#fgp14 handbook by GPRA Publications

Transforming communities

The Great Hall Parliament House Canberra Thursday 6 March 2014

CONTENTS 2

What is GPRA?

Transforming communities – the power of some

Welcome

GPRA – Our networks

Session summary

Program outline

13 Speakers

GPRA Above and Beyond awards

What is GPRA? General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) provides grassroots solutions to issues canvassed from the future general practice workforce, from medical students through to fully qualified, independent practitioners. Because of its high degree of interaction with all new entrants into medicine, GPRA is perfectly positioned to deliver targeted national programs in this landscape. GPRA is solution orientated and has a demonstrated track record in problem solving and program delivery. With a number of networks spanning every stage of medical training, GPRA is a strong advocate and vital player in the future direction of general practice in Australia. GPRA would like to acknowledge General Practice Education and Training and the Department of Health for ongoing funding support.

GPRA would like to thank the following sponsors without whom this conference would not be possible. Platinum sponsors

Major sponsors

Sponsors

Transforming communities – the power of some GPs are a most diverse group of individuals – and work in the most diverse situations – with the most diverse communities. Highly respected within those communities, they have the power to effect substantial change and transformation for the betterment of all. This conference will look at some of those transformations through the eyes of some true visionaries. One of the biggest community transformations is taking place in the world of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. From health and housing to employment and education, our expert panel will talk in depth and take questions from delegates on the ways in which those transformations are being implemented and the positive benefits that flow through to the entire community. General practice education and training is another area that looks to be undergoing considerable transformation. The federal government – through its commission of audit – has put many areas of this most vital training program under the microscope, and the outcomes of this scrutiny will have repercussions for all Australians.

Perhaps the most fundamental transformation of all is that of social media and everything beginning with ‘e-’ and ‘i-’ – a transformation impossible to ignore and impossible not to become engaged with in some way. We will finish the day with some innovative and informative uses of social media in general practice – and involve delegates in experimenting with global conversations and clinical learning. Traditionally, GPs have been the entry point to the healthcare system, possessing broad based expertise and dealing with the vast range of health issues. While new models of healthcare and delivery are inevitable – general practice needs to remain front and centre of the delivery, transforming Australia and all its communities into the world’s leader in primary healthcare delivery.

A further group of inspiring individuals will showcase their own particular area of transformation – from remote and Pacific Islander health, to a new approach to general practice in the aged care environment, clinics in remote tropical Africa and a major initiative in men’s health across Australia.

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Welcome to #fgp14 from the chairs of GPRA and GPSN It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to this year’s GPRA conference – renamed The Future of General Practice conference 2014 – or #fgp14 for short, which is proudly hosted by GPRA and GP First.

A second panel will look at the critical nature of the future of general practice training. Leaders from ACRRM, GPET, RACGP, RVTS and WAGPET will discuss this issue and answer delegate’s questions.

Since 2008, GPRA has brought together medical students, prevocational doctors, general practice registrars and current leaders of general practice with government organisations and key industry stakeholders at this annual event. We discuss a broad range of issues that pertain to Australia’s future GPs and set the agenda for the year ahead.

The afternoon session will move away from purely general practice and introduce several diverse speakers who will describe how they – or their organisations – have transformed their communities. Covering new thought in aged care, practice in remote Australia and the Pacific Islands, development and building of clinics in the heart of Africa and the Men’s Shed movement in Australia – this will be a truly inspiring and enlightening session.

This year’s theme of Transforming Communities gives us the opportunity to look at some of the extraordinary work being done in and around general practice on a number of different fronts. Our first expert panel will talk about the vision and implementation of a range of programs in the Indigenous health space. These programs are often much broader than just health – encompassing wellbeing, employment and education: a truly holistic approach.

Dr David Chessor GPRA Chair

In all, #fgp14 is shaping up to be a highlight of the GP conference calendar for 2014 and we look forward to welcoming you. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Department of Health, General Practice Education and Training, our dedicated sponsors and our stakeholders for their unwavering support.

Mr Joseph D Monteith GPSN Chair

GPRA – the future of general practice GPRA is committed to supporting and representing you from your first day in medical school until you complete your journey to an independent practising GP.

