Advisory Committee Report 8/5/25

This Advisory Group meeting is the first following the retirement of founding director, A/Prof Benny Katz.

The Advisory Group acknowledged the achievements and contributions of A/Prof Katz in establishing and driving the direction of VGMTP.

2025 marks the 20^th year of VGMTP. The 20 years since the establishment of VGMTP has seen a significant expansion of geriatric medicine advanced trainees from 29 in 2005 to 144 in 2025. The delivery of teaching has also changed over this time from entirely in-person to online. This has allowed the larger number of trainees and trainees in a wider variety of health services to attend.

VGMTP continues to deliver a wide range of educational sessions and communication skills training with high levels of attendance by advanced trainees. Recordings of the sessions allow advanced trainees to catch up or review educational sessions.

The recordings have also allowed VGMTP to expand its educational offerings. A category for Nurse Practitioners has been created which allows enrolled NPs to view the educational sessions. VGMTP is also running discussion groups for NPs to support peer-to-peer education.

A key part of the VGMTP program for advanced trainees continues to be the provision of small group communication skills training. Communication Skills is led by Dr Linda Appiah-Kubi who continues to review and develop this innovative program. VGMTP is grateful for the expertise of the communication skills facilitators and actors.

For the first time, VGMTP offered a pre-commencement education package for new advanced trainees to help prepare them for their new role as geriatric medicine advanced trainees. This package was well received and is planned to be made available for new ATs in 2026.

VGMTP will be reviewing our program to ensure any changes needed to align with the RACP New Curriculum can be made for 2026.

Recruitment for 2026 was discussed with 3 pathways for securing an advanced training position possible:

1. Regional Training Partnership positions

Regional Health Services are able to create positions in partnership with metro services. These positions can be filled prior to the Statewide PMCV match or can be offered via the match.

2. Centralised Match

All health services can fill advanced training positions via the PMCV run centralised match.

3. Part Time/Job Share

PT and job share positions can be negotiated directly with health services.

Greater Victorian Alliance

The need for geriatric services in regional areas was discussed and VGMTP is excited to announce a funding grant from the Victorian Department of Health for a trial of a regional training alliance. This grant will allow the establishment of the Greater Victorian Alliance and the appointment of a Director of Training and a Fellow In Geriatric Medicine. These positions will support trainees in regional health services, support the health services to develop and expand training positions and support recruitment to these non-metro sites.

The Advisory Group discussed the next steps in forming the GVA

• Identifying health services who wish to join
• Planning and recruiting for the Director of Training and FIGM positions

Our next Advisory Group meeting will be held on 13/11/25.