General News
24 November, 2022
Former local heads RACGP
Former Maryborough local and general practitioner Dr Nicole Higgins has become president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). Stepping into the role following the RACGP’s annual general meeting yesterday, Dr Higgins...
Former Maryborough local and general practitioner Dr Nicole Higgins has become president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
Stepping into the role following the RACGP’s annual general meeting yesterday, Dr Higgins currently resides in Queensland and owns a teaching practice in the town of Mackay.
Passionate about GP training, Dr Higgins is the current chair of GP Supervisors Australia and has been involved in GP training for over 20 years, receiving the Supervisor of the Year, Tropical Medical Training 2014 award and was a finalist in the Australian Leadership Excellence awards in 2017, among others.
Dr Higgins said she was eager to get started in the new role, highlighting the importance GPs have in communities across the country.
“I am honoured to be taking on the RACGP president role, and look forward to working with members, other GPs and stakeholders on healthcare, including the government in the months and years ahead,” she said.
“General practice is the most cost effective way of keeping Australians healthy — GPs save lives, and prevent illness.
“For too long, the role of general practice has been undervalued, oversimplified and defunded. Without general practice, the system fails.
“As a grass roots GP, practice owner, supervisor, working parent and primary caregiver, I understand the stressors that GPs face, and I am determined to be a strong and loud advocate for the changes we need. Now is the time to stand up as a profession and make our mark.”
As well as being the RACGP’s newly elected president, Dr Higgins sits in a number of committees and boards, including the Transition to College Led Training and Advisory Committee, GP Training Advisory Committee, National Rural GP Respiratory Clinic Leaders Network and the Advisory Network of the National Rural Health Commissioner, among others.
As president, Dr Higgins said she’ll work to see GPs better supported in their roles with training and further education.
“Australia’s leaders need to stop talking about change and start making the change. We don’t need lip service, we need action. And I intend to fight hard for the future of world class care in our country, care that is accessible to everyone, no matter their postcode or income,” she said.
“As a passionate GP educator, another of my core priorities as president will be the return of the Australian General Practice Training program back to the RACGP from February 23, 2022.
“I look forward to working closely with all stakeholders to deliver world class GP training, and a seamless transition with as little disruption to the delivery of training as possible, including the Department of Health, and peak bodies representing GP supervisors and registrars.
“It’s also critical that we see continued support for college-led training from all sides of government, and I will make this clear as President, because general practice training is the future of general practice and the future of care in our country — it must be a priority.”
Outgoing president Adj Professor Karen Price congratulated Dr Higgins on the appointment, noting there was significant work ahead for the sector.
“Congratulations Dr Higgins, I have full confidence you will be a strong advocate for GPs and continue the critical work of the college to advance general practice and ensure everyone across Australia can access world class care,” she said.
“We have come a long way in a short space of time, but there is still much to be done. The pandemic is not over, and at the same time, years of underfunding and neglect have put general practice in crisis.
“The lost decades of under-investment in general practice have also led to the GP workforce shortage, which is particularly severe in rural and remote communities.”