From statewide conferences to fundraisers and skills days, catch up on all the latest GPSN event highlights and photos from GPSN clubs across Australia.
NSW/ACT Statewide First Steps Conference
From conception to death, what is the role of a GP? As it turns out, GPs follow the entire patient journey – starting from their first steps!
Titled ‘First Steps 2026 – Births to Ends’, the NSW/ACT statewide event was held in July at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where GPs spoke about their special interests in obstetrics, men’s health, women’s health, rural generalism, voluntary assisted dying and aged care.
Students from across UNSW, University of Sydney, Western Sydney University, Australian National University, University of New England, Macquarie University and University of Notre Dame Australia made up over 100 attendees.
Thanks to our platinum sponsors, RACGP, ACRRM and Avant, they put their practical skills to the test in suturing, otoscopy, ophthalmoscopy, CST, IUDs and St John’s sports medicine scenarios.
Queensland state conference
On 18 July, the GPSN Statewide Conference in Queensland brought together over 65 medical students from across Bond University, the University of Queensland, Griffith University and James Cook University for an engaging day of hands-on learning, collaboration, and networking.
Students attended inspiring presentations by GPs, who shared their training journeys, diverse career pathways, and opportunities within general practice. Interactive workshops gave participants the chance to develop practical procedural skills, including suturing, cannulation and intimate examinations.
Finally, the General Practice Medical Challenge was a highlight, with teams working together to assess, diagnose and manage realistic patient cases, strengthening their clinical reasoning and teamwork.
The event provided an invaluable opportunity for Queensland students to build confidence, connect with peers and clinicians, and explore future careers in general practice.
Thank you to our sponsors, Avant, RACGP and ACRRM!
Bond University fundraiser
About 80 students attended ‘Care to Create’, a GPSN-led charity fundraiser held on 17 June’ at Bond University on the Gold Coast.
The event promoted creativity, connection and student wellbeing while supporting the vital work of the Gold Coast’s Domestic Violence Prevention Centre.
Students had the opportunity to make personalised keychains, bracelets and phone charms, and enjoy drink combinations, with all proceeds donated to charity.
The event highlighted the importance of giving back to the community and raising awareness of domestic violence, demonstrating how collective efforts can create meaningful change.
Through the generosity of attendees, the event raised over $400 for the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre, while fostering student engagement, community spirit and the values of GPSN.
University of Queensland women’s health skills day
The UQ GPSN Women’s Health/OBGYN Skills Day was held on 17 May at the University of Queensland, with 43 students in attendance. Delivered in collaboration with UQ O&G and PVOGS, the sold-out event provided students with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and practical skills across key areas of women’s health.
Participants rotated through five hands-on workshops covering birthing, speculum examinations, contraception, antenatal care and menopause, led by experienced volunteer GPs, obstetricians and gynaecologists.
The event strengthened students’ clinical confidence, encouraged interest in women’s health, and showcased the value of collaboration between GPSN, specialty interest groups and volunteer clinicians.
South Australian and Northern Territory statewide event
GPSN’s inaugural South Australian (SA) and Northern Territory (NT) statewide event, ‘Paradigm Shift’, drew a heartwarming turnout of medical students passionate about primary care. It was a hybrid event, with students from NT attending online and in person in SA.
Paradigm Shift sought to explore the ways the Australian health landscape is undergoing a shift in needs, function and structure, using the themes of artificial intelligence, health literacy, and cost of living.
Attendees heard from an extraordinary and experienced panel consisting of Professor Nicola Spurrier, Dr Clare Keogh, Professor Sarah Chalmers and Dr David Lam. Professor Spurrier and Professor Chalmers presented on past primary healthcare successes in the respective states/territories before the panel took questions from attendees.
This event would not have been possible without the support of sponsors, Avant, RACGP, ACRRM, ProHealth Care, Dr Woof and OSCE Lab, and the hard work of all SA and NT GPSN committee members.
Follow your local GPSN club’s social media pages to stay up to date on events, workshops, revision nights, and social gatherings.
