Those actions include entering into partnerships to ensure general practice training returns to the RACGP in February 2023.
On 1 December, GP Synergy and the RACGP announced a strategic partnership that will ensure a smooth transition towards the future of community-based profession-led training in NSW and the ACT.
Under the proposed partnership, the RACGP will become the sole member of GP Synergy for the duration of the 2022 transition to profession-led training until February 2023. At that point, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt’s vision of bringing Australian general practice training and education under the umbrella of the RACGP and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicines (ACRRM) – first announced at GP17 – will be fulfilled.
The new nationally consistent, locally delivered model of education and training will be community-focused and built on the strong foundation of high-quality medical educators, training managers, supervisors and training sites.
The strategic partnership will ensure that GP Synergy is best placed to transition toward profession-led training without impacting the delivery of high-quality general practice education and training in the meantime. It will provide certainty and stability for registrars, supervisors, training facilities across NSW and the ACT.
As GP Synergy’s sole member, the RACGP will be best placed to administer the delivery of the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program as profession-led community-based model from February 2023 in NSW and the ACT. The RACGP will continue to focus on working with other regional training organisations to deliver the transition to profession-led training in 2023 in line with Government policy.
The RACGP and GP Synergy are committed to minimising disruption throughout the transition period. The proposed membership change will have no impact on GP Synergy staff members, supervisors and medical educators, who will continue to deliver the AGPT program for the RACGP and ACRRM. There will be no changes to the delivery of these general practice training programs. It will be business as usual with GP Synergy continuing to deliver general practice education and training, across NSW and the ACT during the transition to profession-led training.
The RACGP and GP Synergy also remain committed to delivering high-quality education and training to registrars in rural and regional areas through the AGPT Program. GP Synergy has a strong record of delivering this program and will continue to do so to a high standard throughout the transition.
The two organisations look forward to continuing to work together with their staff, supervisors, medical educators, and other stakeholders to secure the future of Australia’s primary health system and better meet the needs of GPs and their communities across regional and metropolitan areas.
Further information is available online or you can email ceo@racgp.org.au if you have any other questions.