We advocated for enhanced support for residents in aged care facilities

• We backed GPs on all regulation and compliance matters
• We secured telehealth, now a permanent feature of general practice care
• We ensured GPs were at the heart of the COVID-19 response and vaccination rollout

In addition, there are many other advocacy wins we secured on behalf of our members last year including significant and ongoing contributions to the Primary Healthcare 10 Year Plan, calling out government for their lack of investment in the 10 Year Plan once released and blocking the proposed model of Voluntary Patient Enrolment that was put forward without sufficient funding for general practice. We responded firmly to the most recent Federal budget, producing resources for members and highlighting the importance of general practice funding in the media. All of this was based on the insights and views that you shared with us throughout 2021. 

The RACGP has continued to fight to represent GPs across a range of platforms, including throughout the Senate Inquiry into the provision of general practitioner and related primary health services to outer metropolitan, rural, and regional Australians. We have called for increased Medicare rebates and measures to reinforce the general practice workforce, and this strong advocacy was reflected in the positive recommendations in the Interim Report from this Senate Inquiry. 

The RACGP Board, Faculty Councils and Expert Committees have worked tirelessly to represent your views and actively engage in ongoing health reform activities across Australia. In 2021, the RACGP produced over 160 submissions to government and key stakeholders.