The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) congratulates a record breaking 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs who achieved Fellowship in 2014.
Through its National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, the RACGP offers the Indigenous Fellowship Excellence Program designed to assist GP registrars with exam preparation and peer support.
National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Chair, Associate Professor Brad Murphy said it is extremely encouraging to observe the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellows increasing each year.
“It is fantastic to welcome twelve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellows to the RACGP and I am extremely proud of their momentous achievements,” said A/Prof Murphy.
“The RACGP is committed to fostering an environment of cultural and clinical success for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs and their patients and I hope to see the number of Fellows continue to grow each year.
“This milestone marks a significant step in the RACGP’s journey to make a real difference to the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Close the Gap for good.”
The Indigenous Fellowship Excellence Program has been offered since 2012, with over 30 GP registrars and mentors participating in four annual workshops focusing on exam preparation.
The program will extend its focus to include support for GP registrars and initiate a mentoring program with the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA).
The RACGP Indigenous Fellowship Excellence Program is supported by Dr Nathan and Susan Pinskier, the Mary MacKillop Foundation and the RACGP National Faculty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
“The program has seen enormous success fostering support networks and providing a framework for excellence in Fellowship exam performance,” said A/Prof Murphy.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs play a crucial role in the delivery of culturally and clinically appropriate primary healthcare to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.”
The RACGP congratulates its new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellows and will continue its commitment to supporting this cohort into the future.