Annual Report - Adelaide to Outback GP Training Program

Liaison Officers
Key Result Area 1
Competent and Confident GP
Registrars
AOGP’s GP graduates are deemed to
be competent and confident GPs against
evidence based benchmarks.
Key Objective #6
Engaging stakeholder groups as and when
appropriate.
Registrar Liaison Officers
In March 2010 Dr Holly Deer and Dr
Michael Sobotta accepted the roles
of RLO rural and urban, respectively.
They both come to the role with strong
opinions, enthusiasm and sleeves rolled
up ready to contribute—an attitude much
encouraged at AOGP.
Soon into her role Holly attended the
GPET & GPRA workshop in Canberra
in March 2010, bringing back important
national updates and discussion points for
AOGP. In September 2010, both Holly
and Michael attended the follow-up RLO
meeting in Alice Springs as part of the
GPET convention. At the meeting support
groups/councils for GPRA to provide
support for all GP Registrar groups was
implemented. Also at this time the new
GPRA website was released and a review
of GPRA policy drafts were considered.
The revised national Minimum Terms
& Conditions document for 2011 was
released in September and the AOGP
RLOs worked locally with AOGP to
ensure the AOGP Terms & Conditions
document appropriately reoconciled
with the national conditions. No material
changes were made.
A highlight for this year was the excellent
group discussion that was held during the
Education Weekend RLO Forum in May
2010. From this the RLOs gained ideas
regarding the best methods for keeping
Registrars up to date with important
AOGP, GPET and GPRA releases;
suggested areas for AOGP to improve,
from a Registrar perspective, and plans for
Registrar driven social events in the future.
Nationally and locally, the RLOs have
kept up to date with issues facing
GP Registrars and were involved
with a number of AOGP initiatives,
including the development of a new
online learning portal due for release in
2011; attendance as a Registrar voice
for the AOGP accreditation advisory
group; the Community Stakeholders
Reference Group meeting; review of
the AOGP Registrar Reference Manual;
and reordering of the library into a more
functional and useful space for Registrars
and their study groups.
Holly and Michael have also been involved
with the promotion of GP training to
medical students and trainees interested
in applying for GP training; and attended
several information sessions for GPSN
and SA hospital career information
evenings during the application process.
In a follow-up to this RLOs were also
involved in the 2011 Orientation and
welcoming of new registrars to AOGP.
2010 has seen some significant training
time and pathway policy changes from
GPET, and with the Commonwealth
Government health reform agenda, more
changes are on the way in terms of GP
Registrar training. The RLOs will continue
to be involved in forums and working
groups with different training stakeholders
to ensure the AOGP Registrar voice is
heard for future training and workforce
development.
Holly and Michael coordinated and
participated in two social events for
the year: a social drinks night held in
September and a combined AOGP and
Sturt Fleurieu bowling night in October.
All attendees had great fun and the RLOs
were very pleased to report AOGP were
clearly the better bowlers!
Michael has now completed his training
and the end of 2010 sees the end of
his RLO time, with a new urban RLO
to be commencing in 2011. Editorial
note—AOGP would like to offer both
RLOs a sincere thanks for their dedication
and genuine interest throughout 2010.
Holly has agreed to stay on in the role as
she heads out to begin the community
element of her GP training whilst we
congratulate and bid adieu to Michael
who finishes his training to head off for an
extended overseas trip with his family.
Drs Holly Deer and Michael Sobotta
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