Burning GP
GPs taking back control of their destiny. A new type of conference brought to you by The Medical Republic and Health Services Daily.
June 14th and 15th 2024, Mantra Salt at Kingscliff Beach NSW

General practice and GPs are in crisis.
The traditional community medicine bricks and mortar team-based practice model is under siege and will likely not survive in its current form long into the future.
Burning GP will bring together key leaders and influencers from general practice, government, the technology sector and related allied providers to examine the key issues at hand and map out an alternative and more positive trajectory for the sector and the profession.
That, and having some fun along the way.
FRIDAY 14 JUNE
8:30am – 9:00am
Registration
9:00am – 9:20am
Welcome
Acknowledgement of Country
Welcome and event outline by Convener
Opening address by Keynote Speaker
9:20am – 9:45am
We’re not in Kansas Anymore, part 1:
Beyond abandoning bulk billing.
Abandoning bulk billing has set in motion irreversible changes to how the GP funding paradigm. But it’s only the start. How might the government chime in moving forward? What are some achievable options for funding reform that will suit the government, the system, patients and GPs?
Speaker: Dr Michael Wright, CMO Avant
9:45am – 10:25am
We’re not in Kansas Anymore, Part 2:
Framing the Most Wicket Problems Facing General Practice.
The systems and complexity that frame the problems affecting general practice today and the systemic challenges inherent in redesigning it.
Moderated panel of experts including representatives from the RACGP, DoHAC, AMA and the RDAA
Panel:
- Dr Paul Wappett, CEO RACGP
- Dr Danielle McMullen, Vice President AMA
- Peta Rutherford, CEO RDAA (TBC)
- DoHAC Representative TBC
Moderated by Dr Karen Price, immediate past President of the RACGP.
10:25am – 10:45am
Swimming out of the Pink Swamp
With Associate Professor Louise Stone, ANU.
- Why there is a gender problem in GP funding, and what it means for the future of the profession.
- Are some of the fundamental societal settings driving how GPs work immovable or not?
10:45am – 10:50am
Case Study TEDx Talk 1
What new generation patient management systems can offer GPs in terms of clinical and business flexibility.
10:50am – 11:10am
Swimming Out of an Actual Swamp
With Dr Sue Velovski, Specialist General Surgeon at St Vincent’s, Lismore.
What the Lismore floods can teach us about the reality of patient centricity in the system during crisis, the federal versus state divide on GPs, and dealing better with the sort of crisis we are likely to see a lot more of as a result of climate change.
11:10am – 11:30am
Morning Tea
11:30am – 11:40am
A Consult in the Life of a GP 1: A Short Play by TMR
Live sketch with real GPs role playing consultations; dealing with complex conditions and multiple comorbidities, clunky technology and MBS limitations.
11:40am – 11:45am
Case Study TEDx Talk 2
Tech that might help address payment flow costs and complexity in meeting payroll tax compliance.
11:45am – 12:05pm
How much Upside Might be in a Single Employer Model for GP Training?
Three experts in conversation with Jeremy Knibbs.
- Peta Rutherford, President RDAA (TBC)
- Dr Hamish Meldrum, Founder Ochre (TBC)
- Dr Karyn Matterson, President and Chair GPRA (TBC)
12:05pm – 12:25pm
Taxing Times: The Upside of a Forced New Business Paradigm for Traditional Practices
- The basics of payroll tax and emerging federal law on deemed employees
- Decisions and strategies for owners moving forward
- The dilemma for corporates
- The opportunity for new entries to the market
With Jeremy Knibbs.
12:25pm – 1:00pm
What Does “Sharing By Default” Mean for General Practice, and in What Timeframe?
DoHAC is moving hard and fast to reinvent interoperability in Australia which means changes to how GPs are connected to the rest of the system, in particular hospitals and aged care are set to change radically. How might this impact the sector?
Panel:
- Dr Danielle Bancroft, CPO Best Practice Software (TBC)
- Dr Danielle McMullen, Vice President AMA
- Dr Rob Grenfell, Chief Strategy and Regions Officer Grampians Health (TBC)
- DoHAC TBC
Moderator: Jeremy Knibbs, Publisher of The Medical Republic and Health Services Daily
1:00pm – 1:45pm
Lunch
1:45pm – 1:55pm
A Consult in the Life of a GP 2: A Short Play by TMR
Live sketch with real GPs role playing consultations; dealing with complex conditions and multiple comorbidities, clunky technology and MBS limitations.
1:55pm – 2:00pm
Case Study TEDx Talk 3
New AI apps that will significantly improve GP productivity.
2:00pm – 2:20pm
Working for a Different Business Model: Disruptors, Private Health, Platforms and More
A flexible, creative and interesting work choice or something else? What might it be really like working for an emerging platform, online and other alternative health provider model?
With a panel including Amplar Health, Wesfarmers, Heidi Health, more TBC
2:20pm – 2:50pm
Everyone Hates GPs Unless it’s their own GP – leveraging a dynamic
Patients are starting to have a major political impact in the bush and some in the cities post the call to “abandon bulk billing”. Can GPs leverage the patient much better to persuade minds in Canberra about change?
Panel:
- Dr Danielle McMullen, Vice President AMA
- ACRRM (TBC)
- More TBC
Moderated by Jeremy Knibbs.
2:50pm – 2:55pm
Case Study TEDx Talk 4
A model for non-time specific appointments to infill revenue.
