CURRENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

Clinical Support

The Clinical Support Program focuses on continuing education and training for General Practitioners. It is concerned with improving the skills and knowledge of GPs to enable them to provide quality primary health care. These skills and knowledge are imperative to GPs being able to properly understand and fulfil the roles and responsibilities that are developed in the Linkages and Representation Program. The Division's Continuing Medical Education (CME) and professional development programs are well regarded by members and the RACGP.

Linkages and Representation

The Linkages and Representation Program facilitates communication and collaboration between GPs, other health service providers and their patients. The Program reflects the Division's concern that roles, rights and responsibilities in health care provision must be clearly stated and agreed upon by all parties if satisfactory communication and collaboration are to be achieved. The program includes activities towards Shared Care, networking, representation and advocacy of General Practice, and professional linkages.

Practice Systems and Information Technologies

The Practice Systems and Information Technologies Program helps members to develop and implement processes and systems which facilitate delivery of quality primary health care in their own practices. Such systems may include those for information management, financial management, health promotion and clinical practice. The Division is encouraging and supporting the use of information technologies in General Practice settings.

The GP Professional and Personal Well-being Program

This program reflects a concern on the part of members and the Division's Board to recognise that GPs are actually "people who work as General Practitioners". The program recognises that in addition to the specific issues which arise in the context of work as a GP (eg. stress, burnout, certain injuries), GPs also experience the same everyday issues as many other people (eg. parenting, relationships, health problems). The Program recognises that whilst there are many complex issues in GP professional and personal well-being, there are some practical ways in which the Division can assist GPs as individuals.

The Infrastructure Program

The Infrastructure Program addresses issues such as governance, management and administration of the Division. Only with a smoothly functioning infrastructure can the Division deliver programs, fulfil its statutory and ethical responsibilities and meet the needs of members and the community. For the 1999 - 2002 Triennium, the activities of these programs will be directed towards achieving outcomes in the following population health areas: Mental Health, Heart Health, Diabetes, Cancers, Koori Health and Immunisation.

Program staff work in specific population health areas, across programs. The Division also receives Innovatins funding for a Men's Health Promotion Project and NPS funding for a Quality Use of Medicines Project.