Aspire Guide 2012 by GPRA Publications

Going Places Aspire 2012 2012

Prevocational doctors

guide to GP training

General Practice Students Network guide

Want to be a GP?

Five things to do right now

General practice career options

Meet your local GPSN Ambassador Find out how much GPs earn

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About this guide

The name Aspire reflects the aim of this guide to help medical undergraduates make informed decisions about their future training and career aspirations. It is set out in colour-coded sections for easy navigation.

The Aspire guide is produced by the General Practice Students Network (GPSN), an initiative of General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA).

The publication has been produced using sustainable, environmentally-friendly printing techniques and paper. This reflects GPRAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ethos of supporting tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GPs in their quest for sustainable careers in general practice.

100% Cool Grey 6 TAGLINE SOHO REGULAR Produced with funding support from

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Contents G Aosipng 2 irPela2c0012 e1s2

On the cover GPSN members, prevocational doctors, registrars and mentors

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1 About this guide 4 Welcome 5 A message from the GPSN Chair

1/ Aspiring to general practice 8 10 12 13 14 16 18 20

Network with GPSN Why choose general practice? 10 great reasons to be a GP General practice at a glance Quick quiz Unmasking the myths Why I chose general practice GP timeline

2/ General practice at medical school 24 Five ways to experience general practice as a medical student 26 The GPSN dream team 28 Meet your GPSN Student Ambassador 34 A year in the life of GPSN 36 Thought provoking days and wild nights at BNL 40 Apply for the GPSN First Wave Scholarship 42 Catching my First Wave 46 Other scholarships for medical students

Visit our website — gpsn.org.au

24 Five ways to experience general practice 28 Meet your local GPSN Ambassador 96 The many faces of general practice 114 What you can earn

48 50 52 54 55

The ‘can do’ rural GPs Getting clinical Six top tips to make your rotation count Find a balance — six tips and tricks Top exam and study tips

3/ After medical school what next? 58 60 64 66

Four ways to continue experiencing general practice when you graduate The GP mindset in hospital Test-drive general practice with the PGPPP The PGPPP and me

4/ About general practice training 70 76 78 81 84 88 92 94

The structure of GP training Understanding the moratorium The RACGP Fellowship RACGP’s Fellowship and Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP) The ACRRM Fellowship RVTS — An alternative pathway to fellowship Joining forces with the ADF Dr Scott Hahn. Earning his stripes as a military registrar

GPRA and GPSN would like to acknowledge the support of our patron, Professor Michael Kidd AM.

5/ Design your own GP career 96 97 98 102 104 106 108 110

The many faces of general practice Travel while you train Community spirit A passion for research The medical all-rounder – rural remote Prized position – urban Special interest Part-time smart time

6/ Money Matters 114 What you can earn 116 Incentive payments

7/ Info file 120 GPSN calendar 2012

Professor Michael Kidd is Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Flinders University and a Past President of the RACGP. His research interests include general practice, medical informatics, health policy, medical education, safety and quality in primary care and the primary care management of HIV and hepatitis C. Platinum sponsors: Avant Mutual Group Limited and Healthscope Medical Centres. GPSN Founding sponsor: MDA National Insurance Pty Ltd. Major sponsors: Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Medical Indemnity Protection Society, North Coast GP Training, Doctors Health Fund, MIMS Australia, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Advertisers: The Medical Insurance Group, General Practice Training Valley to Coast and Australian Defence Force. Business partners: Australian Doctor, Medical Observer. GPRA Editorial team: Managing Editor, Laura McGeoch; Editor, Jan Walker. Graphic Design: Peter Fitzgerald. Business Development Managers: Marie Treacy, Kate Marie, Naomi Sher. Print: Graphic Impressions. ©2011 GPRA. All rights are reserved. All materials contained in this publication are protected by Australian copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior permission of General Practice Registrars Australia Ltd (GPRA) or in the case of third party material, the owner of that content. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission and full acknowledgement of the source: Aspire, a publication of General Practice Registrars Australia. All efforts have been made to ensure that material presented in this publication was correct at the time of printing and published in good faith. GPRA does not accept liability for the use of information within this publication. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the industry, GPRA does not make any warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy or reliability of this content.

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Welcome Welcome to the 2012 edition of Aspire — a guide to general practice designed for medical students by GPSN. Hi medical students! My name is Stephanie Garner and I am a third-year medical student at Flinders University. I have been a member of the General Practice Students Network (GPSN) since my first week at Flinders and have enjoyed every minute of it. The ‘aha’ moment for me in general practice was when I was leading a consultation with an elderly couple who were worried that the wife

In this guide there is information on everything from what is involved in general practice training, to how much money you can make as a GP. 4 Visit our website — gpsn.org.au

had been having some trouble with balance. I found that I really enjoyed the medicine involved in the consultation (no surprise there!) but also the people aspect. Sorting out what they were worried about, how they were managing at home and being able to follow-up with them the next day gave me a real sense of completeness. Providing holistic care is just one aspect of general practice that I love. In this guide there is information on everything from what is involved in general practice training; to how much money you can make as a GP. We have included compelling personal stories that reflect the many spheres of general practice as well as medical students’ experiences in GPland. There is also a section on how to get involved in general practice right now by joining GPSN or applying for a GP-focused scholarship program, such as the GPSN First Wave Scholarship. You’ll find, like me, that these activities will help you pave the way to becoming a good doctor — whatever kind — and you’ll have lots of fun along the way! Stephanie Garner Medical Editor Aspire 2012

A message from the GPSN Chair

GPSN and I just couldn’t bear to break things off, so we will be continuing our relationship in 2012 for my second year as National Chair. I can’t think of a better time to be involved in GPSN, so I encourage you to stay involved or check out GPSN for the first time. I urge you to check out your local GPSN club for three key reasons — money, power and sex appeal. First, money. GPSN offers you a chance to access some great scholarships such as our First Wave Scholarship and funds for keen club members to attend conferences right around Australia. Second, power. Knowledge is power and by checking out GPSN you’ll certainly be well informed about your career options. And finally, sex appeal. There is nothing sexier than intelligence and by checking out GPSN you have a chance to improve your clinical skills, learn from inspirational speakers and set up mentoring relationships.

We have revamped our IT and media platforms and we’ll be running some great campaigns in 2012. We’ll see the largest First Wave scholarship cohort ever with over 100 students undertaking student placements in urban, outer metropolitan and academic settings. There are also some placements available within Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS). Finally, World Family Doctor Day is going to bring a few surprises your way this year. So stay tuned, stay involved and, as always, if you have an idea, contact me. I won’t wait three days to get back to you. Chris Timms GPSN Chair

I urge you to check out your local GPSN club for three key reasons — money, power and sex appeal.

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

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Aspiring to general practice

Network General Practice Students Network GPSN is the student arm of General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA). GPSN has a presence in medical campuses all over Australia. By joining GPSN you can have fun, make friends and establish valuable networking contacts while you learn hands-on professional skills for your future. Whether you have your sights on a career in general practice or you have an open mind, joining GPSN is one of the best things you can do at med school – professionally and personally.

What is GPSN? GPSN stands for General Practice Students Network. It is the only national student organisation with a focus on general practice. There are active GPSN clubs at every medical university in Australia. Since its establishment in 2007, GPSN membership has leapt to about 7,000 and continues to grow.

GPSN free membership! 8

Visit our website — gpsn.org.au

with GPSN

GPSN’s aims • We empower medical students to make

informed decisions in choosing their future vocation.

• We seek to correct misconceptions about

general practice.

• We promote the benefits of general

practice as a career.

• We champion the importance of

general practice’s role in the overall medical landscape.

What does GPSN do? We provide a range of general practice-related educational and professional resources of interest to all medical students including:

• academic events • professional development events • social events • an e-newsletter and website • a scholarship • GP Companion — handy pocket reference

for general practice rotations.

Explore the world of general practice, meet like-minded medical students and have fun. Visit gpsn.org.au

1 Aspiring to general practice

GPRA is the peak national representative body for general practice registrars in Australia. One of GPRA’s most important functions is to provide resources to support GP registrars during their training and represent their interests. In addition, GPRA promotes general practice as a specialty of choice to medical students through GPSN, and to junior doctors in the hospital environment through the Going Places Network.

GPSN patron

MBBS (Melbourne) MD (Monash) DCCH (Flinders) Dip. RACOG FRACGP FACHI FAFPM (Honorary) FHKCFP (Honorary) FRNZCGP (Honorary) MAICD

gpsn patron

Who supports GPSN? GPSN is administered by General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) and financially supported by General Practice Education and Training (GPET). The idea came from medical student and general practice enthusiast Joe Rotella, who was GPSN’s founding Chair.

Professor Michael Kidd AM

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Why

choose general practice?

If you are looking for a specialty that has it all, from intellectual rigour to work-life balance, general practice may be for you. As a medical student, there is one question that everyone asks you — and you are no doubt asking yourself the question and searching for answers to it. What kind of doctor do you want to be? When there are so many specialties to choose from; there is one outstanding career choice that may be sometimes overlooked.

No other career in medicine offers you more flexibility, opportunity and diversity than life as a GP.

That specialty is general practice. No other career in medicine offers you more flexibility, opportunity and diversity than life as a GP. General practice is all about intellectually challenging work at the forefront of primary care. Combine that with the work-life balance that eludes many doctors, and general practice starts to look even more attractive. Australia’s GPs work in all parts of the country, from large cities and rural towns to remote settlements. The doctor-patient relationship and continuity of care are at the heart of clinical general practice. You are responsible for the frontline diagnosis, prevention, acute and ongoing management of all kinds of health conditions. General practice is a career of options. You can practise a wide range of skills including procedural and hospital care in the city, a rural setting or overseas. You can teach, research or write. You can work part-time or have a portfolio of roles. In short, you can have a career that truly reflects your values, interests, aspirations and lifestyle. So if you are pondering the big ‘which specialty?’ question, being a GP may be the answer you are looking for.

Visit our website — gpsn.org.au

The cornerstone of health care General practice is the provision of patient-centred, continuing, comprehensive, co-ordinated primary care to individuals, families and communities. It is the cornerstone of the Australian health care system.

Dr Anne Kleinitz

registrar rave

1 Aspiring to general practice

My training provider is Northern Territory General Practice Education (NTGPE).

My current post is GPT3 and an academic post. This involves teaching medical students from Flinders University in Darwin.

A typical workday for me is half a day of general practice, half a day of teaching.

What I love about general practice is the way you can be creative and make it into a nice mixture of all the things you enjoy.

A patient who inspired me was every mother who lost a child in Africa — devastated by their loss but gracious and accepting.

After hours I like to sing, swing dance and walk on Darwin’s beaches — but not usually all three at once. A quirky fact about me is that I can still do flips — a remnant from when I did gymnastics.

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

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Visit our website — gpsn.org.au

General practice

1 Aspiring to general practice

at a glance

General practice salaries Full-time GP registrars average $70,000 to $150,000 a year. Full-time GPs can average up to $180,000 or more a year depending on the nature of the practice and hours worked. General practice also offers opportunities for part-time work and training. There are extra incentives for rural and remote work. For more information about income, see pages 114 –115.

General practice training The Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program is the vocational training program for GP registrars. It ranges from three years (basic Royal Australian College of General Practitioners curriculum) to four years (Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine curriculum). The program is managed and funded through General Practice Education and Training (GPET) and is delivered by regional training providers (RTPs). Some recognition of prior learning (RPL) for hospital training may reduce training time. For full details of the training structure, see pages 70–75.

colleges and the peak body for registrars, General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA). For more information about the RTPs, see page 70. For more information about the colleges, see pages 81– 87.

How and when to apply The earliest time you can apply to the AGPT program is during your intern year, which means you enter the program as a second-year postgraduate, or you can apply any time after. For more information, see pages 70 –75 or visit agpt.com.au

More information GPSN — gpsn.org.au AGPT — agpt.com.au GPRA — gpra.org.au RACGP — racgp.org.au ACCRM — acrrm.org.au

General practice registrar support General practice registrars are well supported by their regional training providers (RTPs),

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

? ?Quick quiz ? ? ? ? ?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Is general practice the career for you? Take this quick quiz to discover whether you and general practice are made for each other. 1. Would you prefer:

4. Would you prefer:

A. Dealing with patients with various health problems?

A. Working in the community?

B. Dealing with patients with one particular type of health problem?

B. Working in the hospital system? 5. Would you prefer:

2. Would you prefer:

A. Being able to train and work part-time?

A. Seeing the same patients and their families over an extended period of time?

B. Having less flexibility to train and work part-time?

B. Seeing a bigger proportion of new patients? 3. Would you prefer:

A. Regular hours with limited weekend work?

B. Variable rosters, shiftwork and on-call work?

Visit our website — gpsn.org.au

If you answered mostly ‘As’ then a career in general practice could be a good match for you. But remember, a great way to find out what general practice is really like is to give yourself some real-life general practice exposure. The GPSN First Wave Scholarship and the John Flynn Placement Program are excellent opportunities to embark on a solid general practice clinical experience. See pages 40–49

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Unmasking the myths

General practice attracts many misconceptions. Take a look at the real face of general practice. Myth 1 General practice is about coughs, colds, paperwork and aged care.

Myth 2 GPs don’t practise complex and challenging medicine. Reality

GPs practise complex and challenging medicine every day.

• GPs are at the frontline of medicine as

Reality

General practice is about the full scope of medicine.

• Yes, coughs, colds, paperwork and elderly

• As a GP, you never know what will come in

patients are part of general practice. However, each day is diverse involving all kinds of people and conditions.

• Families and children are a big part of a typical family practice.

• There are numerous minor surgical

opportunities. These may include the removal of moles or cysts and applying stitches.

• You can sub-specialise or take on a

portfolio of roles at different locations.

• Diagnosis is at the core of general practice.

Visit our website — gpsn.org.au

leaders of the multidisciplinary and inter-specialty medical team. They see the first presentation of health and psychological burdens and are responsible for making decisions that will impact the patient’s health outcome.

the door.

• Many rare and unusual presentations will be first seen by the GP.

• Due to their broad skills, GPs are equipped to work overseas or in disadvantaged communities.

Many consider a lifestyle of flexible, sociable working hours and part-time options better than money in the bank.

1 Aspiring to general practice

Myth 3 GPs don’t earn much money. Reality

GPs earn good money.

• The average annual income for a full-time Australian GP is up to $180,000 or more.

• GPs earn a higher average income than

most non-medical professionals including lawyers, veterinarians, architects, engineers and accountants.

• Compared to family practitioners elsewhere in the world, Australian GPs are among the highest income earners, above countries like France, Germany and Canada.

• It is true that GPs on average earn less

GPs are on the frontline of medicine as leaders of the multidisciplinary and inter-specialty medical team.

than most other medical specialists. But many consider a lifestyle of flexible, sociable working hours and part-time options better than money in the bank.

• For more information on general practice incomes, see pages 114 –117.

Myth 4 General practice is not a medical specialty. Reality

General practice is officially a specialty and GPs are ‘general specialists’.

• General practice was recognised as a

medical specialty in 2010 by the Medical Board of Australia.

• To be accredited as a general practitioner

in Australia requires an additional three to four years of training through the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program as a GP registrar, with the endpoint being fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), or both. For more information, see pages 78–87.

