The RACGP is developing a range of practical measures to support GPs working on the frontlines:
- Faculty Chairs are implementing their existing disaster response plans and working with local disaster management bodies and agencies to determine what support and medical supplies are needed in affected communities.
- The RACGP is liaising with local primary health networks, state and federal governments, the AMA, ACRRM and other key stakeholders to ensure our efforts are not resulting in unnecessary duplication.
- In the absence of a national coordinated approach to ensure GPs are able to provide locum services in the areas most in need, we are supporting efforts already underway in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia to mobilise the GP workforce. If you’d like to offer your services as a locum, contact
- We are examining the feasibility of fast tracking the finalisation of Completion of Training documentation for those who are otherwise eligible for Fellowship and who want to volunteer as locums in impacted areas. We are aiming to expedite this process, normally takes 6–8 weeks, to a single week for GPs who have completed their Fellowship training.
- We are lobbying the Federal Government to institute changes to help GPs get on with the job of immediately helping affected communities. We’re urging the Government to implement the following actions:
- Continue to prioritise requests for GPs to be allocated emergency provider numbers to work as locums in impacted areas to ensure we have GPs in areas where they are needed most
- Ensure GPs are more included in emergency planning and responses at state and federal levels
- Provide financial support for GPs providing patient services to impacted people and communities, including through the MBS.
- The RACGP recognises that the bushfires may mean some registrars cannot complete the number of hours required for their training or may be concerned about their readiness to sit their forthcoming exams. We will work with RTOs and the Government to ensure impacted registrars can access special consideration, and we are working to employ as much flexibility as possible for forthcoming AGPT and PEP exams.
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