Alcohol and Other Drugs GP education programs

RACGP Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) GP Education Program

The AOD GP Education Program was developed with funding from the Department of Health as part of the 2018-19 Budget Measure: Preventative Health – support for alcohol and drug abuse.

GPs can enter the program at any level, however GPs applying for Treatment Skills Training will need to meet program eligibility requirements.

Essential Skills Training

What’s involved

• 2.5 hours self-directed online via RACGPs gplearning
• 5 RACGP CPD points (2020-22 triennium)

How it benefits you

Essential Skills Training provides a core-skills update for GPs wanting to improve their approach to conversations about alcohol and drug use, identify at-risk groups, and safely and effectively manage difficult patient behaviours which can arise during GP consultations.

Go to RACGP course: gplearning

Treatment Skills Training

What’s involved

• 6 hours (3 x 90 mins workshops or self-direct learning modules via gplearning)
• 40 RACGP CPD points
• $1,200 incentive payment
• 1,800 places available

How it benefits you

Treatment Skills Training is designed for GPs who would like to build on their core AOD skills and enhance their ability to engage in safe, open and effective dialogue with patients about their alcohol and drug use, gain their patient’s confidence, assess patient readiness for change and determine an appropriate treatment plan.

Applications close April 2021.

Login to RACGP to apply

AOD Connect – Project Echo

What’s involved

• AOD Connect: Project ECHO offers RACGP members a dedicated weekly time to gather on Zoom to discuss their AOD patient cases
• Sessions run every Thursday evening on Zoom, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm
• There is no prerequisite to join, all RACGP members currently treating or interested in treating AOD patients are welcome

How it benefits you

The case discussions provide you with an opportunity to learn from your peers’ experiences and the chance for you to share your experiences and insights.

You will have access to a panel of experts including AOD GPs and an addiction medicine specialist who you can also approach for recommendations and advice. Sessions are predominantly driven by peer learning.

Register your interest in Project Echo at RACGP

ACRRM Drug and Alcohol Addiction Education (DAAE) Program

The ACRRM Drug and Alcohol Addiction Education (DAAE) Program features a suite of training activities designed to strengthen the capacity of GPs to address drug and alcohol addiction in their communities.

Available at no cost to ACRRM members, the DAAE program includes an online learning course, virtual and face-to-face workshops and webinars with subject matter experts, supported by resources for GPs to use within their practice.

Eligible ACRRM members can claim an incentive grant following successful completion of each DAAE Program training activity.

Eligible ACRRM members include all doctors and registrars who are current financial members of the college (excludes students, health professionals, IMG associates, future RG and retired members).

Drug and Alcohol Addiction Education (DAAE) workshops 

What’s involved

• 5.5 hours PDP (educational activities)
• 2 hours PDP (performance review)
• $2,700 incentive grant available
• 1,100 places available

How it benefits you

Highly interactive workshops provide tools and techniques for GPs to address addiction issues and effectively harness the local resources and referral pathways available. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss specific cases from their local community.

Enrol now at ACRRM

Alcohol and Other Drugs – Driving Change in Communities online education course

What’s involved

• 12 hrs PDP (educational activities)
• $1,300 incentive grant available*
• 1,100 places available

How it benefits you

Self-directed case-based online courses focus on developing effective communication strategies for assessing and managing patients with drug and alcohol addiction and optimising treatment options available in the local community.

Enrol now at ACRRM

Alcohol and Other Drug – Webinar Series

What’s involved

• Interactive webinars in Q&A format

How it benefits you

Interactive webinars in Q&A format are led by AOD addiction experts. The webinars focus on key clinical areas and outcomes from the face-to-face and online learning courses, to build your core knowledge with the opportunity to explore case examples.

• $200 incentive grant available*

How you access the webinars

Enrol now at ACRRM

Visit the ACRRM website for more details

SWSPHN Certified Professional Development

South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) works with the local drug and alcohol sector to tailor suitable learning opportunities to support general practice to increase their skills, knowledge and confidence in managing patients with substance abuse issues. 

Visit our CPD events page.

Opioid Treatment Program Accreditation 

The Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) requires medical practitioners to become accredited OTP prescribers by completing the Opioid Treatment Accreditation Course (OTAC).

All patients must be initiated and stabilised on the OTP by an accredited prescriber before they can be transferred to the care of a non-accredited provider.

Download a form from NSW Health to apply for authorisation [PDF | 2 pages | 272kb]