The GPRA is committed to the provision of timely information to our members and the wider GP community. Here you will find our latest press releases and an archive of previous releases.

For Media Enquiries, click here.

2009 Media Releases

19/09/2009 GPSN Schwartz First Wave Scholarship

14/09/2009 GPRA New Board Structure 2009

14/05/2009 GPRA Discussion Paper: PGPPP Efficiencies

14/05/2009 Budget Incentives 2009/10

09/04/2009 UGPA letter release

23/03/2009 Dicussion Paper: The Future of General Practice & Training System

23/03/2009 GREYMATTER

23/03/2009 R CUBED

23/03/2009 GP Compass

23/03/2009 Breathing NEWLIFE into General Practice 2009

20/02/2009 NHHRC report

06/01/2009 GPRA's New Year Resolution

2008 Media Releases

01/10/2008 Introducing new board members

01/10/2008 Registrar reindeers

14/10/2008 GPRG release

15/10/2008 UGPA communique

11/05/2008 Increased number in training places

2007 Media Releases

22/10/2007 GPRA Federal Election Statement 2007

28/03/2007 Benchmarking & Registrar Satisfaction Study

15/03/2007 GPRA’s new Mentors Program – “Advice straight from the Horses mouth”

28/02/2007 GPRA holds inaugural workshop “Breathing NEWLIFE into General Practice” at   the Parliament House in Canberra.

2006 Media Releases

02/10/2006 GPRA launches the new Online Exam Resource for Registrars

01/07/2006 GPRA Launches Practice Pages

2005 & 2004 Media Releases

12/09/2005 New Blood injected into GPRA

02/08/2005 Doctor’s after each other’s blood

14/08/2004 Young doctors bring hope to the future of General Practice

05/08/2004 GPRA’s brand new logo

 

2007

MEDIA RELEASE 22nd OCTOBER 2007

GPRA FEDERAL ELECTION STATEMENT 2007

GPRA continues to grow rapidly as an organisation with significant additions to our portfolio as we launch new projects and cement existing ones. GPRA’s commitment to assist Registrars will continue at multiple levels - both within the current training environment as well as to assist them to get into ‘real-life’ General Practice. With renewed focus on workforce issues, IMGs, General Practice promotion and Registrar benchmarking, GPRA is now better positioned to provide targeted grassroots feedback to government to help shape the direction of future policy. GPRA will continue to strive for transparency and flexibility in General Practice training and offer innovative solutions as the independent voice of future General Practitioners in Australia.  During this important time nearing the election polls GPRA is committed to ensuring that Registrar views are well presented to the incoming government. The following represent the broad areas where GPRA is requesting for a call to action from the incoming government:

1. Build prestige and improve the image of General Practice amongst medical students, other medical specialties and the wider community
2. Ensure the supply of General Practice Registrars into the future
3. Provide equitable measures of workforce distribution that are based on incentives
4. Recognition & support for overseas trained doctors (OTDs) as an emerging workforce
5. Build capacity for training the future GP workforce by supporting medical education & supervision

Please Click Here to view GPRA’s election statement for 2007

MEDIA RELELASE 23rd MARCH 2007

BENCHMARKING & REGISTRAR SATISFACTION SURVEY

General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA), the peak national representative body for GP Registrars launched a new Benchmarking & Research Study. The study aims to identify motivational and vocational choice markers amongst med students and prevocational doctors, and any relationship that may exist between these factors and job satisfaction amongst GP Registrars and those post fellowship

The study was launched by The Hon. Tony Abbott MHR, Minister for Health & Ageing at GPRA’s recent workshop at the Parliament House in Canberra on the 27th February 2007 where he said, “ GPs are the heart of our health system ….. we don’t want GPs to be overstressed and disempowered individuals …… the government has worked over the last 3.5 years to support them in their roles and we are proud to continue to do so. 

Amit Vohra, Managing Director of GPRA said “There is an acute shortage of General Practitioners in Australia and 30 per cent of the current GP workforce is aged 50 years or older. This is further impacted upon by the continuing ‘leakage’ from the system brought on by GP burnout and other lifestyle, family and job satisfaction considerations. There is a recognised gap in the capacity and processes in place to identify early-stage warnings of system failure in order to prevent the reduction in numbers of GPs in the system. 

