NT Annual Registrars Forum
2024 PROGRAM
Registration Friday 6 September from 6:00 pm
Friday
6 September
6:30 pm
Welcome Drinks
Registration opens from 6:00 pm
Hosted by Dr Siobhan Hensey.
Dr Siobhan Hensey will welcome you on the first night. Siobhan is GPRA Board representative for the NT and is driven to create systemic positive change for all GP registrars and colleagues, as well as working locally with registrars to improve their experience of GP training.
7:15 pm
Workshop Dinner (2 hours)
Meet your peers!
Saturday
8:45 am
Leadership from a Registrar Perspective
Join Asanga and Siobhan for a thought-provoking and reflective session exploring what effective leadership looks like. From examining the different facets of leadership and distinct leadership styles, to generating team productivity and what happens when things don’t go to plan, this session offers an opportunity to collaborate with other registrars and delve into what leadership means to you as a registrar in the NT.
Through small group discussion and interactive activities, we look at the different ways in which leadership can take shape, with an opportunity to reflect on your own experiences and aspirations as a future leader. By the end of the session we hope you will walk away feeling inspired and empowered to take on leadership roles, in whatever shape or form, to create positive change for the future of General Practice.
Dr Siobhan Hensey
Dr Siobhan Hensey is a newly fellowed GP, living and working on Larrakia Country in the Northern Territory. Having completed her GP training with RACGP in Darwin and remote communities across the Top End in 2021, she has a keen interest in rural and remote healthcare.
As well as being on the GPRA Board of Directors, Siobhan currently works part-time as a medical educator and placement coordinator with the Flinders University NT Medical Program, and part time with The Communicate Study Partnership at Menzies – School of Health Research with a focus on improving intercultural communication in healthcare.
Dr Asanga Abeykoon
BE, BSc, MBBS(Hons), FRACGP
Asanga completed his medical school at Monash University in 2016. After doing his resident years in Victoria and the Northern Territory, he began his GP training journey with RACGP across rural North East Victoria and most recently in Katherine, Northern Territory. During that time he was also a RACGP Registrar Liaison Officer for both regions. He is now a newly fellowed Specialist General Practitioner. Currently, he is practising part-time as a GP in an Aboriginal Medical Service in rural Victoria, and part-time as a medical educator for RACGP Rural North East region.
10:30 am
Morning tea
11:00 am
Understanding the business of General Practice
This session provides participants with a comprehensive overview of the business aspects of general practice. From understanding the financial and operational aspects of running a successful practice to navigating the complexities of healthcare regulations and insurance.
Dr Emma Kennedy
Assoc Prof Emma Kennedy is a Specialist General Practitioner practising at Pandanus Medical NT, a Darwin-based General Practice which she and Dr Kishan Pandithage established in 2018. This practice has a focus on the breadth of General Practice and unites quality clinical care with education.
Emma is a leader in Medical Education and Training in the Northern Territory working as an academic in the Flinders University MD program delivered throughout the NT. She was also the Chair of the Board of Northern Territory General Practice Education until 2023, the organisation responsible for General Practice training in the Northern Territory until the transfer of training to the Colleges, RACGP and ACRRM. In both these roles she has been a strong advocate for person-centred medicine and cultural safety in learning within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
12:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm
Understanding different patient care systems – Medicare, Centrelink, NDIS and Veteran Affairs
Participants will gain a thorough understanding of the different systems patient care can be delivered under such as the Medicare system as it pertains to consultations and billings in primary health care.
Through an in-depth exploration of Medicare regulations, billing codes, and reimbursement processes, you will learn how to effectively practice under the Medicare system as well as other systems such as Centrelink, NDIS and Veteran Affairs.
Dr Clifford Morrison
Clifford Morrison completed his MBBS/BMSci from the University of Melbourne in 2006. After working in Emergency Medicine in rural and regional areas, he discovered his passion for General Practice. He has been a GP for over 10 years and is a Fellow of the RACGP.
Clifford is a practice owner/partner and teacher/supervisor of Registrars in two clinics located in the southeast of Melbourne. He joined the BFD team in 2024 after attending several BFD education sessions and hosting a two-day session at his clinics.
Dr Morrison is passionate about MBS education and has seen its benefits on an individual and practice level. He believes that MBS education helps GPs practice better medicine in a financially viable and MBS-compliant manner.
2:00 pm
What kind of GP do you want to be? Knowledgeable, Intelligent or Wise…
This session provides participants with what you do with your acquired knowledge, how you do it, and when not to do harm. This presentation will cover:
- Knowledgeable GP – clinical expertise and diagnostic skills
- Intelligent GP – patient-centred care and ethical decision-making
- Wise GP – experience and reflection, holistic approach, and self-care and resilience
Dr Kishan Pandaithage
General Practitioner, MBBS, FRACGP, MAcFA, GCHPE
Kishan graduated from the University of Adelaide and moved to Darwin in 1998. He is a Specialist General Practitioner and loves the challenges involved in managing the full spectrum of General Practice and has a keen interest in teaching. He is also a Senior Lecturer at the Northern Territory Medical School.
