WA Primary Health Alliance and Rural Health West are delighted to offer Peel-based general practitioners (GPs) access to the Peel GP Incentive Fund Initiative – Education and Training Support Project.
The Project, expected to go live early 2023, will give GPs who practise in the region the opportunity to maintain professional competence, update existing knowledge and gain additional knowledge and skills.
GPs will have access to activities including the Continuing Professional Development Support Subsidy, the Peel GP Health Forum, a mental health skills training workshop, conferences, procedural forums, upskilling workshops, and evening educational sessions.
This initiative is part of a wider focus on developing sustainable GP recruitment and retention solutions and strategies to improve patient access to primary health care in the region, which has one of the fastest-growing populations in Western Australia.
To date, this has involved:
- Awarding grants to 13 Peel-based general practices to support GP recruitment
- Engaging a dedicated GP recruitment agent to support national and international recruitment.
WA Primary Health Alliance General Manager Strategy and Engagement, Chris Kane, said in conjunction with Rural Health West and in consultation with an advisory group of local general practices, we have explored multiple solutions to the GP recruitment issues facing the region that could equally be applied throughout the state.
“There is no one solution to GP recruitment and the Peel GP Incentive Fund Initiative has therefore looked to deliver incentives including training, recruitment assistance and local networking that, together, help to make a place attractive to new and existing GPs.”
Rural Health West Chief Executive Officer Tim Shackleton said he was pleased to partner with WA Primary Health Alliance to deliver educational and collegiate activities that align with regional health priorities and the learning needs of the region’s GP workforce.
“We are thrilled to partner with WAPHA to ensure Peel communities have ready access to high quality GP services.
“All GPs value continuous learning opportunities and we are confident that being able to offer such a comprehensive package tailored to meet regional needs and with a strong local focus will be effective and appreciated.”
This activity has been made possible through funding provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care under the Primary Health Network Program.