News

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In Practice: Call to be part of GP–patient stories

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This week’s In Practice also includes RACGP Faculty Election nominations closing soon, calls for member feedback on education research grant priorities, and registrations for pre-conference workshops at GP26.

Elevating the value of general practice among the public
The RACGP is developing a new program in response to the selected 2025 Convocation submission. The project aims to elevate the value of GPs among the public, strengthen member pride, and demonstrate the rewarding career path of general practice to future doctors.
 
As part of a public-facing initiative, the college is inviting patients to share their stories of GP care to help demonstrate the impact GPs have on individuals, families and communities. These stories, featuring patients and GPs, will be shared with the broader community to showcase the value of general practice.
 
To help share these stories, GPs and practice teams are encouraged to identify suitable patients and invite them to participate. More information is available on the RACGP website.
 
RACGP Faculty Election nominations closing soon
Ready to make a difference for your profession and community? Represent RACGP members and help shape advocacy on issues that matter most.
 
Nominations for the RACGP Faculty Elections close on Friday 28 August. Candidates will be announced on 7 September, with voting for contested electorates opening the same day. For more information and to nominate, visit the RACGP website.
 
Education research grant priorities survey
The RACGP is seeking input from members and stakeholders to determine the 2028 Education Research Grant (ERG) program to ensure the priorities reflect current needs, challenges, and opportunities. The ERG program supports high-quality research that strengthens general practice education and training across Australia.
 
Through an annual competitive grants process, the program funds research that contributes to improvements in GP registrar training, clinical supervision, assessment and evaluation, educational outcomes and training capacity. Members are invited to review the current ERG priorities and identify any additional research areas that should be considered for inclusion in the 2028 funding round via this survey.
 
The survey aims to gather stakeholder perspectives on the relevance and importance of potential research topics for Australian general practice education and training. Any questions can be directed to the Education Research team at gpedresearch@racgp.org.au.
 
Register for a pre-conference workshop at GP26
Those heading to GP26 are invited to kick off their conference experience early and join a pre-conference workshop on Thursday 19 November.  
 
These hands-on sessions include:

• Building bridges – integrating urgent care into Australia’s health system
• Menopause essentials update
• Beyond the scale: A practical masterclass in modern weight and cardiometabolic medicine
• Masterclass: From GP to practice owner  
• Chronic wound management workshop for GPs
• Connect with impact: A professional skills workshop for rural GPs.

Further workshop details are available on the GP26 website. Registration is separate for pre-conference workshops, and cost is additional to conference registration. 
 
Beyond willpower: Managing nicotine dependence in general practice
Webinar: Monday 24 August, 7.00 – 8.30 pm (AEST)
CPD: 1.5 EA hour
Register online
 
This webinar explores nicotine dependence through a modern biopsychosocial lens, moving beyond outdated concepts of ‘willpower’ and ‘personal failure’. Participants will closely examine the neurobiology of nicotine addiction, and the link between smoking with chronic pain.
 
The session will cover evidence-based approaches to assessment and management in general practice, including proactive and individually tailored pharmacotherapy, motivational interviewing, behavioural strategies, relapse prevention, and compassionate, non-judgemental patient-centred communication. It will also explore how shame, fear, and self-criticism can interfere with behaviour change, and how GPs can foster safety, agency, and therapeutic alliance to support sustainable change.

National penicillin allergy awareness campaign
An upcoming national public health campaign, developed as a collaboration between the National Allergy Council, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, and Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia, aims to promote the safe and appropriate assessment of penicillin allergy,
including resources to support GPs in delivering this care.
 
Launching in October, the campaign will provide patients with information about penicillin allergy and actively encourage them to speak with their GP about having an allergy assessed.
 
In the meantime, a webinar will be held specifically for GPs to introduce new guidelines for assessing and managing penicillin allergy. Register online for the webinar on Wednesday 9 September, 7.30 – 8.30 pm (AEST).
 
Specific populations resource: Veterans’ health
The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration has developed a new suite of resources to assist GPs in providing inclusive, trauma-informed and culturally safe care to patients from diverse backgrounds. The veterans’ resource offers advice on providing care to this patient cohort, including practical tips to build trust, ask sensitive questions respectfully, and how to recognise the strengths in all veterans.
 
The resource also features tailored information around the unique challenges veterans face, such as discussing PTSD, service and deployment history, identifying support networks, working with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, specific administrative processes, and more.
 
Log in below to join the conversation.

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education research grants general practice career GP training GP–patient relationship penicillin allergy RACGP Convocation RACGP Faculty elections

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