December 2019

RACGP Victoria Fellowship and Awards Ceremony

The 23rd of November saw 280 doctors presented with their Fellowship and welcomed into the profession as general practitioners at the RACGP Victoria Fellowship and Awards ceremony held at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. Along with our new Fellows’ friends and family members and other award winners, Dr Caroline Johnson, a remarkable GP with a long history of involvement at the RACGP and contribution to our profession, gave the oration. Other special guests included representatives from State training providers and workforce agencies. 

One of the highlights of the ceremony each year is the presentation of the Richard Gutch Medal to the highest achieving candidates in the exam. Dr Richard Gutch was one of the founders of the RACGP and we are fortunate to still be able to feel our history and hear its echoes in what we do today.

This year, Dr Gutch’s son, Michael presented the award for 2018.2 to Dr Nicholas Cornish and 2019.1 to Dr Anna Proietto. Congratulations Dr Cornish and Dr Proietto for this exceptional achievement. 

CPD requirements

Keep in mind that the end of this triennium is fast-approaching. If you have any outstanding requirements and are not sure how to complete them, please contact the RACGP Victoria office to help – that is what we’re here for. 

The program will change next year and open up more flexibility to GPs. We are removing the Category one and Category two activities – they never were rankings and lost their purpose over time. In a simplified program, GPs are asked to complete a CPR update and two Accredited activities. Please visit the RACGP website  for many options. 

The rest is much more self-directed and self-reported. The MyCPDApp (coming soon) will make recording what we do even easier. If you do it, then record it. Many non-GPs want to tell us what we should be doing, so let's actually show them what we are doing. 

RACGP Victoria events 2020

We have lots of exciting member events planned for 2020, so please visit the RACGP website for options of interest. 

On Saturday and Sunday 14 and 15 March 2020, the RACGP New Fellows Committee is hosting the GP Wellbeing Weekend at Hepburn Springs – lock in that date! 

'Brainy women' and 'GPADD20 ' also have dates locked in and are well worth attending.

Seasons greetings

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and happy holiday period. And if you live in or will be holidaying in fire-risk areas, please make sure you stay safe and have a bushfire survival plan.

The Wellbeing Weekend program incorporates a variety of educational workshops and sessions that will help you focus on ways to minimise your day-to-day stress, optimise your health, and improve the self-care and wellbeing of you and your patients. 

This weekend will provide you with skills to be a happy and sustainable GP who is in the best possible position to look after your own health, as well as your patients'. 

This program was designed by the RACGP Victoria New Fellows Committee for all GPs, including New Fellows and GPs working towards Fellowship.

Saturday and Sunday 13–14 June 2020, RACV City Club, Melbourne

Presented by the RACGP Victoria Women in General Practice Committee, this weekend conference will address issues including doctors and patients mental health, hormones and the brain and mindfulness.

Saturday and Sunday 1-2 August 2020, RACV City Club, Melbourne

Presented by the RACGP Victoria Drug and Alcohol Committee, GPADD20 will explore issues in vulnerable groups such as refugees, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, transgender and homeless people.

Registrations now open for MATOD 2020 workshops

These workshops will provide GPs with the skills and confidence to assess, manage and initiate patients on opioid replacement therapy.

Program Schedule

The MATOD program* is a blended approach of online training and a face-to-face workshop in two parts.

Module 2 – Part A: Online training

This two-hour online education component covers opioid use disorder and the pharmacology of buprenorphine and methadone.

Module 2 – Part B: Face-to-face workshop

This four-hour interactive workshop comprises a case-based discussion.

*Practitioners must be registered with AHPRA.

Please note by registering, you consent for your details to be provided to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Pharmacotherapy Area Based Networks in Victoria.

Schedule of 2020 workshops

Saturday 22 Feb 2020 RACGP John Murtagh Centre, 100 Wellington Parade East Melbourne VIC 3002
Register now

Sunday 22 March 2020 Sale, venue to be confirmed 
Register now

On 23 November, 286 GPs and their guest attended the Fellowship and Awards Ceremony at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. RACGP President, Dr Harry Nespolon, presented the awards to new Fellows in front of approximately 800 guests. Dr Caroline Johnson, Victorian GP of the Year, made a very inspiring oration to the new Fellows by providing useful tips and guidance from her years as a GP.

On 30 November, the RACGP Victoria’s International Medical Graduate (IMG), and Drug and Alcohol Committees presented a 'Challenging consultations' workshop. Thirty-five delegates observed a range of case scenarios and participated in group work to discuss strategies for dealing with the challenging patients.

Recently, there have been several moves to expand prescribing to non-medical professionals, including:

• the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s proposal outlining potential models for pharmacist prescribing
• the announcement of a state-wide trial in Queensland that would permit pharmacists to prescribe antibiotics for urinary tract infections and the contraceptive pill.

The prescribing of medicines is not a role to be taken lightly. Some medications can pose a significant risk to patients and the wider community. This issue is an advocacy priority for the RACGP, and we continue to have ongoing discussions with key policy-makers.

Resources have been developed to help members who want to become involved in the RACGP's advocacy efforts, including talking points, template letters and an infographic outlining the key messages.

These resources are available to members on the RACGP website via the new advocacy resources webpage.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the RACGP’s advocacy in this area, please contact healthreform@racgp.org.au

The RACGP does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage that may result from reliance on, or the use of, any information contained in this newsletter.

Introducing the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) Mental Health Training Standards 2020–22.

The GPMHSC is funded by the Federal Department of Health as part of the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the MBS (Better Access) initiative to accredit and promote mental health training and CPD for GPs.

The GPMHSC has launched the revised GP Mental Health Training Standards 2020–22 to support the development and uptake of high quality mental health and focussed psychological strategies skills training for GPs into the new triennium.

Access the 2020–22 standards on our website: https://gpmhsc.org.au/

^Paid contribution

RACGP members are encouraged to sign up for the Certificate of Primary Care Dermatology when registrations open in January 2020. The Certificate is vital for any GP wishing to maintain or improve their knowledge and skills in this important area of general practice. The registration link will be shared in the New Year. In the meantime, to find out more about the certificate, please email dermcert@racgp.org.au.