On 3 August 2023, the RACGP Board convened at our North Adelaide office for the August Board meeting. The evening prior, we had the opportunity to meet with a number of South Australian members at a member engagement event held at the Stamford Plaza Adelaide. It was a wonderful opportunity to talk with our members, hear their concerns and celebrate wins in the general practice landscape, particularly the recent advocacy win of an amnesty in payroll tax that our Faculty Chair, Dr Siân Goodson worked tirelessly to advocate for.
At the meeting this month, we were delighted to host Dr Samantha Murton, President of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, as a guest presenter. Dr Murton spoke to the board about the RNZCGP strategy, diversity and equity in general practice, membership challenges and opportunities, and further opportunities for our two colleges to work more closely together on initiatives from ‘across the ditch.’
Following the Board’s Strategic Priorities review workshop in March, management have been working through a series of changes to the 2022–2025 Operating Plan to reflect an update to the organisational priorities determined at the workshop, which the board were pleased to approve. The Board has ultimate responsibility for the organisational strategy that the RACGP pursues, and for overseeing management’s delivery of that strategy through the development and reporting against the Operating Plan.
We received an update on organisational plans for WONCA 2023, which is by hosted by the RACGP taking place from 26–29 October at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Sydney. This will be the first time in 21 years that Australia has hosted a WONCA conference and only the third time since Australia hosted the first global conference in 1972. Themes around recovery, reconnection, and revival in primary care, will inspire, challenge and inform members. WONCA 2023 is truly a once in a professional lifetime event providing a unique opportunity to connect and network with local and international colleagues.
If you’d like to get in touch with the RACGP Board with any questions or comments, feel free to contact us at racgp@racgp.org.au