A pre-requisite for participation in the FPS ST course is completion of an accredited Level 1 Mental Health Skills Training (MHST) pathway.

The course is comprised of four modules:

This structured clinical audit activity enables GPs to review their use of antidepressant medications against best practice guidelines, consider non-pharmacological treatment options, and use this information to develop and implement quality improvement strategies in their clinical practice.

This online module, completed via the gplearning platform, equips participants to understand the theory and practice of CBT and how it can be applied to the treatment of common issues like depression and anxiety.

Participants will begin applying what they have learned by providing CBT - derived FPS counselling to patients in their usual practice while being supported via online/teleconference peer group case consultation sessions lead by an experienced GP provider of FPS. GP participants will be allocated to a case-based discussion group and will be required to participate in a minimum of three of the four allocated case-based discussion teleconference sessions (these are typically held fortnightly from 7:30-9:30 pm AEST on a weeknight).

In this module, GPs will participate in a facilitated webinar in which both a mental health consumer and carer are interviewed about their lived experiences, providing valuable insight to GPs treating mental health conditions.

Participants who wish to access funding for the Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training (FPS ST) must be an RACGP member currently working as a GP in Training or General Practitioner within Queensland.

The grants are only available to RACGP members who are practising in rural/remote areas MMM 3-7 in Queensland who intend to continue working in a rural Queensland MMM 3-7 location after completing the course.

A pre-requisite for participation in the FPS ST course is completion of an accredited Level 1 Mental Health Skills Training (MHST) pathway.

To apply for funding, RACGP members must complete an online expression of interest form.

GPs will only be able to access the grant once.

Once approved by the RACGP to access FPS ST, the applicant will have up to seven (7) business days to register for an available intake at the discounted rate of $50.

Applications are assessed by the RACGP and approved applicants will be accepted to the program.

Applicants who have already completed FPS ST training will not be eligible to access the grant.

By applying to access the FPS ST funding, the applicant provides consent for the RACGP to share information with third parties consistent with the purposes of assessing eligibility, delivering, and reporting the outcomes of the FPS ST program.

All FPS ST cancellations or amendments must be made in writing to qld.bequest@racgp.org.au.

Participants are required to contact the RACGP with requests to reschedule their participation a minimum of seven (7) business days in advance of the start of their scheduled intake.

For participants who reschedule their registration in writing at least seven (7) business days in advance of the start of their scheduled intake will be offered the opportunity to register for an alternative intake of their choice, pending session availability.

Participants who reschedule their registration in writing less than seven (7) business days before the start of their intake will be offered an alternative education session, pending availability, however the RACGP may not always be able to accommodate a participant’s preferences.

For participants who do not notify the RACGP in writing to cancel their registration before their scheduled education session will be withdrawn from the FPS ST and no grant payment will be paid.

To successfully complete the FPS ST program, participants will be required to complete all required aspects of the FPS ST training course and an evaluation survey of the program.

Grant funds will not be applied for partial or incomplete completion of the program. If a participant does not complete all aspects of the FPS ST course within four months of the start of their selected intake, an invoice for payment of the course fees ($979) will be issued to the participant. The participant will be responsible for the payment.

Upon completion of the program, participants will be provided with a Certificate of Completion and an application form to register with Medicare as a GP provider of FPS. Participants will need to complete this application form and submit it to the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) who will forward this to Medicare. Once Medicare has processed the application, the participants will be registered as a GP provider of FPS and will have access to FPS-related Medicare item numbers (such as 2721, 2723, 2725 and 2727).

Upon completion of the program participants will also be required to complete an evaluation survey.

When applying for FPS ST you must declare that:

• You have read the Terms and Conditions and meet the eligibility criteria.
• You understand the Terms and Conditions and eligibility criteria.
• You will adhere to all FPS ST Education Program requirements as outlined by the RACGP.
• You will notify the RACGP in writing before the start of your scheduled intake should you need to cancel or amend your scheduled participation and understand that if you do not that you will be withdrawn from the funding and an invoice for payment of the course fees ($979) will be issued directly to you.
• The information provided in your application is true and correct at the point of application.

Please note, Level 1 – Mental Health Skills Training (MHST) is a prerequisite for enrolment in the FPS ST training package.

You must be able to complete all of the training requirements within four months of the FPS ST intake start date to be eligible for the Bruce Roberts Bequest placement.

Places are limited - please submit an expression of interest and your application will be assessed. We will be in contact to advise you of the outcome in due course.

The training package has GPMHSC accreditation and on completion GPs can gain FPS provider registration with Medicare to access FPS related MBS numbers 2721, 2723, 2725 and 2727.

Modules 1, 2 and 3 are all CPD Accredited Activities under the RACGP CPD 2020-22 Triennium Program (eligible for 40 points each).

 

Module 4 is a CPD Activity (eligible for 2 points).