“This study offers the prospect of determining the personal and professional factors that influence decision making at different stages of a GP’s professional life, including the choice of profession and the way in which GPs subsequently practice. Attractiveness of General Practice as a career, determined by its compatibility with these factors, is critical for the issue of workforce, as well as professional satisfaction, morale and the general perception of General Practice”, stated Dr Rachael Sutherland, Chair of GPRA.

This study is supported by Dr Jerry Schwartz and the Department of Health and Ageing, who have donated funding to facilitate this project.

For more information or comment:
Dr Rachael Sutherland, Chair – 0406 214 076
Mr. Amit Vohra, Managing Director – 0431909502

MEDIA RELEASE 15th MARCH 2007

GPRA'S NEW MENTORS PROGRAM

General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) recently launched the Mentors Program to provide a national platform for mentoring individuals interested in the Australian General Practice Training program and enhancing exposure and uptake to the PGPPP initiative.

The Program has met with wild enthusiasm and is already showing results “I took part in the Mentoring program and really got a lot out of it  - it's an excellent idea, really solidified my choice to become a GP” commented one student.

“It is an exciting initiative that you have set up. I have been in the hospital system for 6 years before deciding on GP now I am loving it! But if I had someone to let me know earlier as to what GP really is about, I would have chosen the specialty earlier” said an enthusiastic mentor.

Amit Vohra, Managing Director of GPRA commented “GPRA aims to address potential myths associated with General Practice and improve the image of the profession with young doctors. Doctors who have chosen General Practice and are in active training are the best positioned to provide accurate, relevant information to those considering the profession. Having recently been in a similar situation, they can also relate most closely to considerations in the decision making process.

“Initiatives such as the PGPPP are attempting to increase the exposure of medical students and hospital doctors to General Practice to facilitate informed career decision making. An initiative such as the Mentors program is a simple, cost-effective solution to engage high school students, medical students and hospital doctors by putting them in touch with doctors in GP training” added Dr Rachael Sutherland, Chair GPRA.

“GPRA has already launched this service as a pilot and, as the sole national Registrar support group, is best positioned to deliver this initiative. Our slogan is – Advice straight from the horse’s mouth!”, said Mr Vohra.

For more information or comment:
Dr Rachael Sutherland, Chair – 0406 214 076
Mr. Amit Vohra, Managing Director - 0431909502

MEDIA RELEASE 28th FEBRUARY 2007

GPRA HOLDS INAUGRAL WORKSHOP AT THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE IN CANBERRA

General Practice Registrars Australia Ltd. Held its inaugural “ Breathing NEWLIFE into General Practice” meeting at Parliament House, Canberra , on the 27th and 28th of February.  Registrar leaders from around the country gathered at this event to discuss current and future issues in General Practice.

The Hon. Tony Abbott MP, Leader of the House of Representatives, Minister for Health was GPRA’s Patron at this event where he and other key Ministers addressed the meeting. This event was hosted in partnership with the Department of Health and Ageing.

The Presidents Forum, a highlight of the event, explored some of the current barriers to General Practice, together with proposed solutions.  The forum was opened by Prof. John Horvath, Australia’s Chief Medical Officer and was attended by the Presidents of all General Practice stakeholder organizations. Other sessions included workforce issues and training & education in General Practice.

“There are ever in increasing demands on the General Practice profession, which include but are not limited to training, standards and workforce requirements. GPRA seeks to bring stakeholders together with the General Practitioners of the Future, and the Department, to work towards sustainable solutions in an environment of goodwill and cooperation” commented Amit Vohra, Managing Directors GPRA.

“GPRA’s Breathing New Life into General Practice was a greatly expanded version of our usual biennial meeting. We hope the opportunity to come together, in a collaborative setting, with leaders in health policy and education inspires Registrars to take an active role now in shaping the future – our Future - for General Practice”, added Dr Rachael Sutherland, Chair GPRA  

For more information or comment:
Dr Rachael Sutherland, Chair – 0406 214 076
Mr. Amit Vohra, Managing Director - 0431909502

{2006}

MEDIA RELEASE  2nd OCTOBER 2006
GPRA LAUNCHES EXAM RESOURCES FOR REGISTRARS

General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA), the peak national representative body for GPs in training; would like to announce the new online exam resource (OER) to help Registrars in their exam preparation.

