotiating Team to GPRA and AMA in November 2017. We are currently awaiting …

RESEARCH ROUNDUP APRIL 2018 Research finds that older doctors have higher notification rates You’re all aware of the findings of the Expert Advisory Group on Revalidation that reported on the risk of age (i.e. over 65 years) being a risk factor for notification? Well here’s a paper that backs that up. This paper examines whether …

Create your own user feedback survey …

POLICY NEWS – MARCH 2018 Rural Generalism: the Collingrove Agreement Amazing what a meeting in a wine-growing region and a new face can do for a rift that’s been going on for years. Rural Health Commissioner Emeritus Professor Paul Worley, ACRRM President Associate Professor Ruth Stewart and RACGP President Dr Bastian Seidel met and agreed …

RESEARCH ROUNDUP – MARCH 2018 Have you come across MedEdPublish yet? It’s the European Association of Medical Educators’ (AMEE) open access journal. Edited by local Aussie med ed identity Professor Richard Hays, this journal enables post-publication peer review. https://www.mededpublish.org/home Next month’s theme is ‘the development of health professional educators’. I’ll keep you posted on any …

Tacit knowledge in general practice – we can know more than we can tell Michael Polanyi, the philosopher, economist and physical chemist said, “I shall reconsider human knowledge by starting from the fact that we can know more than we can tell”. Michael is referring to tacit knowledge which he describes as the type of …

Rural and Remote Medical Education Online with ACRRM The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine’s (ACRRM) Rural and Remote Medical Education Online (RRMEO) is an easy to use, whole-career support online learning platform free to all members. RRMEO allows members to up-skill and earn points towards individual professional development requirements for the triennium. All …

Practice performance monitoring Do you track your practice’s service performance regularly, or is it one of those things you have a look at when you have a moment to spare and run a few reports? How do you manage this information and what story does it tell? If you’d like a helping hand with developing …

Frank’s mission: “I want you to be a great GP” Frank Jones is passionate about the profession of general practice, and instilling the same enthusiasm in the next generation of family doctors. It’s impossible to quantify his influence, having supervised “at least 30-plus” registrars during his three-decade career in regional Western Australia. “I like to …

Congratulations   In January 54 GP Supervisors were recognised for the service they have provided to their respective communities. Congratulations to; John Hackett – Wonthaggi Medical Group David Dalton – Sorell Family Practice Alan Leeb – Illawarra Medical Centre Alison Creagh – Womens Health and Family Services Andrew Png – Kwinana Medical Centre Barry Fatovich …

    Congratulations and Thank You… YOU are valued! 54 GP Supervisors were recognised for the service they have provided to their respective communities on top of the three prestigious Australia Day awards bestowed on individuals from the GP supervisor community for Drs Marjorie Cross (OAM), Ian Fraser (OAM), and Morton Rawlin (AM). Dr Jack …

RESEARCH ROUNDUP – FEBRUARY 2018 This month’s Research Roundup looks at the relentless march of AI into the health professions, how to measure affect, whether University Departments of Rural Health are making a difference, resources for how to communicate with patients about risk and how teaching is embedded in clinical care. Read on! Artificial intelligence …

POLICY NEWS – FEBRUARY 2018 End of year is always a busy time for the government with lots of reports, consultations and issues on the boil. Here is a summary of what has been happening and what’s currently under review in case you want to participate, make a submission or just get more information! Read …

ACRRM AGPT | Applications for 2019 opening soon Applications for training with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) on the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program open on Monday 26 March 2018. The AGPT Program with ACRRM isn’t like any other. Choosing to study with ACRRM helps doctors to not only become …

POLICY NEWS DEC 2017 As we wind down to the end of the year, we look at the latest items in terms of policy including revalidation, cloud-based medicine and patient experiences of general practice. Read on! Revalidation – a rose by any other name. The Medical Board of Australia released its long-awaited response to the …