Our networks

GPFirst – incorporating the General Practice Students Network, the Going Places Network and the First Wave Scholarship program General Practice Student Network – the future of general practice Launched by The Hon Tony Abbott MP when he was Minister for Health in 2007, the GP First program was designed to increase the supply of doctors entering general practice. GP First encompasses three key workforce programs: the General Practice Students Network (GPSN), the Going Places Network (GPN) and the hugely successful First Wave Scholarship program. It has successfully ignited the conversation about general practice as a specialty of choice in universities and hospitals around the country. GPSN now has clubs across all 20 medical schools in Australia, and provides a range of events aimed at promoting the benefits of general practice as a medical career. Each club has a student Chair, who works with the team in the GPRA office to run clinical skills workshops, career information evenings, icebreaker social events and annual general meetings. GPSN currently has around 11 000 medical student members and continues to grow. The focus remains on recruiting students who have a genuine interest in considering general practice as a career, and who will potentially undertake the training program in the future.

Incredibly, GPSN reaches around 65% of all Australia’s medical students and has successfully ignited the conversation about general practice as a career specialty of choice in universities and hospitals around the country. Professor Michael Kidd AM is patron of GPSN and we are grateful for the support and knowledge that he brings to the network. .

Going Places Network – taking a fresh look at general practice

GPN is one of the most important networks run by GPRA. It is the peer-to-peer connection with general practice for junior doctors working in the hospital system and has a presence in 65% of teaching hospitals in Australia. Run on a similar model to GPSN, GPN has 44 ambassadors in 42 teaching hospitals. These ambassadors work with the team at GPRA to organise events and distribute information on careers to those working in the hospital system, who have little if any exposure to general practice. The future of general practice conference 2014 – #fgp14 5

Our networks GPRA – with you on your journey

GPN is supported by a range of publications. At intern orientation, potential GPs receive a copy of the GP First guide, which provides a comprehensive road map to general practice training. Over 20 000 copies of Going Places magazine were distributed by our ambassadors in teaching hospitals around Australia last year. Going Places – which has recently been retitled GP Journey – is an informative magazine that showcases the challenges, variety and rewards of general practice through stories and interviews with GPs and registrars. The network also has its own website, gpaustralia.org.au, hosting blogs, forums and videos pertinent to a future career in general practice.

First Wave scholarships

GPRA continues to be the peak national representative body for general practice registrars. The organisation advocates on behalf of registrars and provides feedback on registrar issues to key stakeholders. GPRA takes direction from the GPRA Advisory Council, which is made up of all registrar liaison officers from around Australia, and which sits at the centre of any advocacy and policy activity. There are a number of subcommittees that feed into the council and ultimately the GPRA Board. Professor John Murtagh AM is patron of GPRA. John is Emeritus Professor at Monash University and Professorial Fellow in the Department of General Practice at the University of Melbourne. He is also Guest Professor at Peking University, Beijing and Adjunct Clinical Professor at the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Notre Dame in Western Australia. John is the author of several internationally adopted textbooks including Murtagh’s General Practice, Practice Tips, Patient Education and Cautionary Tales. Murtagh’s General Practice has been translated into 13 languages and has been adopted by the Russian and Chinese Ministries of Health. In 1995, John was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia for services to medical education, research and publishing.

The most effective scholarship in the prevocational general practice environment, First Wave has offered scholarships to around 400 potential future GPs since its inception. Many scholarship recipients have gone on to enter the Australian General Practice Training program – contributing to the substantial increase in applicants to the program.

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Session summary Transforming Indigenous health and wellbeing An eclectic panel of experts working towards improving Indigenous health and wellbeing will discuss the impact of employment and equal opportunity on closing the gap in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Transforming the future of general practice education and training A select panel of leaders involved in the structure and delivery of general practice education and training will share their vision of the future direction this should take, and answer questions from the floor about the impact this will have on those undertaking general practice training in the future. Transforming healthcare delivery in different communities Sponsored by IPN Healthcare delivery comes in many ways, shapes and forms. Four very different projects are showcased here: remote and Pacific

Islander health; delivery of aged care services and palliative care; philanthropic clinics in remote Goma in the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and the Men’s Shed Association, who deliver healthcare and education to men around Australia. Transforming patient monitoring of chronic health conditions Sponsored by iSonea Patient utilised apps to monitor chronic health conditions such as asthma: Is this the way of the future? A demonstration and discussion around the future of ‘electronic’ medicine. Transformation in the digital age Social media: Is this a blessing or curse in the medical context? A good hard look at how media such as Twitter can be used for peerto-peer medical consultation, lobbying and information exchange. The do’s and don’ts and a live demonstration of how this can work in the global context.

