In-Practice CPD: Who are we missing? Strengthening preventive care

Preventive care is an important part of general practice, but patients who attend infrequently or face barriers to care can miss recommended screening, immunisations and health checks. Use this month’s In-Practice CPD to review how your practice identifies and follows up patients who may be overdue for preventive care.

In-practice activity ideas:

• Review a sample of patient records to identify patients who may be overdue for recommended screening, immunisations or preventive health checks.
• Consider which patient groups may be less likely to engage with routine preventive care and why.
• Review your current recall and reminder processes. Are there patients who may be missed or not responding to existing approaches?
• Discuss barriers that may affect access to preventive care and whether your practice could offer more flexible or targeted approaches.
• Implement one improvement to your recall or preventive care processes and review whether it increases patient engagement or follow-up.

Log in to myCPD to record these reflective activities. They can be self-recorded as Reviewing Performance (RP) CPD or as Measuring Outcomes (MO) CPD where practice improvements are implemented and evaluated.

In-Practice CPD: Maintaining a safe and inviting workplace

Managing agitated patients or escalating behaviour can be challenging for general practice teams. RACGP encourages practice teams to regularly review how you identify warning signs in patient behaviour, respond to incidents and support each other to create a safe working environment that supports respectful, patient-centred care.

In-practice activity ideas:

• Discuss how your team currently identifies and responds to early signs of escalating behaviour. Are staff confident about what to do? 
• Review a recent challenging patient interaction and reflect on what worked well and what could have been handled differently. 
• Review your practice procedures for managing threats, aggression or violence, including when and how staff should seek assistance. 
• Consider the physical practice environment. Are there areas where staff or patient safety could be improved? 
• Identify one practical improvement, such as team de-escalation training, updating procedures or improving incident reporting and follow-up.

Log in to myCPD to record these reflective activities. They can be self-recorded as Reviewing Performance (RP) CPD or as Measuring Outcomes (MO) CPD where practice improvements are implemented and evaluated.

In-Practice CPD: Winter Respiratory Infections and Antibiotic Prescribing

Winter increases respiratory infections and general practice workload. GPs need to spot patients at higher risk of severe illness, manage cases using current evidence, and support responsible antibiotic use. Reflecting on current practice can help improve care.

• Talk with your team about how respiratory symptoms are assessed and managed. Is your approach consistent across the practice?
• Review a recent case where antibiotics were considered. What drove the decision, and did it match current guidelines?
• Check how your practice identifies and follows up higher-risk patients (older adults, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, pregnant patients, those with chronic disease).
• Look at your patient education materials. Do they cover self-management, symptom monitoring, and when to seek further care?
• Pick one change your practice could make this winter to improve antibiotic stewardship or respiratory illness management.

Log in to myCPD to record these reflective activities. They can be self-recorded as Reviewing Performance (RP) CPD or as Measuring Outcomes (MO) CPD where practice improvements are implemented and evaluated.

Turn Digital Health into Practical Reviewing Performance CPD

Digital tools are now a normal part of general practice, but using them well takes more than just having access. My Health Record, telehealth, data security and new AI tools all raise real questions about quality, privacy, documentation and continuity of care. In-practice CPD is a chance to reflect on how these tools are actually being used, where they're adding value, and where systems or habits could improve.

Activity ideas:

• Discuss with your team how My Health Record, telehealth and other digital tools are used in your practice. Where are they helping, and where are there gaps, inconsistencies or workarounds?
• Review a recent telehealth consultation. Were there any issues with communication, consent, follow-up, safety-netting or documentation?
• Check whether your data security processes are well understood across the practice. Are staff clear on privacy expectations, secure messaging, password management and handling patient information?

Log these reflections in myCPD as Reviewing Performance (RP) CPD, or as Measuring Outcomes (MO) CPD if you implement and evaluate a practice improvement. Log in to myCPD.

In-Practice CPD: Consider reviewing follow-up systems for test results and recalls

Effective follow-up systems are essential to patient safety in general practice.

