Expanded Initiative

The Panels Initiative has been expanded to include allied health professionals. The expansion to the Aged Care GP Panels Initiative was recently announced as part of the May 2007 Budget, Aged Care - improved health services for residents of aged care homes.

AGPN is working closely with the Department of Health and Ageing and key stakeholders in the development and coordination of the Initiative. An important component of the communication strategy is a series of workshops being conducted by the Department. Workshops will be held:

Hobart: Monday 20 August 2007
Melbourne: Friday 23 August 2007
Townsville: Tuesday 4 September 2007
Brisbane: Wednesday 5September 2007
Darwin: Thursday 6 September 2007
Adelaide: Thursday 13 September 2007
Perth: Friday 14 September 2007
Canberra: Wednesday 19 September 2007

The broad outline of the aims of each workshop is to:

  1. outline and discuss the expansion for the Aged Care GP Panels Initiative. This includes defining and explaining roles and scope for the GP Panels, allied health professionals, aged care facilities and the Divisions Network;
  1. outline the practical implementation issues of the Initiative. Presentations from Divisions of General Practice currently engaged in multidisciplinary panel activities within aged care facilities will be given as examples; and
  1. promote the linkages with other government funded initiatives including: Enhanced Primary Care, Comprehensive Medical Assessment and Residential Medication Management Reviews.

For more details please contact Jeanette Mathe at the Department of Health and Ageing on: (02) 6289 1475 or at Jeanette.Mathe@health.com.au.

AGPN and the Department are aware that many Divisions and key stakeholders will be unable to attend the scheduled workshops and have consequently made the presentations available. Click on the links below for more information on the Initiative and Division developed examples of projects to be implemented.

Department Overview Presentation
MBS in RACF
Southern Queensland Rural Division of General Practice
Capricornia Division of General Practice
GP Partners
Great Southern Division of General Practice
Osborne Division of General Practice
ANEDGP CMA

The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing have developed several documents relating to the Strengthening Medicare Aged Care Initiatives. Click on the relevant document to upload. Information pertaining to the expansion of the Initiative will be provided in the coming months.

Ltr ACGPPI Expansion
2007 Guidelines
2007 Expanded Initiative Fact Sheet

AGPN is undertaking a brief evaluation and information gathering exercise. If you attended one of the workshops we would be grateful if you could complete the evaluation form below. The evaluation will assist AGPN and the Department in identifying gaps and areas that we need to focus. Your time and effort in completing the form is greatly appreciated.

Workshop Evaluation Template
All forms should be forwarded to Debbie Bampton at dbampton@agpn.com.au or faxed to (02) 6228 0899.