Contributed by Kristen Tee and Jan Walker

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Why

I chose general practice

How did you make the South Australian GP registrar Dr Nyoli Valentine change to general practice? answers some essential I took a year off and did a locum year and tried lots of different things. Then I decided to give questions about starting general practice a go. Within a short time I had her specialist training in worked out that I really loved it and this was another discipline and what I wanted to do. making the switch to What do you enjoy about general practice. general practice?

Tell us about yourself... I am a GP registrar with Sturt Fleurieu in South Australia. I previously worked as the registrar liaison officer for Sturt Fleurieu and I am now a registrar medical educator. I am also in my elective year of GP training.

Did you originally choose general practice as a career pathway? It took me a little while to find out what I wanted to do with myself. When I did my internship I very much liked the medical side of things rather than the surgical side. I started physician training, which I did enjoy. However, I didn’t enjoy the lack of follow-up of patients and not being able to see what happened to them afterwards.

Visit our website — gpsn.org.au

I love seeing the patients and following them through. I love looking at the holistic care rather than just focusing on one part. You feel like you can actually make a difference to your patients’ long-term outcome rather than just a short-term fix. To be able to look at someone’s mental health and physical health and social situation; I really enjoy that about general practice. The longer you do it, the more you carve out your niche.

I started physician training, which I did enjoy. However, I didn’t enjoy the lack of follow-up of patients.

Nyoli’s advice on choosing a specialty

Dr Dominic Blanks

• Expect to feel confused — I remember

being in that very confused state. It’s difficult finding what suits you, but what is great about general practice is that you can get it to suit you.

My training provider is Bogong Regional Training Network.

• Find your passion — We are not the same; we are all unique.

My current post is at Mount Beauty and Falls Creek Medical Centres in Victoria’s high country.

• Get exposure to general practice —

It’s hard to rule a specialty out or in if you haven’t been properly exposed to it. The GPSN First Wave Scholarship and the John Flynn Placement Program are excellent ways to get solid clinical experience while you are a medical student. When you start your internship, the Prevocational General Practice Placements Program (PGPPP) gets you out into a community general practice as part of your hospital training.

• Join GPSN at your university and attend

A typical workday for me involves a morning mountain bike ride in summer and autumn, and a ski in winter and spring. This is followed by ward rounds at a small acute-bed GP hospital, then clinic for the rest of the day.

a GPSN event — The events are not only fun and social, but also educational. You’ll meet lots of new people and find out about general practice. Join GPSN today at gpsn.org.au

Dr Nyoli Valen

tine

registrar rave

1 Aspiring to general practice

My favourite technical gizmo is the ski-doo. Who else can jump on a ski-doo to pick up the mail, do the odd home visit and mountain resuscitation? When I feel like quitting I remind myself how happy I am when compared to living in Melbourne.

After hours I like to play with the kids, ride a bike and enjoy paradise. A quirky fact about me is that for an alpine doctor I am the world’s ugliest skier.

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

GP timeline Opportunities to experience general practice from medical school to fellowship.

University

There are many ways to experience general practice as you move from your student years through to your prevocational hospital years and beyond. Here’s an at-a-glance guide.

Join the General Practice Students Network (GPSN)* See page 8

*These experiences are optional but recommended

John Flynn Placement* Program (JFPP) See page 46

experiences on the path to a general practice career

+Most

GPSN First Wave Scholarships are open to years one and two. However, at certain universities it is possible to do the GPSN First Wave Scholarship Program during the third and fourth years. For more information visit gpsn.org.au

GPSN First Wave Scholarship program*+ See pages 40–43

Other scholarships, bursaries and grants* See pages 46–47 General Practice Rotations

Visit our website — gpsn.org.au

1 Aspiring to general practice

Hospital training

GP registrar vocational training

Join the Going Places Network* See page 58

Australian General Practice Training program (AGPT) See pages 70–75 or Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) See pages 88–89 and Join General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA)* See page 75

Prevocational General Practice Placements Program (PGPPP)* See pages 64–67

insert pic

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

If you are interested in general practice, or just considering your options, the General Practice Students Network (GPSN) is a great way to kick start your career. G Aosipng 2 irPela2c0012 e1s2

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• Free networking events — meet others who share an interest in

general practice.

• Free professional development events — attend-student focused

general practice seminars, workshops and skills sessions.

• Regular e-news and other resources providing all the latest on

all things GP.

• Free publications — Aspire- GPSN guide to general practice and

GP Companion — a handy pocket reference for GP rotations.

• Opportunity to apply to the GPSN First Wave Scholarship program

and win places at conferences.

Join today- it’s free Visit gpsn.org.au Contact your GPSN Student Ambassador (See pages 28–33)

General practice at medical school

Five ways

to experience general practice as a medical student 2. Apply for the GPSN First Curious about general Wave Scholarship Program practice as a career? Embark on an experience of general practice Or perhaps you’ve already that is positive and inspiring with a dedicated decided that being a GP supervisor. The GPSN First Wave ‘general specialist’ is your Scholarship offers a unique learning experience for GPSN members. See page 40. calling. Here are some simple things you can do 3. Apply for the John Flynn right now to get a taste of Placement Program general practice and help The John Flynn Placement Program (JFPP) places medical students with a rural doctor for your career whichever two weeks a year, normally over a four-year way it goes. period. Students work closely with their 1. Join GPSN

Become a member of the General Practice Students Network (GPSN) at your university. It’s a fun way to find out about careers in general practice and network with others who share your interest while developing your clinical knowledge and credentials. See page 8. Visit gpsn.org.au 24

Visit our website — gpsn.org.au

rural mentor in a wide variety of

health settings and experience one-on-one support. See page 46.

4. Apply for another

scholarship, bursary or grant relevant to general practice

There are numerous other scholarships and bursaries for medical students that can broaden your experience, boost your bank balance and make your CV look sharp. See pages 46â&#x20AC;&#x201C;47.

5. Make the most of your

GP rotations

Approach your general practice clinical rotations in a positive manner and seek to take advantage of all the learning opportunities offered. See page 52.

Dr Nick Harrington

registrar rave

2 General practice at medical school

My training provider is Western Australian General Practice Education and Training (WAGPET).

My current post is Meekatharra Base Hospital with the Royal Flying Doctor Service north-west of Perth.

A typical workday for me involves ward rounds in the morning including discharges and acute admissions. I do a morning outpatient session, then lunch, acute presentations and ED paperwork followed by an afternoon outpatient session, more acute presentations and ED, with on-call every second night.

My GP role model is Dr Bruce Chater of Theodore in Queensland because he is an absolute master of all trades in rural general practice. He showed grace under fire during the Queensland floods and inspired me to have a go at rural medicine. A quirky fact about me is that I used to be an infantry soldier in the Army. GPSN â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Breathing new life into General Practice

The GPSN dream team The GPSN dream team is made up of the GPSN National Executive and Council — a network of GPSN Student Ambassadors (GPSAs), Executive Officers (XOs) and Secretaries (Secs) from each medical school.

The role of the GPSN National Executive team is to manage the national operations. The GPSA, XO and Sec at each medical school work together to run their local GPSN club. GPRA’s national office in Melbourne provides administrative support.

GPSN Chair Chris Timms

GPSN Vice-Chair Dave Townsend

University of New South Wales gpsn.chair@gpra.org.au

University of New England gpsn.vc@gpra.org.au

What three words describe me. Sex on legs (but only because I am the representative of general practice — the sexiest profession out there).

What are three words that describe me. Enthusiastic, motivated and shameless.

What do I like about general practice. The diverse range of cases and the opportunity to up-skill in many areas. 26

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What do I like about general practice. The broad spectrum of opportunities and challenges, the lifestyle and most importantly, the connection with your patients.

2 General practice at medical school

GPSN Secretary Patrick Tam University of Wollongong gpsn.ns@gpra.org.au My funniest med school moment. At the one-two hour mark in my first urological surgery with a cystectomy and neo-bladder formation. Not so fun at the 8 hr closing up mark. My most memorable GPSN event. The Breathing New Life (BNL) into general practice conference.

Publications Officer & GPSN Ambassador Claire Mohr University of Queensland gpsn.publications@gpra.org.au What does GPSN mean to me. GPSN means fun events, great friends, and informative workshops. What inspires me. “Don’t get angry at the state of the world, just do your best to improve life for the individual” Rowan Gillies, the youngest ever International Council President of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).

IT Officer Viktor Ko University of Notre Dame Fremantle gpsn.itofficer@gpra.org.au Who inspires me. Jonas Salk, Fred Hollows, Winston Churchill, John Flynn and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Most memorable GPSN event. GPSN Plastering Night, which included a great talk on rural health. It was also fun to plaster both my friend’s arms and seeing if he could get out on his own. GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Meet

your GPSN Student Ambassador Hello! I am your GPSN Student Ambassador! Have you met the General Practice Student Ambassador (GPSA) at your university? He or she can open doors to all kinds of cool events. Here, our GPSAs share their thoughts on general practice and life in general.

Australian National University Elizabeth Chessor — gpsn.anu@gpra.org.au A philosophy I often turn to is… It always seems impossible until it is done – Nelson Mandela. What do I like about general practice. The diversity that it offers, in terms of medical presentations, location of work and the patients encountered. I also like the option of pursuing special interests within general practice.

Bond University Jessica Ng and Kimberly Bradshaw — gpsn.bond@gpra.org.au Jessica and Kimberly job share the role of GPSA at their uni. What do I like about general practice. (Jessica) Everyday is different and challenging- you NEVER know what is going to walk through your door. GPSN events for 2012. (Jessica) A trivia night, dodgeball contest and an anatomy challenge. Three words describe me. (Kimberly) Caring, enthusiastic and British. What does GPSN mean to me. (Kimberly) GPSN is a way for me to connect with other people interested in general practice and to learn more about primary care.

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2 General practice at medical school

Deakin University Stephanie Munari — gpsn.deakin@gpra.org.au What do I like about general practice. Getting to know the patient well and the continuity associated with being their regular doctor. I also like the idea of there being something new everyday. Most memorable GPSN event. The 2011 Suturing Night was a lot of fun. It was the first time I’d performed some suturing and it was a very popular event.

Flinders University Andrew Hughes —gpsn.flinders@gpra.org.au What does GPSN mean to me. GPSN is a great way of building support networks and friendships while preparing for general practice. It proves that learning can be fun, social and relaxed while also being inspiring, challenging and informative. I love the team atmosphere of GPSN Flinders. A quirky fact about me is… Medicine is my third career – I was previously a teacher and a pastor of a church.

Griffith University Jen McAuliffe — gpsn.griffith@gpra.org.au A quirky fact about me is… I sleep with my eyes partially open. If you catch me on a good night, we can also have a pretty decent conversation (I’m a brilliant sleep conversationalist). What do I like about general practice. Whole person approach to health care and the ability to help a patient change by successfully treating illness or bettering health to avoid illness. GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

James Cook University Helen Fraser — gpsn.jcu@gpra.org.au What does GPSN mean to me. GPSN means more knowledge and lots of fun. It provides the perfect opportunity for people to learn about an area of medicine which people often underestimate and also get to do something they wouldn’t normally get to in the normal university curriculum. A philosophy I often turn to is… Go hard or go home.

Monash University Amanda Nikolic — gpsn.monash@gpra.org.au Three words that describe me. Organised, energetic, fun. Most memorable med school experience. Meeting and spending time with my great year group of Monash meddies!

University of Adelaide Vivian Lee —gpsn.adelaide@gpra.org.au A quirky fact about me is… I had two ducklings, two budgies and a guinea pig when I was a child. What do I like about general practice. General practice offers such a diverse range of career opportunities that makes it easier for you to choose an area of interest and sub-specialise. I also like the continuity of care in general practice, building relationships with patients and their families.

University of Melbourne Still hiring — gpsn.umelb@gpra.org.au Do YOU belong here? Are you interested in getting involved in organising GPSN at your uni? Develop your skills in medical management while you build your networks. Have fun, enjoy travel opportunities and meet new people. For the Melbourne GPSA position contact Chris Timms, GPSN Chair at gpsn.chair@gpra.org.au. 30

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2 General practice at medical school

University of New England Anne-Marie Guider — gpsn.newengland@gpra.org.au Three words that describe me. Enthusiastic, sarcastic, quirky. Most memorable med school experience. The first time I saw a cadaver. It was incredible confronting, yet amazing and interesting.

University of New South Wales Vivian Yeung — gpsn.unsw@gpra.org.au What does GPSN mean to me. I am so proud of GPSN. It has come a long way for such a new organisation. It is supportive, and encouraging, and gives limitless opportunities for students to network and be educated. A quirky fact about me is… I can never stop eating. It would not be a hard task to demolish a whole large pizza for afternoon tea.

University of Newcastle Elias Sachawars — gpsn.newcastle@gpra.org.au Three words that describe me. Hungry, hungry, hippo. What do I like about general practice. The variety of the work and the stronger patient doctor relationships.

University of Notre Dame Fremantle Jodie Forlonge — gpsn.notredame@gpra.org.au What does GPSN mean to me. A place to meet like-minded, enthusiastic people. A quirky fact about me is… I used to fly Blackhawks.

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

University of Notre Dame Sydney Kirby White — gpsn.undsyd@gpsn.org.au Three words that describe me. Energetic, outgoing, curious. GPSN events for 2012. We are planning to run a GPSN flu vaccination day at the School of Medicine which would hopefully provide protection to our hard working students before our mid year exams.

University of Queensland Claire Mohr — gpsn.uq@gpra.org.au GPSN events for 2012 GPSN UQ is planning a careers evening with a special guest speaker, and more clinical skills workshops for 1st and 2nd years. When I actually get any spare time, I like to... Go to the beach.

University of Sydney Anna Thai — gpsn.usyd@gpra.org.au Your funniest med school moment. When another med student asked “what’s the prevalence of prostate cancer in females?” to a prominent urology surgeon. Most memorable GPSN event. National Council in Melbourne. It was a great opportunity to meet like-minded people who are enthusiastic about general practice and getting to listen to inspirational people talk about their careers.

University of Tasmania Rebecca Li — gpsn.utas@gpra.org.au A quirky fact about me is that.... I originally wanted to be a vet but couldn’t handle animals being put down. My funniest med school moment. Has to be when I asked a patient who had a total hysterectomy many years ago if she has pap smears regularly, and she gave me a surprised questionable look! 32

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University of Western Australia Danielle Lam — gpsn.uwa@gpra.org.au Three words that describe me. Enthusiastic, friendly and detailed. What does GPSN mean to me. I think that GPSN is an amazing initiative that is heaps of fun. It plays an integral role in informing students about the different aspects of general practice, as well as breaking down the preconceptions that follow “GP-land”.

University of Western Sydney Sarah Qureshi — gpsn.westsyd@gpra.org.au Three words that describe me. Smiley, sentimental, charming. What does GPSN mean to me. To me it’s been a lot of fun, a lot of new friends and a lot of great memories. It brings together students from different med schools into one happy, intelligent and dangerously attractive family.

University of Wollongong Lachlan McKeeman — gpsn.wollongong@gpra.org.au A quirky fact about me is… Uncanny ability to remember useless facts – only time it comes in handy is at difficult trivia nights... What does GPSN mean to me. GPSN is a great opportunity to be exposed to skills early on in our training and provides another avenue to interact with those already in the profession and others interested in a similar career outside of the often-censored university environment.

