The Division liaises closely with Health Workforce Queensland and General Practices to assist practices to successfully recruit GPs and International Medical Graduates (IMGs) wherever possible.
Rural practices are assisted in sourcing IMGs by providing information through provision of letters of support for Area of Need and District Workforce Shortage support letters and support applications for the Remote Vocational Training Scheme.
The commencement of the Division’s workforce officer has provided a point of reference for new GPs to liaise with, and enabled the Division to provide dedicated support to address recruitment and retention outcomes. Strategies deployed include visiting the new GP in the practice, inviting the GP to the Division office for a meet and greet, provision of orientation information and access to the Cairns health online database.
Activities include:
- Division Sub-Committee meetings and engagement strategies to recruit and retain GPs to the Division.
- Maintain a close working partnership with Health Workforce Queensland through continuation of communication and working relationships. This includes phone, email and face to face meetings to identify strategies to address workforce issues.
- Implementing actions from the work plan as identified in the recent needs analysis, this includes the workforce officer face to face meetings with GP principals and practice managers to seek feedback on workforce issues.
The Division successfully provides a liaison function between GP Registrars and Supervisors with Tropical Medical Training, which has provided invaluable support for the registrars.
Formal discussions have been held with Tropical Medical Training and Qld Health executives to explore strategies to develop a model for an integrated workforce between Qld Health and general practice. Expected results will involve Qld Health doctors working sessions in private practice and the registrar component in major centres to relieve the after-hours roster. There has also been an extensive discussion with Qld Health and the Health Service Planning team around the Health Service Plan 2016 that is currently being developed.