Dr Rachael Sutherland, Chair of GPRA said, ‘GPRA is always looking at new ways to provide enhanced services to GPRA members and OER is a direct result of the feedback we have received from our Registrar members’. GPRA has developed downloadable clinical cases for GP registrars and other exam candidates, to help prepare for the RACGP clinical exam. Exam candidates can use the structured cases as a basis of role plays for study groups. These cases are based on the RACGP Clinical Case format.

‘The launch of this resource heralds the dawn of a new era for GPRA as we look at providing more educational resources for GP Registrars’, commented Amit Vohra, Managing Director of GPRA.

The content has been written by registrars for registrars based on their own clinical experiences. It does not aim to reflect past exam content. For a limited time, the Online Exam Resources (OER) will be free to all GPRA members! Access to this resource is available via GPRA’s website at www.gpra.com.au

For more information or comment:
Dr Rachael Sutherland, Chair – 0406 214 076
Mr. Amit Vohra, Managing Director - 0431909502

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MEDIA RELEASE 1st July 2006
GPRA Launches Practice Pages

The Weekend of the 24th of June saw the much anticipated launch of GPRA’s workforce publication, PRACTICE PAGES™. This inaugural publication was launched at the Futures Series workshop for Registrars held at the Rydges Riverwalk Hotel in Melbourne.

Attended by over 35 Registrars and a number of corporate bodies such as Independent Practitioners Network (IPN), Symbion Health Centres, Medeco Medical Centers, Medical One and United Medical Protection, the PRACTICE PAGES™ was well received.
More than just a directory, PRACTICE PAGES™ aims to address workforce issues and provide transparency in the system.
This publication puts everyone on a common playing field and facilitates
Perspicuity that has long been sought but never readily available.
Medical professionals are an increasingly mobile workforce. Information regarding practices and hospitals, including lifestyle considerations, is invaluable before seeking employment. Many areas are finding it increasingly difficult to attract talented and dedicated staff. In recognition of the changing trends and demands of the profession, GPRA has produced this publication designed to bridge the gap between health professionals, medical practices and the community.
PRACTICE PAGES ™ is the first initiative of its kind that gives the choice back to those doctors who are most important in the future of health care of this country - the new GPs of tomorrow.

Any further interest and queries about this publication can be
Directed to GPRA on 1300 131 198, or via email at
practicepages@gpra.com.au.

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{2005 & 2004}

MEDIA RELEASE 12 SEPTEMBER 2005
NEW BLOOD INJECTED INTO GPRA

General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA), the peak national representative body for GPs in training; would like to announce the new board of directors for 2005/2006, who were voted in during the Annual General Meeting, held in Sydney on the 25th August 2005.

Dr Geoffrey Sparkes – Chair
Dr Tim Caton - Vice Chair
Dr Winston Lo – Finance Director
Dr Siew Lee Thoo
Dr Jennifer Lonergan
Dr Stuart Anderson
Dr Rachael Sutherland

“Our aim as the GPRA Board of Directors for 2005-2006, is to continue to foster strong collaborative ties with all members, GP representative organisations, external stakeholders and the community” declared Dr Sparkes. He continued, “We want to continue to promote General Practice as a career of choice and a profession of excellence. We look forward to the challenges ahead, as we work to better represent our members and in so doing enhance the future of general practice”.

For more information or comment:
Dr Geoffrey Sparkes, Chair – 0421633936
Dr Paul Grinzi, Media Liaison Officer - 0411581120

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MEDIA RELEASE 2 August 2005
Doctors after each others’ blood

General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) have called on their fellow doctors to put their best arms forward as part of a national blood quest to assist the Australian Red Cross Blood Service in collecting vital blood supplies.
General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) is the peak national representative body for GPs in training – the future of general practice.

“GPs are doctors based in the community and this month we want to give to the community something very close to our hearts,” Dr Jennifer Lonergan, GPRA Chair, said today.

“We have seen first hand how the Blood Service saves lives by providing a safe supply of blood to hospitals and other health services and we wanted to do something to help them in this vital work.

