How do I get a GP Term
Registrars need to apply for a GP Term with IGPE. Every 6 months, around February and August, IGPE will send all registrars a GP Term Application Form. Every registrar is required to complete and submit this form, regardless of their plans. This form has a section for applying for a Rural GP Term, or an Urban GP Term.
There are 4 types of GP Terms:
- Basic GP Term , this is the first 6 month term that is done in General Practice. You receive a high level of supervision and teaching and are required to attend an intense education program at IGPE.
- Advanced GP Term , this 6 month term is completed after the Basic GP Term. You receive less supervision and half the amount of teaching of a Basic GP Term, and are required to attend less intense educational activities at IGPE.
- Subsequent GP Experience (also known as Mentor term) , this is either a 12 month term, or a 6 month term IF you have completed a 6 month optional special skills term. This is completed after the basic and advanced terms. You generally do not receive teaching in practice, but are still required to attend education sessions at IGPE.
- Mandatory Elective , this is time you need to complete IF you have had Retrospective Credit approved. Mandatory Elective time can be done in the hospital, or as a general practice term at the end of your other training. The maximum of Mandatory Elective you may have to complete is 52 weeks, the same amount of time of RC you have had approved.
- Rural terms , as you are aware, you are required to complete a 6 month GP Term in a rural area (RRMA 3-7). You rural term can be completed during ANY of the above types of term. The rural term is NOT an additional term, it is simply the location of one of your GP terms. (See Rural Terms for further information).
- Urban Terms , any GP Term you complete that is NOT rural, must be completed within the South West Sydney Region (see Map). For registrars who joined the program in 2003 and onwards, you are also required to complete a 6 month Outer Metropolitan Term. Again, this is NOT an additional term, just the location of one of your GP terms. (See Outer Metro for further information).
Basic and Advanced terms are allocated terms, which means you cannot chose where you are training. IGPE has approximately 20 supervisors throughout the region who are accredited to take Basic and Advanced registrars. The practices have trained experienced supervisors. The allocation process is as follows:
- Registrars apply for terms
- Supervisors indicate their availability for registrars
- IGPE staff meet and allocates registrars as best as we can. Please note, registrars may indicate special circumstances on their forms. We make our best efforts to accommodate these, but there is no guarantee that firstly, we can give everyone a term and secondly that we can fulfill everyone's special considerations. Urban terms are allocated to a practice. Rural terms are allocated to a rural RTP.
- The registrars are sent a letter regarding their placement.
- The supervisors are sent a letter regarding their placement.
- The registrars and supervisors need to meet, negotiate terms and conditions, and fill in the appropriate paperwork and return it to IGPE before the deadline.
- Confirmation letters are then send to registrars and supervisors.
Subsequent/Mentor and Mandatory Elective Terms
Mentor terms are designed to be more realistic in terms of general practice once you have your fellowship. You are required to find your own term, go for an interview, and once the position has been accepted, negotiate your wage and hours etc. To assist in this process, IGPE has a Mentor Pack which will be sent to you once you indicate on your GP Term Application Form that you wish to apply for an Urban Mentor term. If you decide to complete your Mandatory Elective Time in an Urban General Practice, the mentor pack is also sent to you as they are treated in the same way. The mentor pack includes all the information you need for finding, processing and having approved your term.
If you want to complete this time as your Rural Term, you will be allocated to a Rural RTP. You then need to contact that RTP directly to discuss available terms and their specific paperwork that you will need to complete. DO NOT start contacting practices in a rural area without firstly being allocated to a region AND discussing it with the Rural RTP. If you do not follow proper procedure, the term may not be approved.
If you have any questions regarding terms, or the structure of your training, please contact IGPE on 02 9756 5711.
Please click here to visit our "Mentors Online" Service to assist you in finding a term placement.http://www.sellonline.com.au/sellonline/index.do?url=www.igpe.edu.au&cpage=classifieds&action=Category&index=All%20Divisions&skin=10