Program outline – Thursday 6 March 2014 8.45 – 9.00

Welcome address Dr Gerry Considine, Vice Chair, GPRA Mr Joseph Monteith, Chair, GPSN

9.00 – 09.05 Welcome to Country Mrs Agnes Shea, Elder of the Ngunnawal people, the traditional custodians of the ACT and surrounding areas

9.05 – 9.30

Keynote address The Hon Peter Dutton, Minister for Health

9.30 – 9.45

Keynote address Ms Jenny Brockie, presenter, SBS Insight

9.45 – 11.00 Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Panel, facilitated by Ms Jenny Brockie Dr Tom Calma AO, NCIS Mr Justin Mohamed, Chair, NACCHO Dr Aleeta Fejo, Chair, IGPRN Ms Catherine Hunter, KPMG Mr Michael West, CEO, Guwaali 11.00 – 11.30 Morning tea 11.30 – 12.30 GP Education and Training Panel, facilitated by Ms Jenny Brockie Prof Richard Murray, President, ACRRM Prof Richard Matthews, Chair, GPET Dr Liz Marles, President, RACGP Dr Ayman Shenouda, Chair, RVTS Dr Janice Bell, CEO, WAGPET 12.30 – 12.45 First Wave Raves Mr Amar Mitchelle, First Wave scholar Ms Nicola Campbell, First Wave scholar 12.45 – 13.45 Lunch 13.45 – 15.15 Transforming healthcare delivery in different situations Dr Lachlan McIver, Central Australian Remote Health Dr Melanie Lamden, BUPA Aged Care Facilities Mr Lindsay Thitchener, HEAL Africa project in Goma Mr David Helmers, Men’s Shed Association 15.15 – 15.45 Afternoon tea 15.45 – 16.00 Transforming patient monitoring of chronic health conditions Mr Stephen Tunnell 16.00 – 16.45 The social media experiment: Dr Ewen McPhee Mr Dave Townsend 16.45 – 17.00 Close Dr Gerry Considine, Vice Chair, GPRA Mr Joseph Monteith, Chair, GPSN 17.00 – 17.15 Photos of all delegates to be taken on internal steps outside the Great Hall The future of general practice conference 2014 #fgp14 9

C o nt i n u ity

o f ca re

C h a lle n g e

Life sty le

D ive rs ity

Fulfilling work, challenging experiences, lifestyle choices, medical specialisations - there is so much to consider when choosing your medical pathway. Have it all with General Practice Find out what General Practice on the beautiful north coast of NSW can offer you at www.ncgpt.org.au

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Want to see if General Practice is for you? You can do a 10 week PGPPP term as one of your hospital rotations. Scan the code to hear some of our PGPPP participants talk about their experience at one of our North Coast Practices.

Speakers Dr Gerry Considine Vice Chair, General Practice Registrars Australia

Gerry is a rural GP based in South Australia. As part of his recently completed training, Gerry undertook an academic post that involved medical student teaching, research and clinical work. From this year he will be based in Cleve, South Australia and conduct remote clinics by flying his own plane to these locations. He is passionate about social media in medicine, online learning, rural health, GP registrar advocacy and writes an online blog www.ruralflyingdoc.com. After being involved in GPRA for the past two years, Gerry was elected to the board of directors as Vice Chair.

Mr Jospeh Monteith National Chair, General Practice Students Network 2014.

