September 2020

The month brings the promise of a new era for the RACGP. We have a pathway out of lockdown and hopefully a durable and sustainable suppression of the virus in our community, and then a slow march towards the new version of normal. The end of this year will also bring a new President of the RACGP, Dr Karen Price, our former RACGP Victoria Deputy Chair, and great example of the continuing evolution of member involvement in the RACGP.

As expected, the pandemic still dominates our world, though active case numbers are coming down, and many postcodes now have no recorded active cases. Our challenge is determining what general practice looks like until a vaccine arrives – if it ever does. COVID-19 is a disease we’re still learning about, and we still have a lot to learn about the long-term effects.

On that topic, RACGP Victoria is still running our fortnightly webinars with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Recordings are on the RACGP website, and we’re gradually adding answers to your questions as well.

I’m also excited about our new ‘Alt-Wednesdays’ webinar series, which looks more deeply into clinical issues and explores issues as they emerge with the help of expert speakers. 3AW radio host Dr Sally Cockburn will facilitate these sessions and dig in deep to explore these topics.

Our annual Members Meeting is coming up on 15 October 2020 – this year online. Members are welcome to come along to talk to the Council and ask questions. It won't be face-to-face, but it’ll still be a great event.

We’re continuing to do the work of the faculty as issues arise and keeping on with our work with those in our sector and government. We’re already talking to the political parties about what general practice does and can do in anticipation of the state election in 2022. We’re always looking long term, as well as at what’s happening in the here and now. So many of our councillors have been actively working to make the voice of general practice heard – my thanks to everyone for their efforts. The faculty staff, having successfully transitioned to working from home, have also continued in their work in a way that looks seamless from the outside.

Dr Cameron Loy
Chair, RACGP Victoria

Topic	Date/Time
Advances in preventing meningococcal disease in children	Tuesday 22 September 2020 7.30–8.30 pm AEST
COVID-19: Deep diving on GP-specific clinical issues	Wednesday 23 September 2020 6.00–7.00 pm AEST Wednesday 7 October 2020 6.00–7.00 pm AEST Wednesday 21 October 2020 6.00–7.00 pm AEST
RACGP Victoria Faculty Members Meeting and awards night	Thursday 15 October 2020 7.00–8.00 pm AEST

Date:	Wednesday 7 October 2020
Time:	7.30-8.30 pm AEST
Venue:	Online
Cost:	Free

 

In this webinar, Dr Judith Hammond will outline an opportunity to work with Medical Panels Victoria. We’ll also break into groups to network, offer support and discuss the pandemic and the unique work needs of women in general practice.

 

 

 

Wednesday 30 September 2020, 6.00–7.00 pm
Wednesday 14 October 2020, 6.00–7.00 pm
Wednesday 28 October 2020, 6.00–7.00 pm

Register once to attend any or all of the sessions now.

Join this online training for Victorian prescribers.

Module 1: covers implementing safe and effective opioid prescribing and recognising, preventing and responding to problematic opioid abuse. Access MATOD Module 1 – Safer Opioid Prescribing by logging with your RACGP ID number.

Module 2: covers recordings of ‘essential knowledge’, interviews with MATOD experts, and two live Zoom sessions to ask questions of the experts.

On completion, you’ll be trained and recognised as a prescriber for methadone and buprenorphine based assisted treatment of opioid dependence.

Get the latest COVID-19 advice presented by DHHS Deputy Chief Health Officer and/or Deputy Public Health Commander in conjunction with RACGP Victoria Faculty Chair Dr Cameron Loy, Deputy Chair Dr Anita Munoz and Council Member Dr Bernard Shiu, and also ask your questions.

See the events table for upcoming dates and a registration link.

Join host Dr Sally Cockburn every second Wednesday as she discusses GP-relevant clinical topics arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. In each session, Dr Cockburn will be joined by various experts to unpack important issues to help GPs with practical ways to respond to the challenges of the pandemic.

See the events table for upcoming dates and a registration link.

RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Cameron Loy, together with RACGP Victoria Provost Dr Trisha Boetto, will deliver the ‘year in review’ – and what a year it’s been. Catastrophic fires followed by a pandemic have tested all our Victorian GPs, so please join us and get involved with your faculty during such a significant time of change in general practice.

We’ll introduce our new and re-elected councillors for 2020–21 and celebrate the winners of our Victorian faculty awards.

Register using the link in our table of events.

Voting in the RACGP faculty council elections is now open in the six contested electorates:

Electorate	Faculty
Victoria representative	RACGP Rural
North Coast representative	RACGP NSW&ACT
Australian Defence Force representative	RACGP GPs in Training
Rural representative	RACGP GPs in Training
General member	RACGP Queensland
General member	RACGP WA

 

Members eligible to vote in contested electorates should have received their emailed ballot from the Australian Election Company on 10 September 2020. If you haven’t received that email, contact Richard Kidd at 1800 224 420 or elections@racgp.org.au.

If you’re not in a contested electorate, you don’t need to vote. We’ll announce your new faculty councillors after 21 September 2020.

Vote before midnight (AEST) on Monday 21 September 2020 to make your voice heard on your faculty council. Get more information on the RACGP website.

Join us in November for two weeks of practical and inspiring presentations from leading industry experts. GP20 will dive into the challenges of the pandemic and offer the clinical and research education that helps you be the best GP you can be.

• Participate in live sessions.
• Connect with your peers through our interactive platform.
• Watch on-demand content at your convenience.
• Network one on one with exhibitors.
• Celebrate the winners of the national 2020 RACGP Awards.

Dates: Monday 16 November to Saturday 28 November 2020

RACGP members: $99
Non-members: $199

The Certificate of Primary Care Dermatology has been expanded to include two new courses:

• Skin disease and biologic agents
• General practice dermoscopy

The certificate is aimed at GPs and GPs in training and will expand your skills in diagnosing and treating dermatological conditions in your practice. Increase your expertise and confidence in treating common conditions, and recognise conditions that require urgent referral.

You can complete the certificate at your own pace – sign up per module or register for the whole certificate. If you pay for all modules in advance, you’ll save $1125.

• 25 online courses
• a two-day workshop
• three full days or six half-days of clinical experience.

Visit Certificate of Primary Care Dermatology for more information.

Apply now for the RACGP Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) GP Education Program – Treatment Skills Training to boosts your skills in tackling patient AOD use and support patients to contemplate change, minimise harm and enter appropriate treatment plans.

Complete the training through online interactive workshops (AOD Live) or via self-directed e-learning modules. On completion, you’ll receive a $1200 reimbursement.

Visit the RACGP AOD GP Education Program Website.

AOD – Project ECHO

Join the RACGP’s AOD Connect: Project ECHO sessions every Thursday evening to discuss your AOD patient cases with fellow GPs.