Have you meet your GPSA yet? Contact your GPSA today, he or she can open doors to all kinds of cool events, help you network and answer any gene practice career questions you have. GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

A year

in the life of GPSN

General Practice Students Network (GPSN) members had fun, networked with other medical students at their university and across the country, and still found time to learn about general practice during 2011. First Wave Scholarship orientation workshops Melbourne and Perth, August 2011 GPSN hosted interactive workshops in Melbourne and Perth for the recipients of the 2011–2012 GPSN First Wave Scholarships. 75 students took part in the 2010 –2011 program, which continues to grow with than 103 students securing a spot for the 2011–2012 program.

GPSN Council Meeting Melbourne, October 2011 Representatives from all 20 GPSN clubs attended the GPSN Council Meeting in Melbourne. At the meeting, the new GPSN executive team was elected — GPSN Chair, Chris Timms; Vice Chair, Dave Townsend and GPSN Secretary, Patrick Tam.

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2 General practice at medical school

Monash University OSCE event Melbourne Monash University GPSN Club hosted practice OSCE stations session so third and fourth year student members could experience exam conditions and pressure before the actual exam. The event, which kicked off with dinner, included exam conditions, timing and assessment sheets. Professor John Murtagh was one of the examiners.

UNSW Careers Night Sydney UNSW medical students explored the diverse pathways offered by a career in general practice. They also had a play on the online Earnings Calculator to see how much they could earn as GPs.

GPSN â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Breathing new life into General Practice

Thought

provoking days and wild nights at BNL The Breathing New Life into General Practice (BNL) conference is a major event for GPSN and GPRA. Griffith University GPSN Ambassador, Samantha Nataatmadja, reports on the 2011 conference. The Breathing New Life into General Practice Conference, commonly known as BNL, was for me a truly remarkable and educational experience. Two students from the Griffith GPSN club represented Griffith University in Canberra, where the theme was ‘Quality, Capacity and Sustainability’.

During the day in parliament, delegates brainstormed ideas and presented them to the conference for critique and voting by an expert panel. 36

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Speakers The key speaker was the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, the then Minister for Health and Ageing. Her talk focused on the Australian Government’s stance on increasing GP training places, particularly in rural areas, more GP super clinics and after-hours practices, and electronic health records, to which she received spontaneous applause. In an interesting contrast, we later heard from the then Shadow Minister Peter Dutton whose rebuttal criticised Medicare Locals and super clinics in favour of fee-for-service, greater Medicare rebates and more after-hours clinics. The presidents’ panel, facilitated by ABC radio presenter Dr Norman Swan, was an eye-opener with all major general practice organisations represented.

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National Close the Gap Day What made the day more meaningful, however, was that it coincided with National Close the Gap Day, a reminder to our political leaders of their commitment to close the life expectancy gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Brainstorming During the day in parliament, delegates brainstormed ideas and presented them to the conference for critique and voting by an expert panel. Topics included:

• What are innovative ways to achieve a

healthy distribution of GPs across urban, outer metro, regional and rural areas?

• What are effective ways to encourage

medical students, prevocational doctors and GP registrars to choose rural careers?

• What are effective ways to encourage

medical students, prevocational doctors and GP registrars to choose careers in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health?

The responses were wide and varied, but the passion was universal. Delegates unanimously agreed on the necessity to increase GP training positions and attract and support more GPs in rural areas.

About the BNL conference The Breathing New Life into General Practice conference, or BNL, is an annual event held in Canberra. A joint initiative between GPRA, the Going Places Network and GPSN, it brings together registrars, students, educators, supervisors, politicians and medical community leaders from across the country to address the issues facing general practice. Two representatives from each GPSN club are funded to attend and enjoy an introduction to a career in general practice while rubbing shoulders with leaders in Australian health care. The 2012 BNL Conference is scheduled for 19 March 2012.

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Masquerade ball The masquerade ball was a highlight, with guests dressing up in their finest, donning masks of secrecy and enjoying a delicious meal. However, a guest of honour overshadowed all this when the one and only Professor John Murtagh joined us for dinner. Despite his fame in the general practice world, he was delightfully down-to-earth and encouraging, putting up with photo after photo and answering questions with patience and interest.

After the ball So were any massive health care problems solved? Probably not. But we did get to hear from the people in charge on exactly what the government is doing for medical students and Australian health care. We also got to voice our opinions before the industry leaders and, as student delegates, we were made more aware of the challenges we face and more prepared to take them on with fresh enthusiasm. The conference was an outstanding success with attendees tackling complex issues, building new friendships and making helpful contacts. I would recommend that if you ever get an opportunity to attend BNL, take it. Thoughtprovoking days and wild nights are guaranteed! Contributed by Samantha Nataatmadja GPSN Ambassador Griffith University

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Apply

for the GPSN First Wave Scholarship

The GPSN First Wave Scholarship Program gives medical students in their first, second, third or fourth year real-life exposure to general practice. Are you in the first, second, third or fourth year of your medical degree? Would you like to experience what it’s like to work in general practice while establishing professional relationships with dedicated doctors? Consider applying for a GPSN First Wave Scholarship. The experience would be invaluable — and would certainly enhance your CV! The program was initiated by GPSN to provide positive, early, structured exposure to general practice, specifically in outer metropolitan, urban and academic settings.

Within some universities placements are also available within an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS). The program is continuing to expand from 75 scholarships in 2010 –2011 to 103 scholarships in 2011–2012 across all medical universities in Australia.

The program was initiated by GPSN to provide positive, early, structured exposure to general practice, specifically in outer metropolitan, urban and academic settings.

Do it now The GPSN First Wave Scholarship Program will be advertised at participating campuses through the local GPSN club or for more information visit gpsn.org.au Applications open on 30 May 2012 and close on 1 July 2012. Refer to the GPSN website for further information. 40

Visit our website — gpsn.org.au

2 General practice at medical school

What: GPSN First Wave Scholarship Program — GP exposure opportunities available at participating Australian universities. Why it began: There was previously a lack of opportunities for medical students to gain real-life exposure to general practice in a variety of settings. There was also a desire by GPSN to raise awareness of general practice and its role in health care. Who’s behind it: Regional training providers (RTPs), General Practice Education and Training (GPET), participating Australian medical schools and participating general practices. How it works: There are two streams — Clinical and Academic. Candidates apply via

a formal process. Scholarship recipients are matched with a general practice practitioner who mentors them. The scholarship involves completing six series of supervised sessions in a clinical practice (Clinical) or doing a researched project or other academic activity (Academic). Academic scholarship winners will also do some clinical sessions. Clinical sessions are generally scheduled during the post-Christmas summer holidays. Participants also attend an orientation workshop in Melbourne or Perth. Who can apply: First, second, third or fourth year students at participating Australian medical schools — check whether your school is currently a participant in the scholarship program.

Do it now W: gpsn.org.au E: firstwave@gpra.org.au T: 1300 131 198 A: GPSN First Wave Scholarship Program General Practice Students Network National Office Level 4/ 517 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3001 GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Catching my First Wave GPSN First Wave Scholarship personal story

Vanessa Hewitt, a medical student at the University of Wollongong, likens medical school to surfing in big seas and says the GPSN First Wave Scholarship helped her enjoy the ride.

“Med school can be brutal. Like being smashed with one wave after another in the surf and maybe ending up on the rocks if you’re really unlucky.” I never was a very good swimmer or surfer, but I like the surfing analogy very much.

Why is med school like learning to surf? You get ‘dumped’ a lot. You have these nasty things called exams. Sometimes it feels like you’re drowning. Occasionally you get told you’re rubbish and, quite frankly, sometimes you deserve it. There is a never-ending pile of work and it only gets bigger and bigger. You watch people surfing like pros and it is so easy to forget that they have been doing it a lot longer than you. I will get back to the point of surfing soon, but I’ll just go back to the beginning for now.

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Melbourne scholarship orientation workshop

My name is Vanessa and I’m a second-year medical student in a postgraduate program at the University of Wollongong, NSW. I haven’t always enjoyed medicine so much. There have definitely been some low points where I thought I would just snap my board in half and walk out, never to return. However, there have been some diamonds in the rough to get me through all the hard work, namely the GPSN First Wave Scholarship. I first heard about the First Wave Scholarship program from an announcement made at uni, and I was eager to apply as I had missed applying out of laziness for all the other scholarships. Next thing I knew, I was on a plane to Melbourne for the First Wave Scholarship orientation workshop.

You get d‘ umped’ a lot. You have these nasty things called exams. Sometimes it feels like you’re drowning.

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Fan-flipping-tastic I hadn’t really heard about GPSN before I applied for the scholarship and it quickly impressed me as being a fan-flipping-tastic organisation. The people I met were all super-friendly, motivated and generally shared a pretty positive outlook on life. The speakers at the GPSN First Wave Scholarship orientation workshop were terrific and the organisers did a superb job. I also went home having made a really good friend with whom I shared a room. Step one after arriving home was to meet Dr Saroja Gunasekera, the Director of Medical Education for Coast City Country Training, my local general practice regional training provider. Saroja was instantly committed to creating a wonderful experience for my colleague and me by helping us find practices that could give us what we wanted. She also offered to be a mentor. She would be the first of many mentors I would be fortunate enough to pick up along the way.

Next steps The next step was to meet the practice manager at the Illawarra Family Medical Centre, a large private practice in Wollongong. There were about 15 GPs, a GP registrar and a third-year medical student on an extended placement. This was a very busy, exciting and well-equipped practice, with a huge treatment room along with psychologists, a podiatrist and dietician. I was surprisingly nervous to meet Kath, the Practice Manager, wanting to make a good

On the First Wave Scholarship placement I saw an array of patients, many of whom had very complex medical histories. impression. I was soon put at ease. I was given the message that “if you be yourself, you will be respected and have a good time”. So that’s what I did, and I had the time of my life.

Remarkable doctor I was teed up with a remarkable doctor and individual, Gary, a GP who had in the past emigrated from the UK. With his master’s in medical education and past involvement in teaching, I was set for a high-quality educational experience. Gary taught me a lot about clinical medicine and being a good doctor. He also has a strong passion for medical student health and wellbeing and gave me some insight into taking better care of myself too.

Hands-on experience On the First Wave Scholarship placement I saw an array of patients, many of whom had very complex medical histories. I had some great hands-on experience taking patient histories, practising examination skills, observing basic procedures, INRs, diabetes checks and carrying out vaccinations. I was wonderfully supported by all of the staff, including the nursing team members, who were a lot of fun. GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Yes, this placement was a great adjuvant for my medical curriculum, but it was so much more than that. I walked away from it feeling like I had caught my very First Wave in medicine. It was exhilarating and I felt like I had finally found my feet — and some confidence that I was planning the right future.

Catching the wave Applying for the GPSN First Wave Scholarship was the best decision I have made since starting med school. Medicine is like the ocean, a never-ending expanse to be discovered and enjoyed. It is unpredictable, it can be unkind, but it can be glorious too. I hope you get the chance to catch the First Wave like I did. Contributed by Vanessa Hewitt

What other First Wavers say “Most people don’t think of general practice as a specialty. They think it’s something all doctors have to do before they specialise. Or they think that GPs are medical graduates who couldn’t make it into specialist training. Before the GPSN First Wave Scholarship, I did too. How wrong I was.” Melissa Prang First-year medical student, Bond University, Queensland “At the First Wave Scholarship orientation workshop, I was particularly inspired by guest speakers who spoke of why they transitioned from high-paying specialties, such as orthopaedics and plastic surgery. Resonating through their stories was one message — general practice is rewarding because it offers the chance to really know your patients.” Joyce Ng Second-year medical student, Monash University, Victoria

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DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW

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App Store or call 1800 800 629

Other scholarships for medical students

These scholarships, bursaries and grants can broaden your experience, boost your bank balance and make your CV look sharp. Please note, this list is by no means exhaustive. Rural scholarships John Flynn Placement Program (JFPP) The John Flynn Placement Program offers medical students the opportunity to experience general practice in a rural community, spending eight weeks over a number of years (usually two weeks a year over a four-year period). The scholarship covers travel and accommodation costs. Students are also provided with $500 a week during the placement to cover food and living expenses. Students are matched with an experienced rural doctor in the same community each year and are expected to finish the entire eight weeks by the last holiday period following the completion of their medical course. The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) administers the program on behalf of the Australian Government. For further information, contact the JFPP Program Coordinator or the Support Officer at ACRRM on 1800 231 231 or email jfpp@acrrm.org.au 46

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“I love being recognised by locals when I return to my placement community each year and have revelled in the chance to gain the additional clinical experience offered by the John Flynn Placement Program.” Teena Downton

Medical Rural Bonded Scholarships The Medical Rural Bonded (MRB) Scholarships are offered as part of the Australian Government’s Rural Health Strategy, which aims to provide improved medical services to rural and regional communities. There are 100 scholarships annually worth over $25,000 a year each. Students must commit to working six continuous years in rural or remote Australia after they complete their medical training. Students should express an interest in obtaining an MRBS place with the university where they have been accepted to complete their medical degree. For further information regarding the application process, please contact the medical schools directly as they invite expressions of interest in different ways. Information can be found at health.gov.au/mrbscholarships or you can call 1800 248 720 or email mrbscholarships@health.gov.au

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General scholarships AMSA Medical Student Bursaries The Australian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) offers various bursaries to assist medical students. Bursaries for 2012–2013 were not finalised at the time of printing. Visit amsa.org.au for updates.

Australian Defence Force Medical Scholarships The Australian Defence Force (ADF) sponsors students who are interested in pursuing a medical career in the Navy, Army or Air Force. The ADF covers costs involved in completing a medical education including HELP/HECS fees, tertiary institution fees, student union fees, textbook costs, a rental allowance, and full medical and dental treatment. Students are also paid a salary with superannuation included. Graduates are required to serve as a Medical Officer for the number of years they were sponsored plus an extra year. To look for positions, visit defencejobs.gov.au For more information, call the ADF on 13 19 01. Applications are open all year.

MIGA Elective Grants Program Launched in 2004, this program is sponsored by Medical Insurance Group Australia (MIGA) and provides financial assistance to medical students who undertake their elective in developing communities. The program offers up to five grants, each consisting of a $2,000 elective grant to assist in meeting travel costs and a $1,500 medical

support grant to assist in the purchase of medical or other aid for the community the student visits. The program is open to medical students in Australia who are student members of MIGA and wish to undertake an elective program in a developing community. Further information and an application form is available from MIGA at miga.com.au or 1800 777 156. Information detailing the 2012 MIGA Elective Grants Program will be available on the MIGA website in early May 2012.

Indigenous scholarships Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme The Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who wish to undertake a medical degree or other allied health degrees. The scheme was created to boost the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australian professional health positions. As a full-time student, successful applicants receive assistance valued up to $15,000 per year for the duration of their course. If the applicant chooses to complete their course part-time, they will receive assistance up to the value of $7,500 a year for the duration of their course. Information can be found on rcna.org.au or you can contact the Royal College of Nursing Australia (RCNA) on 1800 061 660. Applications for 2012 are due to open in mid-2012. GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

The ‘canruraldo’ GPs John Flynn Placement Program personal story

While the GPSN First of the GPs were also trained in Wave Scholarship focuses Some anaesthetics and obstetrics and let me assist on urban and outer with their lists in the hospital theatre and metropolitan general procedures on the ward. practice, the John Flynn After the day at the clinic I would sometimes Placement Program (JFPP) spend time in the emergency department learning about rural emergency medicine. is a rural experience. nurses and doctors were always willing to Final-year medical student The let me assist with patient assessments and skills, Sophie Gascoigne-Cohen such as IV cannulation. reports. Blame it on the boogie “Remarkable places and extraordinary people.” This is the philosophy of the John Flynn Placement Program (JFPP) and my experience certainly bore this out. I completed my final John Flynn placement after visiting the same rural town annually since my second year of medical school. My community was Forbes in central western NSW. A town of 10,000, Forbes is far removed from my stomping ground of four millionstrong Melbourne.

