GP25 – Brighter Future Together: The RACGP Annual Conference
Dr Simon Morgan, GPSA Medical Educator, shares insights into GP25.
GP25 brought together medical educators, academics, supervisors and clinicians from across Australia for an invigorating three days in Brisbane (Meanjin) from 14–16 November, on the traditional lands of the Turrbal and Jagera peoples.
Formalities kicked off with a number of pre-conference workshops, including a Supervisor Masterclass on small-group dynamics and facilitation hosted by Gerard Ingham. GPSA’s own Srishti Dutta and Candice Baker joined more than 100 supervisors from around the country in what proved to be very valuable and rewarding session.
The conference then opened in front of nearly 2000 delegates with a moving Welcome to Country from Auntie Kathryn Fisher and Auntie Dr Rose Elu. We were reminded that although our skin may differ, we all share the same blood and are all spiritually connected. It set a powerful tone for the days that followed.
The program delivered an engaging blend of clinical updates, research insights and medical education sessions. Among the education highlights was ‘ClueGP: Diagnosing Exam Difficulty’, where a Cluedo-style gameboard helped small groups uncover the ‘culprit’ behind a registrar’s exam challenges (“Was it Jade Jitters in the ECTV with the ropascope?”). Gamification of education proved to be a recurring theme, reappearing in ‘The Games we Play’, which used a clinical reasoning game-style format, and in GPSA’s own hands-on workshop, ‘What’s in the Box?’, inspired by our recently launched General Practice Survival Kit. ‘Supervisors Don’t Have to Be Experts on Everything’ was another good session, reassuring supervisors that strong core teaching skills are often most of what is needed to guide registrars through tricky clinical questions.
Delegates were also treated to a number of thoughtful plenaries, including presentations from Chief Medical Officer and GP Professor Michael Kidd, Aboriginal epidemiologist Professor James Ward, and former GPSA Board member and webinar favourite Dr Justin Coleman, who spoke on the realities and rewards of rural practice.
I have returned to Newcastle with a bunch of ideas for webinars and resources, a number of excellent contacts for potential collaboration (not including the llama) and an orange bucket hat that I am unlikely to ever wear.