The IDGP Practice Support Service aims to provide local practices with team based support, a model of coordinated service delivery which includes all members of the general practice team - general practitioners, nurses, practice managers and administration staff.

This practice team approach to the delivery of IDGP support services ensures general practitioners and all members of the general practice team have access to information and resources to assist in their roles. A PracticeSupport Service brochure is available.

Practice Visit

You can request a practice support visit by phoning the Practice Support Service at 4220 7600 or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it    A simple Practice Visit Request form is also available.

The Illawarra Division of General Practice Support Service team is comprised of Melanie Cousins,  Kristie-Lee Last, Vanessa Brown, Kathy Lymbery, and Linda Blackmore. This team aims to directly assist practices within the areas of:

• Accreditation
• Workforce
• Immunisation
• Infection control
• Medicare updates
• Practice Incentives Programs
• Human resources
• Nursing in general practice
• Information management

Practice Support Team Areas of Support Overview

Accreditation

The Practice Support Team can assist your practice throughout the Accreditation process, by

• Providing a comprehensive introduction to accreditation for new practices.
• Providing assistance in identifying what action must be taken to complete each standard.
• Providing practice visits and materials to assist you to prepare for the surveyor's visit.

Workforce Support

The Practice Support Service provides assistance to general practices within the Illawarra Area to address their workforce issues, through assisting practices in the recruitmentand retention of staff.  Assistance can be provided with

• Applying for Area of Need.
• Information about District of Work Force Shortage.

Immunisation

The Practice Support Service provides tools, resources and support to help general practices ensure the community is protected against vaccine preventable disease. Immunisation support consists of

• Updates and resources pertaining to the NSW immunisation schedule.
• Education and training in maintaining cold chain management.
• Providing data loggers, to log the temperature of immunisation fridges.
• Provide information about the process of reporting and recording immunisations. Assist in transferring to ACIR online reporting.
• Assist with data cleansing to improve the reliability of practice registers and increase practices coverage rates.

 Infection Control

The Practice Support Service can assist practices to manage infection control responsibilities, through

• Outlining and assisting your practice to meet the accreditation requirements developed through the RACGP Infection Control Standards for Office Based Practices 4th edition.
• Provide frequent updates about the actions practices can take to reduce the risk of a pandemic outbreak. 
• Providing posters to promote infection control in your practice.

Medicare Updates

The Practice Support Service can assist general practices with utilising Medicare items and fulfilling responsibilities, through

• Navigating the Medicare Benefits Schedule - items relevant to general practice including: Practice nurse MBS items, aged care MBS items, after hours MBS items.
• Providing updates about general practices claiming options.
• Providing education and information about changes to the MBS.

Practice Incentives Program (PIP)

The Practice Support Service can assist practices with claiming and maximizing PIP payments, through

• Identifying eligible patients for PIP activities through searching clinical software and using data extraction software.
• Creating and managing recall and reminder systems.
• Implementing a systematic approach to PIP activities - tailored to the needs of your practice.

Human resources

The Practice Support Team Service has the capacity to support Illawarra General Practices with their human resources responsibilities. The Practice Support Service consists of

• Maintaining a list of administration staff and practice nurses looking for work and a list of GP locums.
• Maintaining relevant job descriptions for practice staff, practice nurses and general practitioners looking for work.
• Providing orientation and induction guidelines to assist the integration and training of new employees.

Nursing in General Practice

The Practice Support Service provides assistance including

• Providing documents, assistance and training in the reruitment, selection and induction of new practice nurses.
• Providing orientation programs for new practice nurses.
• Providing a minimum of 6 practice nurse education events annually based upon topics indicated to be of high importance by practice nurses

If you are interested in receiving assistance from the Practice Support Service, in any of these areas please contact the Division at 4220 7600 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it