Joseph is the National Chair of GPSN for 2014 and was previously University Chair of GPSN for Melbourne. He is a current final year Doctor of Medicine student at the University of Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s St Vincentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Clinical School. Joe has held many local and national executive roles within universities and advocacy groups, which has led to multiple awards including Australian Pharmacy Graduate of the Year and finalist as Young Australian Leader of the Year. Joe originally trained as a pharmacist before studying medicine. He also currently works as a research assistant for the Melbourne Medical School and University of Western Sydney Medical School. In 2011, Joe was commissioned as an officer with the Royal Australian Air Force. His special interests within general practice include paediatrics, interprofessional practice, defence medicine and medical education.

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1 January 2014 Dear Registrar SUMMARY OF WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING NOW We refer to your financial future and, in summary, we say: 

salary sacrifice up to $25,000 a year into a low cost commission free industry super fund, such as HESTA. Industry super funds usually out-perform retail funds because they have lower costs and do not pay commissions. Getting the super snowball rolling as fast and as early as possible is step 1 in your financial plan;

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buy a house in a capital city, and rent it out as a negative gearing strategy. This will lock you into the market and hedge you against future house prices, making it much easier to buy a real home down the track;

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buy a car and carry your laptop, patient notes, doctor’s bags, brief case, and bulky medical equipment and run a log book for 12 weeks showing home to work travel as deductible business travel;

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arrange at least $60,000 a year of income continuance cover, indexed by inflation, to age 65 with a 90 day waiting period, using the McMasters’ Insurance Commission Rebate service;

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if you have dependants, arrange up to $1,000,000 of cheap, tax effective and commission free life insurance by buying extra life insurance in your industry superannuation fund;

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sign a simple will leaving your assets to your partner or next of kin, or creating a testamentary trust for your children if you are or soon will be a parent;

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if you can, enjoy a tax-deductible overseas study tour, visiting appropriate medical institutions and learning more about the world of medicine; and

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get as much variety and diversity in your work experience as you can, as your professional skills are your best investment and will drive your financial plan.

Owning your own practice is the best investment, assuming your life circumstances allow you to do this. You can practice medicine until you are in your seventies if you want to, assuming your mind and body are up to it: so take good care of both of them and do not over do the work in the early years. You have worked hard to get where you are now. Make sure you enjoy yourself and get the most out of your career and personal relationships. It’s not all about money. Never forget the four basic rules: 

keep it simple;

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never trust anyone with your money;

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never give up control; and

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never invest in anything that pays anyone a commission.

Have a look at www.mcmasters.com.au and our manual “Financial Planning for General Practice Registrars”. It’s written for doctors just like you, and covers all you need to know about financial planning and what you should be doing now. There is no problem with a meeting, either in our office or on Skype. These meetings are complimentary, backed up with a detailed statement of advice and aimed at making sure you are getting the most financially from your career in medicine. This letter is general advice only and is not personal advice. Personal advice is needed before making any decision concerning financial products or your financial future. Yours faithfully

Terry McMaster Director

71 Tulip St, Cheltenham VIC 3192 | PO Box 68, Sandringham VIC 3191 Tel: 03 9583 6533 | Fax: 03 9583 6733 | www.mcmasters.com.au

Scan this on your mobile to go to our website

Contact Terry today! terry@dover.com.au

Speakers The Hon Peter Dutton MP

Mr Dutton was appointed as Minister for Health and Minister for Sport in September 2013 after the election of the Coalition Government. He had served as the Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing in Opposition since 2008. Mr Dutton was first elected to the Australian Parliament as the Member for Dickson in November 2001 at the age of 30. He became one of the youngest Ministers since Federation when appointed Minister for Workforce Participation in 2004 with responsibility for the Job Network, Disability Employment Services, Work for the Dole and transition to work opportunities for unemployed Australians. In January 2006, he was promoted to Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer. Following the change of Government in November 2007, Mr Dutton became Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation before moving to the Shadow Health and Ageing portfolio in 2008. Prior to entering Parliament, he employed 40 staff in his small business following a successful career as a Queensland police officer, including in the Drug Squad, Sex Offenders Squad and the National Crime Authority. He is married to Kirilly and is the very proud father of Rebecca, Harry and Tom.