RESEARCH NEWS – DECEMBER 2017 In this month’s research news we focus in on power dynamics in supervision (“you don’t know the power of the dark side”), conflict (queue light saber sound), uncertainty (I think) and on the very big difference you make on your patients’ BP. Read on! Power dynamics in clinical supervision It’s …

New ACRRM Online Learning Module available: the Rural Doctors’ Family and Domestic Violence Education Package. The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) is pleased to present our newest Online Learning Module: the Rural Doctors’ Family and Domestic Violence Education Package. The module has been developed by rural doctors for rural doctors, drawing on the …

  “The Silverware returns” was the turn of phrase tweeted by the GP community after The Hon. Minister Greg Hunt’s announcement last week that GP training would return to the auspices of the Colleges. This would then make all vocational training programs nationally profession lead. Of course, this is a big change, but with a …

Teaching plans in place GP Supervisor Marita Long is returning the inspiring mentorship she received as a mature-aged registrar. Marita Long, then aged 36, was breastfeeding her third child when she had a vocational epiphany: to study medicine and become a GP. She fellowed 12 years later, when her children were aged 3, 11 and …

This month we will be unashamedly self-promotional and mention three important projects that GPSA are involved in with the aim of raising the profile of GP Supervisors in the media, grey and hard literature. In our National GP Supervisor Satisfaction Survey, recognition of GP Supervisors was one of your top three issues that you want …

November Policy News   As ‘conference season’ comes to a close, there were two items of policy news that have the sector buzzing!   1. Rural Health Commissioner announced The announcement of Australia’s first National Rural Health Commissioner came at the RMA17 conference. Emertius Professor Paul Worley was a popular and well-received choice as the …

Rural Experienced Entry to Fellowship with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine Are you an experienced doctor who has been working in a rural and remote community for seven years or more? The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) recognise existing skills and experience through the Rural Experience Entry Fellowship (REEF) …

Research Study – Supervising GP registrars – who does and doesn’t participate and why General Practice Training Tasmania (GPTT) in partnership with General Practice Supervisors Australia (GPSA) and Monash University invite you to participate in a study designed to better understand the reasons why general practitioners (GPs) do or don’t supervise GP Registrars in rural …

It’s Spring a busy baby time! Historically ABS statistics show that Australian’s birth more frequently in March and you guessed it Spring, which means statistically speaking your registrar may be following this trend and have their own baby due soon or in about 9 months time. As a rural GP Obstetrician, I have to balance …

2017 National Supervisor Survey Thanks to all who participated in the 2017 National Supervisor Satisfaction Survey. Results are currently being analysed but here’s some teasers for you: there are more supervisors who are also practice owners or partners than not the demographic profile of supervisors is typically male, with more than 11 years experience as …

Parental Leave A common enquiry to the GPSA office is, ‘how do I know if I need to pay parental leave?’ Under the NTCER, Clause 6.5 a registrar is entitled to unpaid parental leave. Parental leave pay is a Department of Human Services scheme for parents of newborn babies or recently adopted children. Though there …

Supervision seed planted early GP supervisor Lisa Fraser says registrars should be inspired to build mentoring skills as a stepping stone to becoming supervisors. Lisa Fraser realised early in her medical training that teaching and mentorship were implicit to the sustainability and enjoyment of the profession. And, so began her own journey into life-long learning …

POLICY NEWS September 2017 WARNING! You are entering a policy news zone free of any references to marriage-equality or dual citizenship. Instead this month’s Policy News looks at the outcomes from the Medicare Taskforce, strategies galore (digital health, drugs), an important report from AIDA and find out which skills you need to avoid being made …

RESEARCH ROUNDUP – SEP 2017 Usage and impact of open access articles So we all love the principal of open access (OA) but how effective is it in getting your message out there and is it accessed a little or a lot? Open access of course is a disruptive technology but it has been around …

Professional Development Opportunities at Rural Medicine Australia 2017 Conference Rural Medicine Australia 2017 (RMA17) is the peak annual conference and medical science forum of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (the College) and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA). The conference will be held in the world’s most livable city, Melbourne, this …