This month's in-practice activity ideas:

• Discuss with your team how abnormal results, recalls and referrals are currently tracked and communicated within your practice. Are team member roles and responsibilities clear and well documented?
• Reflect on how patient's immediate access to diagnostic reports in My Health Record is changing how you discuss results
• Identify those at greater risk of missed follow-up, such as vulnerable patients, those with language barriers or patients with complex care needs.
• Implement and evaluate one improvement to your practice's recall or follow-up system (eg updated workflows, clearer documentation processes or patient reminder systems).

Log in to myCPD to record these activities.

In-Practice CPD: Supporting patients experiencing financial stress and related health impacts

With rising cost-of-living pressures, many patients are experiencing increased financial stress, which can significantly impact mental health, alcohol and other drug use, and suicide risk. General practice plays a critical role in identifying these challenges early and creating a safe space for proactive, supportive conversations.

In-practice activity ideas:

• Discuss with your team how financial stress may be presenting in your patient population and how it may link to mental health, substance use or crisis presentations.
• Incorporate simple, routine screening questions into consultations (eg “How are things financially at the moment?” or “Has stress been affecting your sleep, mood or alcohol use?”).
• Reflect on a recent consultation where financial or social stressors may have been present—were there opportunities to explore further or offer support?

Login to myCPD to record these activities as RP CPD.

In-Practice CPD: Reflecting on cultural safety and addressing racism in general practice

Creating a culturally safe environment is essential to delivering high-quality care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. Taking time to reflect on how racism (both systemic and interpersonal), may impact healthcare experiences can help strengthen trust, improve patient outcomes and support more equitable care.

In-practice activity ideas:

• Discuss with your practice team how cultural safety is currently supported in your clinic environment and patient interactions.
• Review patient communication, signage and resources to ensure they promote a welcoming and culturally safe practice.
• Reflect on a recent consultation and consider whether cultural factors may have influenced the patient's experience or care pathway.
• Identify one practical change your practice could implement to strengthen culturally safe care (eg staff training, updated policies, or community engagement).

These reflective activities can be self-recorded as Reviewing Performance (RP) CPD and contribute to the program-level requirement for culturally safe practice while supporting meaningful improvements in patient care. Log in to myCPD.

In-Practice CPD: Six months on – Review your Chronic Disease Management (CDM)

It's now been six months since the 2025 Chronic Disease Management updates came into effect. This is an ideal time to pause, reflect and evaluate how the new MBS items, workflows and care planning processes are working in your practice.

In-practice activity ideas:

• Run a brief audit of patients managed under the new CDM framework and review billing accuracy for MBS items 965 and 967.
• Discuss as a team what has worked well, what has been challenging, and where efficiencies have been gained (or lost).
• Review care plan templates and recall systems to ensure they align with current requirements.
• Identify one improvement to trial over the next three months and use the Measuring Outcomes tool to document and evaluate the impact.

By reviewing at the six-month mark, you can capture Reviewing Performance (RP) and Measuring Outcomes (MO) CPD while strengthening chronic disease care for your patients

In-practice CPD: Make your wellbeing your CPD priority for 2026

This month's focus encourages you to reflect on your personal wellbeing and consider prioritising it for your 2026 CPD. The RACGP recommends dedicating at least five hours each year to planning and reviewing how you invest in your physical, mental, and emotional health.

In-practice activity ideas:

• Familiarise yourself with the RACGP Wellbeing Self-Assessment activity that can help you evaluate key areas of your health, lifestyle, and stress management
• Talk about it with others in your workplace including how as a collective you can foster a culture that supports wellbeing
• In 2026 you can use the Self-Care Plan template to set practical wellbeing goals for the next 12 months and use the Check-in activity (1 hr RP) to review your progress

These activities are confidential, flexible, and can be self-recorded for CPD hours under Reviewing Performance (RP) and Measuring Outcomes (MO).