Ms Jenny Brockie

Jenny is perhaps best known for hosting SBS TV’s Insight program where she facilitates an always lively and thought-provoking discussion on a wide range of topics with more than 50 participants weekly. Jenny’s career spans television, radio and print. An award-winning documentary filmmaker she produced Cop It Sweet, The Devil You Know, So Help Me God, Our Street and Bad Behaviour. Jenny hosted her own radio show on 702 ABC Sydney and presented the interview series Speaking Personally on ABC TV. She also reported exclusively for Four Corners and Nationwide. Jenny’s work as a television journalist and documentary filmmaker has earned her a coveted Gold Walkley, two AFI Awards, a Logie, a Human Rights Award, two Law Society Awards and another Walkley. In 2006 and 2008, Jenny received a United Nations Association Media Peace Award for her work on Insight. She is also one of Australia’s most gifted and sought-after forum facilitators.

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mutual group

Your Advantage

Speakers Dr Tom Calma AO

Tom was appointed Adjunct Associate Professor at the National Centre for Indigenous Studies (NCIS) at the Australian National University in May 2012. He brings extensive experience to NCIS, particularly in Indigenous education and human rights in which he has been involved at local, community, state, territory, national and international levels for the past 38 years. Tom, an Elder from the Kungarakan and Iwaidja tribal groups from the southwest Darwin region and the Coburg Peninsula in Northern Territory, has campaigned for health, social justice, inclusion and equality issues. He has been involved in and with the tertiary education sector since 1980 as an academic. Tom has represented Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interest in higher education internationally, on research grants, in reviewing administrative and academic structures, and on advisory boards and committees.

Mr Justin Mohamed

Justin is the current Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, the national peak body for over 150 Aboriginal Community Controlled Medical Services. He is a Gooreng Gooreng man from Bundaberg, Queensland but has lived and worked with Victorian Aboriginal communities over the past 20 years. Justin works for the University of Melbourne as the Director of its Goulburn Valley Partnerships and Academy of Sport, Health and Education. His role encompasses a wide range of partnerships, with a major focus on the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prominent Aboriginal partnerships. He also continues to be a member of the National Aboriginal Health Leadership Forum. Throughout his work, Justin has maintained a strong link to leading local Aboriginal organisations including Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd (where he previously held the role of CEO and chairperson), the Koori Resource and Information Centre and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. As an Aboriginal person who is actively involved in his local community and who holds positions on state, national and international working groups and committees, Justin has been able to represent and contribute towards improving the overall health and wellbeing of Aboriginal Australians. The future of general practice conference 2014 #fgp14 15

Discover the clinical sovereignty that lets you be the best doctor you can be

Speakers Dr Aleeta Fejo

Aleeta is a GP and a Larrakia/Warramunga woman based in Katherine in the Northern Territory. She was instrumental in the inception and formation of the Indigenous General Practice Registrars Network (IGPRN) in 2008. As well as shaping a more supportive pathway for current and future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander registrars, Aleeta has made significant contributions to a range of general practice stakeholders, most notably GPET and the RACGP. Throughout this time she has continued to support and care for her local community.

Ms Catherine Hunter

After more than a decade working in the not-for-profit sector, Catherine joined KPMG in 2005. As Head of Corporate Citizenship, she is responsible for the strategy and execution of KPMG Australia’s corporate citizenship vision. This encompasses the Firm’s social and environmental initiatives, with the most significant commitments being to support social and economic development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Catherine represents Australia on KPMG’s global citizenship group. Catherine is Chairperson of the United Nations Global Compact Network Australia and a member of the Business Council of Australia’s Business Indigenous Network. In 2012, Catherine was invited by the UN Global Compact to contribute as an expert adviser to the development of a Business Reference Guide to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Guide was launched in December last year at the Business and Human Rights Forum in Geneva.

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Speakers Mr Michael West

Michael was born and raised in Sydney. He is an Aboriginal man of the Gamilaroi Nation from Moree, Mungindi and Texas on his maternal side, but like many of the Stolen Generations he does not know his whole history, or his paternal heritage. He has over 10 years in community organisations, combined with 20 years in state and federal government, and currently holds a variety of positions: Co-Chair: National Sorry Day Committee (NSDC) Director: NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (NSWICC) Director: Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) Cultural Representative: Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC) He has recently accepted a 12 Month appointment to the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander advisory group with Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). He was also one of the Inaugural Delegates from 2011 to 2013 of National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples.

