Katherine GP Education Precinct: a model for remote comprehensive training

Dr Fred McConnel, Northern Territory General Practice Education, Darwin, Australia*

Katherine — a sprawling region the size of Victoria extending from the Gulf of Carpentaria to the WA Kimberly border — population about 20,000. A remote town of 10,000 with similarities to rural towns, but significant differences. Six medical practices including a fully staffed non-specialist hospital and two multisites very remote Aboriginal Medical Services — ideal ACRRM training ground? No — the region has all the attributes to meet the ACRRM curriculum, but only one practice really meets the description for ACRRM training, and it is not yet accredited. This paper describes the local solution, to set up a ‘precinct’ – a single training practice with multiple sites utilising the combined skills and competencies of all the practices and those of special interest clinicians to provide a comprehensive training package and experience for Registrars. This proposal has been discussed with local practices and is being further developed. The results of consultations will be presented, the advantages, the risks, and the barriers. Does the Precinct have an application to other remote centres and to the increasing demands for training?

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