Global Assessment Tools in (medical) Education (GATE) project What factors influence Global Assessments of general practice registrars? This very question is being researched by GP Training Queensland (GPTQ), which researchers hope will enhance the validity and reliability of this increasingly important selection and assessment tool. Medical Educators and GP Supervisors from the Regional Training Organisations …

You communicate more when you’re unhappy… High survey response rates often indicate something is amiss. It’s similar to the old chestnut: “An unhappy person will tell 11 people, a happy person will tell none” In general practice we are surveyed ad nauseum. Which is why when we send out a survey and there are low …

RESEARCH ROUNDUP – August 2017 This month’s Research Roundup features our GPSA Chair, Steve Holmes and the MJA musing on pathology test ordering rates;  the highs and lows of antibiotic prescribing and all you ever wanted to know about competency-based medical education. And old William Horman of Eton may well have nailed it when he …

POLICY NEWS – August 2017 This month’s Policy News has a focus on rural health policy and research, cost-effectiveness of clinical trials and everyday heroes (that’s you). Read on! Integrated care consultation For those interested in the current consultation on the new integrated care packages, the Department are currently consulting until 21 August. Consultation questions …

Riwka ensures no surprises for registrars Practice manager Riwka Hagen ensures GP registrars have a comprehensive orientation at the start of their term, setting up a rewarding and happy learning experience. After 25 years in practice management, Riwka Hagen has a well-established routine in helping registrars reap the rewards of their term in general practice. …

Applications for ACRRM Independent Pathway open 21 August 2017 The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine’s (ACRRM) Independent Pathway is an accredited training pathway to become a general practitioner in Australia. Successful completion of this program will result in being awarded Fellowship of the College, or FACRRM. The Independent Pathway has been developed by …

POLICY NEWS – JUNE 2017 This month’s Policy News has a focus on social media, preventive health and climate change. MBS Taskforce consultation The MBS Taskforce is seeking comments on after-hours MBS items. Consultations close 21 July. You can access the online survey here: http://www.mbsreview.com.au/after-hours.html Sensis Social Media Report 2017 For those with an interest in …

RESEARCH ROUNDUP – June 2017 This month’s Research Roundup looks at articles on cultural safety, feedback-seeking, teaching communication skills, social media and a piece on whether or not the millennial GPs are shying away from full-time work! Plus the BEST social media policy I’ve ever seen! Read on!  Students’ motivation toward feedback-seeking in the clinical …

  Rural Medicine Australia is coming to Melbourne 19-21 October 2017 The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) have partnered to bring the very best of rural and remote medicine to Melbourne. ACRRM and RDAA invite all rural and remote medical practitioners and allied health …

Supervision a fun journey for Chris Sole principal of Hallett Cove Corner Surgery Chris Jenkins became a GP supervisor 16 years ago to help boost “manpower” at the practice. However, she soon found she relished the teaching role and her motivation shifted for continuing supervision at her South Australian clinic. “I enjoy it; it’s fun” …

Chair Report – May 2017 GP Supervisors Australia last week met with The Hon. Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, The Hon. Dr David Gillespie MP, Assistant Minister for Health and The Hon. Ken Wyatt AM MP, Minister for Indigenous Health and Aged Care. The take home message to each minister was that GP Supervisors …

Research Roundup – May 2017 This month’s Research Roundup explores the use of Twitter in exam preparation, EPAs, flipped classrooms, interprofessional learning and tips on body language for educators!   Can Twitter help students prepare for final examinations? And the answer is..yes! With a whole lot of caveats. In this fascinating little paper on the …

POLICY NEWS MAY 2017 Well there’s only one policy item at this time of year and that of course is the Federal Budget. This year’s health budget seems to have been generally well received across the mainstream press. It appears to have had a more mixed reception across the medical press. Perhaps because there were …

Research Study – Measuring the Educational Alliance from the GP Supervisor’s perspective General Practice Training Tasmania (GPTT) in partnership with General Practice Supervisors Australia (GPSA) and Monash University invite you to participate in a unique survey designed to measure the educational alliance from the GP Supervisor’s perspective. As far as we know, it is the first …

