GPRA NT GP Registrars Forum 2025
2025 PROGRAM
Registration Friday 5 September from 6:00 pm
FRIDAY
5 SEPTEMBER
6:00 pm
(Foyer, Novotel Darwin CBD)
Welcome Evening
Meet with peers for light refreshments
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.
SATURDAY 6 SEPTEMBER
8:45 am
(Brolga Room, Novotel Darwin CBD)
Note: Breakfast available from 6:30am for attendees
GP response to family and domestic violence
Interpersonal/Family Violence is a pervasive issue that significantly impacts physical and mental health. As frontline healthcare providers, GPs play a critical role in identifying, supporting, and guiding patients experiencing domestic violence. This keynote presentation will provide practical insights on trauma-informed care, safe screening techniques, and referral pathways.
Kristine McConnell (Dawn House)
Dawn House Inc provides services to women and children escaping domestic and family violence in Darwin, NT, including crisis accommodation, support, advocacy for families, and specialist programs for children.
10:30 am
Morning tea
11:00 am
Infections, Bites, Melioidosis and Scabies
This presentation explores clinical scenarios faced by doctors in tropical northern Australia, addressing threats from macropathogens like snakes and crocodiles, and micropathogens such as bacteria, parasites, and environmental hazards.
Professor 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.
12:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm
GP Billing systems – MBS, NDIS, Aged Care & Veteran Affairs
Participants will explore how patient care is delivered under Medicare and other health systems, gaining insights into consultations, billing codes, compliance/record keeping and reimbursement processes to practice effectively in primary health care.
Dr Sunny Krishna
Dr Sudheendra (Sunny) Krishna is a practising general practitioner in Hawthorn and a newly appointed board member of the Eastern Melbourne PHN Clinical and Practice Council.
He has a passion for educating the future medical workforce as a medical educator with the RACGP and University of Melbourne.
Sunny loves spending time with his family, playing cricket and discovering new ways to make coffee.
2:00 pm
Use of AI in General Medical Practice: Transforming Patient Care
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping general practice and improving patient care. This session will explore AI’s role in diagnostics, predictive analytics, personalised medicine, and administration—alongside the associated risks such as algorithmic bias, data privacy, and the potential medical legal risks and impact on health professionals’ practice.
Tracy Pickett (Legal & Policy Adviser, Avant)
Tracy has more than 26 years experience in medico-legal complaint management and litigation. As a senior lawyer and member of Avant’s Advocacy, Education and Research team, she is responsible for identifying and responding to emerging medico-legal issues which impact Avant’s members. Tracy is an experienced presenter, regularly presenting at educational seminars and is actively involved in the medico-legal community in Queensland. She is a key member of the Avant team exploring issues relating to the medico-legal risks associated with AI in healthcare.
3:00 pm
Afternoon tea
3:30 pm
Enhancing Healthcare Outcomes in your daily practice with patients – Through Evidence-Based Insights
This presentation examines systemic barriers to equitable healthcare, offering data-driven insights and targeted strategies to enhance outcomes, empower patients, and build trust in the healthcare system.
Speaker to be announced
4:30 pm-5:00 pm
Reflections of the day – whole group
Led by Dr Siobhan Hensey, GPRA
6:00 pm
(Stone House, 33 Cavenagh St, Darwin City)
Celebration Function
Celebrating the 2025 GPRA NT Scholarships winners
Enjoy this opportunity to relax amongst peers and sector representatives, and hear from GPRA President Dr Chris Dickie.
Hosted by Dr Chris Dickie (GPRA President)
SUNDAY 7 SEPTEMBER
8:30 am
(Brolga Room, Novotel Darwin CBD)
Note: Breakfast available from 6:30am for attendees
Getting the Balance right – Pacing your learning and maintaining good health
This presentation, led by GPRA’s recently fellowed President, will be interactive and provide you with a chance to work on your own plan/share tips to balance your training/education with life as you work towards Fellowship. This session will highlight practical strategies for clinicians to build self care strategies, and prevent burnout, emphasising the importance of self-care for a sustainable and fulfilling healthcare career.
Dr Chris Dickie
Dr Chris Dickie is GPRA President and a newly-Fellowed GP working in New South Wales. Having graduated from the University of St Andrews and the University of Glasgow in Scotland, he completed his intern and resident equivalents around the Glasgow area before moving to Canberra in 2018. After a few years working in Emergency and in a non-clinical Medical Administration role, Chris started GP training in 2022 which had been his plan for several years, before Fellowing in 2025.
9:30 am
Healthy Clinicians – A session that focuses on you and your wellbeing
This session is about you! It will offer an opportunity for you to take some time to think about your own health, offer evidence-based strategies to adapt, manage training and personal responsibilities, and maintain balance while delivering quality healthcare.
Speaker to be announced
10:30 am
Morning tea
11:00 am
Empowering First Nation Communities Through Inclusive Mentorship
GPs play a vital role in fostering health, leadership, and empowerment within First Nation communities. This session explores how inclusive mentorship can strengthen relationships, improve healthcare access, and support Indigenous individuals in achieving personal and professional growth.
Timmy Duggan OAM (Founder, Hoops 4 Health)
Timmy Duggan OAM is a local born and bred Darwin man with family connections to the Warramungu people of Central Australia and the Nykinya people of the Kimberley. Timmy has a Diploma of Youth and Community Development from RMIT University, and is the first person from the Northern Territory to play in the National Basketball League. He is a pioneer for both Indigenous and Northern Territory basketballers and has always had a strong passion for promoting healthy lifestyles especially in remote communities. In 2020 Timmy was nominated for the “Local Hero” Australian of the Year award.
12:00 pm
Fitness to Drive assessments
GPs play a vital role in assessing a patient’s fitness to drive, balancing medical, ethical, and legal considerations.
This workshop provides essential guidelines, practical strategies, and legal frameworks to support informed decision-making while managing patient expectations. This session aims to empower GPs with the confidence and expertise needed to make informed Fitness to Drive determinations and contribute to safer roads for all.
Presented by Austroads
Austroads is the association of Australian and New Zealand road transport and traffic authorities. Austroads promotes improved Australian and New Zealand transport outcomes by providing expert technical input to national policy development on road and road transport issues.
12:45 pm
Summary of key learnings, thank you and close of forum
Led by Dr Siobhan Hensey, GPRA
1:00 pm-2:00 pm
Lunch served with opportunity for further networking
