This provides free Video Call access for general practitioners working in private practice and/or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs).

General Practitioners are encouraged to continue using this secure video consulting platform which has been purpose-built for primary care settings. 

For GPs in private practice wanting to start using the service, please register your practice. For GPs in ACCHOs wanting to start using the service, please register for access.

RACGP CPD accredited training in healthdirect Video Call is available for your practice.

RACGP Accredited Training In collaboration with the RACGP, Healthdirect Australia is offering CPD courses that support GPs and Practice Managers to use Video Call more confidently and effectively. The following free courses are run by Healthdirect’s RACGP Education Activity Representatives:

Essential Video Call training (1 hour 2 CPD points for RACGP or 1 hour ACCRM credit) This module is for GPs new to Video Call and covers the basic functionality of the platform. The course will also suit Practice Managers who may be implementing telehealth into their practice workflows. Register here for essential training

Advanced Video Call training (1 hour 2 CPD points for RACGP or 1 hour ACCRM credit) This module covers more advanced use of the platform. The course will also suit Practice Managers and anyone interested in how Video Call can reshape the provision of services to patients or clients. Register here for advanced training

Please contact the healthdirect Video Call team if you have any questions.

Member for Dawson Mr George Christensen MP and Federal Member for Rural Health the Hon Dr David Gillespie MP today announced the Mackay region has been provided Distribution Priority Area (DPA) status under exceptional circumstances.

The announcement came as welcome news for Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) who advocated for the change following extensive consultation with local general practices and collaboration with Health Workforce Queensland.

The Australian Government uses the Distribution Priority Area (DPA) indicator to identify distribution challenges in Australia’s medical workforce.

Factors considered for DPA status include patient flows using Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) data, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) demographic data, the size of the GP workforce, the location and number of practices, and the region’s size and geography.

Under the system, general practices in places with DPA status can employ international medical graduates and Australian-trained bonded doctors who are required to work in priority areas to access the MBS.

NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte said NQPHN welcomed the announcement by Mr George Christensen MP and Dr David Gillespie MP as it will assist local practices to recruit GPs.

“The change to Mackay’s DPA status is a great outcome for the region and reflects what we and general practice have been advocating for,” said Ms Whyte.

“The issue of GP and other primary care workforce shortages is arguably the most significant problem facing primary health care delivery in rural and remote Australia, and is an issue that NQPHN takes very seriously.

“Practices in Mackay are experiencing GP shortages and patients are regularly waiting weeks to see a GP, some are even closing their doors to new patients.

“With the opening of the borders, and emergence of the highly contagious Omicron variant in Queensland, we are seeing more and more cases of COVID-19 in the Far North and more pressure being put on our general practice workforce.

“In September 2021, NQPHN, with the assistance of Health Workforce Queensland, Mackay Hospital and Health Service, James Cook University, and Mackay general practices, submitted a Request for Exceptional Circumstances Assessment of non-DPA status for the Mackay region to the Australian Government Department of Health.

“DPA status for the Mackay region provides support to practices by giving them access to a larger recruitment pool to fill gaps in staffing and increase their capacity to provide services to residents.

“I’d like to thank Mr Christensen and Dr Gillespie for their support to obtain DPA status for Mackay.

“It’s also important to recognise and thank general practice for providing exceptional care to residents at this very busy time and with stretched resources.”

First published in 2014, the IPC Standards are designed as a guide to help health professionals and other healthcare staff in the implementation of infection prevention and control procedures. We’re updating the IPC Standards in 2022 to ensure the guidance reflects current evidence and best practice. A technical working group will develop the updated resource and a draft will be provided to members and stakeholders for feedback. At this initial stage, we’re seeking your thoughts on the current IPC Standards. We’re eager to hear from you and your practice teams about how you use the IPC Standards, as well as your thoughts on its content, level of detail and format:

• What areas of the IPC Standards do you find most useful?
• Is there content that needs more detail or prominent focus?
• Is the advice in the IPC Standards presented in the most useful format (ie text and tables)? If not, what format would be more useful to you and your practice?
• What general feedback do you have on the IPC Standards?

It’s important to acknowledge that the IPC Standards are designed for use in office-based practices in the implementation of infection prevention and control procedures. This means general practices are not accredited against IPC Standards, but may refer to them in meeting some criteria set out in the Standards for general practices (5th edition). Please email any feedback on the IPC Standards to standards@racgp.org.au by 7 February 2022.