About the Indigenous General Practice Trainee Network
The Indigenous General Practice Trainee Network (IGPTN) is a network for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs in Training to receive professional and cultural support and education relevant to their training programs.
Network members can undertake exam preparation and peer debriefing via online study groups, discussion groups and two face-to-face workshops each year. The Network has a chairperson, medical educators and is supported by a program manager to provide you with support during your training. IGPTN can advocate on behalf of GPs in training with other organisations such as the RACGP.
IGPRN (as it was formally known) was founded in 2008 by Indigenous GP Registrars who sought to address issues of cultural isolation and safety, discrimination, and other unique challenges on their pathway to Fellowship. From a single Indigenous Registrar Liaison Officer, IGPTN has now become a funded national peer network, with an Indigenous Chair elected by the members. IGPTN is supported and auspiced by General Practice Registrars Australia currently but has recently become incorporated and is on the pathway to becoming independent.
Contact IGPTN via email if you are interested in joining the network: admin@igptn.org.au
IGPTN and the RACGP working together
RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health is committed to increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs. The faculty offers the Yagila Wadamba program, to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GP registrars in preparing for their RACGP Fellowship exams.
One of the principles of the program is that it should not duplicate what is already being offered elsewhere. RACGP and IGPTN work together to complement each other through the Yagila Wadamba program. Both organisations provide advice and support to help recruit suitable educators for their programs and to ensure dates are coordinated and do not conflict to allow registrars the best chance of attending all workshops.
The RACGP and IGPTN will continue to look for opportunities to enhance the way support is provided and tailored to the needs of trainees.