Rural general practice promotes itself as more fun and engaging with the patients. There was no better confirmation of this than one morning with my supervisor. He had taken to playing music in the treatment room to relax the patients, but the music choice was questionable …the day I sutured my second ever patient, the GP picked Michael Jackson as the musical background!

The John Flynn Placement Program expands medical students’ clinical experiences. I was fortunate to be placed in a multiple GP clinic adjacent to the district hospital.

Instead of relaxing after getting his sutures dressed, the patient got up and started a dancing competition. This interlude became legendary in the town. Not only was the patient, a tough-as-nails horseman known for taming brumbies, boogying away to MJ, but the normally placid GP, nurse and medical student all got up for a dance too!

With six GP consultants and three registrars, I was exposed to a wide array of consultations and procedures by spending a day with each doctor.

As clichéd as it sounds, the continuity of care in rural general practice is remarkable. The GPs I met had delivered the great-grandchildren of

Clinically speaking

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Continuity of care

2 General practice at medical school

palliative care and were trained in mental health. They spent time in theatre with procedures ranging from finger amputations to tubal ligations. They assisted visiting surgeons for general surgery. Women could have vaginal or elective or emergency caesarean deliveries.

patients they cared for in the terminal stages of their disease. Continuity of a smaller scale played out for me. On my second placement I was fortunate to assist a GP in a caesarean section for a mature primigravida. On my third placement I went to an antenatal clinic in a town 80km away and that same woman strolled in pregnant with her second child.

Eye-opening encounters Every medical student should know the ‘close the gap’ statistics. Seeing the clinical reality is a different story. I spent the day at an Aboriginal Health Centre with a cardiologist from Sydney travelling on a three-seater plane. The consultations were mainly follow-ups but there were patients who had not seen a cardiologist since their bypass surgery 20 years ago. Many had family histories of cardiovascular disease that astounded me but sadly reflected the statistics drummed into us at school.

Skills in rural general practice The GPs I met had a vast array of skills between them. They had additional qualifications in obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthetics,

On the hospital ward they were comfortable with palliative procedures, such as draining malignant pleural effusions and pleurodesis. They would manage patients with Friedrich’s ataxia, plastic bronchitis and various malignancies with consults to specialists. In summary, they would deliver the best care possible and ensure their patients only had to travel when necessary.

Trying rural general practice Whatever misconceptions people have about rural general practice or simply insufficient experience, the best way to discover whether it is for you is to expose yourself to rural medicine and the incredible practitioners via programs such as the JFPP. Contributed by Sophie Gascoigne-Cohen

About the John Flynn Placement Program The John Flynn Placement Program (JFPP), named after the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing as a strategy to attract more GPs to rural and remote practice. It is administered by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). See page 46 for more information. GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Getting clinical Fourth-year James Cook University medical student Gabriella Sue Yek put her textbook learning into practice in a rural general practice. “Hearing about clinical signs in a lecture is one thing. Recognising them in a patient is quite another, and only comes with plenty of real-world experience. I have really enjoyed my opportunity to develop my clinical and diagnostic skills with Dr Jenny in Wingham, a cosy little town in New South Wales, as part of the John Flynn Placement Program (JFPP). So far I have completed two very different placements and I feel I have made real progress.

First placement With my first placement in Wingham, I was somewhat anxious about what working in a rural general practice would be like. I only had six weeks of clinical placements under my belt so I felt unsure about what to expect. As they say: “If you’ve seen one rural town, you’ve only seen one rural town.” Luckily for me, Wingham did not disappoint.

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Welcoming Dr Jenny and her team were super-welcoming and the patients were so friendly and wanted to help me learn. Most of the time I spent taking each patient’s obs, a limited history of whatever question came to my mind and deciding which equipment Dr Jenny might want during her examination. Then I would sit in with Dr Jenny and the real work began. Although I had completed three years of medical study, I felt a little useless because I really only knew about a healthy body and skin lesions; the path side was yet to come.

Second placement During my second placement, working with Dr Jenny was quite different. As I had progressed with my studies and moved into my clinical years, she had progressed with her practice, and now there were two GPs, two visiting psychologists, a nurse-midwife, nutritionist and chiropractor.

My proudest moment was when I identified a real target lesion rash and linked it to erythema multiforme.

2 General practice at medical school

Gabriella Sue Yek

Diagnoses and clinical examinations My teaching experience was fantastic. Dr Jenny involved me in her appointments, helped me to recognise spot diagnoses, conduct clinical examinations and improve my reading of X-rays. I was allowed to talk to patients on my own and then see if I agreed with Dr Jenny’s findings, and listen to heart and lungs galore. Although most of the time I didn’t know what the final diagnosis was, I certainly enjoyed finding so many clinical signs.

Learning experience The variety of presentations was impressive. In one day we would be conducting neonatal checks, immunisations, identifying Addison’s disease or trying to reduce back pain and so much more. As a student, I have learnt a lot working with Dr Jenny. I feel inspired to keep learning and am looking forward to my next placement.” Contributed by Gabriella Sue Yek

Naturally I was really pleased with myself when I could spot diagnose Osgood Schlatter’s and those frequently talked about, but never seen in a simulated patient, clubbed fingers. However, my proudest moment was when I identified a real target lesion rash and linked it to erythema multiforme. GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Six top tips to make your rotation count How do you get the most out of your general practice rotation? These tips will help.

1 Be positive

Approach your general practice rotation in a positive manner and seek to make the most of all learning opportunities.

2 Define your interests

Give some thought to your interest areas in general practice and your specific personal learning objectives.

3 Talk to your teacher

Meet with your GP clinical teacher at the start of the placement to discuss and formulate key learning objectives with the intention of reviewing these later.

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4 Meet and greet

Actively participate in orientation to the practice by meeting all the staff and understanding their roles.

5 Learn about admin

Seek to understand administrative processes within the practice including billing and referral systems.

6 Download GP Companion GP Companion is a valuable resource for GPSN members. It is a handy reference of GP clinical guidelines and data compiled by GPSN to assist medical students on GP rotations. Download it as an e-book at gpsn.org.au or ask your GPSN Ambassador for a pocket-sized hard copy. And don’t forget to have fun! Contributed by Amit Vohra and Jan Walker

2 General practice at medical school

Find a fine balance six tips and tricks Patrick Tam, GPSN National Secretary and 4th year medical student at the University of Wollongong shares his secrets on finding a fine balance. “Recently, I was posed with an interesting question from a fellow student who asked, ‘with all the things that you’re involved in, how do you manage to keep afloat?’ Without question, being a med student is no easy walk in the park. Coupled with the active involvement either with GPSN, other student clubs, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs and other commitments stemming from relationships to kids at home, it’s a wonder how we manage to function and keep it all together. Admittedly, there are days where I feel like I’m drowning a bit. If you feel that the candle is starting to flicker out and the stresses of it all are just getting to be a bit too much, here are five simple things to keep in mind.”

1. Get organised — Write down on paper what you need to do and a time frame that you need to have it accomplished by. Crossing completed goals with a giant marker is a simple but satisfying pleasure.

Need help If you have any concerns about your health, or if you feel you aren’t coping with things, who can you talk to? Your GP Your university counselling service

• •

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2. Be sensible — Don’t make ridiculous

goals like, I will read the entire chapter on cardiovascular in Kumar and Clarke in two hours. Ensure that goals remain challenging, but also realistic.

3. Be flexible— Sometimes something happens that prevents you from completing your goals. Make some wiggle room for the ‘urgent’ and ‘unexpected’. 4. Get balanced — Being productive and

efficient doesn’t mean slamming your head against the same wall. If you’re unable to complete a particular task for any reason, move onto another.

5. Be generous to yourself — Reward yourself for accomplishing your goals. Why not treat yourself to a night off or that spiffy new iPad 2.0 for getting your assignment in on time. 6. Be healthy — Take a break from your study and go for a walk, run or work-out session at the gym. Make sure you incorporate plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet and limit the amount of takeaway and fast food. Contributed by Patrick Tam

real resilience resources You can also find more tips and strategies about being a resilient medical student on the R-cubed website — a GPRA initiative to give GP registrars, prevocational doctors and medical students real resources to build resilience. Visit rcubed.org.au

Top exam

2 General practice at medical school

and study tips

For many students, exams are a time of immense stress, occasional prayer, sleepless nights and poor diet. Benjamin Thomas, third year medical

in a time-limited scenario, and therefore it’s student at University of even more important to be relaxed, or at least Wollongong and resident with your stress levels before you blogger on gpsn.org.au, shares comfortable even enter the room. his top tips to help you 2. Preparation, preparation and preparation survive the dreaded — Preparation is key. Whether you spend six examination period. months before the exam doing three hours “I’ve always been the kind of person to do better in a hands-on exam than with a written paper – in OSCE examinations, for example, I tend to perform much better than in written ones,” Ben says. “It took quite a while to realise why that was, and it all boiled down to appropriate time management. In a written exam I always find myself racing against the clock, skimming rather than reading questions properly and ending up with a thirty minute buffer at the end of the paper and no idea where the extra time came from.”

How can you solve that? Here are my tips: 1. Relax — The thought boggles the mind and

I admit, it’s not an easy thing to do, but for me it’s what has worked. Just sitting still after each section of the paper taking deep breaths with my eyes closed, not thinking about the next question until I’m sure I’m calm and ready to go is a huge help. Of course, this isn’t always feasible

of study a day and slowly working your way through. Or you’re doing fifteen-hour days for the week before the paper cramming absolutely everything possible into your mind, the way in which you prepare is up to you and the way you work.

3. Take some time for yourself —We’re not machines, and we’re not learning to become machines – we’re all in this to become doctors, and we need to be sure that we don’t burn out. Whether it’s having a day off every week to go to the beach, spending an hour each evening at the gym, curling up with a novel for half an hour... we need to find that balance, and make sure we keep it. Otherwise, we may hit the end of the paper, have our post-exam celebrations with friends and then find ourselves with no idea of what to do next. As medical students, studying is a major part of what we do, and while we’re still at uni it’s realistically our ‘job’. That doesn’t mean, however, that study has to be our life too. Contributed by Benjamin Thomas

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

1 Australian Doctor Website and e-newsletter Daily breaking news and chat. Visit www.australiandoctor.com.au 2 Australian Doctor Everything you need, every week.

3 How to Treat Weekly clinical update, CPD and annual yearbook. 4 Rural Doctor The monthly fix for rural docs. 5 Australian Doctor Education Seminars developed by GPs for GPs.

Check out www.australiandoctor.com.au for more information

After medical school, what next?

Four ways to continue experiencing general practice when you graduate Starting to plan for your intern year and beyond? It’s easy to get swept up in the ‘hospital specialties’ during your hospital training but remember you can gain valuable experience in general practice while in hospital too. Make sure you keep in mind the following tips when you start your intern year. Even if you are undecided about your future career direction, these tips will help your career in general practice or any other specialty.

Join the Going Places Network The Going Places Network is a peer group club for prevocational doctors is the hospital equivalent of the General Practice Students Network (GPSN). Look out for Going Places networking and educational events near your hospital. See the GP Ambassador at your hospital or visit gpaustralia.org.au

2 Choose GP-friendly hospital rotations

Choosing the right hospital and rotations as an intern and beyond can help ease the way to a career in general practice. See page 62.

3 Test-drive general practice

with the PGPPP

The Prevocational General Practice Placements Program (PGPPP) enables you to work in a community general practice as part of your hospital training. See page 64.

4 Attend a general practice

careers night at your hospital Coming along to a GP careers night at your hospital is a great way to find out more about a general practice career and what the training involves.

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GP mindset in hospital The

Choose your terms There are ways to keep Choose terms that will give you experience focused on general practice common GP-managed conditions. during your hospital terms. with Mandatory and other useful rotations are listed When you graduate and enter your hospital training, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to be occupied with the usual duties of caring for too many patients and constantly being paged. Often, little time is left to think about how your hospital experience can help you as a GP in the future. Here are a few points that will help you make the most of your hospital experience.

Learn procedural skills that may be useful in general practice: joint aspirations and injections, excision of cysts and skin lesions.

on page 62. General terms, such as general medicine and general surgery, may be more relevant than super-specialised placements. Accident and emergency terms are always a great opportunity to experience a wide range of presentations and to learn acute care skills, timely management and referral. Any experience with skin, ears and eyes will stand you in good stead. During the prevocational years, doing a Prevocational General Practice Placements Program (PGPPP) term is a great asset. See page 64 for more information on PGPPP.

GP registrar Anne Kleinitz

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3 After medical school, what next?

Fine-tune your practical skills

Find out who’s who

Ask nurses to teach you skills, such as giving vaccinations (especially to children) and dressing wounds. Ensure you can place common types of plaster casts with confidence.

Identify people who may be good information sources when you are working in the community; for example, hospital registrars, consultants, CNCs.

Pick up useful procedural skills Practise your writing Learn procedural skills that may be useful in general practice: joint aspirations and injections, excision of cysts and skin lesions.

Learn the art of referrals Think about what information is pertinent on a referral letter sent with a patient to emergency. Discuss the referral process with consultants. What do they like in a referral? What tests should be ordered prior to referral? How urgently do they need to see particular cases?

Be curious about management decisions In addition to the acute management decisions you will have made in the hospital setting, as a GP you will also be initiating and monitoring long-term management of chronic conditions. Talk to your consultants and registrars about up-to-date guidelines and approaches to chronic disease management.

Take particular notice of writing comprehensive and prompt discharge summaries, and don’t be afraid to call GPs to tell them their patients are coming home. Contributed by Dr Kate Beardmore, Dr Kate Kelso and Dr Kirsten Patterson

GPSN tip After you graduate from med school, join the Going Places Network (GPSN’s sister club for prevocational doctors) at your hospital. It’s a fun way to continue to learn about general practice and network with peers and mentors who also have an interest in the specialty. Visit at gpaustralia.org.au

For more information about compulsory hospital rotations for general practice training, visit agpt.com.au, racgp.org.au and acrrm.org.au

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Choose the right hospital and rotations Choose a hospital and terms that will give you experience with common GP-managed conditions. There are rotations and experiences that are considered to be mandatory preparation for the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program. There are four compulsory rotations: Medicine (preferably general medicine, but as this is not available in some hospitals, a rotation that offers broad medical experience) General surgery Accident and emergency Paediatrics

• • • •

In addition, each college requires certain other hospital terms and particular courses to be completed. If you have completed some of these as a junior doctor, you may qualify for recognition of prior learning (RPL) so you can either reduce your training time or substitute terms that develop existing or new skills. Be sure to keep good records of your training experiences if you want to apply for RPL.

Dr Natalie Sancandi Seeing the hospital through the lens of general practice Dr Natalie Sancandi is a Going Places Ambassador resident at St George Hospital in Sydney. As she busies herself with her daily duties she has an eye to her future career beyond the hospital doors. During her intern year she did the Prevocational General Practice Placements Program (PGPPP) and was smitten with general practice. Natalie says there are a number of ways she views her hospital work through the lens of general practice, and has tips for others. “When people come to hospital, ask yourself whether their problem could have been better managed in the community,” she advised. “Ensure you recognise the types of cases that definitely need hospital management so you know when to refer early as a future GP,” she added. “You should also expose yourself to the various community support services available to patients upon discharge.” Having done hospital terms in emergency, cardiology and paediatrics, and two terms at Albury Hospital, Natalie looks forward to applying her skills in general practice soon.