Professor Richard Murray

Richard is the current President of ACRRM, Dean of Medicine and Head of the School of Medicine and Dentistry at James Cook University. Richard is a graduate of the University of Melbourne and trained as a procedural rural doctor and in public health. He previously headed the Rural Clinical School at JCU, prior to which he was Medical Director of the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council where he had broad ranging clinical, population health, teaching, research and medical administration/management roles. He has participated widely in the national Indigenous and remote health policy agenda, which is reflected in his research and publication record.

He founded and operates his own consultancy “Guwaali” focused on culture, economic development and reconciliation, through education, respect, networking, collaboration and partnerships.

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Speakers Dr Richard Matthews

Richard is the Chair of GPET. He is former Deputy Director-General of the Strategic Development Division at NSW Health. Until June 2005, Richard carried a dual role as Deputy Director-General NSW Health and Chief Executive of Justice Health. Richard is also a national board director for Calvary Healthcare, Director at the Neuroscience Research Institute, Director at Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Australia (NSW), Director at General Practice NSW and a member of the advisory board for the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing.

Dr Liz Marles

Liz is the current President of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. As well as being Vice President of the RACGP for two years prior to this appointment, she was chair of the RACGP NSW and ACT Faculty from 2008 and an RACGP Council member for four years. Liz lives in Sydney and has been a practising GP at the Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service for the past 15 years. She is also Deputy Director of the Hornsby Brooklyn General Practice Unit which specialises in prevocational GP education.

Dr Ayman Shenouda

Ayman is an international medical graduate with a passion for general practice, medical education and supporting IMGs. He migrated to Australia 21 years ago and became an Australian citizen in 1994. He is current Chair of RVTS and was awarded the RACGP GP of Year Award in 2009. Ayman is currently on the RACGP Faculty Board (NSW) and is Deputy Chair of the RACGP National Rural Faculty. He practises in Wagga Wagga and The Rock in NSW. The state-of-the-art practice he founded with his wife was awarded the RACGP General Practice of the Year (NSW/ACT) in 2007, plus numerous other awards since. Ayman is the former Director of Medical Education at CCCT Riverina/Murrumbidgee and former Director of the Riverina Division of General Practice and Primary Health.

Dr Janice Bell

Janice is a GP who completed her registrar training in 1998. She has been the CEO of WAGPET, a whole-of-state regional training provider, for the past 10 years. Janice previously worked for GP Education Australia, an innovative start up of the RACGP. She managed the transition, firstly from the RACGP side then the WAGPET side, to the new regionalised training approach in the early 2000s. Janice is a generalist by nature with qualifications in arts, education, integrated medicine and governance, as well as medicine. She has held management positions in several government organisations including community services (covering child protection and juvenile justice), education, community mental health and public health. Currently Janice is Adjunct Professor at Curtin University and on the external reference board to the Vice Chancellor at the University of Notre Dame Medical School. In 2011 Janice was awarded the RACGP Rose Hunt Medal for services to general practice. .

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Speakers Mr Amer Mitchelle

Amer is a second year post-graduate medical student at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle. Amer has previously completed a medical science degree and worked with a Medicare Local and regional training provider before starting medicine. Amer was a First Wave scholar in 2013 and completed his placement in Lockridge Medical Centre in Western Australia. He is currently the National Working Group Officer for GPSN and is passionate about general practice and public health.

Ms Nicola Campbell

Nicola is in her third year of medical studies at Griffith University. This year is her first on the national executive of GPSN, in the role of National Vice Chair for 2014. She has been involved in her local GPSN club since the first year of her medical studies, and has greatly enjoyed promoting general practice to her colleagues through clinical skills events, seminars and workshops. Nicola was a First Wave scholar in 2012, and completed her placement in Kingaroy, Queensland. Nicola intends to pursue a career in general practice.

