NEWS:

This year’s GPET Convention attracted a record 496 medical educators, supervisors, registrars and other professional staff in the medical and general practice training sector.  Convention highlights included keynote addresses from Professor Tim Flannery, who showed delegates the unique similarities between climate change scientists and GPs, and the need to create a sustainable future; and Professor Justin Beilby, who touched on a number of issues affecting general practice today, stimulating avid discussion and debate. 

The uniquely styled plenary – the ‘Ideas Marketplace’, instigated significant dialogue on ideas ranging from ‘centralising indigenous health training’ and ‘harnessing the energy of Gen Y learners’ to ‘growing local GPRs for local consumption’.  The four symposia were also a highlight, with each facilitator engaging audiences in interactive sessions on sustainability.   

The Convention Dinner themed ‘Art’ made way for some fantastic costumes with the ‘Corona cArton’, the ‘pArtly dressed man’ and the GPTT ‘HobArt’ team taking out the best dressed awards.   The sixth annual GPET Awards were also presented at the Convention.  Click here to view the winners. The Convention presentations, abstracts and Ideas Marketplace recommendations will be available on the GPET Convention website in October.

Finally, GPET extends a big thank-you to the many individuals and organisations who contributed to the success of the 2009 GPET Convention, namely members of the Program Committee, Assoc Prof Steve Trumble, Lauren Kennelly, Dr John Buckley, Dr Bruce Mugford, Dr Hilton Koppe, Dr Lawrie McArthur, Dr Peter Clements, Dr Rachel Lee, Dr Emily Farrell, Dr Stuart Anderson, Richard Arranz, Robert Hale, Linda Black and Sara Harrup.  Special thanks also to the Convention Planning, Review and Social Committees and to the conference manager Doreen Culliver, from On Q Conference Support. 

We hope to see you at next year’s GPET Convention, Alice Springs, 8 and 9 September 2010.

The 2009 GPET Convention Keynotes were Prof Tim Flannery, Scientist, Explorer and Conservationist and Prof Justin Beilby, Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Adelaide. Click here for profiles

Convention Theme

The 2009 GPET Convention will have an overriding theme of “Sustaining Passion: the art, science and nature of general practice”. There will be four subthemes for this year’s Convention: 

• Sustaining registrars, supervisors, practices, educators, RTPs and the profession of general practice.
• Art: creating and sustaining a life balance. Fostering the creative side of general practice and the skills set required. Imparting the craft of general practice.
• Science: linking research to practice. The academic underpinning of the profession. Teaching evidence based medicine.
• Nature: developing and explaining the personality of general practice; the unique characteristics that set it apart from other medical disciplines.

The first subtheme (focusing on sustainability) will be examined in a series of four symposia organised by nominated RTPs, entitled Sustaining Registrars; Sustaining Teaching Practices (including supervisors); Sustaining Medical Educators; and Sustaining General Practice.  If you would like to contribute, please indicate your interest on the form through the downloadable flyer or through the online submission form.

Convention Objectives

The General Practice Education and Training Convention provides an annual national forum for those involved in vocational education and training in general practice and rural medicine. The Convention aims to:

• Bring delegates together to focus on current and future opportunities and challenges in general practice vocational training
• Showcase innovation in medical education and training
• Provide opportunities for networking and cross-fertilisation of ideas
• Provide opportunities for GP trainers and educators to acquire skills from each other
• Provide an opportunity for the academic advancement of general practice training
• Cater to and welcome GP registrars and promote greater involvement of registrars in education and training 
• Contribute to the development and promotion of general practice as the career of choice for future generations
• Develop solutions for the future needs of general practice training and promulgate them to the wider community.