The IDGP has provided continuing medical education to GPs since its inception in 1993. The IDGP believes there are opportunities for a greater role for Divisions of General Practice in leading General Practice training and ongoing education. Training for practice staff has been provided since 1999.

The IDGPs vision for future Education is to deliver training to practices as a whole and to be based on the individual needs of the Practice. Through practice visits and other communication channels, the Division will determine the education needs of the practice and develop and deliver packages that are tailored to helping them meet those needs. Education packages will be developed using the the Australian Primary Care Collaboratives program model which provides a framework for developing, implementing and testing changes. The Collaboratives model is a quality improvement approach which has a "planning/thinking" component and a "doing" component. It involves identifying goals and using a series of step by step plans to achieve those goals. It encourages a systematic, proactive and team-based approach to managing patients' health care while achieving business efficiency.

The new model will integrate a practice-based approach with familiar activities such as the annual Update Seminar and Grand Roundsand with new approaches such as the Collaboratives Local Wave.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The IDGP educational activities are planned by the Education Committee, which meets every two months to plan and develop Division educational activities and to review expressions of interest from other parties requesting Division assistance in holding meetings. The committee consists of the following members

Dr Ananth Rao - Education Coordinator and Chairman
Dr David Grant - Southern Sector Coordinator Link to Calendar of Events
Dr John Watson - GP Northern Sector
Dr John Fardy - Illawarra and Shoalhaven Medical Teaching Program
Dr Russell Pearson - University of Wollongong Graduate School Medicine
Dr Saroja Gunasekera - Senior Medical Educator Illawarra/Shoalhaven CoastCityCountry Training Ltd.
Dr Andrew Dalley - Chief Executive Officer
Dr Kellie Marshall - Deputy CEO
Alison Burling- Education and Publications Officer Link to Calendar of Events
Linda Blackmore - Practice Support Manager

The IDGP is accredited by the RACGP as a QA&CPD Program Accredited provider. 

Education 2010 (calendar of events)

Southern Sector GP CPD

This area covers from Lake South, south to Gerroa and includes Albion Park and Oak Flats. Dr David Grant, the Southern Sector Coordinator, coordinates a monthly meeting for GPs at the Terrace Restaurant Kiama, with topics based on GPs’ requests from the Southern Sector Survey.Link to Calendar of Events

Grand Rounds     

GPs will be able to attain Category 1 points for participating in 6 hours of education delivered at Grand Rounds.  Over a 12 month period 10 case presentation sessions will be conducted in the Central Sector and 8 in the Southern Sector, from which GPs will choose 6 sessions to count towards points. 

Australian Primary Care Collaboratives

The Collaboratives is a national quality improvement program providing a tried and tested approach to achieving successful change.  The program encourages and supports general practice teams to deliver rapid, measurable, systematic and sustainable improvements in patient care and business efficiency.   The program aims for improvements in 3 areas:  Diabetes, CHD and Access and Care Redesign.

Practice nurses

Workshops are provided for practice nurses in response to needs identified in consultation with practices as well as on topical matters. The Division runs 6 Practice Nurse specific education sessions every year.  

Practice managers and staff

Workshops are provided for practice managers and practice staff. The Division runs 4 practice manager events each year with additional events for all practice staff.

Contact

The organisation of educational events is the responsibility of Alison Burling and the Practice Support Team. If you have any education inquires please contact the Division on 4220 7600.