Dear Colleague,

2008 represents the start of the new Triennium for the RACGP QA & CPD Program and there have been a few changes to requirements, most importantly CPR basic training is compulsory for the new Triennium and an ALM is now worth 40 Category 1 points. I have included CPR training as a workshop and this will be a regular feature of the Sydney and Melbourne GPCEs, so don't worry if you can't fit it in your timetable or miss out at this Conference.

I am very pleased with the program we have put together for Melbourne 2008 as I have been endeavouring to make it more interesting for delegates, especially with the use of interactive keypads, panel discussions, role plays, actors and in some cases actual patients, etc.

Since Melbourne GPCE 2007 we have included a Procedural grants program that allows procedural GPs to obtain grants to attend the GPCE. There are certain topics in the program that will qualify you for this so please look at the program carefully as you will have to chose those topics in an ALM that relate to the procedural module.

Again I would like to thank the many associations and especially Professor Doris Young (University of Melbourne) that have given their support and advice, and provided us with some excellent speakers.
Besides wanting delegates to have an interesting , beneficial and informative scientific program, we also want you to have fun and enjoy the Conference – I hope some of our new initiatives will help you to achieve this.

Dr Lindsay Gazal
Convenor