News

All EVGPT registrars have received an email from ACER containing this year’s National Registrar Survey. This is an important survey and we strongly encourage all our regitsrars to complete it. Why you should complete the survey? You may be asking yourself this question. We know this year’s been a tough one, extraordinarily so on so many fronts – work, social, family, health, time pressures, and lots of additional stress. Throughout this year, EV has continued to deliver its training to our registrars with as minimal disruption as possible given the environment. We are very keen to hear from you on how we have managed your training overall, but in particular, in this year during COVID. EV relies on the NRS Did you know the NRS is the only registrar survey EV supports? EV relies on this survey to check in with registrar opinions and views about our training program. We don’t run our own as this would create another task for registrars to undertake and we aim to limit these types of activities as best we can. Have your say…

Eastern Victoria GP Training (EV) is delighted to announce the introduction of Palliative Care Advanced Skills Post for Gippsland GP Registrars commencing in February 2021. The post is the result of collaboration by EV, Monash Health and Latrobe Regional Health which commenced in 2018. The three organisations were committed to strengthening Palliative Care GP skills and capacity in the region and looked to establish funding and supervision solutions to support the post. This Advanced Skills Post will be funded as part of Victorian Rural Generalist Program (VRGP), and will augment Gippsland’s existing community palliative care service providers. While palliative services have been increased over the years in Gippsland with a new centre and increased provision of cancer patient care, this post will assist in filling the gap in patient demands even further. “This post will have a huge impact on patients requiring palliative care in our region. Currently, palliative care is delivered in the region by extraordinarily skilled community-based nursing teams who often rely on support from specialists outside the region. Nurturing and developing the palliative care skills of our local GPs and registrars is vital for ensuring patients and their families have access to the best care available where they live ” says Dr Elisabeth…

Pallavi is a passionate and dedicated GP who completed her GP Training with EVGPT. Pallavi is a life-long learner and truly enjoys studying, the pursuit of knowledge and exciting others about the potential of medicine and science. During her training with us, she incorporated a number of interests into her training and was involved in a variety of professional development projects and research projects. She was also the recipient of a number of professional awards. She is also a PHD candidate at Monash University, a Homeward Bound recipient, a 2020 Fulbright Future Scholar and Chair of AMA Victoria Women in Medicine Group. Read her full story here: https://www.evgptraining.com.au/gp-spotlight/

Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, has advised EVGPT that our contract to deliver the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program would be extended through to the first semester, 2023.  This follows the pause in transition to College-led training in early October. The Department of Health is taking the opportunity to examine how GP Training supports key health strategies under development and whether there are opportunities to strengthen rural workforce distribution. Determinants from 2022 have not been made and will be made over the next two years. You can read Minister Hunt’s letter here.  We see this as a positive step with the true ramifications of transition being realised.  The government, colleges and department have each strongly reaffirmed that any changes to the AGPT must minimise any disruption for current or future GP registrars, supervisors, trainers and practices.  As can be seen by our record of achievements since 2016, EVGPT is best placed to provide and deliver GP training throughout Eastern Victoria. Our contribution to our region and the health of our communities has been documented in a range of briefing…

EVGPT coordinated the  ‘Rural Generalist GPA State Trainee Workshop’ held on 24 & 25 October 2020 remotely due to COVID restrictions. The Workshop was attended by all Victorian based GPA Trainees and was facilitated by Dr Greg Coates, Clinical Lead Anaesthetics for the Victoria Rural Generalist Program with the assistance of EV’s Dr Antony Wong. Although the Trainees were unable to receive the normal “Sim based’’ face to face activities otherwise planned for this Workshop in previous years, they did have the unique opportunity of listening to a fantastic line up of speakers from across Australia: Dr Helen Fraser, QLD Dr Peter Hebbard, Victoria Dr Tim Leeuwenburg, NT Dr Neil Provis-Vincent, Victoria Dr Casey Parker, WA Dr Geoff Menzies, NT Dr Antony Wong, Victoria Given the challenges and restrictions as a result of the impact of COVID19 this year and when face to face learning was not an option, EV is proud to have been able to continue to provide education and training for this year’s cohort of Victorian GPA Trainees. Given the limitations and acknowledgement that some education is…

Dr Antoinette Mowbray undertook her GP training in Gippsland and pursued special skills training in obstetrics. She currently works as a GP obstetrician in Bairnsdale and as a VMO GP obstetrician at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service.   Her contribution to the community is amazing, and in addition to her general practice work, she delivers over 100 babies per year. She is also involved in a variety of other community roles – monthly outreach women’s health clinic to Orbost, teaching medical students, intern and registrars which she enjoys, she is a member of various working group committees related mostly to obstetrics or neonatal guidelines, and currently a Victorian representative on ACRRM College Council.   She lives on a few acres less than 10 minutes from her place of work, with a picturesque north-facing view of rolling green hills, and loves spending time in the garden, orchard, and greenhouse, with my pet silkie chickens and rescue cat (separately of course); and playing music – mainly violin, among many other hobbies. Antoinette makes a valuable contribution to the health of Gippsland communities. We…

EV are saddened at the news of the passing of Dr Peter Lindstedt, an EV GP supervisor at Paynesville Medical Centre.  We are so grateful to Dr Lindstedt for his support of registrars in the practice, and for his tireless commitment to Paynesville and the East Gippsland medical community over many years. We send our deepest condolences to Peter’s wife Jenny and to his children Ken, Leon and Sophie, a current EV registrar.

We recently met with the new National Rural Health Commissioner, A/Prof Ruth Stewart and discussed approaching solutions to the issues of rural GP recruitment and retention, with particular focus on pre-vocational opportunities for junior doctors. The rural pipeline has complex ‘bottlenecks’ and we are excited to work with A/Prof Stewart and other relevant agencies in creating innovative solutions and structural reform

We have been monitoring the difficulties of the RACGP KFP examination undertaken today. We note the frustration for all concerned particularly the distress people are feeling in an environment magnified with COVID-19, family disruptions, exam preparation and the like. EVGPT is here to support our registrars through this difficult time including presentation to the RACGP on your behalf to ensure that no disadvantage is present and that individual circumstances are considered. We will work with RACGP to ensure our registrars are sensitively and justly considered in these circumstances. Should you have any issues please contact me via email mark.rowe@evgptraining.com.au If your concerns are of an immediate nature, please call my mobile on 0428 961 529 We will continue to converse with RACGP and inform you should any further decisions or actions which will be made that will affect you.   Dr. Mark Rowe                                  Professor Neil Spike Chief Executive Officer                    Director of Medical Education & Training