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Attention Young Doctors

Looking to tAke thAt next vitAL step in Your cAreer? At healthscope, our Medical centres are focused on the career development and education of our practitioners. We offer young doctors the opportunity to work in modern facilities with access to high quality equipment and resources across various locations in Australia. We also provide ongoing national training and education opportunities, with a major focus on Chronic Disease Management in primary care, and encourage young doctors to pursue areas of special interest to foster their growth. With flexible hours and employment packages on offer, our centres provide a supportive administrative environment for young doctors looking to enhance their professional development.

More information To learn more about the benefits of joining a Healthscope Medical Centre please contact Lachlan McBride on 0417 574 401 or lachlan.mcbride@healthscope.com.au

Test-drive general practice with the PGPPP

Want to put yourself in the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat beyond the hospital gates? The Prevocational General Practice Placements Program (PGPPP) is a great way to see your own patients while being mentored by inspiring GPs. What is the Prevocational General Practice Placements Program (PGPPP)? The Prevocational General Practice Placements Program (PGPPP) is a great opportunity to experience life as a GP during your hospital training years. Whether you are already set on general practice as a career, you are seeking to get a broader understanding of primary care or to improve your clinical and consultative skills, the PGPPP will enhance your medical training.

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What is the PGPPP experience like? Your placement will expose you to a real-life experience in the general practice world. You will have management of your own patients and be involved in varied areas of healthcare, such as aged care, sexual health, drug and alcohol, paediatrics, acute and chronic disease management, and home visits. Throughout your placement you will be well supervised by experienced practitioners who also teach GP registrars. Your supervisor will help you gain independence and a sense of autonomy in your clinical management of cases and develop your communication skills and medical professionalism.

How does it work? When you participate in the program you rotate out of your hospital into a general practice training post for a minimum of one and a maximum of two hospital terms. At the end of your term in general practice you simply rotate back to your hospital. While undertaking the PGPPP you remain employed by your tertiary hospital and continue to be paid by the hospital and accrue leave entitlements. Your medical indemnity also continues to be met by your hospital.

3 After medical school, what next?

Who is eligible? Prevocational doctors, interns and international medical graduates employed by State Government hospitals are all eligible. If you are an overseas-trained doctor (OTD) or former overseas medical student, you are eligible provided you are unconditionally registered.

Will I be paid while on the PGPPP? Yes, you will continue to be paid while you are on your PGPPP rotation.

Your supervisor will help you gain independence and a sense of autonomy in your clinical management of cases.

What will you gain on the PGPPP? • A real-life experience in general practice over and above that of undergraduate training.

• An opportunity to work in urban, regional and remote areas.

• Direct patient contact in primary care

settings, such as private general practice, Aboriginal Medical Services, drug and alcohol clinics and community-based facilities.

• A greater understanding of how primary and secondary health care settings work together.

• Confidence and independence to

take into future training and work environments.

• Personal mentoring by respected GPs. • Great networking opportunities. Find out more For further information regarding PGPPP visit agpt.com/PrevocationalTraining/PGPPPHome

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

The pgppp and me Dr Kate Thornton answers our questions and shares her PGPPP experience. Where did you do your PGPPP? I worked at the Interchange General Practice in Canberra. The practice is right in the centre of Canberra and has an emphasis on treating patients from disadvantaged backgrounds.

How did your GP placement compare with hospital work? Initially I was a little unsure of what to expect during my term in general practice. I had done several terms in general practice as a student, which I had found

The term is designed to give prevocational doctors an idea of what general practice is like. 66

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were extremely variable depending on my supervisors. In addition, I had done three terms as a hospital intern where I felt my main role was clearly defined. I was to do all the small jobs that enabled the team to function effectively. In general practice I would be seeing my own patients and I was uncertain exactly what my role would be.

What kind of work did you do and how were you supervised?

I saw my own patients but I was closely supervised. Every patient had to be seen by a GP as well. Generally, the junior doctor works up the patient, formulates a management plan then calls in the supervisor. The term is designed to give prevocational doctors an idea of what general practice is like.

Who should do a PGPPP term? Definitely junior doctors who are interested in general practice as a career, but I believe every prevocational doctor should seriously consider it. The experience gives all doctors a real insight into what happens after a patient is discharged into the community from the hospital.

3 After medical school, what next?

Discharge summaries have taken on a whole new meaning for me now, having been on the receiving end of both good and bad ones.

What kind of patients did you see? I saw an amazing range of patients. Within one hour, I saw a 91-year-old woman in excellent health and a 30-year-old IV drug user with a whole suite of medical issues.

I feel that my ability to work up an undifferentiated patient has improved significantly. What clinical cases were particularly memorable? The last patient I saw one Friday afternoon was a 40-year-old transgender man who presented to discuss a recent MRI result. In addition, he needed a review of his poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus. In this consult, I had to consider many different management issues including a wrist injury, how best to maximise his glycaemic control and whether his testosterone treatment was adequate.

Any other memorable cases? Another case was that of a 21-year-old refugee who I first saw when she presented 19 weeks pregnant. She initially found it difficult to speak due to her labile emotional state. The story eventually came out that she was homeless and trying to care for herself, her five-year-old son and the unborn baby under these difficult circumstances. The management plan that my supervisor and I devised had to address both regular antenatal care issues and the patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s social issues.

What have you gained from the experience? I feel extremely fortunate to have done a PGPPP term as an intern. I feel that my ability to work up an undifferentiated patient has improved significantly. In addition, I have a lot of admiration for my supervisors who manage to treat all of their patients with such respect regardless of their backgrounds. I certainly have had many rewarding and diverse experiences in my first couple of months in general practice. Contributed by Kate Thornton

GPSN â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Breathing new life into General Practice

About general practice training

The structure of A brief overview of the who, what and how of general practice training. What is the AGPT program? The Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program is the vocational training program for GP registrars.

What is GPET? General Practice Education and Training Ltd (GPET) is a government-owned company established in 2001 by the Australian Government to fund and oversee general practice vocational training in Australia.

What are RTPs? GPET contracts with 17 regional training providers (RTPs) Australia-wide. RTPs deliver the AGPT program in their designated region, enabling a targeted response to local workforce and population health needs. The RTP is responsible for administering the training program, training GP supervisors, and delivering educational activities and training material to registrars. See page 75 for a list of RTPs.

qualifications and medical registration. If you are a temporary resident you may be able to apply but only if you meet strict guidelines.

Is training funded? Training places under the AGPT program and RVTS (see below) are fully funded by government, and registrars are paid while training.

When can I apply? The earliest time you can apply for Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) is in your intern year, which means you enter the program as a second-year postgraduate. You are also free to apply later in your hospital training.

What is RVTS? For those who wish to train in isolated remote locations, there is an alternative to the AGPT program — the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS), which involves distance education and remote supervision. See pages 88–89.

Am I eligible? You must have Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency, medical

Other ways to fellowship There are other pathways to fellowship designed for experienced practitioners. These pathways are not funded under the AGPT program and various fees are involved.

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4 About general practice training

The AGPT landscape Australian Government

General Practice Education and Training Ltd

Australian General Practice Training

Prevocational General Practice Placements Program (PGPPP)

Australian General Practice Training program (AGPT)

Training providers Hospital/practices

Vocational training

Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM)

Quality general practice experience

Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP)

Vocational recognition

GPSN â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Breathing new life into General Practice

FACRRM qualiﬁcations (ACRRM)

Year one

Core clinical training time

FRACGP qualiﬁcations (RACGP) Possible equivalence*

12 months

+ Year two

Primary rural & remote training 2 x 6 months

Joint training opportunities are available†

Year four

Advanced specialised training 12 months

GP terms

GPT1— 6 months GPT2 — 6 months

+ Joint training opportunities are available†

+ Note: Fourth year is for FACRRM and FARGP candidates

12 months

+ Year three

Hospital training time

GPT3 — 6 months Extended Skills — 6 months

FRACGP (VR) Possible equivalence*

Advanced skills training for FARGP (12 months)

FACRRM (VR) * Credit given for AGPT training already undertaken towards one fellowship, prior to undertaking a second or third fellowship. † Can be achieved in dual-accredited practices or posts. Note: Although this table is presented in a linear format, both colleges have flexible training options to enable registrars to plan their training around their own needs and interests. See the college websites for more information.

What is the role of the two colleges of general practice?

What are the endpoint qualifications/fellowships?

RACGP and ACRRM establish training standards, set examinations and assessments, accredit training placements and approve completion of training by registrars.

Attainment of a Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP) or a Fellowship of ACRRM (FACRRM) is necessary to become vocationally recognised for independent general practice in Australia under the Medicare system.

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4 About general practice training

ACRRM has specifically designed its curriculum to meet the needs of doctors practising in rural and remote settings. However, fellows of ACRRM may ultimately practise anywhere in Australia — rural, remote or urban. The RACGP’s curriculum is designed to prepare GPs for practice in any setting. Those who want to complement their FRACGP with more specialised rural and remote skills can do the RACGP’s Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP) as an additional optional qualification. See pages 81–82. Registrars may wish to complete one, two or three qualifications (FRACGP, FACRRM and FARGP) and this can be integrated into the training course from the beginning.

Geographical classification Training pathways and obligations are designed around the Australian Standard Geographical Classification-Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) system, developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics . This classifies all Australian towns and cities on a scale of 1–5, where 1 includes major cities and 5 denotes the most remote areas. The General Practice Rural Incentives Program (GPRIP) payments are also based on the ASGC-RA system.

What are the training pathways and obligations?

If registrars have completed these before joining the AGPT program, recognition of prior learning (RPL) may be possible. The rest of the general practice training is completed via either the general pathway or the rural pathway. Doctors from overseas who are subject to the 10-year moratorium are usually required to follow the rural pathway.

General pathway RA1–5 Registrars in the general pathway of the AGPT program can train in RA1–5 locations. Training in the general pathway does not preclude a registrar later working in rural or remote areas. General pathway registrars are required to complete 12 months of their training outside the inner metropolitan area of a capital city, or alternatively six months of training outside the inner metropolitan area of a capital city and six months of training in an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health training post. There is a range of flexible options to achieve this: 1. 12 months in a rural location RA2–5 2. 12 months in an outer metropolitan location 3. 12 months in a non-capital city classified as RA1 4. Six months in any two of the above areas (12 months total) 5. Six months in one of the above areas plus six months in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health post at an Aboriginal Medical Service (12 months total).

Before starting training in the general practice setting, registrars need to complete mandatory hospital rotations determined by the colleges. GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Rural pathway RA2–5 Rural pathway registrars are required to undertake their training in rural locations RA2–5. Eligible registrars will benefit from the Australian Government’s General Practice Rural Incentives Program, known as GPRIP. See page 116.

Personalised learning The AGPT program is personalised to meet each registrar’s individual goals and career aspirations and is a composite of in-practice learning and external education and training arranged by the RTP. Medical educators, supervisors and mentors will help guide learning to shape the registrar’s future career.

Flexible aspects of training

Who’s who

The AGPT program is known for its flexibility. Part-time training is a popular feature, especially for women having children. Parental leave and other reasonable leave breaks may be negotiated. Transfers between RTPs may be possible to arrange if the registrar has a strong case.

ACRRM Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine

How GPRA helps

FARGP Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice

With so many different entities involved, each with a slightly different focus, General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) plays an important unifying role with its focus on the interests of the registrar. GPRA works on behalf of GP registrars to identify and rectify any problems and inconsistencies that may occur with so many stakeholders involved in general practice training. Contributed by Dr Christine Willis, Dr George Manoliadis and Dr Jenny Lonergan

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AGPT Australian General Practice Training program FACRRM Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine

FRACGP Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners GPET

General Practice Education and Training Ltd

GPRA General Practice Registrars Australia RACGP Royal Australian College of General Practitioners RTP

Regional training provider

4 About general practice training

Map of RTPs

*New England/North-West ^Sydney Central and South/South-West

QLD Queensland Rural Medical Education + Central & Southern Queensland Training Consortium

NT Northern Territory GP Education

QLD Tropical Medical Training

QLD Central & Southern Queensland Training Consortium

WA WAGPET SA Adelaide to Outback GP Training

NSW North Coast GP Training NSW VIC Beyond Medical Education

NSW GP Synergy* NSW GP Training Valley to Coast NSW GP Synergy^

SA Sturt Fleurieu GP Education & Training

NSW WentWest ACT NSW CoastCityCountry Training

SA Sturt Fleurieu GP Education & Training + VIC SA Southern GP Training VIC SA Southern GP Training VIC SA Southern GP Training + VIC Victorian Metropolitan Alliance

NSW VIC Bogong Regional Training Network VIC Victorian Metropolitan Alliance TAS GP Training Tasmania

Do it now For more information about the Australian General Practice Training program, visit: GPSN gpsn.org.au AGPT agpt.com.au RACGP racgp.org.au ACRRM acrrm.org.au You can also speak to your GPSN Student Ambassador GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Understanding the moratorium Have you come to Australia from overseas? Then there may be restrictions on where you can practise.

Doctors from overseas are being welcomed to help fill Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GP shortage. However, to ensure these doctors work in the geographic regions that address workforce shortages, the Australian Government has certain policies that apply to overseas-trained doctors (OTDs) and foreign graduates of an accredited medical school (FGAMS).

What is section 19AB/ the 10-year moratorium? Section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act 1973, also known as the 10-year moratorium, states that OTDs and FGAMS will only be issued with a Medicare provider number if they work in areas deemed by the government to be a district of workforce shortage (DWS). This usually means a rural, remote or outer metropolitan area. GP registrars under the moratorium do their vocational training in the rural pathway.

How long does it last? Originally, the geographic limitation on provider numbers lasted for 10 years, which is why the scheme became known as the 10-year moratorium. However, there have been recent changes that allow doctors to reduce the moratorium time by up to five years, depending on the Remoteness Area (RA) of the location where they practise. The Australian Standard Geographical Classification-Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) system classifies locations from RA1 to RA5 according to their remoteness, with RA1 being the most urban and RA5 the most remote. The reduction in moratorium time is dependent on the remoteness of the area in which a doctor practises.

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4 About general practice training

The moratorium applies to: overseas-trained doctors who did not obtain their primary qualification in Australia or New Zealand

•

doctors trained in Australia or • overseas New Zealand who began studying in

Australia or New Zealand under a temporary visa and subsequently obtained their primary qualification from an Australian or New Zealand university.

When does the moratorium start? The period starts from the time a doctor is registered as a medical practitioner in Australia. If a doctor has not obtained Australian permanent residency or citizenship by the end of the 10-year moratorium, they will still need a section 19AB exemption in order to continue to access Medicare benefits.

Fact file •

•

For more information, visit agpt.com.au or doctorconnect.org.au

If you need detailed information about your individual circumstances, contact the Department of Health and Ageing Workforce Regulation Section — 19AB@health.gov.au

Dr Mirza Baig

registrar rave

Who is under the moratorium?

My training provider is General Practice Training Tasmania (GPTT). My current post is a GPT3 post at the Latrobe Family Medical Practice in Latrobe, the platypus capital of the world. I also work at the Tasmanian Skin and Body Centre. What I love about general practice is that I meet wonderful people — artists, ex-pilots, fishermen, salespeople and farmers. Ordinary people with extraordinary stories. After hours I try to relax with mates and be a good dad to my eight-year-old. He reads me bedtime stories.

