The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is urging New Zealand GPs to take full advantage of WONCA Sydney 2023.
The World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians, or WONCA, world conference is being held in Sydney this year from 26 to 29 October 2023, and is slated to be one of the largest global conferences for GPs. Early bird registration for people from New Zealand closes this Sunday 6 August.
Hosted by the RACGP, WONCA is not a conference to be missed. Themed, “Recovery, reconnection, and revival. A celebration of primary care," it will include more than 800 presentations and workshops from over 700 local and international presenters from around the world. WONCA will feature over 50 streams, covering a range of issues being faced by GPs including mental health, women’s health, climate change, rural practice, and more.
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins urged New Zealand GPs to sign up.
“WONCA is a fantastic opportunity that will bring together GPs, family doctors and primary health practitioners from around the world, and we would love to see plenty of New Zealanders attend,” she said.
“This is your opportunity to share your insights about what is working well in general practice care in New Zealand, what you think can be improved, and where you see primary care heading in the years ahead. This conference is also your chance to learn from GPs and experts from around the world. So, please register now, this is not something you will want to miss out on.”
Chair of the WONCA 2023 Scientific Committee, Professor Mark Morgan, said the conference program offered a mix of research and practical applications to support GPs and family doctors.
“This conference has something for everyone,” he said.
“We all know that general practice care is always changing and evolving based on the health needs of the community. The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the impact this will have on natural disasters including floods and bushfires, are just some examples of how the health issues that GPs and family doctors and GPs are managing on a day-to-day basis are rapidly changing. So, WONCA is the perfect opportunity to learn from each other and explore these emerging issues. Let’s use this as dynamic platform to explore the future of high-quality, sustainable primary care.”
Chair of the WONCA 2023 Host Organising Committee, Adjust Professor Karen Price, said WONCA was a great opportunity to see the internationalism of primary care and promote general practice care.
“Sydney is a wonderful city and for many GPs and family doctors, this conference will be the first opportunity they have had to reconnect with their colleagues since the pandemic started,” she said.
“Dr David Tipene Leach will be presenting his expertise on Māori cultural competency and equity of health systems. Also, a former CEO of the RANZGP College, Associate Professor Karen Flegg will be taking up the WONCA world presidency at this event. Come and celebrate with us!
“WONCA Sydney 2023 will feature an incredible program of research, but more than that it will provide chance to reconnect with local and international colleagues and talk face to face. The conference is designed so that participants can engage with content that will be beneficial to them and their own practice, and network with colleagues who share the same interests. So, please New Zealanders come along and get involved, we can’t wait to see you.”