I acknowledge Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I live and work. I pay my respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and commit to participating in the process of reconciliation.
Presidential Election Statement
Dear members,
For the past six years, in my role as RACGP Board Company Director and as Chair of the Rural Faculty, I have confidently made tough decisions for the benefit of the profession of general practice. I continue to express my dedication and support for GPs in my current position as Vice President of the RACGP.
Through having held various leadership positions within the college over the past 15 years, I have proudly created opportunities to represent and communicate with state and federal governments, and to advocate on behalf of the profession. Those roles saw me focus on rural general practice, my passion, however, is for general practice as a whole – unified, strengthened, and in charge of its own destiny.
My advocacy efforts have resulted in improved funding arrangements and new initiatives that have supported general practice. An example of this work is the recent Collingrove Agreement between RACGP and ACRRM, this is a testament to my ability to collaborate with other organisations for the enhancement of general practice.
Various roles with the RACGP called for extensive travel across rural Australia, from Longreach in QLD, Alice Spring in NT, to Ravensthorpe in WA, as well as visits to every capital city and state faculty office. I have met, and spoken with, GPs at the grassroots level to make sure my advocacy efforts are a true reflection of the hard-working needs and desires of GPs across Australia.
During the 20 years I worked in rural NSW I established my own private practice in Wagga Wagga. The practice was awarded RACGP General Practice of the year NSW/ACT 2007, followed by three AGPAL awards including safety and quality practice of the year in 2010.
I am an advocate for lifelong learning through training and education, both of which have always been my passion. I was on the RACGP expert committee of education for many years and also held the position of Director of Training in my region. The new College-led training model is inspiring and offers a brilliant opportunity to improve general practice training for the future. I hope we can all work together to make GP training something we can be proud of.
In my roles with the RACGP, I’ve developed the skills to communicate effectively with governments and the media. I have represented the views of the RACGP and my colleagues in various media outlets over the years, and welcome opportunities to continue doing so.
When GPs work together, change happens. As President, I want to bring members into the College, I want a new direct relationship with you. I want to harness the relationship you have with your patients to help advocate to government on your behalf and to make the necessary changes to ensure general practice becomes the best, and most prized job in medicine.
I have the knowledge, skills and expertise to lead the RACGP. I have done the hard yards. I understand every level of the College from expert committees, to examinations, to censors, to policy development. I believe I am the best person to represent the RACGP as President. I hope I will have your support in the upcoming election.
Associate Professor Ayman Shenouda