Register now for GP20 – The leading event for GPs
GP20 is going digital.
Join us from 16–18 November for two weeks of practical and inspiring presentations across a range of live sessions and on-demand content from leading industry experts.
- Participate in live sessions
- Watch on-demand content at your convenience
- Connect with your peers through fun and engaging social activities
- Network one-on-one with exhibitors
- Celebrate the winners of the 2020 RACGP National Awards
GP20 will analyse the challenges of the pandemic, and provide the clinical education and research information that helps you be the best GP you can be.
Registrations now open. Cost: $99 members | $199 non-members
Register now via the GP20 website.
RACGP Faculty Council elections – Voting closes Monday 21 September
There is still time to vote in the RACGP Faculty Council elections. Voting in contested electorates closes at midnight, Monday 21 September.
This is your opportunity to shape your community and make sure your voice is included on your Faculty Council.
Your Faculty Council represents and advocates for you. Be part of the democratic process, find out more about the candidates and vote for the GP who will be the best person to represent your community.
This year, there are six contested Faculty Council electorates across Australia. Elections will only be held in contested electorates.
The successful candidate will be announced on Wednesday 23 September 2020.
Visit the RACGP website to meet the candidates and find out more about voting.
We value your feedback – RACGP Member Benefits Program
As RACGP members, we want to ensure that RACGP’s Member Benefits Program brings you exclusive offers that will benefit you professionally and personally. We would greatly appreciate if you could take a few minutes of your time to share your thoughts and complete this quick eight-question survey.
Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard – GP educational webinar
Dr Oliver Frank, GP and member of the Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard Topic Working Group for the Commission, will present a session for GPs on the Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standard and the implementation resources available.
This webinar aims to:
- identify the quality statements that form the Colonoscopy Clinical Care Standards
- identify the key information that should be included in the referral
- highlight the resources available to assist in the patient referral process in the practice setting.
Date: 22 September
Time: 7.00 pm (AEST)
Cost: Free
Register on Zoom
Seize your final opportunity to train with the RACGP in 2021
Expand your practice and broaden your horizons with the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program with the RACGP.
The final intake of the AGPT Program 2021 with the RACGP closes at 10.00 am AEST, Monday 21 September. Haven’t started your application yet? There’s still time. Register to begin your application before 10.00 am, Monday 21 September.
A limited number of positions remain across the various regions and pathways, so we encourage you to take a look at the training place distribution table and contact your preferred Regional Training Organisation before deciding to join the final intake.
We’re here to help. If you have any questions about the final intake, please don’t hesitate to contact us at racgpeducation@racgp.org.au
Register now for the Rural Member Forum
Join rural and remote colleagues at the RACGP Rural Member Forum on Saturday 10 October 2020. This free online event combines the annual member meeting, rural education and networking.
Special guest Associate Professor Ruth Stewart, National Rural Health Commissioner, will provide an update on the government’s current and upcoming rural and remote health priorities.
We’ll review RACGP Rural’s key achievements over the last 12 months and recognise our award winners for their contribution to rural general practice during the annual member meeting.
Then, you can select from one of four rural education sessions to attend covering various rural- and remote-specific topics, followed by digital networking with your rural and remote colleagues.
Register on the RACGP website
Changes to MBS items for ECGs
Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items for electrocardiograms (11704, 11705, 11707 and 11714) were amended on 15 September 2020 to highlight the co-claiming restriction with sleep study items.
Updated descriptors for these items can be viewed on the RACGP website. Further information is available in the Department of Health’s Quick Reference Guide.
Suicide prevention and general practice
GPs play a vital role in detecting not only the mental health issues of their patients but also in assessing the person’s risk of suicide or self-harm. Early intervention within a primary care setting is an ideal place for GPs to assess a person’s risk of suicide and for people to seek help as early as possible to prevent mental health issues and illnesses leading to suicide.
It is important that GPs have the knowledge and skills to recognise when a patient might be experiencing mental health issues and to investigate whether they might be at risk of suicide. GPs can undertake regular mental health training and education in suicide assessment and prevention by visiting the General Practice Mental Health Standard Collaboration (GPMHSC) website. Additionally, GPs are also encouraged to read the Suicide prevention and first aid: A resource for GPs.
Webinar: Child mental health assessment
The third instalment of the Child Mental Health Webinar Series presented by Emerging Minds and RACGP Specific Interests, this webinar will discuss ways of completing a holistic, family focused approach to a child mental health assessment.
Join Dr James Best, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Child and Young Person’s Health network as he facilitates the webinar presented by psychiatrist Dr Nick Kowalenko, GP Dr Cathy Andronis and patient advocate, Ms Bronwen Hocking.
Date: Thursday 24 September 2020
Time: 7.00–8.30 pm (AEST)
Cost: Free
Register on Zoom now
Online mental health skills training
The RACGP Rural online Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training (FPS ST) package provides essential mental health skills training without having to leave your practice or community.
The flexible, innovative training package is made up of four modules and uses a combination of technology, peer learning groups and locally available resources.
Level 1 Mental Health Skills Training (MHST) is a prerequisite for enrolment. The training package has GPMHSC accreditation, and on completion GPs can gain FPS provider registration with Medicare to access FPS related MBS numbers 2721, 2723, 2725 and 2727.
Places are filling up fast for the September intake. Don’t miss the chance to complete Level 2 MHST by the end of the year.
Register on the RACGP website
AusDI – Recent updates include new monograph for remdesivir
The AusDI platform is designed to give you quick and easy access to current medicines information at point of care. This month a new abbreviated monograph for remdesivir has been included following its provisional approval for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents (12 years of age and older and weighing at least 40 kg) with pneumonia requiring supplemental oxygen.
You can find details of all new and recently updated drug monographs, product summaries and consumer information sheets in AusDI’s ‘What’s new’ tab. AusDI is a member-only resource (login to the RACGP website is required).
Webinar: New asthma guidelines – What’s changed?
Important changes to the way mild asthma can be managed for patients aged 12 years and over have been announced with the release of the Australian Asthma Handbook V2.1. A free one-hour webinar has been designed by NPS MedicineWise in partnership with the National Asthma Council to provide information on these recent changes to asthma guidelines, and the way asthma medications can be used for mild asthma.
The multidisciplinary panel of experts includes the GP Chair of the Australian Asthma Handbook Guidelines Committee, an advanced practice pharmacist, a nurse asthma educator and a consumer representative.
Date: Tuesday 29 September 2020
Time: 7.00–8.00 pm (AEST)
Register via the NPS MedicineWise website.