SGPT Registrar Counselling Program

A new counselling program for SGPT registrars is now up and running. This means that you can now access a psychologist free of charge and confidentially. We all know that GP registrars face many stresses associated with the job and training program. Many of us are geographically isolated from our usual support networks, but would be reluctant to access counselling via a GP mental health plan. 

Negotiation Skills Workshop - Letitia

It was with great pleasure I presented the first negotiation skills presentation to be presented from a registrar point of view at the GPT1/2 workshop. The idea of this is to increase negotiation skills before the practice match which will take place over the next month. The discussion afterwards included the discussion about the East Gippsland requirement, getting some information to upcoming GPT1/2 registrars, and a confidential practice rating system so that registrars could use this information when choosing a practice. If you are interested in providing phone advice to registrars before their GPT1/2 terms we would value your assistance with this - please email us at rlo.east@sgpt.com.au

Hospital registrars - if you don’t know about the National Minimum Terms and Conditions for GP term 1 and 2, grab it from the GPRA website here.

Research project - Who wants to do GP training?

We need YOU to help answer the question: ‘Who wants to do GP training?’

Australia-wide, Victorian universities have captured the smallest proportion of medical graduates for general practice training. Why is this so?

Changing values within our society may affect the uptake of general practice training but one could argue this impact would be Australia-wide. Other influences for choosing general practice might be the academic, cultural and social influence of medical schools, and exposure to general practice during hospital training.

GPET has commissioned a small research project, led by the Department of General Practice at the University of Melbourne, to examine why registrars do or do not choose general practice training. The study will include data collection from Australian medical schools to determine exposure to general practice in their curriculum for medical students, as well as also focus groups or interviews with general practice and non-general practice registrars about the reasons for their choice of specialty training.

We are very keen to hear your views, and would interview you at a time and place convenient to you.

Please feel free to contact A/Prof. Meredith Temple-Smith, Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, for further information: m.temple-smith@unimelb.edu.au or +61 3 8344 3371. Alternatively, if you would like to register to participate in the research, please contact Rebecca Gracey: rgracey@unimelb.edu.au or +61 3 903 45107

Research Week - July 15-22

Are you interested in research? GPET is hosting an online conference about research in General Practice. It's a great chance to learn about research, hear some fantastic speakers and interact with your peers. And because it's online, you can even attend in your pyjamas! Did we mention it's free?

Negotiation - Two sides of the coin

There has been some recent interest on the issues involved with GP registrars negotiating a contract with their practice. Some have said that registrars seem to have the upper hand in negotiation and ask for too much. However, the experience of many registrars would suggest that negotiating a contract for a GP term is a challenge for which there is little advice or training available.

Check out a recent Australian Doctor article that provides a debate about this issue with views from Dr Wicky Wong (GPRA Chair) and Dr Jon Emery (NGPSA Chair).

"Negotiation is about finding mutually beneficial outcomes." - Dr Wicky Wong

"Whatever the solution, this is a problem that needs resolution." - Dr Jon Emery

We have recently held a session for GPT1/2 registrars about how to negotiate a win-win contract with your practice, and we hope this becomes a regular session for years to come.

Watch this space - the GPRA are set to release a helpful guide to navigating the maze of contract negotiation.