The RACGP Rural Online Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training (FPS ST) course is a flexible, innovative training package that uses a combination of technology, peer learning groups and locally available resources to provide GPs with access to FPS skills training whist remaining in their practice and community.

Delivered over 14 weeks, on completion GPs can register with Medicare as FPS providers and access additional FPS related MBS numbers.

GPs or Registrars working in private primary practice in the Modified Monash Model (MMM 3-7) locations may be eligible for financial support through the Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) grant administered by RWAV.

Participants must have completed Level 1 – Mental Health Skills Training (MHST).

The course comprises of four models:

• Clinical audit Antidepressant prescribing in general practice
• Cognitive behavioural therapy skills for general practice
• Case consultations
• Mental health consumer and carer perspectives

For more information on the course, please visit the RACGP FPS ST page.

1. Discuss the range of evidence-based FPS and the rationale for their use in different clinical circumstances
2. Apply communication skills specific to working with patients with mental illness and reflect on own practice
3. Identify own patients with diagnosed anxiety and depression and review own practice against established standards of practice.
4. Identify ways in which GPs can respond to the needs of consumers and carers.

The Online Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training course is a CPD Approved Activity under the RACGP CPD Program eligible for 26 CPD hours (6 hours Educational Activities, 6 hours Measuring Outcomes and 14 hours of Reviewing Performance).

The Online Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training course has GPMHSC accreditation and on completion GPs can register with Medicare as FPS providers and access FPS related MBS numbers 2721, 2723, 2725 and 2727. For more information on becoming a GP provider of FPS, please visit the GPMHSC website.

Access to the grant

• Participants who wish to access funding for the Online Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training course must be an RACGP member currently working as a Registrar or General Practitioner within Victoria, and must also meet the HWSP eligibility criteria as assessed by RWAV.

Registrations and Cancellations

• If the participant is qualified for the grant, they will be notified and then required to pay a registration fee of $1,279.00.
• RACGP will notify doctors of their outcome of their application and their obligations.
• All cancellations or amendments must be made in writing to ruralmentalhealth@racgp.org.au
• Participants must advise the RACGP in writing if they are unable to complete any components of the course. If available, an alternative date may be offered, however, the RACGP may not always be able to accommodate participant preferences.
• Participants who are unable to complete all components of the course will only be refunded their registration fee (minus a 10% administration fee) if the course is over capacity and the position can be filled by another person.
• To be eligible to have the course cost ($1,279.00) reimbursed, participants must complete all components of the course by Thursday 31 October 2024.
• Participants who do not complete all requirements of the scholarship will not be eligible to have the course cost ($1,279.00) reimbursed.
• To enable both RACGP and RWAV to meet their contractual requirements, both organisations will be regularly sharing registration and program completion data. Information sharing will be strictly monitored.

Application form submission:

When applying for the scholarship, you must declare that:

• You have read the Terms and Conditions and meet the eligibility criteria and that you understand the Terms and Conditions and eligibility criteria.
• You will adhere to Online Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training course requirements as outlined by the RACGP and RWAV.
• You consent for your personal information to be shared with RWAV for the purposes of access to the scholarship only, and/or any other related party.
• The information provided in your application is true and correct at the point of application.