A quirky fact about me is that if I was not a GP, I would have been the cartoon character Hagar the Horrible. Friends tell me I look like him.

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Fellowship The RACGP

Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners certifies competence for delivering unsupervised general practice services in any general practice setting in Australia. What is the FRACGP?

Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) is held in high esteem around the world, with successful completion certifying competence to deliver unsupervised general practice services in any general practice setting in Australia — urban, regional, rural or remote. The international recognition of the RACGP Fellowship is expanding, and it is now recognised in New Zealand, Ireland and Canada.* The RACGP conjoint fellowship examinations continue to be delivered in Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Vocational training towards FRACGP Vocational training towards FRACGP is three years full-time (or part-time equivalent) comprising: Hospital training (12 months) — four • compulsory hospital rotations (general

medicine, general surgery, emergency

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medicine and paediatrics) plus three hospital rotations of your choice, provided they are relevant to general practice.

General practice placements (18 months) • — completed in RACGP-accredited

teaching practices, with a compulsory term (minimum of six months) in an outer metropolitan area or rural-remote area.

skills (six months) — can be • Extended completed in a range of RACGP-accredited

settings, including advanced rural skills, an overseas post, an academic post or extended procedural skills.

Further training options The advanced academic term is an optional fourth year, allowing part-time work within a university department and part-time work in clinical general practice. Optional advanced rural skills training (ARST) can be undertaken at any time during training which offers additional procedural skills in rural general practice. The RACGP also offers a Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP). For further information, see pages 81–82. *Contact the relevant colleges for details. Contributed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

About the FRACGP examination The FRACGP examination comprises: two online written segments — the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and Key Feature Problems (KFP) and

•

clinical segment — the Objective • one Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

What are the basic eligibility requirements for FRACGP examination enrolment? To be eligible to sit the college examination,all registrar candidates are required to: current medical registration • have in Australia current financial member of • betheaRACGP achieved certified competence in a • have recognised cardiopulmonary resuscitation

course (CPR) within 36 months of the opening of enrolment

completed the general practice • have registrar training requirements.

Find out more

Dr Nina Robertson

registrar rave

4 About general practice training

My training provider is North Coast GP Training (NCGPT). My current post is a GPT2 post in Goonellabah near Lismore.

A typical workday for me is getting up early to walk my dogs and get my kids ready for school. Then it’s a full day of general practice and home to get ready to do it all again.

What I love about general practice is the privilege of being allowed into people’s lives. There is something interesting or unexpected about every patient and every consultation if you just scratch the surface. An ‘aha’ moment for me was when I was up yet again at 3am suturing a perineum — that was when I committed to general practice. After hours I like to indulge in reading trashy novels.

For more information, visit racgp.org.au

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

The RACGP journey towards general practice (via the vocational training route)

Medical school (4-6 years)

Internship year (PGY1)

Postgraduate resident years (PGY2) (this can be completed before or during general practice training)

General practice training (3 years)

RACGP Fellowship examination

Prevocational General Practice Placements Program PGPPP (optional)

4th year additional training in advanced rural skills or advanced academic skills (optional)

Successful completion of RACGP training and assessment

RACGP Fellowship

Continuing professional development

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Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP) (optional)

RACGP’s

4 About general practice training

Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP) The FARGP is a fellowship that offers advanced training in the skills required Structure of the FARGP There are five main elements of the FARGP: for rural and remote practice. It extends on the 1. 12 months in an accredited rural general practice post. Fellowship of the Royal 2. 12 months in an accredited advanced skills Australian College of training post (the skill needs to be relevant to General Practitioners rural general practice). (FRACGP). What is the FARGP? The Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP — pronounced ‘far-GP’) recognises the advanced rural skills and additional training undertaken by GPs in preparation for practice in rural and remote Australia.

FARGP enrolment information enrolling in the fellowship, a registrar • Before or practising GP needs to be a current

financial member of the RACGP and either working towards or intending to work towards their FRACGP.

fellowship can be completed with or • The after the FRACGP.

graduate with two fellowships • Candidates — FARGP and FRACGP.

• The whole process usually takes four years. • The FARGP on its own takes 12–18 months.

3. Development of a learning plan and 160 hours of educational activities to complete the plan. 4. Completion of a core unit of activities in emergency medicine. 5. Completion of a core unit of activities working in rural general practice. The FARGP is flexible and self-paced. The educational activities have a strong practicebased focus. There is no final exam for the FARGP — it is based on a continuous assessment framework.

FARGP under review The FARGP is currently under review and the plan is to have more of the activities available online. The new FARGP will be launched early in 2012.

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Advanced rural skills training An important component of the FARGP is advanced rural skills training (ARST). Each ARST has its own curriculum guidelines and assessment process. Registrars may choose to complete an ARST post in an area of interest or of value to a rural community including: anaesthetics obstetrics surgery emergency medicine mental health child and adolescent health adult internal medicine small town rural general practice Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health individually designed ARST (approval by the RACGP National Rural Faculty is required, after consulting your medical educator).

• • • • • • • • • •

Contributed by the RACGP National Rural Faculty

More info Learn more about the Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP) at racgp.org.au/rural

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Stimulate your mind with student membership A career in general practice offers many benefits such as variety, high patient contact and flexible working hours. The breadth and depth of intellectual knowledge required by general practitioners (GPs) makes general practice not only a rewarding career, but also an intellectually stimulating one. Whether you are working towards a career in general practice or still considering your options, as a medical student you are invited to take up RACGP student membership and access an extensive range of useful resources to support your medical education. At the RACGP we offer you resources you can use now – not just in the future.

Join the RACGP or renew and upgrade your RACGP student membership today. www.racgp.org.au/student or freecall 1800 331 626

Fellowship The ACRRM

rural communities who find it difficult to The Australian College of leave their community to participate in Rural and Remote Medicine training; or the Independent Pathway, (ACRRM) has specifically administered by ACRRM, which is suitable for doctors with experience who prefer designed its GP training program to meet the needs self-directed learning. For more information on which pathway is most suitable for you, of the rural and remote contact the ACRRM vocational training team. practitioner, especially for Vocational training advanced procedural skills.

What is the FACRRM?

•

Fellowship of ACRRM is an approved pathway to vocational registration and unrestricted general practice anywhere in Australia.

a four-year integrated training program • Itforisregistrars wanting to train for rural and

Core Clinical Training — Registrars • complete 12 months of training in an ACRRM-accredited metropolitan, provincial or regional/rural hospital. This should ideally include rotations in general medicine, general surgery, paediatrics, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, and anaesthetics.

Rural and Remote Training — • Primary Registrars undertake 24 months of training

•

The ACRRM training program comprises three stages of learning and experience. See table on page 86.

remote medicine. (Training time is reduced where a candidate is granted recognition of prior learning, or RPL.) The training occurs on the job as a registrar in an ACRRM-accredited general practice, Aboriginal Medical Service, Royal Flying Doctor Service or as a medical officer in an ACRRM-accredited hospital setting. Candidates wishing to achieve a Fellowship of ACRRM can apply for one of three training pathways: the Vocational Preparation Pathway delivered by regional training providers with funding from GPET; the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) for doctors working in isolated

•

program components

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in a combination of rural or remote ACRRM-accredited general practices/ community-based facilities, hospitals, Aboriginal Medical Services, Royal Flying Doctor Service, or a combination of these. The registrar works with increasing autonomy and manages an increasing range of conditions. The specific procedures, breadth and depth of practice are defined

4 About general practice training

by the Primary Curriculum and Procedural Skills Logbook.

Specialised Training • Advanced — Registrars undertake 12 months of

training in one of 10 ACRRM-accredited disciplines listed in the table on page 86.

FACRRM assessment

must successfully complete the • Registrars following assessments: Procedural Skills

Logbook, Multi Source Feedback (MSF), Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (miniCEX), Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) exam and Structured Assessment Using Multiple Patient Scenarios (StAMPS), plus assessments specific to their chosen Advanced Specialised Training discipline.

There is considerable flexibility in the • timing of the assessments and registrars can opt to undertake each assessment component in or close to their local community. achieve FACRRM, candidates must also • Tosuccessfully complete four ACRRM online

education modules and at least two emergency skills courses approved by ACRRM (for example, EMST/ELS/PHTLS or equivalent, APLS, ALSO). Contributed by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine

Frequently asked questions How is FACRRM integrated into the AGPT program? Registrars enrolled in the AGPT program can elect to train to either or both the FACRRM and the FRACGP. FACRRM training is open to both rural and general pathway registrars providing that they work in ACRRM-accredited training posts. Can candidates do both qualifications at the same time? Yes, but requirements for placement, duration of training and completion of training are different between the FACRRM and FRACGP. Registrars seeking both fellowships will need to talk to their RTP about a program that complies with both colleges. What is the difference between the ACRRM and RACGP training pathways? The ACRRM program is an integrated program that usually takes four years post-internship. ACRRM has a different curriculum and assessments, and has different requirements for accreditation of training posts. Candidates must train in posts accredited by ACRRM.

For more information, visit the ACRRM website (acrrm.org.au), call ACRRM on 1800 223 226 or contact ACRRM Vocational Training, training@acrrm.org.au GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

The ACRRM Fellowship After first completing Core Clinical Training, a registrar may complete the remainder of the training requirements in any order.

Core Clinical Training (12 months)

Primary Rural and Remote Training (24 months)

Advanced Specialised Training (12 months)

The ACRRM Fellowship begins with Core Clinical Training. This stage is 12 months working in an accredited hospital, where you complete required terms in:

Primary Rural and Remote Training comprises a total of 24 months in rural or remote settings accredited by ACRRM. These can include hospitals, general practices, Aboriginal Medical Services or the Royal Flying Doctor Service. You may choose to complete your Primary Rural and Remote Training in one or several locations. Training in a single location will enable you to build a strong relationship with colleagues and your community. However, training in several locations may better equip you to expand your posting opportunities later in your career. Primary Rural and Remote Training will build your clinical and procedural skills, and your confidence to work in rural and remote contexts.

Advanced Specialised Training broadens your skills and capacity beyond the standard scope of general practice training. With these supplementary procedural skills, your expanded professional scope can include clinical privileging in hospitals, access to additional Medicare Benefits Scheme item numbers and contributing to the pool of medical skills in your district. Advanced Specialised Training requires a minimum of 12 months training in one of the 10 disciplines specified by the college:

• • • • • •

general internal medicine general surgery paediatrics emergency medicine

obstetrics and gynaecology anaesthetics. This training should provide you with sufficient clinical cases and opportunistic learning to form a good foundation to begin work in rural or remote practice.

• • • • • • • • • •

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health adult internal medicine anaesthetics emergency medicine mental health obstetrics and gynaecology paediatrics population health remote medicine

surgery. Each Advanced Specialised Training discipline has its own curriculum and assessment requirements.

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4 Money matters

GPSN â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Breathing new life into General Practice

RVTS

An alternative pathway to fellowship

RVTS trains GP registrars working in rural and remote locations, where accessing mainstream training is impractical or impossible. The Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) offers GP registrars working in rural or remote locations a unique remote training experience and an alternative pathway to fellowship.

Remote training and supervision RVTS trains its registrars via distance education and provides remote supervision. No location is too remote and the program is structured to meet the needs of solo practitioners. Education is delivered via: Teletutorials — Weekly 90-minute • education sessions via teleconference.

RVTS registrars enjoy the same level of support as their big city counterparts, no matter how remote they are. 88

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teaching visits — An experienced • On-site rural practitioner visits the registrar to

observe consultations and provide feedback.

workshops — Registrars • Face-to-face meet for five days of practical training twice

a year.

supervision — Each registrar is • Remote allocated a supervisor who acts as a mentor

and provides clinical and educational advice.

RVTS registrars enjoy the same level of support as their big city counterparts, no matter how remote they are, and can be found practising as Royal Flying Doctors, district medical officers, with Aboriginal Medical Services and in private practice. They serve a variety of communities, from farming and mining towns through to remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Many work in solo practice.

Eligibility RVTS is an independent, Australian Governmentfunded program with its own application process and annual intake of 22 registrars. Applications open in May each year for training starting the following February. Geographic location is the key eligibility requirement. To apply, applicants must be working in an eligible location, or have arrangements in place to be in an eligible location, at the start of training. Applicants must provide continuing, whole-patient care. Preference is given to doctors working

4 About general practice training

in solo practice and those who cannot access Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program. Once accepted, the registrar remains in the same location throughout their training. Check the RVTS (rvts.org.au) website for complete eligibility criteria.

The endpoint This three to four-year program meets the requirements for fellowship with both the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). Twelve-month training is available in advanced skills curricula, such as anaesthetics, obstetrics and emergency medicine. Contributed by the Remote Vocational Training Scheme

Fact file What:

Train for FRACGP/FARGP or FACRRM in rural or remote locations.

Who: The registrar who enjoys the independence of rural or remote practice but wants a supportive training environment.

Information: Contact RVTS on (02) 6021 6235 or visit rvts.org.au

Dr Joanna

Longley

A remotely supervised GP registrar working in solo rural practice by PGY3 wasn’t exactly what Dr Joanna Longley planned. “It happened by accident,” she recalled. “The senior doctor I was supposed to work with was on extended sick leave and didn’t return to the practice.” Fortunately for Joanna, RVTS was perfectly positioned to support her during the transition from junior hospital doctor to solo GP. “I don’t think I would have survived without RVTS,” she said. “It was isolating and difficult initially, but RVTS gave me the skills and confidence to work alone.” A registrar in the 2010 cohort, Joanna is now making strides towards her GP fellowship and hopes to start exams in 2012. “The best thing about RVTS is having an experienced GP at the end of the phone when you need advice,” she said. Joanna currently spends the majority of her time in solo GP practice in Springsure, Queensland, but also works in the emergency department at Emerald Hospital. She has an unpredictable and heavy workload, but she enjoys the autonomy and the generalist nature of the job. GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Be everything to everyone...

Be a GP General practitioners have the opportunity to undertake a range of subspecialties within their communities. The Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program is your pathway to becoming part of a community - and to becoming a GP. Talk to your local regional training provider (RTP) or go to: www.agpt.com.au

Joining forces with the ADF

Around 2.5 per cent of GPs train in the Australian Defence Force. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an opportunity to develop leadership and specific medical skills in a challenging environment. Training as a GP registrar in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) offers opportunities and challenges.

Most ADF MOs are recruited as medical students, some from universities and others from within the services. A small number join as direct entry medical practitioners. 92

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ADF registrars must meet the same educational requirements but there are some specific policies relating to ADF GP registrars. These include leave provisions, transfer between RTPs and modified requirements regarding work in outer metropolitan and rural areas. General practice terms are undertaken through a combination of civilian and military posts, known as composite terms. The unique demographic of the military necessitates concurrent exposure to the broader Australian community to ensure experience in areas such as paediatrics and geriatrics. Generally, composite terms are accredited only after an initial full-time civilian term, usually a three-month rural term. While most ADF registrars will select the general pathway, exposure to rural general practice provides valuable experience in the decision-making, leadership, teamwork and clinical skills that can be utilised for ADF clinical practice in Australia and when deployed. Deployments may be prospectively accredited for training. Initially, medical officers (MOs) in the ADF are encouraged to specialise in primary care. This is important because whether in Australia or deployed, ADF personnel need access to high quality primary health care. There are also opportunities to specialise in public health, medical administration, occupational medicine and sports medicine, known as the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;force

4 About general practice training

protection’ specialties. Generally, the procedural specialties (surgery, anaesthetics, orthopaedics) required for providing higher level care on deployments reside within the Reserve Forces.

