Advanced Skills

Applications to the second intake of Advanced Skills Training are now open and will close on 15 March 2021.

The RACGP will provide fair access to Advanced Skills Training for members applying from across the country.

The application process will require members to outline their current AOD strengths, the challenges facing patients in their area, and how they would benefit from accessing Advanced Skills Training.

Applications will be assessed based on the justification provided by the applicant of how Advanced Skills Training will enable them to make a positive contribution to the health and wellbeing of their patients, the wider community and the RACGP AOD community of practice.

Applications are completed online. The application process may require some reflection from applicants. Applications can be saved and amended/completed at a later point in time if required.

If the RACGP receives a substantial volume of quality Advanced Skills applications far exceeding the 300 spaces available, determinations may be based on the date applications were received by the RACGP.

To apply for Advanced Skills Training open the Apply Now button on the RACGP AOD GP Education homepage.

Applications for Advanced Skills Training will open 10 August 2020

Identify an Advanced Skills Mentor

Each participant will be required to utilise the support of an AOD Mentor. Participants must identify their own Mentor. Mentors can come from a range of AOD related medical specialties / professions and must be registered with AHPRA. 

Develop a Personalised Learning Plan

Participants will be required to develop a personalised learning plan (PLP) that outlines the participant’s learning needs and the skills they will prioritise. 

The PLP must contain 20 hours of AOD related professional development activity and participants must use a range of strategies to meet their learning needs. PLPs should include elements such as data reviews, case discussion/reflection with their Mentor, professional reading and sourcing education that best fits with individual identified learning needs. 

Complete an Activity Logbook

Participants will be required to document their completed PLP activity and reflect on how this activity addressed their learning needs. Participants will be required to upload their Activity Logbooks at the completion of their PLP.

Post Education Activities

At the completion of the participant’s personalised learning plan, participants will be encouraged to share their newly acquired knowledge with other GPs.

Participants will also be required to complete an evaluation survey. Completion of these tasks enables the RACGP process the participant’s one-off completion payment.

Please download a copy of the helpful guide to Advanced Skills - Steps to Completion.

It is the responsibility of participants to secure their own Advanced Skills Mentor. Mentors do not need to be GPs. They can be any health professional that is registered with AHPRA that has an expertise in treatment of AOD use.

For most applicants, the easiest way to secure an Advanced Skills Mentor will be to approach a colleague from your practice or a GP in your region who is experienced in supporting patients experiencing problems with their AOD use.

Alternatively consider approaching your local AOD treatment service provider.  The RACGP has a template letter to an individual or an organisation to assist with this process.

Other possible Mentors:

• Clinical Nurse Practitioner
• Addiction Medicine Specialist
• Psychologist
• Psychiatrist
• Pain Medicine Specialist
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Health worker
• Pharmacist that dispenses buprenorphine/naloxone and methadone

When approaching a potential Mentor, please provide them with a copy or link to the RACGP Quick Reference Guide for Mentors.

GPs treating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, practicing in rural and remote areas or in custodial medicine will be able to request support from the RACGP to find a suitable Advanced Skills Mentor if required. 

I’ve been asked to be an Advanced Skills Mentor. What am I being asked to do?

A potential Advanced Skills Mentor could be an AOD expert professional who is registered with AHPRA.

As a Mentor, you will be required to support a participant to develop and implement their 20 hour AOD personalised learning plan.  This will require a minimum of 6 hours of your time during April to September 2021.

As a Mentor you will receive a one-off reimbursement payment of $1,500 (including superannuation and subject to relevant taxation) for supporting an Advanced Skills participant to complete the program as their Mentor.  Participants will receive a one-off payment of $2,500 for completing Advanced Skills Training.

If a Mentor has capacity, they are able to support up to 3 Advanced Skills participants.

Potential Mentors are encouraged to download a copy of the RACGP Quick Reference Guide for Mentors.

• Quick reference Guide - Personalised Learning Plan
• Quick Reference Guide - Activity Logbook
• GP Participant 1 – Personalised Learning Plan Example
• GP Participant 1 – Activity Logbook Example
• GP Participant 2 – Personalised Learning Plan Example
• GP Participant 2 – Activity Logbook Example