Welcome to 2020!
2019 flew by and we are now entering a new decade. I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and New Year break with your friends and family.
I would like to start by acknowledging the bush fire crisis sweeping the nation. Australia has seen some of the worst bushfires in decades that have caused catastrophic loss of both human and animal life with plantation, livestock and properties burned. My heart goes out to those affected by the devastating fires. If you have been directly or indirectly impacted by the fires, the RACGP is here to support you. Visit our Bushfire information for GPs webpage to find an array of resources to support you and your patients and for updates from federal and state governments.
Unfortunately, we are all aware that Coronavirus is an evolving international health concern. Please refer to the RACGP website for regular updates on this developing issue and resources to support you in your practice. We have also included an article on coronavirus in the External News section of this newsletter.
On a brighter note, I would like to acknowledge the exceptional South Australian doctors recognised in the 2020 Australian Day Honours. Dr Anthony Lian-Lloyd, a GP in the rural town of Quorn was awarded an Order of Australia medal for his service to medicine and the community. South Australian eye surgeon Dr James Muecke was named Australian of the Year for his contributions to healthcare and will be advocating for developments in preventive diabetes-related eye disease. Congratulations to both of these gentlemen for their immense achievements.
With the start of the New Year, a new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) triennium has begun for 2020–2022. While the Medical Board of Australia has proposed a new Professional Performance Framework for CPD for medical practitioners, the RACGP has aimed to keep our CPD requirements simple and straightforward for this triennium. The requirements are as follows:
- Total points needed: 130
- Mandated activities: 2 CPD accredited activities and a Basic Life Support Course
- Chosen learning activities: Self-directed activities or provider-led CPD accredited activities
RACGP SA&NT has been delighted to see a keen interest in the New Fellows events. A New Fellow is a practitioner who obtained their Fellowship within the last five years. The next event, titled ‘The neXt Factor’, will be held on Friday 20 March in North Adelaide. The event will provide New Fellows with the opportunity to showcase their talents outside of general practice. We welcome submissions for various works or performances, including but not limited to visual and digital art (painting, drawing, sculpture and photography), pre-recorded or live acts such as dancing, drama, music or singing, poetry and short stories. For more information on this event and other upcoming RACGP SA&NT events, please visit the RACGP website.
RACGP SA&NT has many exciting educational and social events planned for 2020. We look forward to the year ahead and hope you all stay cool in these warmer months.
Dr Zakaria Baig
Chair, RACGP SA&NT