“Without the thousands of Australian volunteers who regularly donate their blood the Blood Service would not exist. This month we are calling on our colleagues to join us in the Biggest Blood Donation Drive in the history of Australian General Practice.

“In particular, we are calling on GP Registrars and Supervisors, GPs, medical educators and anyone who is involved in the General Practice Training Program or is just a Good Samaritan to donate blood during August.

“Just go to your nearest Donation Centre and inform them that you are a part of GPRA’s BLOOD QUEST and tick the box on the form. This will ensure that your donation will be recorded as part of this Drive.

“We know how much GP Registrars can achieve when we all get together. I urge all my colleagues to join with the GPRA and make a blood donation this August,” Dr Lonergan said.

The GPRA Blood Quest is part of a joint blood donation drive with Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) and Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA). To find your nearest Blood Donation Centre go to www.donateblood.com.au

For more information or comment:
Dr Jennifer Lonergan, Chair - 0414953128
Dr Paul Grinzi, Media Liaison Officer - 0411581120
Dr Bennie Ng, Managing Director – 0411122360

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Media Release 14th August 2004
Young doctors bring hope to the future of General Practice

The future of General Practice has never been under greater threat.

Worldwide, recruitment into General Practice training programs is at an all time low. Australia is no exception. Interest in the GP training program has plummeted over the past five years.

“General Practice needs a new image in order to become an attractive career choice for the next generation of medical graduates. General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA)is committed to and enthusiastic about changing the perception of General Practice. GPRA represents the 1500 doctors undertaking General Practice training and we have links with junior doctors that others sometimes don’t. If we want to turn the problem around, we have to do things differently”, according to Dr Matthew McConnell, chair of GPRA.

GPRA is proposing a national marketing campaign to promote general practice as an exciting, dynamic and rewarding career. The campaign should target rural and city high school students and who are interested in medicine and new medical graduates. We are currently seeking Government funding and support for this campaign.

As a first step to changing the image of general practice, GPRA is launching a new logo and slogan: “GPRA – The future of General Practice”. Dr Matthew  McConnell pointed out, “General Practice, as a profession, is now in its most challenging period. Despite recent changes to address workforce and regionalising needs of GP training, the profession remains under threat.”

“GPRA has evolved in many aspects and continues to respond to the
changing environment. We are celebrating 30 years of contributing to the
profession in many ways, providing a nurturing ground for many young GPs,
many of whom now hold very prominent leadership positions. It is the future that we now look to.”

“We see the current threats and challenges as an opportunity to be involved in something exciting,” asserted Dr Matthew McConnell.

“Let the most recent converts to general practice sell the message. We have deliberately chosen this career, have the links with hospital doctors and we can see a bright future for general practice,” said Dr Bennie Ng, Managing Director of GPRA.

“With 30 year’s experience of representing its registrars, GPRA is now
positioned to take this further – to put the future of General Practice in
younger hands.”

Dr Matt McConnell,Chair,GPRA,0402911778
Dr Bennie Ng, Managing Director, GPRA – 0411122360
Dr Victoria Jabbour, Media Liaison Officer, GPRA – 0414547842

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Media Release 5th August 2004
General Practice Registrars Australia - The Future of General Practice

GPRA’s new look is aligned with our vision and commitment towards promoting and improving the healthcare of all Australians, by presenting our organisation as “…the Future Of General Practice”, through excellence in education. This change also reflects the maturity  of the organisation over the last 30 years, which culminated in GPRA being registered as a company limited by guarantee in February 2004.

The logo is based on the stethoscope, an easily recognized symbol of everyday medicine both within and outside the profession. This symbol provides a physical link to people by the stethoscope touching and making a connection between the doctor and the patient. The semi-circles that radiate from the “heart” of the object portray communication radiating to all levels – members, supporters, sponsors, government bodies, patients and the wider community.

The square shape of the logo is one of strength and stability. The flowing lines can be seen as a way to “broadcast” our message: ‘The Future of General Practice’. The colors used are professional, but have a freshness that will reflect an organization made up of young, hopeful and enthusiastic people. The Green stethoscope denotes the growth and higher productivity that result from work performance standards and skills. The entire logo is dynamic and evolving, reflecting the energy and dynamism of the General Practice workforce in the pursuit of excellence.

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