Firearm Authority Health Assessment: What GPs need to know
On-demand recorded 26 Mar 2025
Join RACGP WA for an overview of the Firearms Act and the reforms that are taking place on 31 March 2025, including the practical considerations and the role of GPs in terms of the mandatory Firearm Authority Health Assessment (FAHA) process.
We will cover:
- How the FAHA will be rolled out across Western Australia
- The practicalities of the health assessment and how it’s submitted
- IT requirements, safeguards and security in practices
- What role the FAHA plays in the wider firearms licensing process
- Who is eligible to perform the FAHA – and can GPs refuse to conduct one? What are the implications?
- What happens if the patient has not seen you before, or doesn't have a regular GP
- What happens if there are concerns about a patient’s fitness
- What support is available from WAPOL
- What medicolegal protections are in place for GPs performing a FAHA
Presented by Dr Mariam Bahemia and Dr Richard Taylor. Facilitated by Dr Tim Koh. Delivered in partnership with the WA Department of Health.
Click here for WAPOL's answers to questions taken on notice during the webinar
Click here for Firearms: Medical Practitioners Information
Click here to see the Firearms Portal
Click here for the Licensing Services Firearms landing page
Learning outcomes
- Identify the components of firearms health assessment and the role of the general practitioner.
- Demonstrate how to complete and submit the Firearms Authority Health Assessment forms.
Facilitator
Dr Tim Koh
GP and practice principal
Tim is a locally trained medical graduate and GP. He has over 20 years of experience as a GP and has been a practice owner since 2006. He has a passion for teaching general practice and has worked for RACGP as Assessment Panel Chair, RACGP WA Chair and as the Chair of RACGP Council (Board).
Tim remains a true generalist and has many areas of interest in general practice including medical education and training registrars, mental health and emotional wellbeing in children and adults and managing doctors as patients.
He is a keen runner and is regularly involved in Parkrun (as both a runner and volunteer) as well as coaching high school cross country running.
Tim continues to work as a full-time GP in outer Metro Perth. He is a firm believer in the idea that the best education content for GPs should be created by working GPs.
Presenters
Dr Mariam Bahemia
Co-Deputy Chair of the RACGP WA and President of the Children Of Mauritius Medical And Surgical Support Association