Mr David Helmers

Employed by Catholic Care Newcastle as the Coordinator for the Shed at Windale in 2006, eight years later David has dedicated his career to the development of the Australian Men’s Shed Association. The idea of creating an association to collectively represent Men’s Sheds National and to freely share information between sheds was conceived at the second National Conference in 2007. Since then, the association has grown from strength to strength to what is now the largest men’s association in Australia with over 1000 sheds representing 175 000 men. David has represented the Men’s Shed Association at the Senate Hearing into Men’s Health, the National Round Table Meeting on the Men’s Health Policy, and has continuously lobbied for the association and its members at all levels of government.

Dr Melanie Lamden

Melanie achieved her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Melbourne University in 2005. She completed general practice training through the Victorian Metropolitan Alliance and became a Fellow of the RACGP in 2011. She developed a special interest in palliative care and geriatrics, liaising with local palliative care services to provide terminal care to people in their home. Melanie currently works at a BUPA nursing home where she cares for residents on a full time basis delivering complex and tailored palliative care. She is transforming healthcare outcomes for the residents and their families by decreasing the amount of hospital transfers required through a greater understanding of and capacity to deliver the personal needs of her patients, and by having the time to provide a degree of care that regular general practice would not afford.

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Speakers Dr Lachlan McIver

Lachlan is a senior rural generalist at Tennant Creek Hospital in the Northern Territory, and a senior rural medical practitioner with Central Australian Remote Health. He is also Academic Director on the board of ACRRM and Chair of the ACRRM Research Committee. Lachlan has spent most of the past 10 years working in remote and Indigenous communities in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Far North Queensland, the Torres Strait and the South Pacific. He is a Fellow of ACRRM and the Australasian College of Tropical Medicine, and has sub-specialty qualifications in anaesthetics and public health. Lachlan is in the final year of his PhD with the Australian National University, and is a part-time consultant with the World Health Organization in South-East Asia and the South Pacific, where his work focuses on the impacts of global environmental change on human health.

Mr Lindsay Thitchener

Lindsay is the Sonic Healthcare and IPN National Liaison Manager based in the Macquarie Park headquarters of Sonic Healthcare. His background is as a laboratory scientific officer and one of his current roles is that of project manager for the Sonic Healthcare Catalyst Program that supports laboratories in Congo, Ethiopia and shortly, in East Timor. Over the past 10 years he has spent many months in these countries and along with the team of scientists he works with, has helped establish well equipped, well supplied and trained medical laboratory staff and facilities in these incredibly needy areas. Lindsay has just returned from the HEAL Africa hospital in Goma in the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo where he and a small team from Sonic Healthcare have been conducting a training program for laboratory staff and hospital doctors.

Mr Stephen Tunnell

Stephen is the managing director of iSonea Limited, a company which focuses on asthma management solutions employing smart sensors, smart phone, and web based technology.He was the former technical and managing director of Pulmonary Services at Sharp Health care, San Diego. He has developed over 50% of the installed base of mechanical v entilators and many of the innovations used in today’s ventilation and respiratory devices.

Dr Ewan McPhee

A rural GP since completing his intern year in 1986, Ewen is a long term resident of Emerald, Queensland, having owned his practice since 1992. Ewen started as a GP supervisor in 1997 with the RACGP Family Medicine Program and has been associated with QRME and GPTQ Consortia since the development of regional GP training. Ewen has remained active in anaesthetics and obstetrics as a VMO at Emerald Hospital, but most of his work is in primary care service delivery. In 2011/12 he served as President of the Rural Doctors Association Queensland. He has also been deputy chair of the board of the Central Queensland Medicare Local Board since its inception in July 2012. Ewen has an interest in sustainable rural health services and the population health of rural and regional communities. His interest in social media was sparked by the medicopolitical role as RDAQ President, and since that time he has made contacts around the world through Twitter and Facebook, including the WONCA Students and Young Doctors Vasco da Gama movement.

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Mr David Townsend

Before a career change into medicine, Dave had an extensive career in advertising and media. Now in his fourth year of medicine at the University of New England, Dave is the immediate past chair of GPSN and worked with GPRA in 2013 to develop the highly successful #ScrapTheCap social media campaign, which was recently awarded the Best Digital and New Media Campaign at the Australian Government Relations Awards. Dave is also Campaign Officer and Co-Founder of Medical Student Action on Training, the grassroots student movement behind the successful #interncrisis social media campaign and is working with a team of social media savvy GPs, GP registrars and medical students to develop socialmediaGP. org, a free website to train GPs to make the most of social media. Most recently Dave has completed a thesis for his BMedSc(Hons) studying the use of social media for medical education by Australian medical students. Dave is currently the student/junior doctor representative on the GPRA Board of Directors.