ADF medical officer recruitment Most ADF MOs are recruited as medical students, some from universities and others from within the Services. A small number join as direct entry qualified medical practitioners. Medical students and trainees are considered ADF members and attract a salary and ADF benefits, such as superannuation, allowances, medical and dental care, and accommodation options while under training. The MO’s primary duty is to train at medical school, then complete PGY1 and 2 prior to their first full-time posting to an ADF unit. At the unit, the MO receives further training, in parallel with the AGPT, including officer training, early management of severe trauma (EMST) and specialist courses, such as aviation medicine or underwater medicine. At the same time, the MO gets acquainted with the military medical system.

Clinical competency levels Clinical employment is based on progression through clinical Competency Levels (CL). Beginning at CL1, MOs who have completed initial courses and a period of supervised primary care are recognised as CL2. MOs at CL2 have basic skills and are considered suitable for remote supervision in an operational deployment environment. Those who have achieved FRACGP or FACRRM progress to CL3.

Remuneration In return for supporting the initial medical training, the ADF requires a Return of Service Obligation (ROSO) or Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS). During internship and residency, Defence continues to pay the MO a salary, while wages earned from the hospital or other employers are paid to Defence. If hospital pay exceeds military pay, the difference is paid to the MO periodically. MOs at CL2 and above are reimbursed a further $10,000 annually for continuing medical education expenses. Contributed by Dr Geoff Menzies

Medical students, junior doctors, GP registrars and fellows wanting to explore a career as an ADF medical officer (MO) may find it helpful to speak with a current ADF registrar. You can speak to a member of the ADF Joint Health Command who can direct your query to a relevant person by phoning CMDR Bronwyn Ferrier, Staff Officer Medical Officers, (02) 6266 4176 or emailing bronwyn.ferrier@defence.gov.au For more information or to apply, call 13 19 01 or visit defencejobs.gov.au

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Dr Scott Hahn Earning his stripes as a military registrar Captain Scott Hahn is a GP registrar with the Army in Brisbane and a Going Places Network Ambassador. For Dr Scott Hahn, military medicine has proved an exciting way to earn his stripes in general practice. Scott was introduced to military life when working in his former career as an academic in biomedical science at Southern Cross University in Lismore.

for a career change offered by the Graduate Medical Scheme with the ADF. While his work as an academic involved lecturing on biomedical topics to nursing and naturopathy students, he clung to his youthful ambition to be a medical doctor and practise clinical medicine. The Graduate Medical Scheme means a full-time salary while studying at university and training as a doctor. In return, Scott will work a Return of Service Obligation (ROSO) based on the number of sponsored training years plus one.

It’s another The Army Reserve engaged him challenge to work as a science officer and adventure He is excited by the advising on health threat prospect career transition. assessment. rolled into “It’s anotherof hischallenge and Scott had an immediate affinity with adventure rolled into one,” he said. one… military culture and loved the outdoor training with the Army Reserve on the weekends — a complete contrast to the indoor pursuits of academia. It was here that he became aware of the work of military doctors and the opportunity

Based on his qualifications, skills and experience, Scott entered the ADF through the specialist services officer stream and was commissioned at the rank of Captain. He began his education as an Army officer with an intensive six-week course at Duntroon.

Having finished his four-year postgraduate medical degree at the University of Queensland, Scott is now doing his junior doctor hospital training at Logan Hospital south of Brisbane. He is looking forward to starting his first general practice term soon and, further down the track, receiving his Army posting.

Captain Scott Hahn

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Design your own GP career

faces

The many of general practice Meet some real-life GP registrars and come face to face with their inspiring stories in general practice.

GPs are going places in all kinds of different career roles and settings. From the city to the outback, from remote Aboriginal communities to academia, from the desert to the snow Ââ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the possibilities are endless. The following pages feature real-life stories of GP registrars and posts that illustrate the variety and diversity of general practice as a career.

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Travel while you train Travel

5 Design your own GP career

Strap on your backpack and make the world your consulting room while you train. It’s all possible in general practice.

Dr Stratos Roussos Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), Southern Sudan “As part of my training, I spent eight months in Southern Sudan with MSF. The assignment included maternal and child health and the emergency co-ordination of the cholera epidemic. The medicine was pretty mind-blowing.”

If you enjoy travelling and are keen to gain clinical experience in another country, both RACGP and ACRRM offer exciting opportunities to complete part of your general practice training overseas.

Dr Kelly Seach

Typically these are a six-month, full-time position, although in some cases part-time may be possible. The overseas training terms are appropriate for registrars who have already undertaken some training. Overseas terms can involve many locations, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, USA, New Zealand, China, Malaysia and the Middle East (Australian Defence Force posts). Overseas terms are a fantastic opportunity for GP registrars to broaden their horizons while completing their general practice training.

Irish exchange program “I worked in general practice in the town of Ballybofey in County Donegal, Ireland. I learned how to pronounce Irish names, appreciate potatoes five ways and work in a different health system. In all, I loved my Irish exchange.”

Fact file For further information regarding overseas training posts, visit the college websites racgp.org.au or acrrm.org.au

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

Community spirit Dr Stephanie Trust’s path to general practice has been a long and sometimes rough road. On returning to her Kimberley community as a GP registrar, she felt she had come full circle. When Dr Stephanie Trust first thought about being a doctor, she was 10 years old and living in a tent in Halls Creek. Her sister-in-law was an Aboriginal health worker and Stephanie would accompany her on the medication run through the town.

Nothing beats the feeling of graduation. It was wonderful to graduate, and more so because my mum, dad and Aunty Jane were at the graduation ceremony to see it. 98

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“I really loved it,” Stephanie recalled. “I remember thinking that working in health was something I would like to do when I grew up.” Stephanie followed her childhood dream and became a nurse and then a health worker in Western Australia’s north. Later, she set her sights on a new goal — to be a doctor. After years of study in Perth as a single mum, Stephanie recently returned to her Kimberley community as a GP registrar. I am from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. My mother Biddy is a Gidja Jaru woman and my father Jack is a Walmajarri man. I am from a large family and have seven brothers and sisters and, like most Aboriginal families, I have a lot of cousins and uncles and aunties. I also have a son, Shannon, who is 19 now.

5 Design your own GP career

I took a longer path than most to get into medicine. I went through primary school in Wyndham and Halls Creek, did Years 8–10 at Wyndham High School and then went to Perth to do Year 11 and 12 because we couldn’t do it in the Kimberley. When I finished school I went back home and trained as an enrolled nurse in the hospital system. I later converted it through additional training to qualifications as an Aboriginal health worker. I was quite happy being a health worker in the Kimberley and Pilbara, but was acutely aware of the shortage of doctors. I remember one day, about nine years ago, chatting with a friend who was also working as a child health worker, about an interest in medicine. Together we found out about pre-medicine at the University of Western Australia. We both went to medical school and both of us have since finished. In the early days I was staying on lounge room floors trying to house-hunt so that Shannon and I had somewhere to live. There was the stress of not earning a wage, needing to apply for scholarships and finding housing. It wasn’t always easy, but I got there.

GPSN tip All medical students should consider gaining clinical exposure to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. The GPSN First Wave Scholarship Program (see pages 40–43) and the John Flynn Placement Program (see page 46), offer some placements within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Kununurra and I felt that I had come full circle — back to where I started. I always knew how important it was to have Aboriginal doctors, but it didn’t hit me until I got back home. As an Aboriginal doctor working in a community, you have so much background knowledge. Taking the time to learn about Aboriginal culture and history is important for students because it will make them better doctors.

Fact file

Nothing beats the feeling of graduation. It was wonderful to graduate, and more so because my mum, dad and Aunty Jane were at the graduation ceremony to see it.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors and students in Australia GP registrars — 47 Medical practitioners — 153 Medical students — 218

I began working in a GP registrar position with The Cotto n Familiny the Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service

Source: Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association and GPRA GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

General Practice Training in Indigenous Health Victoria

It is important It is challenging It is inspiring

Is it for YOU?

What are you doing about Indigenous Health? Indigenous health is a national priority, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians still dying years earlier than other Australians and suffering from a wide range of preventable diseases and treatable illnesses. As a GP working in Indigenous health, you are likely to make a bigger difference to health outcomes than in any other area of medicine in Australia today! • Practice a holistic approach to primary health care in a cultural context by training at an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS). • Get an appetite for Indigenous health by negotiating part-time or sessional arrangements whilst doing your GP training. • Experience complex medicine including chronic disease, preventive health care, health promotion and public health management. • Train under inspirational GP Supervisors, who are ACRRM and/or RACGP Fellows with years of experience and in depth knowledge of the clinical status and cultural aspects of the community. • Enjoy complete flexibility with 9-5 daily hours, leave for release sessions, conferences, study and personal life.

Are you interested in Indigenous Health? Contact the GP Education and Training Officer at VACCHO. 5-7 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065 P: (03) 9419 3350 E: enquiries@vaccho.com.au W: www.vaccho.com.au

Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation

Academic posts

A passion for research When Dr Jo-Anne Manski-Nankervis worked in a laboratory, she had a personal eureka moment. She discovered that she wanted to work with people, not test tubes. Dr Jo-Anne Manski-Nankervis began her path to academic general practice by a somewhat circuitous route, starting her university studies with a degree in science. But the solitary nature of lab work set her on a new course. “After 12 months in the lab sequencing a malaria gene for my honours year I decided

I have been lucky to have some fantastic mentors who have really opened my eyes about how to shape myself into the academic and doctor I want to be. 102

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that I wanted to pursue my interest in science, but I wanted to work with people, not in a lab,” she said. Jo-Anne took a career right turn and was accepted into medicine at the University of Melbourne. Today she works there as an academic registrar with a special interest in diabetes research. She is also a clinical GP registrar at a community practice. It’s proving the perfect balance — with lots of people contact. “When I started general practice training, I was really only aware of the clinical work. I had no idea of the opportunities that would be open to me in medical education, academic work and being on boards and reference groups.

5 Design your own GP career

I have been lucky to have some fantastic mentors who have really opened my eyes about how to shape myself into the academic and doctor I want to be. Even though I enjoy clinical work, I wanted to be able to pursue my special interest in diabetes further by doing some research. I wanted some variety because at times, full-time clinical work can be quite draining, and it gave me the opportunity to teach. I am also married with two young children and academic work gives me some flexibility. My first academic post involved being a team member in the chronic diseases group at the University of Melbourne’s Department of General Practice. I was involved in implementing a research project on insulin initiation in general practice to the community health centre where I worked, collecting this data, and then merging it with data from other centres. I also organised training sessions, and there was the clinical side as well. The thing I really loved was that I was in a team, I had great support, I learnt a lot about clinical work and research, and the project had a positive impact on the participants — starting insulin and gaining better control of their diabetes. Organising this project involved meeting with the university and submitting a research proposal to GPET. This required a substantial investment of time before I even knew I was

Even though I enjoy clinical work, I wanted to be able to pursue my special interest in diabetes further by doing some research. awarded a post, but it meant I could hit the ground running. Prior to my second academic post, I applied for, and was fortunate to receive, a GPET Registrar Research Fund Grant of $10,000. I currently have many roles. I sit on various boards and committees, I tutor medical students, I write regularly on diabetes for Australian Doctor and I’m doing further diabetes research for a master of philosophy degree, which should increase my body of published work.”

GPSN tip If you are interested in academic medicine, why not apply to GPSN First Wave Academic Scholarship? For more information see pages 40– 43.

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The medical Rural-remote

North Queensland registrar Dr Chris Buck is called on to play many roles — emergency physician, anaesthetist, intensive care doctor, gym instructor and, once, a giant turtle!

all-rounder Tropical Medical Training, based in the Atherton Tablelands area of north Queensland. “I currently live in Atherton and work as a proceduralist in a group of small rural hospitals and also see private patients in a community general practice.

During my internship and postgraduate training, Dr Chris Buck considers his decision to do I stumbled across the rural generalist pathway. rural-remote medicine as a “fortunate accident”. At the same time, I discovered a passion for anaesthetics and intensive care. “I did the PGPPP as an intern in a small town called Oakey near Toowoomba,” he said. “This opened up a whole world I had never even considered as a career choice. All of a sudden, I realised that the country doctor was highly respected and the opportunities and people you meet certainly outweigh any isolation issues.” Chris is now in his final year of training towards his ACRRM Fellowship as a rural generalist with

As a rural remote GP registrar you have many life and death situations — and this is what I love the most. 104

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The term rural generalist means different things to different people. Ultimately it is the highly skilled general practitioner who manages patients in locations that are lacking in specialist services. My current post involves care in its entirety — the whole cradle-to-grave medical care model. I could be delivering babies one minute and managing a roadside arrest with a paramedic team the next. My day always starts with great coffee. The Tablelands area is renowned for some of Australia’s best coffee plantations. Then I travel to either the hospital or GP practice and consult any appointments. This may be an anaesthetic list for a visiting surgeon, an antenatal clinic, coverage of an emergency department, minor surgical procedures — anything really!

5 Design your own GP career

As a rural-remote GP registrar you have many life and death situations — and this is what I love the most. While not always good outcomes, the bonding experienced with nursing and operational staff in emergency situations strengthens us as a team. There is of course a lighter side to the job. I will never forget rocking up to work in Mount Isa and being told that I had to dress up as the mascot for a public health campaign — a highly trained professional in a giant turtle suit!

I will never forget trainer and I teach fitness classes. I make sure there are no late appointments that will rocking up to work that stop me getting to the gym. in Mount Isa and I am now about to embark on a new chapter my career, bringing together primary and being told that I incritical care by doing some aeromedical retrieval and outreach clinics with the Royal had to dress up Flying Doctor Service in Western Australia. as the mascot This is kind of exciting because I love flying. for a public health campaign GPSN tip — a highly trained The John Flynn Placement Program (JFPP) is an inspiring way to gain exposure to ruralprofessional in a remote general practice. Go to acrrm.org.au giant turtle suit! in the ‘Programs—Prevocational’ section. Out of hours I am a certified Les Mills personal

Also see pages 46.

My best day in general practice was when I was able to manage a critically ill mother in ICU, have her baby delivered, resuscitate her, then put them both on the path to a healthy discharge. The ecstatic joy we felt as a team after that was overwhelming. GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

105

Prized position Urban

Dr Anne Khouri, winner of the RACGP’s Edward Gawthorn Award, loves her job in a diverse urban practice near Mount Lawley’s bohemian cafe strip.

At Lindisfarne, there is a great diversity of socio-economic backgrounds in the patients.

It started out as just another day at the office when Dr Anne Khouri received an unexpected phone call.

“The college rang me at work and I actually thought they had made a mistake,” she recalled. “Then I rang my family and burst into tears.” Not only had she passed her fellowship exams, she was the winner of the RACGP’s Edward Gawthorn Award. Her prize recognised a Western Australian candidate who passed all three examinations on first attempt and achieved the highest OSCE score. Anne modestly puts it down to regular sessions with her small study group — and “luck on the day”. Having finished her fellowship, Anne also considers she got lucky with a job she loves at an urban practice in the inner Perth suburb of Mount Lawley. “My father is an obstetrician-gynaecologist and my mother is a midwife. My parents worked in the Middle East for 30 years where I was born. We grew up on a medical compound surrounded by other medical families. Medicine was something I had always known so I decided to pursue it. I was on the emergency training program when I realised that I hated night shifts, major trauma and not knowing what happened to my patients once they left the ED.

