Continuing Professional Development

CESPHN’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program supports GPs, practice nurses, practice managers, allied health professionals and practice staff to maintain and strengthen their skills in response to local healthcare needs.

CESPHN continues to work closely with GP advisory and education committees, GP facilitators and local hospitals to develop and deliver education that supports evidence-based practice and strengthens connections across the health system, ensuring topics reflect current clinical priorities, policy changes and emerging issues affecting primary care. 

The program provides accessible and relevant education through a range of delivery formats, including:  

  • webinars 
  • face to face workshops 
  • conferences 
  • peer group learning 
  • practice based training.  

The CPD program forms a key part of CESPHN’s workforce development activities, helping primary care professionals stay informed, connected and equipped to meet the needs of their communities.

Key topics and sessions of interest through 2025-26: 

  • State of the Heart Cardiology series in conjunction with the Sutherland and Eastern Heart Clinics 
  • Antenatal Shared Care 
  • ADHD 
  • Cyber security for your practice  
  • Climate change and mental health 
  • Cultural Awareness training 
  • Practice support including Assignment of Benefit change 2026 and Navigating the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP)  
  • Mental health and behaviours of concern for people with Intellectual disability  
  • Thrive mental health forum 
  • Cancer spotlights e.g. Breast cancer screening, prostate and colon cancer screening, and liver cancer and alcohol use  
  • Managing anxiety and depression in older age  
  • Immunisation updates  
  • Domestic and family violence  
  • Digital Health support including eReferrals, GP Connect, My Health Record and POLAR  
  • Succession planning for GPs and practice owners 
  • Palliative care  
  • Trauma informed support for health professionals.
5,526
CPD event attendances.
50,661
YouTube views of 69 recordings of CPD webinars.
123
peer group learning sessions.
14
peer groups.
348
events.
142
in-person events.
98.5
average satisfaction rating.

CESPHN’s CPD program continued to support the primary care workforce through accessible, relevant and practical education opportunities during 2025–26. 

A total of 348 education activities were delivered, attracting 5,526 attendances across online and face-to-face formats. To support flexible learning, 69 recorded webinars were made available on demand, generating 50,661 YouTube views throughout the year. 

Peer learning remained a strong component of the program, with 123 peer group learning sessions delivered across 14 peer groups. These sessions enabled clinicians to share experiences, discuss clinical challenges and apply evidence based learning in practice. 

A major achievement was the Smart Practice: Connecting the Future, Digital Health, AI and Cybersecurity Forum. The full day conference brought together 116 participants, including GPs, practice managers, allied health professionals and other healthcare stakeholders. Sessions explored practical applications of digital health and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity risks and mitigation strategies, governance considerations and equitable access to digital healthcare. The event achieved a 97% satisfaction rating, with 100% of attendees indicating they would recommend the conference. 

The CPD program achieved an average satisfaction rating of 98.5%, demonstrating the value of delivering education that supports workforce capability, strengthens professional networks and contributes to quality patient care across the region. 

“

Great facilitating and fantastic presentations by knowledgeable and wonderful team of speakers

“

The presenters were excellent and gave comprehensive presentation in the topics discussed.

“

Amazing! A big thank you to all the specialists for their time.

“

All speakers excellent with updated information.

“

This was most interesting and very practical presentation on sarcoma and other rare tumors of the limbs. The presentation was highly applicable to GPs to alert us to this rare condition but serious problem, good topic

Peer Group Learning

The Peer Group Learning (PGL) Program continues to play an integral role in supporting the ongoing professional development of GPs across the region. With high levels of engagement, consistently strong evaluation outcomes, and a diverse array of timely and clinically relevant topics delivered through both online and in-person sessions, the program remains a trusted and highly valued education model. Across the reporting period, 99.9% of participants reported that the program entirely met their learning needs, while 100% indicated they would recommend the program to their peers, demonstrating the program’s quality, relevance and value to general practice. 

The PGL program also delivered 2 x focus groups as part of Dr Stephanie Ward’s qualitative study of the experience of primary care in the diagnosis and management of dementia. Dr Ward’s research team includes a GP, Dr Patrick Bolton, and Prof Peter Gonski, the Aged Care Stream Director for SESLHD, and Brendan Goodger from CESPHN.  

Peer Groups: 

  • 1 July – 31 December 2025: 14 peer groups  
  • 1 January – 30 June 2026: 13 peer groups; 168 GP participants 
  • Online PGL sessions: 82 
  • In-person PGL sessions: 41 
  • Total PGL sessions held: 123 
  • Total PGL attendances: 1,186*  
  • Participants who would recommend the program to their peers: 100% 
  • Participants reporting the program entirely met their learning needs: 99.9% 
836
consumers.
4,332
occasions of service.
65
consumers supported to have an annual physical health check.

The PGL program delivered education on a diverse range of clinical and public health subjects including:  

  • Public health unit and immunisation updates 
  • Medical management of weight loss 
  • ADHD update 
  • Strokes and TIAs 
  • Renal disease update     
  • End of life care – GP implemented care                                                                  
  • Mental health update: Including impact of social media and other behavioural disorders 
  • Gut microbiome update including diet, supplements and faecal matter transplant 
  • Pain management update including multimodal management 
  • Dementia update 
  • Childhood food allergies 
  • Addiction management in general practice 
  • Vertigo and tinnitus update including hearing devices 
  • Advances in Alzheimer’s disease 
  • Pregnancy screening: including NiPT/RCS/HbEPG.
“

It helps me to keep up-to-date with clinical practice across a variety of specialties and allows opportunities to discuss complex cases with colleagues and specialists.

“

Learning and discussing/reflecting with peers to gain a sense of the current evidence and guidelines, and how we can apply this in our daily practice amongst our local population.

“

Very good program, excellent education and networking opportunity.

“

Great way to learn and meet new colleagues and specialists.

“

“

Highly recommended way of learning - great to develop collaborative and supportive relationships with specialists and GP colleagues and learn current evidence based medicine.

“

Great, friendly low pressure great learning environment.

“

It is fun, collegiate, learning on steroids.

“

Makes sure I’m practicing good medicine.

“

It's a great way to continue my learning in a very supportive group.