3:00 pm
Afternoon tea
3:30 pm
Communicating with Yolngu
This session is designed to foster understanding and build bridges between medical professionals and the Yolngu people of Northern Australia. Our presenter will share invaluable insights into practical strategies to communicate effectively and respectfully with Yolngu patients, fostering trust and mutual understanding. This session is about culturally sensitive healthcare, promoting inclusivity and respect in every interaction to enhance your communication skills and contribute to equitable healthcare outcomes for all Australians. This session will provide information on:
- Language barriers and communication challenges
- Cultural safety and respect when communicating with Yolngu
- Health literacy and promotion
- Effective communication techniques.
Dr Anna Walmsley
Anna has been in the NT since 2013 when she moved here with her family to live and work in Ramingining in East Arnhem Land. A late convert to medicine from earlier work as an Airforce engineer and later humanitarian development worker, she has a passion for holistic care which centres on a patient’s desired outcomes. Anna is a veteran, a mum of three, and an active Darwin community member – she loves her Commerce-Pints hockey!! She has special interests in indigenous health and palliative care and has a particular passion for culturally safe communication with patients
4:30 pm
Reflections of the day – whole group
GPRA
5:00 pm
Free time
6:00 pm
Pre-dinner Drinks
7:00 pm
Dinner
Celebrating the 2024 NT Scholarship winners
Enjoy this opportunity to relax amongst peers, and sector representatives while hearing from our guest speaker.
With welcome to Country, Larrakia Nation.
Featuring special guest speaker – Dr Wendy Page
Global expert in Aboriginal health and 2021 NT Australian of the Year. For more than 30 years, Dr Wendy Page has been dedicated to improving Aboriginal health outcomes, working tirelessly at the grassroots level for the communities in North East Arnhem Land. In 1993, Wendy took up a position at the newly established Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation in Nhulunbuy, where she is now medical director.
Sunday
8:30 am
Research and Health Economics in General Practice
This workshop explores the intersection of research, economics, and patient care in the context of general practice. Discover how health economics can inform decision-making and resource allocation, leading to improved patient outcomes and cost-effective care. Learn about the latest research methodologies and how they can be applied to assess the economic impact of health interventions. Our speaker will cover topics such as Research skills: interpreting findings and medical statistics & Health economics: key concepts and overview of GP funding.
Dr Winnie Chen
MBBS MPH FRACGP
Senior Research Fellow – Menzies School of Health Research
Research Fellow – Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, University of Sydney
GP – Danila Dilba Health Services
Winnie is a clinician-researcher and health economist. She works clinically as a GP at Danila Dilba Health Services and is completing her PhD research in health economics at Menzies School of Health Research. She has held various other roles including teaching medical students at Flinders NT teaching, clinical editing at Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NTPHN), and as a registrar liaison officer at Northern Territory General Practice Education (NTGPE).
9:30 am
NT and Top End Infections, Bites, Melioidosis and Scabies.
A clinical presentation covering some of the common and less common scenarios encountered by doctors working in the tropical north of Australia.
Macropathogens – Snakes, Jellyfish and Crocodiles
Micropathogens – Environment bacteria that cause melioidosis, leptospirosis and scrub typhus; human flora bacteria such as Staph and Strep; parasites such as scabies mites and hookworms.
Prof. Bart Currie
Professor Bart Currie is an infectious diseases and public health physician at Royal Darwin Hospital and Professor in Medicine at the Northern Territory Medical Program. He leads the Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases team at Menzies School of Health Research.
10:30 am
Morning tea
11:00 am
Working in Remote Communities.
This session is aimed at registrars who are passionate about making a difference in remote and underserved communities. Our presenter will outline the unique challenges and rewards of working in remote areas and the complexities of delivering quality services in remote settings. Gain insights into innovative strategies for overcoming geographical barriers, improving access to services, and fostering community engagement. This session will provide information on:
- Health care and infrastructure
- Health workforce challenges
- Health promotion and prevention
- Self-care and well-being.
Dr Anne Kleinitz
Anne is a Senior Rural Generalist in Remote Health (NT Health, Top End). She works as a Rural Generalist and has the Education and Training Portfolio for Remote Health, Top End Region. She is passionate about providing access to high standard health care in rural and remote Australia, as well as helping to grow the future rural health workforce. She has been involved with medical education throughout her training and career, including 10 years as a Senior Lecturer at the Flinders University, Northern Territory Medical Program (NTMP).
12:00 pm
Cultural safety
Cultural safety is a vital concept in health which seeks to address power imbalances, privilege, and racism within institutions and society. Let’s explore what cultural safety means and how cultural safety applies to you.
Dr Simone Ray
MBBS, FRACGP
President of Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association Dr Simone Raye is a proud Bardi Jabbir Jabbir woman from the Kimberley. As a medical student, Simone was closely involved with the initial meetings that led to the formation of AIDA. She continues to work as a GP in Darwin and do healthcare advocacy work, plus provide mentoring and support to Indigenous medical doctors nationally. Simone Raye was born and raised in Darwin. She studied at Newcastle University then went on to work at the Royal Darwin Hospital for many years and then decided to specialise in General Practice.
12:45 pm
Summary of key learnings, close of workshop
GPRA
1:00 pm
Lunch served with opportunity for further networking