Outgoing CEO Blog - April/May 2025

It may have only been a matter of weeks, but it feels like the federal election has dominated our airwaves for many long months at this point!

While healthcare, and particularly primary healthcare, has played a starring role in the great political tussle, it’s unfortunate that neither major party has adequately communicated the importance of keeping the private model of general practice viable (questionable triple bulk billing calculations notwithstanding). Instead of leading us to an NHS-alternative, our policymakers and funders should be doing everything possible to shore up this most cost-effective and highly-functioning component of our healthcare system. They could do this by shining a light on the general practice business model as a dynamic clinical learning environment that attracts and develops not only the next generation of GPs and RGs for our communities, but the future GP supervisors and practice owners who will in turn be instrumental in perpetuating general practice for generations to come.

Jumping on my soapbox at times like this to spruik the value of GP supervisors / supervision teams / training practices to the long-term health of all Australians is easily one of my favourite things! It has been an immense privilege to serve as GPSA’s CEO for the past three years, and I am deeply thankful for the opportunity to have represented and advocated on behalf of our membership alongside my dedicated team.

Further to the announcement in this media release mid-April, I am now relinquishing the CEO title but will be continuing with GPSA as the organisation’s Executive Lead of Special Projects. This shift will allow me to focus on a critical area for our organisation's future: driving new revenue streams to ensure we can continue providing the valuable services and advocacy that our members rely on for their delivery of high-quality supervision of learners across the pipeline.

This transition also allows me to prioritise my personal health and well-being. In recent months, my medical team has nudged me to adjust my work schedule to better support my health demands as someone who’s been living with stage 4 cancer for almost a decade. Given my passion for this organisation and our members, I am blessed that the Board has offered me the flexibility I now need while still enabling me to contribute meaningfully to GPSA's success in this new Special Projects role.

I am eager to embark on this new chapter and to work collaboratively with Interim CEO, Bruce Argyle, to keep this little NFP with its huge heart championing our members’ interests for many years to come.

I do want to take this opportunity to thank everyone in this awesome community for making me so welcome as GPSA's CEO. After 8 years in the role, Glen was a hard act to follow! But so many sector stakeholders, GPSA members, staff and Board Directors generously gave me the time and resources I needed to find my footing in this unique space - I ask you now to please extend this same warmth and generosity to Bruce, with whom I am incredibly excited to be working over the coming months.

Carla