RACGP encourages rural Queensland GPs to take up training scholarships

RACGP

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is encouraging GPs in rural and remote Queensland to take up scholarships on offer to build skills in mental health care and point-of-care ultrasound.

The scholarships are available as part of the late Dr Graeme ‘Bruce’ Roberts bequest to the RACGP Queensland Faculty.

There are two scholarships on offer which reduce the cost of education to just $50 for the RACGP’s Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training and Introduction to point-of-care ultrasound for rural GPs courses.

RACGP Rural Chair Dr Michael Clements urged GPs in rural and remote Queensland to take up the training.

“We can offer these scholarships to rural Queensland GPs thanks to Dr Bruce Roberts – a trailblazer in general practice, who was instrumental in the establishment of the RACGP’s Queensland Faculty,” he said.

“Following his death in 2016, Dr Roberts left a very generous bequest to our Queensland Faculty to support ongoing education initiatives for GPs living and working in rural and remote Queensland communities.

“The scholarships will benefit not only rural GPs, but also the communities they serve.

“Australians living in rural and remote communities face unique challenges due to their location, and often have poorer health outcomes that those in metropolitan areas – this includes higher rates of chronic disease and hospitalisations.

“One of the key factors contributing to this is lack of access to healthcare. Many communities rely on their local GPs for the majority of their health and wellbeing needs and have to travel long distances for hospitals and specialist care.

“This is why rural GPs are so integral for rural communities. And if GPs have additional skills training in specialist areas, such as Focussed Psychological Strategies and point-of-care ultrasound, it makes a real difference for the communities they serve.

“I encourage GPs in rural and remote Queensland to take a look at the training scholarships on offer and keep in mind limited places are available, so apply as soon as you can.”

Scholarship opportunities

Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training will enable GPs to become a provider of Focussed Psychological Strategies (FPS) and provide Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (CBT) derived FPS counselling to patients.

The scholarship reduces the training from $979 to just $50. Intake dates are 11th July, 15th August, and 19th September. GPs can find our more and submit an expression of interest online here.

Introduction to point-of-care ultrasound for rural GPs scholarships are available for the workshop in Mackay. This course will build a GP’s skills in point-of-care ultrasound, and its diverse applications in rural primary care, which include diagnostics for pregnancy, heart and lung concerns, musculoskeletal soft tissue, and deep venous thrombosis, among other areas.

The scholarship reduces the training from $695 to just $50. The workshop will be held on 3rd September 2022. GPs can

/Public Release.