You must:

• have completed Level 1 Mental Health Skills Training (MHST)*
• be working in general practice.

*Accredited by the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC).

The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) is currently offering GPs a training subsidy that covers part of the cost of completing accredited Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training (FPS ST). The subsidy is limited and subject to availability.

Eligible GPs will be reimbursed $600 once they complete the requirements for the Online FPS ST package and register as GP providers of FPS with Medicare Australia.

For more information on the FPS training subsidy, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the GPMHSC website.

Queensland GPs only – RACGP Queensland is offering bequest funded placements for Queensland GPs in Modified Monash Model (MMM) 2–7 to complete RACGP Rural’s Online Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training for only $50 (full value $1,279). You will be required to register and pay the full amount. Once you have completed all requirements of the course received your certificate of attendance, you will be refunded $1,229.

Places are limited so submit an expression of interest today to secure your funded placement.

The training package is comprised of four modules:

Module 1: Clinical audit – Antidepressant prescribing in general practice
This structured clinical audit activity allows you to review your 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 your clinical practice.

Module 2: Cognitive behavioural therapy skills for general practice
This online module, completed on gplearning is designed to provide you with an understanding on the theory and practice of CBT and how it can be applied to the treatment of common issues like depression and anxiety.

Module 3: FPS Case consultation
You’ll begin applying what you have learned by providing CBT-derived FPS counselling to patients in your practice while being supported via online/teleconference peer group case consultation sessions lead by an experienced GP provider of FPS. You’ll be allocated to a case-based discussion group and required to participate in all four allocated case-based discussion teleconference sessions (these are typically held fortnightly from 7:30-9:30 pm on a weeknight).

Module 4: Mental health consumer and carer perspective
In this module, you’ll participate in a facilitated webinar in which both a mental health consumer and carer are interviewed about their lived experiences, providing valuable insight to into the treatment and management of common mental health conditions.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

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 training package 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.