Out-of-practice education
In addition to your in-practice education, you can access out-of-practice education, including self-directed learning, peer learning and exam preparation. Some activities are mandatory for your progression through training and others are optional.
We encourage you to make the most of all the resources and opportunities to connect with your peers.
Small group learning
You'll attend a monthly small group learning (SGL) session run by an ME. In these groups, you'll work with your peers and the ME(s) on topics from the RACGP Curriculum and syllabus. These sessions will be semi-structured and tailored to the group's learning needs. SGLs run for 1.0-1.5 hours and you'll be sent a calendar invite of these sessions, in advance, to your nominated email address.
Participation in SGL is mandatory throughout your training terms.
Clinical audit
A clinical audit is a systematic review of aspects of clinical performance. It's a valuable quality improvement activity designed to explore areas such as:
- rational ordering of investigations (radiology/pathology):
- review the frequency of tests ordered, for example, thyroid function test in patients on long-term thyroxine replacement
- imaging in acute knee and ankle injuries, for example, what the indications are and what modalities could be used
- management/prescribing:
- how closely did you follow clinical guidelines in the management of (for example) lower back pain
- review your prescribing as compared to current best practice
- preventive medicine activities:
- review patient records for recording of smoking status and smoking cessation advice given
- review patient records for recording of current alcohol use and alcohol cessation and reduction advice given.
In GPT1, you’ll be enrolled in the Registrars’ Clinical Encounters in Training (ReCEnT) program as a tool to facilitate your clinical audit. On completion you’ll receive a report to discuss with your ME in GPT2, to inform your learning plan.
Event analysis
An event analysis is a way of formally analysing incidents that may have implications for patient care. It involves you identifying an incident (eg unexpected death, delayed or missed diagnosis, medical error or communication failure) and reviewing reporting guidelines and subsequent actions, including remedial activities. Your event analysis will occur in GPT1 and form part of a SGL session.
Evidence-based medicine activity
Critical appraisal in medicine is an important skill to ensure your practice is evidence based. In GPT3, you’ll be required to submit an evidence-based medicine activity for discussion with your ME.
The EBM activity will be introduced brielfy in SGL session #16, followed by an email to your preferred email address with written instructions on how to complete the task (with an example for reference).
The EBM involves choosing an article from a selection provided by your ME, and completing an analysis of the evidence. You'll be equipped with a worksheet containing a framework for completing the anaylsis and you'll need to upload the completed worksheet to the Documentation section of the FSP portal one week before SGL session #17. You should have three weeks to complete the task.
You will discuss what you have learned in SGL #17, with your ME and peers.
Continuing professional development
While you're progressing adequately in the education component of the FSP your continuing professional development (CPD) requirements will be met by your program participation. You don't need to complete additional CPD.
The RACGP CPD team will log CPD hours in your 'myCPD' portal, acknowleding your training program participation. This will occur for every term you are in the educational component of the FSP.