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5 Design your own GP career

I enjoy the variety, the element of surprise, the need to think on my feet…

When I won the Edward Gawthorn Award I was absolutely elated. It was the best day of my life. I think the only thing that will beat it will be my wedding early this year.

I decided then that general practice was a better option for me, and I trained with WAGPET in the general pathway. Lindisfarne Medical Centre, a large, non-corporate GP practice in Mount Lawley, was a registrar placement that I liked so when I was offered a permanent position I jumped at it. I also work at the Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) at King Edward Hospital. At Lindisfarne, there is a great diversity of socio-economic backgrounds in patients. It covers the affluent Mount Lawley crowd, lots of immigrants and ethnic groups, people from social housing, hostels and refuges, adolescents from the nearby private girls’ college and high school, and a large number of homosexual men and women.

My fiance is a surgical registrar and when he gets his private rooms I hope to be able to do some non-surgical facial rejuvenation as part of his practice.”

Here are Anne’s top tips on passing exams •

•

Get a study group together — Think small — a maximum of four. Make sure they are people you get on with as you will spend a lot of time together and go through a lot of stress and emotion. Meet weekly. Start early — Start studying as early as you can.

•

Break it up — Split the material that needs covering into chunks and then divide up the work between members of the group week by week.

I enjoy the variety, the element of surprise, the need to think on my feet, the relationships I develop with people and their families, and the friendships I have with the other doctors, nurse and receptionists at the practice.

•

My interests are mental health, minor procedures, adolescent medicine and cosmetic dermatology. During my general practice training, I completed a Diploma of Child Health and my level one Certificate in Aesthetic Medicine from the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine.

•

Mock it up — Allocate time to do exam questions and to practise together. A month to go... Use the last month before the exam to do revision and practise questions. Try not to be learning new material at this point. Read Murtagh, then read it again — Cover to cover at least twice. See page 55 for more exam tips.

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

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Special interest Sub-specialise

General practice is the most flexible of medical careers — you can shape it to suit your own interests.

At any one time there are numerous GP registrars in special skills, extended skills and elective posts pursuing their interests. The GP training program offers all GP registrars an opportunity to pursue a sub-specialty of their choice. In general practice, you can follow your passions and virtually design your own career.

• obstetrics medicine • occupational paediatrics • palliative care • refugee health • Royal Flying Doctor Service • rural and remote medicine • sports medicine • surgery • travel medicine • tropical medicine • women’s health •

… plus many more!

health • Aboriginal medicine and research • academic alpine sports Refugee health • anaesthetics medicine + academic • Australian Defence Force Dr Rebecca Farley • aviation medicine RTP: Central and Southern • cosmetic medicine Queensland Training • dermatology Consortium (CSQTC) • drug and alcohol Location: Brisbane, QLD • emergency • expedition medicine • family planning and sexual health “I w ork in a gene • forensic medicine pract ral ice th at ha • geriatrics large s a refug popul ee pat • HIV medicine ation natur ie nt becau e and In ad se of geogr • men’s health dition it specia a s p h t ic loc o this lised ation. , I w • mental health refug Healt ork in ee he h Qu alth c a eensl • musculoskeletal medicine Queen linic, and, a Refu sland n d a t gee , • wher the U teach e I h niver ing sity o ave be and re en inv f searc h car o h l v f e o d in e.” cuse d on refug ee

healt

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5 Design your own GP career

Alpine sports medicine Dr Dominic Blanks RTP: Bogong Regional Training Network Location: Mount Beauty and Falls Creek, VIC

“

“My current po st is at Mount Beauty and Falls Medical Centres Creek and a small GPrun hospital. In alpine sports medicine you de al with different traumatic injur ies —wrists an d ankles for snowboarders, knees and shou ld ers for skiers. We triage the pa tients, take and process the X-rays, reduce their fractures, sew them up an then do it all ag d ain the next day. You have to be resourceful an d adaptive becaus e in an emergenc suddenly be very y it can remote with lim ited transport the Australian out. I love living Alps and having in my kids grow up and riding mount there — skiing in ain bikes in sum w int er mer.”

Procedural + RFDS Dr Samuel Goodwin RTP: Northern Territory General Practice Education (NTGPE) Location: Alice Springs, NT vering hing — deli od at everyt go e ar to rs nts in l docto itting patie “Many rura etics, adm th s ing ae an s g ts and ee babies, doin car acciden h it w g ad in al an vanced hospital, de well. I did as s a c ni li c their g two days patients in now workin ’m I . s S ic RFD aesthet t with the skills in an I help ou d an e.” al it nc p ie s y exper week in ho enhance m ly al re to ed when need

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

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Part-time, smart time Flexible work options

The part-time training options and parental leave available to GP registrars make general practice training very flexible.

The flexibility of general practice when it comes to working hours is one of the reasons many people choose it as their career path. The training program has the same flexibility, with parental leave and part-time training an attractive offering. Of course, part-time training is especially attractive for those having babies and raising young children. However, the part-time option can also give registrars the freedom to take up opportunities, such as becoming a part-time registrar liaison officer (RLO) with their regional training provider or an academic Henry registrar. otton and Dr Alex C When thinking about part-time training, consider the following: of the training program, • Allwithcomponents the possible exception of hospital time, 110

can be undertaken on a part-time basis. Visit our website — gpsn.org.au

is considered to be 38 hours per • Full-time week, which includes all consultation time. Part-time training is anything less than 38 hours.

remain within the AGPT program. • Toregistrars need to undertake a minimum of

nine patient contact hours per week.

Taking parental leave All parental leave is unpaid by employers in • the AGPT program but you may be eligible for paid parental leave from the Australian Government. The primary caregiver is eligible for leave of • up to 12 months following

the live birth, adoption or assumption of guardianship of the child or children.

Further information: Please see the AGPT Full- Time Equivalent Policy 2010 at agpt.com.au/Policies/Policies

Dr Michael Young The Cotto n

Family

Dr Alex Cotton — practising medicine and motherhood ‘Having it all’ — career, marriage and babies — remains a tricky balancing act for many women. For GP registrar and new mum Dr Alex Cotton, the part-time training and work arrangements available in general practice have proved a big help. “General practice allows you to have it all and feel as though you can do it well — most of the time!” Alex said. “My husband Pete works full-time so if I were to work full-time too it would put a lot of extra pressure on both of us.” Her first baby Henry’s entry into the world was well timed — the last day of GPT2. Alex was able to take six months parental leave to bond with her new son then return to the consulting room two days a week. Alex is doing GPT3 at the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service as well as studying for her fellowship exams.

registrar rave

5 Design your own GP career

My training provider is Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS). My current post is Bowen Hospital in north Queensland.

A typical workday for me is eight hours, including ward rounds, emergency and general practice in the primary care clinic then sometimes on-call at night. What I love about general practice is every day is different.

My GP role model is Dr Chris Homan because he has worked for years in solo remote practice and he maintains a healthy work-life balance. An ‘aha’ moment for me was when my daughter was born. I discovered a whole new side of life.

After hours I like to go fishing and cruising around the Whitsunday Islands. A quirky fact about me is I often conduct after-hours consulting in shorts and bright red Croc sandals.

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

111

GPYR MDFT3726/ASP

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REGISTER TODAY Broadcasts will be held on a regular basis. To participate, register your details at broadcasts.defencejobs.gov.au

BROADCAST WEBSITE The broadcast website will allow you to participate in upcoming broadcasts, watch replays, read the latest articles and learn more about jobs in the Navy, Army and Air Force, including: Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Radiography, Psychology, Pharmacy, Environmental Health, Medical/Research Science, Laboratory and Physiotherapy.

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Money matters

What you can earn What do GP registrars and GPs earn? What are the hours? Here are some financial facts and figures. The earning power of GP registrars and GPs is excellent when you consider the flexibility and work-life balance of the profession.

GP registrar salaries Full-time GP registrars work a minimum of 38 hours a week. This includes education time and administration time. The actual hours of consulting (seeing patients) are usually between 27 and 33 hours a week. This can vary, especially in rural areas. Registrars can choose a set salary model or negotiate a percentage of income generated by the patients they see in the practice. In this case, remuneration is determined by how many patients are seen and whether there is bulk-billing or private billing.

Minimum terms and conditions During the first two GP terms (or ACRRM equivalent), GP registrars are guaranteed minimum terms and conditions of employment according to the National Minimum Terms and Conditions (NMTC) document agreed by GPRA and the National General Practice Supervisorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association (NGPSA). Minimum salary rates are set out in the table, or 114

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alternatively the registrar is paid a minimum of 45% of gross billings, whichever is greater. 2012 training year minimum salaries plus 9% superannuation

Annual salary Wkly salary GP term 1 registrar $71,400

$1,369.39

GP term 2 registrar $85,845

$1,646.43

Different remuneration systems On-call and hospital VMO work earn GP registrars a minimum of 55% of the hospital billings. Although rare, some registrars work in salaried practice, especially ADF registrars, those in Aboriginal Medical Services and some rural and remote hospitals that also provide GP services to the community. It is important to note that working in rural areas, doing procedural work and working as a hospital VMO tend to attract significantly higher incomes. However, even in urban areas GP registrars often earn more than what is stipulated in the NMTC document. For GP registrars and GPs practising in rural areas and identified areas of need, incentive payments are available on top of a regular salary. For more information, see pages 116â&#x20AC;&#x201C;117.

6 Money matters

What established GPs earn

Calculate your income online

Established GPs can earn good money, with the actual amount dependent on the nature of the practice and hours worked. In addition, there is the opportunity to run your own medical practice if you choose. All this with flexible hours and choice of practice style!

gpsn.org.au/earnings-calculator Our online GP Earnings Calculator allows you to estimate your individual earning potential based on the kind of GP you want to be.

Contributed by Dr Siew-Lee Thoo, Dr Naomi Harris and Dr Jason Ong

Training Stage Location Practice style On-call Average Weekly* % of billings patient ($) paid consultations (hours/week)

Annual* ($)

Any 45% N/A GP term 1 (or equivalent)

4 patients per $2,307 hour — 28 hrs per week

$120,000

Remote Salaried GP term 2 (or equivalent) hospital-based medical officer procedural work (anaesthetics)

1 in 2- 3 days

60 hrs

$3,007

$160,000

GP term 3 Rural 50% mix (or equivalent) billing, hospital admitting rights, procedural work (anaesthetics)

1 in 6

28-30 hrs

$2,788

$145,000

Locum Rural 60% mix (immediately billing, hospital after admitting completing rights training)

N/A

38-40 hrs

$3,600

$187,200

Established Urban 65% private billing, hospital (busy practice) admitting

N/A

45 hrs

$5,175

$269,100

* Salary includes billings paid and has been calculated using the Earning Calculator. It is intended as an estimate only. Refer to the NMTC at gpra.org.au/national-minimum-terms-conditions

GPSN — Breathing new life into General Practice

115

Incentive payments In addition to salary, GP registrars may be able to claim other financial incentive payments.

Accommodation

GP registrars may be eligible to receive a range of financial incentives and reimbursements on top of their salary. Most of these are offered by the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) to encourage more GPs to practise where they are most needed, such as in rural, remote and outer metropolitan areas.

General Practice Rural Incentives Program (GPRIP)

Each RTP has an individual policy regarding accommodation and relocation subsidies for GP registrars. This may include subsidised rental accommodation in rural areas.

The General Practice Rural Incentives Program (GPRIP) is a DoHA scheme that applies to registrars and general practitioners (both locally and overseas-trained) working in rural and remote areas. Payments are on a sliding scale calculated using the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Australian Standard Geographical Classification — Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) system. The more remote the area and the longer a doctor stays there, the higher the rewards (see Table 1).

Table 1 - General Practice Rural Incentives Program (GPRIP) Practice time (years) in a rural and remote location RA location

0.5

3-4

RA2 (Inner regional)

$2,500

$4,500

$7,500

$12,000

RA3 (Outer regional)

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$13,000

$18,000

RA4 (Remote)

$5,500

$8,000

$13,000

$18,000

$27,000

RA5 (Very remote)

$8,000

$13,000

$18,000

$27,000

$47,000

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6 Money matters

HELP/HECS Reimbursement Scheme

full-time year of medical training undertaken or service provided in areas designated as Australian Standard Geographical Classification RA2â&#x20AC;&#x201C;5. These reimbursements are scaled to reward doctors working in the most remote areas who receive a higher level of reimbursement and recover their fee payments over a shorter period of time (see Table 2).

The HELP/HECS Reimbursement Scheme applies to Australian graduates who completed their medical degree in the year 2000 or later. Participants in the scheme have a proportion of their HELP/HECS fees reimbursed for each Table 2 - HELP/HECS Reimbursement Scheme ASGC-RA classification

No. of years to receive full reimbursement 5 years

4 years

3 years

2 years

More Doctors for Outer Metropolitan Areas Relocation Incentive Grant This is another DoHA program for GP registrars on the general pathway who have completed their training and are prepared to work in an outer metropolitan area for two years. Newly fellowed general practitioners must apply within three months of receiving their fellowship and are eligible for a total payment of up to $30,000, paid in three instalments of 40 per cent, 40 per cent and 20 per cent. For those who further commit to outer metropolitan areas by setting up their own practice and staying for three years, there is a total of $40,000 available. For more information, visit health.gov.au/outermetro GPSN â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Breathing new life into General Practice

117

gpra.org.au gpsn.org.au Your one-stop shop jam packed with all the latest happenings within GPSN Your online resource for and essential resources everything you need to to help out ifyour general help youyou getfind through practice the career training andisnegotiate your for you. contract. firstchoice employment Exam resources webinars, tips,events case studies Local GPSN— clubs — lateststudy news and

• local GPSN Ambassador • Meet your Publications — GP Companion, Calculate how much you can earn as a GP • than More Money: A Negotiation Guide GPSN First Wave Scholarship program — find out how you can apply • registrars, for GP Explorer guide • GP training- get a quick overview of the who, what and oney an M e th Mor RS

2011

STRA

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REGI

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TIAT GO

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how of GP training Professional development — finance, medico-legal, contracts

• Blogs — follow our regular blogs ‘Confessions of a Medical

Student’ and ‘GP Bytes’and Conditions — policy document, National Minimum Terms get your burning questions answered. • Forum —assistance interpretations,

Go stay connected Goonline onlineand to keep up to datewith withGPSN how GPRA is working for you.

Info file

GPSNcalendar 2012 National and international key dates GPSN Council Meeting, Canberra

18-20 March 2012

Breathing NEWLIFE into General Practice Conference, Canberra

19 March 2012

Wonca Asia-Pacific Conference, Jeju, Korea

24–27 May 2012 (Thu–Sun)

GPSN First Wave Scholarship Applications

Applications open Wed 30 May 2012, close Sun 1 July 2012

Global Health Conference, Cairns

1–18 July 2012

Australian Medical Students’ Association Conference, Sydney

July 2012

GPSN First Wave Scholarship Orientation Workshop, Perth

18–19 August 2012 (Sat–Sun)

GPSN First Wave Scholarship Orientation Workshop, Melbourne

1–2 September 2012 (Sat–Sun)

GPET Convention, Melbourne

5–6 September 2012

GPSN National Council Meeting

20—21 October 2012 (Sat–Sun)

Rural Medicine Australia (Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and Rural Doctors Association of Australia) Conference

October 2012 (Fri–Sun)

AGPN National Forum

November 2012

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