Bendigo and District Division of General Practice

Name Bendigo and District Division of General Practice

Division Number	326
Classification	Rural
Number of Member GPs	96

State	Victoria
Year Established	1993
Number of Member Practices	35

Postcodes Covered	3450, 3453, 3462, 3463, 3472, 3475, 3515, 3523, 3539, 3550, 3551,3555, 3556, 3557
Population	98,664 (2001 Census)
Area Covered	Bendigo and surrounding districts
CEO	Mr Bruce Farnell
Chair	Dr Ray Moore

Physical Address:

Hope Street

BENDIGO VIC 3554

Australia

Postal Address:

PO Box 220

Bendigo Delivery Centre

BENDIGO 3554

Email:	bfarnell@bgodivgp.org.au
Phone:	03 5441 7806
Fax:	03 5442 6760
Website:	http://www.bgodivgp.org.au

"The Bendigo and District Division of General Practice is committed to improving the health care for the people of Bendigo and District by making effective use of the skills, knowledge, experience and commitment of GPs. The BDDGP supports a team approach to health care through the Development of partnerships, more integrated services, identification of needs and enhancements of the skills of health professionals."

The Bendigo and District Division is a small but robust entity situated in the fast growing regional centre of Bendigo, Victoria.

Bendigo and district is home of Bendigo Bank, ADI, two prisons and many other large employers. With both a public and a private hospital in Bendigo, a wide range of medical services is offered. It boasts excellent educational facilities with Girton Grammar, Bendigo Senior Secondary School and Castlemaine Secondary College and the Castlemaine Steiner School in the district as well as La Trobe University.

Bendigo is the main centre for a much larger rural population who shop, access health services and work within its boundaries. As such, the Division's catchment is much larger than the set boundaries of its grant.

The Division works towards strengthening General Practitioner's capacity to be the gatekeepers to the rest of the primary healthcare sector through collaborative, innovative and sustainable initiatives and whole of practice support.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

Accreditation: Bendigo and District Division of General Practice has not only met all requirements to achieve accreditation by the Quality Improvement Council, (QIC), but has received Leading Practice status in standard 2.2: Planning and Provision of Services and Programs; focus on positive outcomes for agreed consumer and community needs, or in the vernacular, “GP and community engagement”. In addition we have been recommended for Leading Status in 3.2, “Collaboration with other organisations”.

Key Programs:

IT/IM: The Division provides high levels of support for GPs and practices as well as working closely with local and regional agencies. We have been successful in attracting funding for 2 key innovative programs which will benefit GPs and other service providers. See our website for more information.
ClinicSMART: Providing ongoing support to practices through information, practice managers and practice nurse networks.
Education: The Division runs a very comprehensive and well-supported program of events, including The Panel, Spec Spiel and Skill Station, all based on sound Adult Learning Principles.

For more information please go to our website: www.bgodivgp.org.au

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE

Workforce remains a key challenge: providing recruitment and support services at a time when major obstacles are still in place.

All Division staff strive to provide activities which continue to engage all our GPs.

A major issue is maintaining Divisional relevance and viability in a very demanding environment.