General Practice Registrars Australia announces National RLO of the Year as it marks its 21st birthday

Established as an independent organisation in 2001, GPRA provides free advice and support for GP trainees on employment and training issues, and advocates for their rights. It has more than 20,000 members, including medical students and junior doctors interested in general practice, GP trainees, and newly-Fellowed GPs.

“GPRA is proud of our work supporting GP trainees and advocating for their rights.

“Like us, RLOs provide support, information and advice for registrars. We created this award to recognise the valuable work they do to support trainees.

“They are registrars themselves, employed by the Colleges and RTOs to provide peer to peer support, and they also give up their time to serve on GPRA’s Advisory Council.

“I have always appreciated their insights on issues that matter to registrars, and I am very pleased that we are recognising their contribution.

“As a GP registrar himself, Darran understands his peers’ concerns and issues, he has worked to foster a supportive training community and has demonstrated leadership among his peers.

“I am also pleased to announce honourable mentions for Dr Jackson Blythe, who was with GP Synergy before moving to the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and Dr Natasha Nottingham who was with GPEx in South Australia for two years.”

In October GPRA asked its members, clinical supervisors, practice managers and others in the training sector to nominate RLOs for the award.

Praise for Dr Foo includes:

• his comprehensive support for registrars and their fellow RLOs;
• his knowledge of complex workforce and training matters, including workplace health and safety issues;
• his expert advice on negotiating practice placements and contracts; and
• his willingness to take on leadership positions on working groups, organising events and webinars for registrars.

Dr Foo was also commended for his work supporting registrars when COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns were in-place. He organised networking events and webinars for first term registrars and set up a WhatsApp group to connect registrars training as rural generalists.

RLOs are employed by RTOs, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.

To be eligible for the award, RLOs must have a proven understanding of the issues that impact general practitioners in training, including the terms and conditions of employment and training requirements, while maintaining productive supervisor and practice relationships.

All RLOs are invited onto GPRA’s Advisory Council to advise the Board and CEO on issues affecting GPs in training and future trainees.

ENDS

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