Explore GP wellbeing resources

Implementing the new asthma management update in your practice

The latest update to the Australian Asthma Handbook represents a major change in practice for GPs. The new guidelines move away from short-acting beta2 agonist (SABA) only treatment and recommend that all adults and adolescents with asthma use an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) containing reliever, such as low-dose budesonide-formoterol (AIR therapy). The update also establishes maintenance-and-reliever therapy (MART) as the preferred step-up option. Read the newsGP article.

In-practice activity ideas:

• Read the updated Australian Asthma Handbook summary and discuss as a team how these changes will affect your prescribing habits.
• Review your current patient cohort using SABA-only treatment and identify those who may benefit from switching to AIR therapy.
• Discuss how the new items and workflows will impact your current care planning, then record your meeting and review time using the GP group form.
• Update your practice asthma management plans and patient education materials to align with the new guidelines.
• Use the Measuring Outcomes tool to record how these changes are being implemented in your practice and monitor patient outcomes over time.

By incorporating these changes into your team's discussions and practice systems, you can capture CPD across multiple activity types while improving asthma safety and outcomes in your patient community.

ADHD in general practice

ADHD is one of the trending topics featured in RACGP's 2025 CPD solutions. To embed this learning in your practice, try these in-practice CPD ideas:

• Watch the ADHD module as a team and discuss how you identify and manage ADHD presentations in your patient population.
• Review your current referral pathways and explore local supports for patients with ADHD.
• Update practice systems to ensure consistency in documentation and follow-up care.
• Use the Measuring Outcomes tool to capture your team discussion, planned changes, and next steps.

By reflecting on and applying this learning as a group, you can capture CPD across multiple activity types while strengthening support for patients with ADHD in your practice.

National Lung Cancer Screening Program – Is your practice ready?
Watch the NLCSP launch webinar. Discuss the screening pathway with your team and assess your clinic's readiness, then record your meeting and review time using the Group or practice activity. Identify eligible patient cohorts and plan how to support screening uptake. Use the Measuring Outcomes tool to document any changes or evaluation results you may have.

Women's Health: New menopause health assessment items
Watch the RACGP-approved webinar with your team. Discuss how these new items and CDM updates will affect billing, care planning, and patient management then record your meeting and review time using the Group or practice activity. Update practice systems and templates to align with the new framework, then use the Measuring Outcomes tool to document any changes or evaluation results you may have.

Exploring access to medicinal cannabis through general practitioners in Australia
Each month the AJGP clinical challenge has CPD activity recommendations that can be done in-practice. This month, consider evaluating your practice setting's current capability to effectively and responsibly prescribe medicinal cannabis. Assess how you respond to patient requests, prescribe safely when clinically appropriate and address barriers to care, as outlined in the AJGP article by Martin et al.

Addressing systemic barriers to obesity care in general practice
Consider reviewing your practice data and examine your recent experiences with patients who are overweight and obese. Use the article by Munindradasa and Douglas to explore some of the systemic issues that prevent your patients from accessing treatment, and how as a team, you can do a targeted campaign to raise awareness and offer care without further compounding stigma patients experience.

Tackling immunisations and vaccine hesitancy
Equip your practice to confidently manage potential measles cases with the RACGP's essential measles fact sheet and downloadable checklist. This is a great resource for teams to discuss in your practice meetings. Stay informed about the re-emergence of measles and access practical guidance on prevention, response, and recovery to protect your staff and patients.

Explore our in-practice MO recommendations in the latest AJGP issue on breast cancer screening approach for moderate to high-risk women as outlined by Mazza and Emergy.

Options to do on your own or as a team
Each month the AJGP clinical challenge has CPD activity recommendations that can be done in-practice. This month, consider evaluating your practice setting's current capability to effectively and responsibly prescribe medicinal cannabis. Assess how you respond to patient requests, prescribe safely when clinically appropriate and address barriers to care, as outlined in the AJGP article by Martin et al.