Challenging time for new GPET chair

GP groups have cautiously welcomed the appointment of former NSW Health deputy director-general Dr Richard Matthews as GPET chair, replacing outgoing chair Professor Simon Willcock.

RACGP president Professor Claire Jackson said the profession had “enormously valued” Professor Willcock’s “leadership and vision”, and she looked forward to working with Dr Matthews at a challenging time for general practice education.

“It is a critical time in terms of the number of registrars entering the system, and in providing the necessary support and infrastructure for supervisors,” she told MO.

General Practice Registrars Australia CEO Amit Vohra said the timing of Dr Matthew’s appointment had surprised stakeholders but there were “significant opportunities” to be seized in training following the recent release of the Health Workforce 2025 report.

“So far GPET has done a fantastic job, and we are hoping that nothing changes and it will be business as usual,” he said.

National General Practice Supervisors’ Association chair Dr John Emery said GPET’s immediate challenge was “finding enough good practices for registrars to train in”.

“I don’t think people have really come to terms with just how much time and money supervising and training registrars is costing practices,” Dr Emery said.