National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Plan
The Department of Health is leading the development of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan 2021–2031 (Workforce Plan), and a draft is now available based on 12 months of national consultation.
We’re seeking your advice about the draft Workforce Plan and invite you to take this survey to share your views.
You’re welcome to contact us at aboriginalhealth@racgp.org.au if you’d like some more information or have any questions.
International Medicine in Addiction Conference: Registrations open
The International Medicine in Addiction Conference, IMiA21 Virtual, will be running virtually 26–28 February, delivering an engaging educational agenda to delegates across the world.
This year’s conference will present an innovative scientific program and international keynote speakers to delegates, while focusing on the relationships doctors build with their patients and communities.
The virtual conference is also an opportunity to participate for people living in regional or rural areas who may not have been able to attend in previous years.
The theme of IMiA21 Virtual is ‘connecting the disconnected’. This is designed to acknowledge that doctors work with people and communities who use substances, and are therefore very aware of the complex issues, the disconnection, marginalisation and need to respond to people’s unique situations and issues.
International keynote speakers include Sam Chamberlain on behavioural addictions, Owen Bowden-Jones on party drugs and ‘chem sex’, and Shelly Greenfield on comorbidity.
The event is run in partnership with the RACGP, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).
Check out the program and register for IMiA21.
Take part in our Federal Budget and Federal Election survey
Each year, the RACGP advocates for budget items as part of the Government’s Federal Budget in May. We also want to be prepared for the next Federal Election, which can be held from August 2021. Your opinions about the most important changes to fund in the short term (6–12 months) and medium-to-long term (2–3 years) are needed to make sure you get the changes you need to deliver sustainable and high-quality care.
We have a number of key priorities articulated in the Vision for general practice and a sustainable healthcare system.
Of all the changes the system needs, we want to know which will make the most difference in the short term and which are needed in the medium-to long term.
And, given the significant impact of COVID since the Vision was launched, is there anything missing that you think is a priority in the short term or medium-to long term?
The RACGP Expert Committee – Funding and Health System Reform team invites you provide your views on what you think is most important in this survey.
N-nitrosodimethylamine impurities in metformin products
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) began investigating the potential contamination of Australian metformin medicines with N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in late 2019.
It has carefully considered the risk for patients from batches that modestly exceed the limit. This included an analysis of the commonly prescribed doses of metformin using data from the general practice program MedicineInsight.
Overall, the risk is considered to be very low for patients on immediate- and extended-release products. The TGA investigation indicates the majority of patients would not be exposed to levels of NDMA that exceed the acceptable intake limit.
More information about this issue is available on the TGA website.
Looking for info and content for a presentation? Visit the RACGP Library
All you need to do is tell the library team what sort of information, images and content you require and who your audience is – are they colleagues, registrars or students, or a community or school group?
We'll conduct a search of our resources to find the information you need to help you prepare your talk and any suitable content, including graphics and images, we have available through our McGraw Hill platforms (our academic institutional licence allows educational, non-commercial use of such content providing source and copyright statements remain with each image).
We ideally require at least two weeks' notice, but we do try to accommodate any urgent requests.
Send your requests via our online form or by email library@racgp.org.au, or call 03 8699 0519 to speak to a team member.
FAQs on mental health training and education
GPs can access answers to commonly asked questions by viewing the frequently asked questions (FAQs) section on the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) website.
FAQs on mental health education and training provide information on skills training and continuing professional development, while FAQs on the Medicare Benefits Scheme aim to address key queries about item numbers used for the provision of primary mental health care.
For additional information on the GPMHSC, please contact the GPMHSC Secretariat on 03 8699 0556 or email gpmhsc@racgp.org.au
Definition of a clinical team for the purposes of accreditation
The RACGP and agencies who accredit practices against the Standards for general practices (5th edition) (the Standards) have identified a range of scenarios where co-located practitioners are considered a member of the clinical team for the purpose of accreditation.
The RACGP Expert Committee – Standards for General Practices (REC–SGP), with input from the accreditation agencies, has developed a fact sheet on the definition of a clinical team for the purposes of accreditation.
A practice should self-identify its clinical team members in the first instance. If it is still unclear to the surveyor, this fact sheet provides four criteria to help them determine if a practitioner is a member of the clinical team for the purpose of accreditation.
Safe baby bundle: Working together to reduce stillbirth
The Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence has partnered with CRANAplus to host a pilot webinar of the ‘Safer baby bundle rural and remote masterclass’ webinar.
Maternity healthcare professionals across rural and remote Australia are invited to participate and provide feedback on the webinar’s content to ensure key recommendations for stillbirth prevention meet the needs of people living in rural and remote Australia.
Date: Friday December 11 2020
Time: 2.00–4.00 pm (AEDT)
Registration is available on the CRANA website.
Essential update for GPs on cervical screening – Part 2
Date: Tuesday 8 December 2020
Time: 7.30–9.00 pm (AEDT)
Cost: Free
Expert speakers present an essential update to guide GP clinical practice.
Topics include:
- update to the clinical guidelines on intermediate risk pathways
- how to apply these changes in your practice
- expanding on delivering culturally appropriate screening
- an informative session addressing your most pressing questions.
Clinical cases and practical tips will be included.
This webinar is supported by the National Cervical Screening Program.
Register via Zoom.
Rerun of KFP and AKT exams
Good luck to our candidates doing their KFP and AKT exams today and tomorrow.