Beyond Teaching: The Evolving Role of a GP Supervisor Liaison Officer
Dr. Aileen Traves, a GP in Cairns, discusses her journey to becoming a GP Supervisor Liaison Officer (SLO) and the evolving nature of the role. She was drawn to the SLO role to support both experienced supervisors nearing retirement and the next generation. She sees the SLO role is about supporting supervisors - who are supporting registrars.
What led you to take on the role of SLO, and how did your journey bring you here?
"I’m a GP in Cairns and have been passionate about supervision since my early days as a medical student, helping peers and guiding those coming up behind me. That interest continued through junior doctor roles and registrar training. I was also a Registrar Liaison Officer (RLO), which gave me insight into the training landscape though in hindsight, I didn’t fully appreciate how experienced and consistent the SLOs were at the time. I probably missed some opportunities to collaborate more closely with them.
"What drew me to the SLO role was how much I’d enjoyed supporting others as an RLO. It felt meaningful to contribute to improvements in training based on real-world experience. With all the changes we’ve seen from RTOs to university-led training and now college-led, the people on the ground have mostly remained the same, including some of my own supervisors. With many now nearing retirement, stepping into the SLO role felt like a chance to give back and support both them and the next generation.
"I’d also been involved with GPSA and knew the SLO network offered national collaboration, which really appealed to me. Sharing what’s working elsewhere and bringing that to our region is a big part of how I hope to make a difference."
In what ways have your past experiences prepared you for this role?
"Working with both an RTP and an RTO, and now supervising medical students through the local university, has shaped how I approach supervision. It’s a vertically integrated model, we’re supporting future registrars and supervisors. Seeing learners progress through these stages gives real insight into how to support them at each point.
"Often the same challenges show up again as students become registrars. It’s not always about capability, it can be about personality or learning style. Recognising those patterns means we can step in earlier with tailored support, which benefits everyone involved, especially supervisors. Getting placements and matching right from the start can make a huge difference to the experience on both sides.
"For me, networking and personalised support are key. GP supervision can be isolating, and supervisors often feel like they’re dealing with unique issues when in fact others are facing the same. Connecting people, sharing strategies, and encouraging peer learning can really lighten that load.
"I’m not a medical educator, but I’ve worked closely with them, and that helps me bridge understanding between what’s being taught and how supervisors can best support that learning. So even though the SLO role isn’t formal teaching, you still lean on those education skills.
How do you see the SLO role?
"The SLO role is about supporting supervisors - who are supporting registrars. Sometimes it means being the person a supervisor can call when they’re unsure what to do next. As I’m not involved in registrar assessment, I’m a safe person to debrief with, and those calls often happen outside hours which is totally fine. That’s just the reality of GP life.
"Part of the role is also making it easier for people to reach out in the first place. Just seeing a name on the TMS system isn’t enough, you have to build relationships and trust. I want supervisors to know that I’m here for them. If something’s not sitting right, or if you just need to talk, that’s what the SLO is for.
"Often a quick conversation early on can prevent a small issue becoming a bigger one. I might not have the answers, but I usually know who to ask. And because I’m not directly involved, I can make those inquiries on your behalf.
"I also work closely with RLOs. If a registrar and a supervisor are seeing a situation differently, we can help bridge that gap and find a constructive way forward."
What does GPSA offer supervisors, and why should they get involved?
"GPSA offers two things that really stand out: community and education. The supervisor network across the country is such a valuable source of support. Whether you’re rural, metro, new to supervision, or very experienced, everyone’s facing similar challenges. Being part of a national conversation is incredibly reassuring.
"Then there’s the education - high-quality, practical, and accessible. GPSA’s resources are flexible and designed to support supervisors at all levels. The webinar library, toolkits, and topic-based support are genuinely helpful, and you can access them when it suits you.
"There’s also the industrial advice and employment templates - the practical tools that make life easier for supervisors, registrars, and practice managers alike. And it’s all free to access once you join.
"Many supervisors don’t realise just how much GPSA offers. Once you get involved, you quickly see the value—not just in the resources, but in the community and the sense that you’re not doing this alone."
What are some of the biggest challenges facing supervisors right now?
"Time pressure is huge. Supervisors are being asked to do more without more hours in the day. That’s probably the most common frustration we hear.
"On top of that, there’s the stress of constant change: new systems, new placement processes, shifting college and government expectations. All of this adds to the cognitive load, especially when you’re also trying to guide registrars who haven’t experienced the same changes and need help understanding the broader context.
"Helping registrars make sense of the system, and helping supervisors adapt to it, is becoming an increasingly big part of the role.
Is there a message you’d like to share with supervisors across Australia?
"Yes, a big thank you!
"Supervisors are often underrecognised for the critical role they play. Without their time and commitment, we wouldn’t be training the next generation of GPs.
"As more long-time supervisors move toward retirement, we’re losing a wealth of experience that’s hard to replace. So before they go, I want to say thank you for all the years, the wisdom, and the guidance you’ve passed on to registrars. Your impact is bigger than you might realise.
Final thoughts
"Just that while this period of change has been tough, especially in regions like ours, I do think we’re starting to turn a corner. We’re seeing more people apply to general practice, which is encouraging.
"If your practice hasn’t had a registrar for a while, don’t lose heart, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen again. Sometimes a break is needed, but it can still be hard when you’re used to having a registrar around.
"So yes, it’s been a challenging time but there are better days ahead. And if you ever need to talk, ask a question, or just feel stuck, that’s what your SLO is here for. You’re not alone in this."
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