News
In Practice: RACGP voting open for contested electorates
Nominations for the 2025 faculty elections are now closed, with the contested electorates across jurisdictions open for voting.
Contested electorates for the RACGP faculty elections are open for voting until 11 September.
This week’s In Practice also includes details on a blood pressure medication shortage, upcoming updates to national asthma guidelines, and a reminder on registration for the GP25 conference.
RACGP Faculty elections
Nominations for the 2025 Faculty elections are now closed, with the following electorates contested and open for voting until Thursday 11 September, 12.00 pm (AEST):
- NSW/ACT: two positions – Murrumbidgee and Sydney Inner West
- Queensland: eight positions
- South Australia: nine positions
- Western Australia: six positions
- Specific Interests: three positions – Chair ADHD, ASD and Neurodiversity, Chair Antenatal and Postnatal Care, Chair Musculoskeletal, Sport and Exercise Medicine
Elected council members will be announced Friday 12 September. New, retiring and continuing faculty Chairs will be announced 10 October. More information is
available on the RACGP website.
Substitutions approved for shortage of Presolol 100
Pharmaceutical company Alphapharm has advised that Presolol 100 (labetalol hydrochloride 100 mg) tablets are in shortage until 3 October due to manufacturing issues. The alternative strength of Presolol 200 (labetalol hydrochloride 200 mg) tablets is available.
To help patients access this essential medicine, the Therapeutic Goods Administration has made a
Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument (SSSI) that began on 26 August. The SSSI allows a pharmacist to substitute the prescribed labetalol 100 mg with labetalol 200 mg, if appropriate, without a new prescription. With the substitution, one tablet of Presolol 100 (labetalol 100 mg) is equivalent to half a tablet of Presolol 200 (labetalol 200 mg).
Detailed information about the shortage, the SSSI and important factors when considering a substitution, are available on
the TGA website.
Asthma updates for GPs
Webinar: Tuesday 16 September, 7.00 pm (AEST)
Register online
For
National Asthma Week, the National Asthma Council Australia (NAC) is celebrating 35 years as the national body leading improvement of asthma care and management. The NAC will release
new national guidelines for asthma management in primary care on Tuesday 16 September, with major updates in the latest version of the NAC
Australian Asthma Handbook including a new website.
GPs can gain expert insights into the key changes to the Asthma Handbook at the
Reshaping asthma management webinar.
GP25: RACGP Awards and Conference Dinner
The RACGP’s annual conference,
GP25, is fast approaching, held in Brisbane, on Turrbal and Jagera Country, from 14–16 November. This year, the conference gala dinner on Saturday 15 November will recognise a number of 2025 RACGP Award winners as part of the event.
Tickets to the gala dinner, held from 7.00 – 11.00 pm, are $200 including a three-course meal and entertainment. They can be purchased with
conference registration.
For attendees already registered, they can add gala dinner tickets to registration by contacting the RACGP Conference and Events team at
events@racgp.org.au.
Preparing your practice for extreme weather events
Webinar: Thursday 11 September, 7.30 – 8.30 pm (AEST)
CPD: 1 EA hour
Register online
GPs have an essential role in responding to disasters caused by extreme weather events. Under climate change, bushfires, heatwaves, storms and floods are becoming more frequent and severe, and having greater impacts on general practices and communities.
This webinar will highlight the health effects of extreme weather events and equip GPs with knowledge of how to implement effective disaster planning. GPs with experience responding to disasters will guide attendees on how to best prepare.
The GPMHSC and MHST
The
General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) establishes standards for GP training in mental health in relation to the
Better Access initiative and accredits training activities related to general practice mental health care that aims to develop GPs’ knowledge of and skills in detecting and treating mental illness. Additionally, the GPMHSC develops resources to support GPs to provide mental health services and contributes to the development of policy for general practice and mental health.
Mental Health Skills Training (MHST) provides education and training in the assessment, treatment, planning and review of mental health issues commonly presented in general practice. GPs can complete MHST by fulfilling one of the following pathways:
- MHST primary pathway – a six-hour (minimum) activity that can be completed online or face-to-face
- MHST modular pathway – GPs must complete one Core Module (minimum three hours) and one Clinical Enhancement Module (minimum four hours)
Vocationally registered GPs who complete the requirements of MHST may be eligible to claim at a higher MBS rebate items
2715 and
2717. Non-vocationally registered GPs who complete MHST may be eligible to claim items 281 and 282.
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