Transforming communities

Transforming communities
The Great Hall
Parliament House
Canberra
Thursday 6 March 2014
CONTENTS
2
What is GPRA?
3
Transforming communities – the power of some
4 Welcome
5
GPRA – Our networks
8
Session summary
8
Program outline
13Speakers
27
GPRA Above and Beyond awards
Produced by GPRA, Level 4, 517 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Victoria, 3001. ©2014 GPRA. All rights are reserved.
The future of general practice conference 2014 – #fgp14 1
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
2
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.
The future of general practice conference 2014 – #fgp14 3
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.
4
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.
The future of general practice conference 2014 – #fgp14 7
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
8
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
Where
Will
your
path
take
You?
P
GPP
P 00
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 Melbourne’s St Vincent’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.
The future of general practice conference 2014 #fgp14 11
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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

if you can, enjoy a tax-deductible overseas study tour, visiting appropriate medical institutions and learning more
about the world of medicine; and

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;

never trust anyone with your money;

never give up control; and

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
00
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!
[email protected]
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.
The future of general practice conference 2014 #fgp14 13
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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 Australia’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 university’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
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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.
The future of general practice conference 2014 #fgp14 17
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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.
The future of general practice conference 2014 #fgp14 19
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 Alzheimer’s
Australia (NSW), Director at General
Practice NSW and a member of the
advisory board for the Centre for Healthy
Brain Ageing.
20
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.
.
The future of general practice conference 2014 #fgp14 21
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.
22
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.
The future of general practice conference 2014 #fgp14 23
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.
24
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.
The future of general practice conference 2014 #fgp14 25
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.
26
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.
28
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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With you on your journey
students
junior doctors
registrars
General Practice
Students Network
gpsn.org.au
Going Places Network
gpaustralia.org.au
General Practice
Registrars Australia
gpra.org.au
General Practice Registrars Australia
Level 4, 517 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Victoria 3001
P 03 9629 8878 W gpra.org.au

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