The Awards

NCGPT and its registrars are the proud recipient of a string of awards.

2011 GPET/MIMS Medical Educator of the Year 

Director of Training at NCGPT, Dr Christine Ahern ensures that registrars have the best possible learning outcomes, that the level of their education is of the highest standard and that they have every opportunity for professional development. She is dedicated to women's health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health training and has seen these important topics weaved into general education streams. She makes sure that overseas trained doctors feel welcomed and supported in their training. She cares about all the medical educators in her team, inspiring and challenging them to deliver the best possible education to registrars.

While all these qualities make Christine a good medical educator, what makes her exceptional is that she also imparts to registrars a sense of purpose, integrity and professional respect, with infectious enthusiasm. Her colleagues speak of her sense of humour, her compassion, and her commitment to the people around her.

2011 RTP Innovation Award

North Coast GP Training developed the NCGPT Practice Brochure to help explain accredited teaching practices to patients. The brochure aims to clarify the roles of registrars, RMO doctors doing PGPPP terms and medical students and emphasises that all consultations are always with fully qualified doctors.

The NCGPT Practice Brochure highlights the important role that teaching practices play in providing primary health care to communities. It is an innovative way of promoting general practice training, and the practices that support it

2010 RDAA-ACRRM Rural Registrar of the Year Award

NCGPT Registrar, Dr Sarah McEwan, was awarded the Westpac RDAA-ACRRM Rural Registrar of the Year Award for 2010, in recognition of her commitment to rural practice and her dedication to providing high quality medical care to the remote communities in her region. Sarah spent 4 years with NCGPT, while completing her GP Training. She then completed additional training in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Emergency through the NCGPT NSW GP Procedural Training Program.

ACRRM President, Dr Jeff Ayton, said Sarah is an extraordinary role model for other young rural doctors, taking a leadership role not only in her medical practice but also in her community. “Sarah provides outstanding, dedicated care to the rural communities in which she works, most recently as the District Medical Officer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Emergency at Port Hedland Hospital” he said. “She has shown a great enthusiasm for pursuing further education and training in the key areas needed by her rural community, and her ongoing commitment to rural medicine and strong leadership role make her a highly deserving recipient of this prestigious award.”

2010 GPET/Medical Observer GP Supervisor of the Year: Dr Debbie Kors

Debbie's commitment to teaching extends to attracting, training and shaping the next generation of GPs for her community. She values the importance of vertically integrated teaching by her involvement as a lecturer at the UNSW Rural Clinical School, medical educator for North Coast GP Training, board member of Hastings Mcleay GP Network and, from next year, a PGPPP supervisor. She has helped expand capacity in Port Macquarie by opening a second training practice in the area and has also in the past lobbied to have the rural pathway extended to RRMA3 locations.

Registrars look up to Debbie as a positive and inspirational role model, and her energy and passion for teaching has a profound effect on those around her. One registrar who worked with Debbie, when asked what else they would like to learn, said "to be at least half as good as my supervisor".

2009 National Rural Faculty General Practice Registrar of the Year

Dr Sarah-Jane McEwan was nominated by her peers for this award because of her passionate commitment to rural general practice and her enthusiasm in completing the most comprehensive training and preparation program imaginable. In addition to her core GP training, she has completed a sexual health and family planning Australia certificate, diplomas in obstetrics and gynaecology, a sexual assault management course and a diploma of child health. She has also completed courses in early management of severe trauma, neonatal resuscitation, foetal monitoring, nutritional and environmental medicine and rural emergency workshops.