GPRA Above and Beyond awards Each year GPRA awards an outstanding role model from its networks in recognition of their assistance, energy and enthusiasm in spreading the word on general practice and support for others in their network.

General Practice Student Network Above and Beyond Award Sophie Dunn - Melbourne University

As the GPSN University of Melbourne Chair, Sophie has displayed exceptional organisational skills and had been a great asset to the network. Sophie is coordinating the newly formed ‘General Practice Student Advisory Group’ - a group that directly feeds back GP curriculum advice and changes into the University’s Department of General Practice. Sophie’s passion for general practice, exceptional organisational skills and enthusiasm for GPSN are clear in all aspects of her work.

General Practice Registrars Australia Above and Beyond Award Dr Anurita Kar,Victorian Metropolitan Alliance

Sophie is in her third year of involvement with GPSN. She has previously held the roles of year representative, inaugural joint events coordinator and now university chair. She has pioneered multiple events in the past, including a joint rural event involving other medical student societies. Sophie has consolidated the newly restructured club committee and has made all new roles very active. Sophie has successfully organised and hosted two events this year, and her GPSN club was the first out of all 21 local clubs to submit a timeline of proposed events at the University of Melbourne - before the year had even started.

Anurita is one of the longest currently serving members of the advisory council and most frequent electronic contributors to the group. She remains involved in multiple subcommittees and chairs the Terms and Conditions subcommittee, responsible for negotiating the NMTC. Anurita is an active member of GPRMEN and a registrar medical educator at her RTP, Victorian Metropolitan Alliance. The future of general practice conference 2014 #fgp14 27

GPRA Above and Beyond awards Anurita contributes heavily to both her training provider and other registrars by organising the VMA ball, and monthly registrar social events. She is also involved in various policy-related commitments at VMA. Anurita has always had a welcoming attitude, and been available to advise and guide new RLO’s. Her regular, thoughtful input and support over a period of years is highly valued by the registrar services team, and GPRA as a whole. Indigenous

General Practice Registrars Network Wakapi Anyiku Doctor Oomparani (Aboriginal Doctor for Everybody)

Dr Raymond Blackman We acknowledge all of our registrars for their hard work and dedication. Every one of us is a high achiever. We wanted to honour the contributions of one registrar in particular, however this was his eloquent response. “I know other people feel a great sense of acknowledgement and are happy to receive an award. However, that’s not me, I don’t want an award. I’m comfortable with who I am and I know that what I achieve is about connectedness and my relationships to other people my wife, her parents, my grandparents for example.

As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander registrars the path has been worn by other people who have struggled before us. We are going to better off and wealthier than our grandparents and our children will be better off than us. We respect those before us who have made the most sacrifices. It just happens to be that I am in the position now to enjoy their rewards.

The story that is important to me is about the people of Palm Island’s clinic. There wasn’t a GP clinic on Palm Island before November last year, we have created one with four Aboriginal doctors now working in the practice. There is nowhere else in Australia where this has happened before. Every one of the four has been through the network and been instrumental in getting the clinic up and running. Our whole team is made up of very different people, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff, with different backgrounds and make ups. Our achievement comes from being connected. It comes from an appreciation that together we can do great things through our relationships and our commonality, our interest in Aboriginal health and progessing better outcomes for people with huge disadvantages. It doesn’t mean we have to all be the same. My links are to Palm Island, I love Palm. I love that we are now able to provide something that people expect in an urban centre. The people on Palm Island have had to endure second class medical treatment via a tertiary hospital system not primary health care. A hospital is a tertiary institution and whilst we do some tertiary and secondary medicine we provide primary health care to better the health on Palm by preventing disease. We have GP skills, an interest and understanding of Aboriginal health and in our clinic we have the necessary support structures to enable better outcomes and improve the health of Aboriginal people on Palm Island.

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