Engage in professional development
Through an education research grant in 2020 and 2021 the RACGP supported the development of a national curriculum for general practice supervisors. The curriculum is suitable for supervisors across all general practice training and workforce programs, including those managed by the Medical Board of Australia. It supports supervisors to undertake professional development (PD) in the core knowledge and skills relevant to supervising a medical practitioner who doesn’t have Fellowship of either the RACGP or ACRRM.
A task-based syllabus is the foundation for the Foundations of GP Supervision course.
Professional development requirements
For current supervisors, the focus of professional development (PD)in 2023 will be to familiarise supervisors with the RACGP approach to GP training. Resources and education will assist supervisors with in-practice teaching, undertake registrar assessments, and complete reporting requirements. It’s just as important RACGP staff learn about you and your practice as it is that you become familiar with RACGP approaches and systems. Where possible, RACGP staff will visit your practice. Local supervisor ‘communities of practice’ meetings will be set up to allow supervisors to learn with and from their peers.
The RACGP will continue to offer and support a range of supervisor PD activities similar to those offered by RTOs. These will include online learning modules, webinars, and regional workshops. All currently accredited supervisors will have their previously completed PD recognised by RACGP. There will be no mandated minimum requirement of supervisor PD in 2023.
Foundations of GP Supervision course
From 2023, GPs wishing to become accredited supervisors will be required to complete the Foundations of GP Supervision course.
The Foundations of GP Supervision course consists of eight modules, delivered as a blend of face-to-face workshops and online modules. In some circumstances, it may be completed entirely online. The course takes nine - 12 hours to complete and there is payment for the time spent. Prospective primary supervisors must complete the first seven modules before their registrar commences. The final module is designed to reinforce the learning of earlier modules and is completed six to 12 months after the registrar commences.
Prospective secondary supervisors will be required to complete three modules (modules 4, 6 and 7) prior to commencing their supervisory work.
All new supervisors will be required to have recently completed cultural awareness training, such as that available through gplearning.
Foundations of supervision course modules
1. Introduction to being a GP supervisor
2. The start of the supervision placement
3. Consultation observation
4. Day-to-day supervision
5. Random case analysis
6. In-practice teaching session summary
7. Problem case discussion
8. Consolidating initial learning
RACGP Continuing professional development (CPD) requirements.
Like all doctors, supervisors have an annual AHPRA requirement to complete 50 hours of CPD. The RACGP has developed packages which award up to 30 hours of CPD for supervisors who currently have registrars. This is in recognition that the role of supervisors involves reflection on performance and measuring outcomes. It also accounts for any professional development activities done as a supervisor. For more details see the CPD for General Practice Supervisors 2023 guide.