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The view from Deakin University
Deakin University School of Medicine was specifically set up to provide a medical workforce for Geelong and the Western District. It is a graduate entry four year course based on the St George / Flinders curriculum. The first graduates emerged in 2011. Initial comments suggest a high interest in general practice among Deakin Students. My chair has been funded by the Felton Bequest to convert this interest into an increase in younger GPs across Western Victoria.
As part of my efforts in identifying ongoing opportunities for Deakin graduates I have mapped the characteristics of Geelong GPs using APHRA and Medical Directory of Australia data. 40 % of local GPs graduated over 30 years ago and only 13 of the 51 GPs registered in Australia in the last five years are Australian graduates. Low numbers of urban training positions have been allocated to Geelong in spite of planned population increases and the popularity of the Geelong area as a place to retire. An area of concern is the limited availability in the Geelong area of rooms to house medical students PGPPP and GP registrars.
My next task will be to map the characteristics of the other Victorian GPs practicing south of the Great Western Highway between Bacchus Marsh and Kaniva to project future needs. I also plan to look at the skill mix required to provide rural hospital and emergency services to the hospitals in the region. To meet this need Geelong hospital has been funded to provide 5 places each year over a four year rural generalist training program to upskill interested young doctors with skills both procedural and clinical to serve rural Victoria. This commences in 2013 and will negate the need for those interested in acquiring these skills to find the training and experience they need to acquire these skills and knowledge.
As part of my efforts in identifying ongoing opportunities for Deakin graduates I have mapped the characteristics of Geelong GPs using APHRA and Medical Directory of Australia data. 40 % of local GPs graduated over 30 years ago and only 13 of the 51 GPs registered in Australia in the last five years are Australian graduates. Low numbers of urban training positions have been allocated to Geelong in spite of planned population increases and the popularity of the Geelong area as a place to retire. An area of concern is the limited availability in the Geelong area of rooms to house medical students PGPPP and GP registrars.
My next task will be to map the characteristics of the other Victorian GPs practicing south of the Great Western Highway between Bacchus Marsh and Kaniva to project future needs. I also plan to look at the skill mix required to provide rural hospital and emergency services to the hospitals in the region. To meet this need Geelong hospital has been funded to provide 5 places each year over a four year rural generalist training program to upskill interested young doctors with skills both procedural and clinical to serve rural Victoria. This commences in 2013 and will negate the need for those interested in acquiring these skills to find the training and experience they need to acquire these skills and knowledge.
