Monash University Department of Community Medicine and General Practice

The department, one of the largest general practice departments in the country, employing over fifty academic and administrative staff, is a dynamic and growing organisation offering innovative courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The department has developed case-based problem teaching, patient education, management consulting skills, self-directed learning, computerised learning, practical skills teaching and distance education courses which are available internationally. The postgraduate offerings include the Graduate Diploma/Masters in Family Medicine which is widely considered the course par excellence in this country attracting significant numbers of GP students across Australia and internationally.

The department also offers a range of continuing medical education programs including annual update courses for GPs and Australian Medical Council bridging courses for overseas trained doctors. Key links with research centres include the Centre for Rural Health and the Centre for Developmental Disability Health.

If you would like further information about the department and its courses or activities check our website at http://www.monash.edu.au, contact Jenny Green on 9579 3188 or email Jenny.Green@med.monash.edu.au

The GPRU, located in the Department of Community Medicine and General Practice at Monash University, supports GPs and local divisions of general practice to work with Southern Health to improve patient care. The main areas of interest are in improving communication, integration and continuity of care with the clinical programs of the Network by bringing health care providers together to work through issues of mutual concern.

The GPRU has input from Southern Health, Monash University’s Department of Community Medicine and General Practice and five divisions of general practice in the south east region – Central Bayside, Dandenong, Greater South East, Monash ( Moorabbin) and Sherbrooke/Pakenham. GP liaison representatives from the divisions are directly involved in providing input and feedback on the Network’s programs.

Current areas of interest include general GP: hospital communication issues such as admission and discharge notifications, discharge planning, pre-admission protocols, hospital-in-the home programs and specific health issues such as shared care in aged care, mental health and palliative care, diabetes and secondary stroke prevention. More information about the GPRU can be obtained from our website http://comm-med.med.monash.edu.au/southern.htm, Margaret Barkley on 9579 3188 or email Margaret.Barkley@med.monash.edu.au

Divisions of General Practice

General Practice Divisions are self managed independent entities formed on a geographic basis and funded by the federal government as part of its General Practice Strategy. They provide a focus for regional groupings of GPs to interact with each other, with state and regional health authorities, local health care providers, community groups, allied health professionals and consumers. Divisions directly support GPs with the introduction of new technology and they are significant providers of continuing medical education for GPs.

The three divisions which fall within Southern Health catchment area are:

	Website
Dandenong and District,	www.gp.org.au/ddd.html
Greater South East,	www.gsedgp.com.au
Monash (Moorabbin)	www.monashdivision.com.au

Together they comprise the South East Divisions of General Practice
(SEDG).