Outgoing Board Chair Dr Rick Sapsford has been an integral part of GPTQ — formerly Central and Southern Queensland Training Consortium (CSQTC) — from its very beginnings.

Back in 2000 Rick, an established GP with his own practice at Albany Hills, and a Master’s degree in General Practice Psychiatry, was already a keen contributor to General Practice training and a member of the Queensland Supervisors Association.

When then Health Minister Michael Wooldridge announced training framework changes — from being delivered by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to a structure of new regional training providers — Rick was invited to be the supervisor representative on the newly established CSQTC Board. This led to the Board’s invitation for him to be the inaugural Chair in 2002.

Rick remembers CSQTC’s early years operating in a rapidly changing training climate. “A lot had happened for General Practice in the previous decade,” he says.

“From the Federal Government mandating a competitive entry process for the RACGP Training Program in 1995 with a set quota of 400 places, through to the launch of a separate rural medical college, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) in 1997.”

“RACGP, ACRRM, the Queensland Divisions of General practice, QAIHC, and all involved in the Family Medicine program coming together to create a submission for the establishment of CSQTC at that time was an example of great collaboration,” he says.

For 18 years Rick’s commitment to ensuring the organisation delivers excellence in General Practice training for South East Queensland hasn’t faltered.

He has been Chair of the Board three times and has served continuously on the Board for 18 years.

He says GPTQ’s willingness to address the diversity a career in General Practice can mean is what drives its success as an education and training provider.

“GPTQ has always led the regional training organisations by being focused on the individual sensibilities of each Registrar,” he explains.

“Our training framework, including the extended skills stream, is about nurturing and facilitating the development of each Registrar to become the GP they want to be.” Rick says he is proud GPTQ has been an organisation noted for training mechanisms that are regionally specific and readily adaptable to changing community healthcare needs.

“General Practice training has become more rigorous in recent years and GPTQ has really risen to the challenge,” he says.

“We are producing 3rd and 4th-year Registrars who are passionate about community healthcare and profoundly equipped to be leaders in their specialty and the profession.”

“As I step down from my role as Chair of the Board I have great confidence that GPTQ will continue to deliver GP training to highest standards and will only grow stronger through the emerging partnerships with the colleges.”