A major change is underway in the provision of General Practice education and training. The Commonwealth Government is in the process of transitioning funding and responsibility for GP training from the Commonwealth Department of Health to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). The change will take effect from 1 January 2022.   

In preparation GPTQ is working closely with both colleges and the other RTOs to ensure a smooth, effective transition process. This means we will be an active participant in all workshops, meetings and group activities to provide information about the transition and to develop new education and training innovations, as well as nationally consistent systems and processes.   

Although this Report relates to 2019, because it is being written in 2020 we cannot fail when looking ahead to reflect on the innovations and learning that has come from the COVID-19 pandemic. The restructure and IT systems upgrade we undertook in 2019 has meant GPTQ was well placed to face the challenges that arrived with the pandemic. As a result the timeliness and quality of the GP education and training we traditionally provide has not been compromised and I believe we have harnessed an opportunity to innovate. We have found new and different ways to deliver training and developed mechanisms to support our Registrars, Supervisors, practices and other stakeholders through the crisis. We will take lessons and a new mode of thinking from this experience into the next phase of our development as an organisation.

As we look to the future GPTQ also intends to grow its research footprint. There are five funding applications for exciting new research projects currently in progress and the GPTQ Medical Education Delivery team is passionate about exploring all aspects of the training experience through research in order to inform improvements to both our training model and General Practice education and training at large. 

Our strategic relationships are critical to our ability to meet the needs of the communities we serve. Therefore, it is vital that we continue to nurture the spirit of collaboration that characterises these relationships and work hard to develop even stronger connections. As this Annual Report showcases, GPTQ believes its role goes beyond education and training. As an organisation we strive to be a true part of the communities we serve. Guided by our Mission, Vision and Values, this commit will continue.

Kathie Sadler
CEO