Great Southern GP Network
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Name Great Southern GP Network
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| Division Number |
609 |
| Classification |
Rural |
| Number of Member GPs |
69 (including registrars) |
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| State |
Western Australia |
| Year Established |
1993 |
| Number of Member Practices |
24 |
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| Postcodes Covered |
6306, 6308, 6309, 6311-6313, 6316-6318, 6320-6324, 6326-6328, 6330, 6333, 6335-6338, 6341, 6343, 6346, 6348, 6350, 6352, 6353, 6355-6359, 6361, 6363, 6365, 6367, 6370, 6372, 6373, 6390-6397
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| Population |
74,434 (2001 Census)
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| Area Covered |
The GSGPN covers an area of approximately 87,000 sq. km of landmass and is located 500kms south-east of Perth.
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| CEO |
Ms Suzanne Leavesley |
| Chair |
Dr David Tadj |
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| Physical Address: |
| 106 Stirling Terrace |
| Albany WA 6330 |
| Postal Address: |
| PO Box 5294 |
| Albany WA 6332 |
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The Great Southern GP Network (GSGPN) is a network of GP's who work within a geographical area encompassing the Great Southern region of Western Australia. The GSGPN covers an area of approximately 87,000 sq. km of landmass and is located 500kms south-east of Perth. The region extends from Brookton in the north, Albany in the south, Ravensthorpe in the east and Denmark in the west. Most of this region comes within the boundaries of the Great Southern Health Region of the Department of Health, WA. The Wheatbelt Health Region incorporates the upper Great Southern including Narrogin.
Division Overview/Introduction:
The Great Southern GP Network is a non government, not-for-profit organisation limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. GSGPN has been in operation since 1992. Our main aim is to provide a forum to unite General Practitioners within our region by providing up-to-date information and continuing professional development activities, thereby improving and enhancing the health care of patients within our locality. At the end of 2004 the Division had 69 GPs (including registrars) working in 24 practices throughout the Division.
Major Achievements:
We have 7 GP's who have volunteered to be on our Aged Care panel and we have 12 members (from pharmacies, aged care homes, practice nurses, practice managers) on our Aged Care Advisory Group. Our meetings are held regularly to promote strategies for continuous improvement in the aged care homes in our region.
We have held very successful CPD events and we will continue to aim to meet the ongoing needs of our customers.
The Better Outcomes in Mental Health has seen good uptake of the services of the Division's primary mental health services. Our Program Advisory Group meets quarterly and has recruited a carer and community representative. The majority of our referrals are for people aged between 20-49 (69%) with depression (72%) and/or anxiety (44%), are female (70%) and are considered to have low incomes(67%).
Challenges for the Future:
The distances that our customers have to travel to attend CPD events is both costly in time and money and we will consider better use of technology to assist us in the future.