April 2021


Chair report


Message from the Chair - Dr Anita Muñoz

In the Spanish Civil War, republican forces failed to overcome the nationalists because the different factions couldn’t overcome internal conflicts. Some wanted total revolution; some wanted to preserve the republic. The result was nearly 40 years of fascism.

I don’t mean to equate Australian medical politics with the horror of civil war, but history will teach us if we extract the lessons.

Australian general practice is facing an existential crisis. I’m deeply concerned about the inability of our community to unite in a common cause. Many articles in certain publications focus on the division between general practice political ideas, fuelling a divide that, if unchecked, will hand victory to those wishing to disempower our specialty.

A catch cry of this faction is that the RACGP does not and cannot advocate for its members. Another is that it’s not difficult to get everything on our wish list from government – it just requires the right people.

I’m wary of promises to solve decades of complex problems with a simple one-liner. I can’t think of an example when a truly difficult political problem was resolved with a simple statement or action.

As for RACGP advocacy, here’s what RACGP Victoria alone has achieved just in the last month:

  • Attended 11 vaccine rollout meetings with the Victorian Department of Health, including meeting with Secretary Euan Wallace
  • Held three meetings to support the GP workforce in mass vaccine hubs
  • Met twice with AMA Victoria to coordinate advocacy
  • Ran two COVID-19 update webinars
  • Held a townhall meeting with members
  • Met with the RACGP Expert Committee – Research to promote GP research efforts
  • Made multiple media appearances promoting general practice

RACGP Victoria also:

  • completed political engagement training, and council members are meeting with MPs
  • undertook strategic planning and committed to a project to improve discharge summary communications from hospitals
  • started planning GP21
  • represented GPs at state family violence legislation implementation workshops.

RACGP President Karen Price:

  • made more than 400 media appearances
  • presented in Canberra most weeks
  • held numerous meetings with Minister Greg Hunt.

We’re working hard for Victorian GPs.

Anita Muñoz
RACGP Victoria Chair


Calendar of events


Save the date: Brainy Women: Medicine and the Mind

Date: Saturday and Sunday 5–6‌ June 2021
Venue: RACV City Club

 

The RACGP Victoria Women in General Practice Committee presents this unique weekend forum to bring together distinguished women in general practice. It’s an opportunity for women practitioners to learn, network and decompress in a casual and supportive environment. Keynote speakers include former senator Natasha Stott Despoja and workshops cover topics that touch all aspects of women’s lives – professional, financial and personal.

Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence (MATOD) online training for Victorian prescribers

Date: On demand
Venue: Online
Cost: Free

 

Online training for Victorian prescribers

Module 1 covers implementing safe and effective opioid prescribing and recognising, preventing and responding to problematic opioid abuse.

Module 2 includes recordings of ‘essential knowledge’ and interviews with MATOD experts, as well as two Zoom sessions to ask questions of the experts.

Module 3 is designed to improve your knowledge and confidence with prescribing and administering long-acting injection buprenorphine, including how to select, initiate and manage patients who are using these new opioid substitutions. Please note that MATOD Modules 1 and 2 must be completed prior to this training.

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

 

 

Online events

DoH and RACGP Victoria webinar series 2021 Wednesdays (see website) 6.00-7.00pm
RACGP Victoria town hall webinar series Tuesdays (see website) 7.00-8.00pm
New Fellows Parkville parkrun Saturday 8 May 2021 8.00am
New Fellows Sunday brunch Sunday 23 May 2021 10.30–11.30‌am
Introduction to point-of-care ultrasound – Bendigo Saturday 26 June 2021 8.30 am – 4.30pm
GP Wellbeing Weekend – Hepburn Springs Saturday and Sunday
9–10‌ October 2021
 

 

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Archive news


Important changes to Victorian family violence legislation

From Monday 19 April 2021, GPs and practice nurses will be included in Victoria’s legislated Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme and Child Information Sharing Scheme. Make sure you understand how this change affects you and your practice by reviewing a handy infographic and list of FAQs.

From Kon's desk

Thanks to State Censor Dr Edward Vergara and staff across the country, RACGP Victoria has completed 187 Fellowship applications this year.

Register now for remaining places in the September intake(s) of Focused Psychological Strategies Skills Training. Scholarships now include GPs working in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation in MMM 1–2 and MMM 3–7.

With our help, the Victorian Department of Health has selected a diverse group of GPs in priority populations and areas to promote positive perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine.

MATOD 3: Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine is now available on gplearning.

Lorraine O’Callaghan will join us late April as our Member Engagement Coordinator.

Identifying new research priorities in cancer in primary care (HCPs)

Are you interested in contributing to cancer in primary care research? PC4, the Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group, is running a prioritisation study to explore the views of different stakeholders on what the top research priorities should be in the field of cancer in primary care.

The survey should take less than 10 minutes and will give you an opportunity to advocate for the research areas you feel should be addressed most urgently.


National news


Important update from AHPRA – Fellows must be registered as a specialist GP

Your Medicare access will now be linked to your registration status with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the National Boards. Fellows who haven’t updated their AHPRA registration from ‘general’ to ‘specialist’ registration may risk interrupting their Medicare rebates from Wednesday 16 June 2021.

Visit the AHPRA website to check your registration. If you’re registered under ‘general medical’ you’ll need to update your registration.

For advice or assistance, contact our CPD team at cpd.national@racgp.org.au or 1800 472 247.

Practice Owners National Conference

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The RACGP Practice Owners National Conference will be held on Saturday and Sunday 19–20‌ June 2021 and will offer a dynamic, in-person program at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre as well as a fully digital experience online.

Existing and aspiring practice owners and managers will benefit from education, professional development and the latest information for navigating these unprecedented times.

Help shape the national vocational training syllabus

The RACGP is developing a national vocational training syllabus to better support GPs in training on their journey to Fellowship, and we’d like your feedback.

Share your experiences and provide input to help shape the new syllabus by completing our survey, joining focus group sessions or contributing to our reference group.

Email eduframework@racgp.org.au for more information and to register your interest by Friday 7 May 2021.

Webinar: Practice Based Research Network

Date: Thursday 29 April 2021
Time: 7.00-8.00 pm (AEST)
Venue: Online
Cost: Free

 


External news


Updates to Public Health Emergency Orders

  • Public Health Emergency Order (PHEO) #2 (Emergency supply of S4 medicines by pharmacists): extended to 27 September 2021, unless revoked earlier; no changes made to function of the Order
  • PHEO #4 (Use of digital images of paper prescriptions – S4 medicines (exc. drugs of dependence): extended to 27 September 2021, unless revoked earlier; changes made to clarify arrangements for authorised repeats when the Order is no longer in force
  • PHEO #6 (S8 permits): not extended; expired 27 March 2021; permanent reduction in permit requirements that accompanied SafeScript mandatory use in effect from 28 March 2021; S8 permit review currently underway to determine long-term role of Victorian permit system
    Read the Gazette    

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