2:55pm – 3:15pm
Will Payroll Tax Fundamentally Alter the Way Corporates Work and How GPs Work for Them?
Panel:
- Andrew Cohen, CEO ForHealth
3:15pm – 3:30pm
A Brothel Owner, a Buddhist and a GP Practice Owner Walk into a Bar
Why most small to medium GP practice owners would likely survive a state revenue office payroll tax audit, even if they haven’t got their organisational and process ducks in a row yet, and why no one gets to see all the payroll tax cases GP win against SROs.
With a tax law specialist (TBC)
3:30pm – 3:50pm
The Pub Test: The Value Equation For Lots More Data, Outcomes-Based Funding, and Dealing with Truly Complex Patients
A discussion between three protagonists having a drink at “the pub’.
In the armchairs:
- Dr Max Mollenkopf, GP and owner at Whitebridge Medical Centre
- Dr Karen Price, immediate past President RACGP
- DoHAC (TBC)
3:50pm – 4:40pm
Great Debate
Is general practice the most interesting, creative and flexible choice of medical specialisation?
For:
- Dr Paul Wappett, CEO RACGP
- Dr Vienna Tran, Medical Doctor, Space Medicine Researcher (TBC)
- Dr Dan Wilson, ACRRM Registrar
Against:
- Dr Irwin Lim, Rheumatologist and Editor of Rheumatology Republic (TBC)
- Dr Sue Velovski, Specialist General Surgeon
- Adjunct Professor John Hall, School of Population Health at UNSW (TBC)
Moderated by a comedian.
4:35pm – 5:35pm
Welcome Drinks
7:00pm – 10:00pm
Gala Dinner
Hosted by a comedian, the Gala Dinner will feature a special Keynote about AI in medicine: what’s really going to happen?
It will also have the TMR GP fiction prize winner announcement and showcase, and a live band.
Saturday 15 JUNE
8:45am – 9:00am
Why GPs Work Best When They’re in a Social Network
With Associate Professor Karen Price.
9:00am – 9:30am
One Integrated Health System, One Funder
Can we redesign the health system as one system within the confines of our federated political system, and if so, where would general practice sit in such a design?
Panel:
- Jay Rebbeck, Rebbeck Consulting (TBC)
- Dr Michael Wright, CMO Avant
- Bettina McMahon, CEO Healthdirect
- Dr Emily Kirkpatrick, Executive Medical Director Calvary Care
9:30am – 10:10am
You tell us: How Well Are Hospitals Connected to General Practice?
Summit participants collectively share their experience on the primary care/hospital interface and identify any low hanging fruit to develop bridges. Key panellists take a step back as the voice of the audience reigns.
10:10am – 10:15am
Case Study TEDx Talk 5
10:15am – 10:50am
Part Time (Creative) Lovers
Creative careers for GPs: doing your own thing a lot more:
- GP working flexibility
- Working two streams of career
- Working for a platform, government, academia, private health, in the rural hospital system, private health insurance, for a start up
- Entrepreneurial GP stories
With Dr Amandeep Hansra (TBC)
10:50am – 11:10am
Morning Tea
11:10am – 11:50am
5 Technology Trends Likely to Help Transform General Practice
- Sharing by default in general practice
- What does web sharing look for our PMS systems evolution
- Will GPs really be connected with hospitals, allied health and aged care seamlessly at some point and if so what does that mean
- How do GPs fit into the virtual care space – the march of virtual care enabling PMS systems
- The evolution of finance management apps that attempt to address key issues of tax and payment flows
- The future of GP marketing and bookings systems
- The future of GP data; Who owns it, Who manages it, What is it for
Moderated by Jeremy Knibbs.
11:50am – 12:35pm
Strategies to Deliver Agency and Control Back to the GP in the Building a Future for General Practice?
Panel:
- Dr Michael Wright, CMO Avant
- Associate Professor Louise Stone, ANU
- Dr Amandeep Hansra (TBC)
- Dr Nicole Higgins, President RACGP (TBC)
- Dr Rob Grenfell, Chief Strategy and Regions Officer Grampians Health (TBC)
12:30pm – 12:40pm
A Consult in the Life of a GP 3: A Short Play by TMR
The final live sketch projects what could be possible in the future; digital sophistication and data sharing, integrated one health system, and a mature funding model that supports GPs.
12:40pm – 1:00pm
Conference Wrap
Program, Content and Panelist Enquiries
Talia Meyerowitz-Katz: talia@medicalrepublic.com.au
Wendy John: wendy@healthservicesdaily.com.au
Partnership Opportunity Enquiries
Michelle O’Brien: michelle@wildhealth.net.au
Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff, NSW

Address
Gunnamatta Ave, Kingscliff NSW 2487
Getting Here
Overnight Stay Booking Information
Delegates are offered a special 10% discount off best available rates at time of booking. Rooms are not being held for delegates so are subject to availability.
To book, please call the venue directly and quote the event name ‘Burning GP‘.
Friday or Saturday Night reservations have a minimum two nights stay. Please ensure your stay is either Thursday/Friday or Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday.
Registration Enquiries
Greta Reed: greta@healthservicesdaily.com.au
Program, Content and Panelist Enquiries
Talia Meyerowitz-Katz: talia@medicalrepublic.com.au
Wendy John: wendy@healthservicesdaily.com.au
Partnership Opportunity Enquiries
Michelle O’Brien: michelle@wildhealth.net.au