Divisions of General Practice

What is the Divisions Network?

Divisions are supported by State Based Organisations (SBOs) and the Australian General Practice Network (AGPN). At 30 June 2007, there were 119 Divisions of General Practice covering all of Australia (see Figure). Divisions vary greatly in geographical size, number of GPs and population in their area, as well as in resources, infrastructure and their activities.

The Divisions of General Practice Program

In 1992, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing funded 10 demonstration Divisions, these were formalised local networks of GPs working within the same geographic area. The success of these demonstration projects meant that funding was extended with the Divisions of General Practice Program covering the whole of Australia. Current funding for the Divisions Program extends to 2012.

Broadly speaking Divisions have a local role to help general practices, GPs and other health professionals work more collaboratively; to improve evidence-based patient care at the clinical level; to address population health issues; and to support the rollout of national programs and initiatives. Divisions also advocate and negotiate on behalf of their members with governments, hospitals, other health care providers, and organisations that provide services to general practices.

AIMS OF DIVISIONS OF GENERAL PRACTICE

The aims of the Divisions of General Practice Program have remained the same since the inception of the program. Its main aim is to improve health outcomes for patients by encouraging GPs to work together and link with other health professionals to upgrade the quality of health service delivery at the local level.

The Divisions Program also supports such common aims as:

providing a mechanism for individuals and groups to contact local GPs and for GPs to respond as a group in local health issues;
allowing GPs to be involved in health policy decision making at the local level;
improving the quality of health service delivery at the local level in order to provide better access to available and appropriate health services;
addressing local issues to meet the special needs of groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from non-English speaking cultures and people with low incomes;
facilitating the introduction of other elements of the general practice strategy e.g. accreditation, peer review and training initiatives;
enhancing the quality of educational and professional development opportunities for GPs and undergraduates; and
improving the cost effectiveness of service delivery at the local level thereby contributing to a more appropriate allocation of Commonwealth funding

(Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health, 1995; Todd, Sibthorpe, & Todd, 1998)

Definition: rural Divisions

Divisions are classified as 'rural' if they have 5% or more of their total population within the Rural Remote Metropolitan Areas (RRMA) categories 4-7. This definition of rurality is currently being reviewed¹.

Using this classification, there were 66 rural Divisions and 53 urban Divisions up to 30 June 2007. All Divisions identified as rural using this classification are eligible for More Allied Health Services (MAHS) and Workforce Support for Rural General Practitioners (WSRGP) funding, announced in the 2000/2001 Federal Budget.

What ARE Divisions DOING?

Discover what Divisions are doing by visiting the:

Division Profiles
View current contact details for all Divisions of General Practice, as well as links to their websites, submitted Annual Plans and Reports and other related information.

Annual Survey of Divisions
A comprehensive survey completed by all Divisions to collect information on their membership, activities and infrastructure. Data is presented in a variety of formats to provide valuable information for Divisions, funders, policy makers, researchers and other stakeholders.