  ‘Ferrous Man’ has infused fun factor to Danny’s supervision   It’s no coincidence that iron infusion specialist ‘Ferrous Man’ appears at the same registrar training events as GP supervisor Danny Byrne. Funnily enough, just like Clarke Kent and Superman, you won’t see Danny and Ferrous Man in the same room at once. Danny, who …

  Curtain Closing for Long Term Supervisor   Hubert Van Doorn’s life as a GP principle and main supervisor in his practice in East Brunswick has drawn to a close. Hubert is now a medical educator, and while he still consults and supervises part time to maintain his GP status, it’s not the same as …

Chair Report April 2017   On Thursday Assistant Minister for Health, The Hon. David Gillespie announced the coalitions investment of $54.4 million over the next two years to create three additional University Departments of Rural Health and 26 Rural Health Training Hubs. GP Supervisors Australia applauds this decision. Government policy around health workforce distribution is …

GPs face a complex task in keeping up-to-date with best practice Australian GP supervisors are urged to use the new NPS Medicinewise Clinical e-Audits as a tool for best practice: and teach their registrars to follow suit. The free clinical e-Audits are educational and quality improvement activities to enable review of current practice, peer comparison …

Age no barrier to GP supervisors   Dr Lisa Mifsud, 33, is among young supervisors proving age is no barrier to helping to train Australia’s next generation of family doctors. One of four associates at Andrew Place Practice, Dr Mifsud formally started supervision of GPs last year, aged 32. She is also a medical educator …

For almost two decades, Ursula Russell has mentored young doctors who pass through the halls of Shepparton’s Lister House Medical Centre. Arriving in Shepparton in 1988, Dr Russell and her husband were initially posted as interns to stay for one year, but have been here ever since. It has been 16 years since Dr Russell …

Research Roundup – April 2017 This month’s Research Roundup has a case of the warm and fuzzies as we explore resilience, burnout and engaging learners. Read on! Writing an engaging discussion case A great little 12-tips paper by Cohen et al that outlines how to write a case that will facilitate teaching, engage learners and …

Policy News – April 2017 Unless you’ve been on one of those new planets discovered by an amateur astronomer as reported by Brian Cox and and Julia Zemiro last week, you’d know that this week marks the opening of selection for the 2018 AGPT intake. And for the first time since the AGPT’s inception, the …

New measurement tool for educational alliance Research study looks at GP supervisor’s perspective   A tool which measures the educational alliance between a GP supervisor and registrar from the supervisor’s perspective has been adapted to apply to GP supervisors. An expert panel of GP supervisors has modified the Supervisory Relationship Measure (SRM) tool, developed for …

  Welcome back to the first training term of 2016. We hope this eNews finds you well and recharged from a break (of sorts) over the festive season. It’s that time of the year, where we all re-engage with GP training and induct our new registrars. For some of you it is with a new …

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioner’s (RACGP) has today called for stakeholder feedback and input on the first draft of the 5th edition RACGP Standards for general practices (the Standards). The new edition of the Standards has been developed to support patient safety while keeping pace with the changing environment, reflecting contemporary general practice. …

Medicare freeze You’ve got to love democracy and elections right? Apparently no-one, not labor, nor the Health Minister herself, actually wants a Medicare freeze. Is this the freeze we had to have? The Medicare freeze will remain a major election issue for GP Supervisors and hopefully the voting public as they begin to realise ‘Joe …

GP supervisor voice counts! You only have to look at the current federal election to see the consequences of disunity and the power of stakeholder feedback in the form of a vote. In many ways a vote is an evaluation of each government. Over the next 12 months GP supervisors will be called on to …

  GP Supervisors are all too aware of time! Our clinical work, our teaching time with registrars and our professional development and education are all funded and measured by time. Strangely appropriate that one of the prizes for Supervisors who opted into the survey conducted last month was an Apple watch! General practice and general …

