Your practice team

Key roles in your practice team include:

• doctors
• specialist GPs
• registrars
• IMGs
• practice nurses
• practice manager
• admin staff.

In addition, you could consider:

• employing allied health professionals such as dietitians, psychologists or physiotherapists
• employing or engaging external advisors who are specialists in HR and finance.

You can engage specialist GPs as employees or as independent contractors.

Any GPs you employ are subject to the National Employment Standards (NES) and are covered under the Medical Practitioners Award [MA000031].

GPs who are independent contractors contract their services to your practice, and receive payments from their patients. They then pay your practice a pre-determined percentage as payment for their use of your facilities, which might include access to your practice’s staff, administrative systems and consumables. Independent contractors are generally not entitled to employee benefits such as paid leave, and are responsible for their own superannuation and tax obligations (eg completing their own business activity statements, collecting and paying GST).

If you decide to employ a GP registrar, this can help your practice achieve its objectives relating to continuing education, workforce development, and developing the next generation of GPs.

Registrars must be engaged as employees (not contractors).

If you choose to employ registrars, there are obligations towards the registrar that you must satisfy, including ones relating to the teaching and supervising of GPs. The National Terms and Conditions for Employment of Registrars (NTCER) outline the minimum entitlements and conditions for employment, and applies to all GP registrars.

You might also be able to employ an international medical graduate (IMG), particularly if your practice is in a regional, rural or remote area. IMGs are subject to a range of restrictions and requirements related to registration and Medicare, which you must adhere to.

Most general practices employ at least one nurse to deliver a variety of clinical services, including preventative care, wound management, and vaccinations. Nurses are generally hired as employees, which makes them subject to the National Employment Standards (NES).

Primary health and general practice nurses are covered under the Nurses Award 2010, and may also be employed under an enterprise agreement (EA). An EA can specify conditions not covered by the award, or that meet or exceed the requirements of the award. If an EA specifies conditions that are less than those specified in the award, the award conditions apply.

Practice Managers play a crucial role in the functioning of any general practice. They hold and utilise a diverse skill set that spans financial management, human resources, marketing, information technology and security, risk management, governance and all facets of business operations in a unique healthcare environment. Practice Managers need to understand and interact with organisations and systems such as Medicare and other funding streams, other medical specialists and allied health professionals, government agencies, Primary Health Networks, quality improvement initiatives such as the Practice Incentive Program and accreditation agencies.

Because the responsibilities of a Practice Manager are vital to the success of your practice, the person appointed to this role must be knowledgeable and highly capable.

Whilst not essential, formal practice management qualifications and ongoing professional development can be obtained through the Australian Association of Practice Management (AAPM). Practice Managers can apply to become a Certified Practice Manager through AAPM upon meeting the eligibility criteria. The Certified Practice Manager credential recognises a member's years of experience and skill development in the profession of Practice Management. 

AAPM offer annual scholarships to foster and promote continuing training and professional development for AAPM members. Eligibility criteria and conditions apply.

Some practices may use the terms ‘Practice Manager’ ,‘Operations Manager’ and ‘Business Manager’ interchangeably.

You can advertise a vacancy for a Practice Manager and other practice staff (administrative, management, nursing) via the APPM website.

Practice managers will generally be hired as employees, making them subject to the National Employment Standards (NES).

Administrative staff are usually your patients’ point of contact with your practice.

Their key tasks include reception duties, billing, and processing payments.

Other tasks might include triaging patients over the phone or when they present to reception, and implementing infection control.

Admin staff are usually hired as employees, making them subject to the National Employment Standards (NES). Most admin staff will also be covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2010.

Collaborative care and the use of multidisciplinary team-based care models can benefit patients, the team and its members, and the organisation.

The make-up of a multidisciplinary team will vary depending on the individual needs of your patient cohort.

When establishing multidisciplinary teams, five principles that may help enhance team effectiveness include:

• shared purpose and goals
• clear roles and responsibility
• mutual trust
• effective communication
• measuring process and outcomes of team function.

You can find more information on Collaboration and multidisciplinary team-based care in the RACGP aged care clinical guide (Silver Book). While this resource primarily focuses on care provision for elderly patients in residential aged care facilities and in the community, the guiding principles are relevant for all patients who would benefit from multidisciplinary team care.