The Advisory Group oversees the operation of VGMTP, comprising chairs of each alliance and representatives from Department of Health (our funders), St Vincent’s (the lead hospital), ANZSGM and other key stakeholders.

Review of 2024

2024 has been a momentous year for VGMTP.
• Rohan Wee was appointed co-director of VGMTP, and will assume the role of director of VGMTP following Benny Katz’s retirement in February 2025
• The number of Advanced Trainees in Geriatric Medicine continues to grow. VGMTP started in 2007 with about 30 trainees. In 2023 we had 118 trainees, and 137 in 2024.
• Kim Jeffs was appointed Director of Training of the Northern Training Alliance, taking over from Rohan Wee.
• Linda Appiah-Kubi was appointed lead of the VGMTP Communication Skills Program.
• Tasmania joined VGMTP
• VGMTP has been working with the health services to develop a fourth training alliance focusing on the needs of regional Victoria. The Greater Victorian Alliance will commence in 2025.
• VGMTP has continued to deliver a well-respected educational program for Advanced Trainees. These sessions are now recorded and available for the ATs to review via our website. Viewing time for these recordings has continued to increase.
• VGMTP has piloted on-line educational sessions for nurses working in aged care. Further development of this innovative program will occur in 2025.
• Our website at www.vgmtp.org has undergone further development

The Advisory Group acknowledged the death of Dr Jenny Schwarz and recognised her immense contribution to VGMTP as the founding Director of Training for the WTA and as the Lead in Communication Skills until earlier this year.

The Advisory Group thanked A/Prof Benny Katz for the immense contribution he has made as the founding Director of VGMTP as he hands over the role of Director on his retirement in February 2025.

Workforce and Recruitment

• A single round Centralised Match has been successfully completed with 110 positions advertised through the match.
• The challenges experienced by ATs and sites were discussed.
• PMCV have again proposed a single round match for 2025 and VGMTP will continue to work with both PMCV and employing sites to support recruitment of geriatric medicine ATs.

Regional Recruitment
• VGMTP recognises the importance of recruiting ATs to regional sites to support the health of older people in the non-metropolitan areas of Victoria.
• The Greater Victorian Alliance planned for 2025 is based on the existing training alliances. Further discussion of the model will occur at an upcoming meeting of regional and metro hospital directors.

A/Prof Benny Katz and Dr Rohan Wee
Co-Directors of VGMTP