Keeping GP supervisors front and centre! I had the pleasure of meeting WA supervisors recently at WAGPET’s Supervisor conference, which attracted 159 dedicated GP supervisors from across the state. I was reminded just how much generosity and gratitude is involved in GP supervision. As a group, GP supervisors tend not to be high maintenance. I …

  The first quarter of 2016 has been all about fairness and equity at GPSA, so it is fitting that the second eNews pays tribute to gender pay equity issues and opportunities for our valued female GP Supervisor colleagues to access training grant funds for women in health. GPSA are in the process of reviewing …

In the August 2016 Supervisor Survey, members indicated that they would like GPSA to provide more information on relevant government policy. Policy News attempts to address your identified need. Feedback welcome! Interim Report to the Minister for Health, MBS Review Taskforce The big one that caused all the controversy is the Interim Report to the …

In the August 2016 GP Supervisor Survey we asked you “what kind of information would you like GPSA to provide for you?” “Reports on issues and trends in general practice training” was the second most cited answer (77% of respondents). So here is the first edition of Research Roundup. It’s a scan of the latest …

I attended a GPSA webinar this month about Identifying and Supporting Supervisors in Difficulty. It’s something that is a little unusual. We often talk about registrars at risk but seldom about our own well-being. Do we discuss as a team the signs of someone who may be struggling and what we can do as a …

Due to the Medicare freeze, GP registrar remuneration has not changed in the new 2017-18 NTCER. The remuneration levels of base rate and percentages remain the same for all GP registrars (Schedule A). There are some consistent wording changes throughout the document: The word “employer” rather than “practice” is used throughout to more accurately reflect …

In the August 2016 Supervisor Survey, members indicated that they would like GPSA to provide more information on relevant government policy. Policy News attempts to address your identified need. Feedback welcome! Pathology Rents Pathology Australia, which claims to “represent private pathology in Australia” has tried to persuade the government that receiving rent from co-located pathology …

“On your marks!” That’s what it feels like in the lead up to a new training term. A race, a marathon call it what you will, as this year races to a close and thousands of registrars are being interviewed across the country for next term, it’s a great time to: Keep going! I was …

In our August 2016 Supervisor survey, one of the top needs many of you expressed was to keep up to date – both clinically and educationally. With the conference season in Australia winding up, here’s a brief list of recently released guidelines, in case you may have missed them. Clinical guidelines and related updates The …

In our August 2016 Supervisor survey, one of the top needs many of you expressed was to keep up to date – both clinically and educationally. In this edition, we cover papers on the safety of primary care, motivation, role-modelling and the practitioners most likely to have a complaint against them. Read on! Recent education, …

In the August 2016 Supervisor Survey, members indicated that they would like GPSA to provide more information on relevant government policy. Policy News attempts to address your identified need. Feedback welcome! Thanks to all those who have been emailing their thoughts on these issues. Your comments have been passed on to the Board and/or taken …

Doctor Rohan Gay, who has been practicing at Walter Road East General Practitioners in Bayswater WA for over 20 years, has been named 2016 GP Supervisor of the Year by The Royal College of General Practice (RACGP). He has been often described as the best supervisor a registrar could want as his passion for his …

Miwatj Health Centre is an Aboriginal Medical Service that stands tall and proud when it comes to general practice training and service provision in Arnhem Land. It recently won Training Post of Year at the NTGPE Awards Night. Dr Wendy Page has worked and supervised at Miwatj Health Centre for many years and continues to …

What Gifts are in store for GP Supervisors this year? We wonder every year whether GP Supervisors will receive some welcome recognition and reward for the work put into teaching the next generation of family doctors. Some 58 of our valued members will receive a Recognition of Service Award for 10 or more years of …

New Year, New Minister Change is one of those things some people find hard. For other’s ‘change is as good as a holiday’ they say and, while I don’t believe any of the health profession is in for a holiday as-a-result-of recent changes to the Ministry, we welcome any voice of reason that the current …