Partnerships make a difference in regional Australia

The Mackay Division of General Practice prides itself on expanding the once limited professional development, training and educational activities for managers and staff from medical and specialist practices in the Mackay region.

The Division has worked closely with UNE Partnerships in supporting the employment and up-skilling of practice staff to build and maintain successful practices across the network.

The Diploma of Practice Management customised for Health practices workshops commenced in July this year and are held one weekend a month over five months at the Division’s North Mackay office.

This is the second intake of workshop groups organised by the Division and UNE Partnerships. Previous graduates have benefited greatly from their training and the Mackay Division of General Practice was keen to get a second group together to extend this opportunity to other practice staff in the region. This was achieved through the determination of the Division, its resources, links within the industry and experience in delivering quality education.

The topics covered include: role of the practice manager; staff management; legal and administrative requirements; managing financial performance and systems; planning and systems for practice success; and meeting client needs. In addition the final assessment items centre on developing a business plan for each practice which includes reviewing the practice and its opportunities.

UNE Partnerships’ presenters are experts in their field with a wealth of relevant industry experience, providing helpful advice and support to their students. Networking is a key benefit of the workshops allowing the exchange of ideas, suggestions and support within the group. In addition, the Division has established a student study group that offers additional support via telephone, email and a face-to-face evening meeting once a month. For rural students a teleconference has also been setup for the monthly meetings so they can actively participate.

The Mackay Division of General Practice is very active, and particularly values the long-term benefits of ongoing professional development and opportunities for staff in the region. Together with UNE Partnerships, the Division provides a fantastic example of how ‘together we can make it happen’.