2026 VGMTP Advisory Group Meeting May 14th
At our first Advisory Group meeting for 2026 we reflected on the contribution of Dr Eva Kipen who resigned as SETA Director of Training at Alfred Health. She has been a huge support to Advanced Trainees and her colleagues since she joined VGMTP in 2012. A more detailed reflection of Dr Kipen’s contribution can be found on our Bulletins page.
Geriatric medicine continues to be a training program of choice with over 150 registrars enrolled in VGMTP. This high number is associated with an increase in regular attendance at our Training Sessions.
In 2026, VGMTP has restructured our early teaching sessions using the “5Ms” model – Mind, Medications, Matters Most and Mobility with Multimorbidity a theme throughout. This model reflects an updated approach to the “Geriatric Giants” and aims to give new ATs some basic skills and provide a refresher for more senior ATs.
Our Lead in Communication Skills, Dr Appiah-Kubi, continues to lead a valued and popular component of our program. Attendance at Communication Skills is extremely high and every session has a waiting list. Thanks to Christine and Chris in the VGMTP office for their hard work in supporting attendance at these sessions. Dr Appiah-Kubi continues to work to expand the actors, facilitators and sessions.
The Greater Victorian Alliance began operation this year. The participating Health Services are Albury Wodonga, Bendigo, Goulburn Valley, Grampians and Southwest. A/Prof Marc Budge, as the inaugural Director of Training, is working to establish the GVA and support the ATs working in the GVA member Health Services. VGMTP will continue to support the current GVA trainees as well as to encourage future recruitment. VGMTP is grateful to the current NTA, SETA and WTA FIGMS for the support they are offering to GVA ATs pending recruitment to the GVA FIGM role.
PMCV will again be running a single round match for Geriatric Medicine. Prior to the match, Regional Training Partnership (RTP) positions can be filled. These RTP positions encourage consideration of training in a non-metro site and allow for planning of training across 2-3 years. VGMTP held a Q&A session for BPTs in March to encourage BPTs to consider Geriatric Medicine Advanced Training is general, and regional training in particular. A second Q&A session, more focused on the PMCV Match will be held in early July.
The Nursing Discussion Group sessions have been planned and advertised for 2026. Led by Christine Lloyd with support from a Geriatrician or FIGM, these sessions were well received last year. We continue to seek ways of engaging with Nurse Practitioners and other nurses who work with older people.
Our next Advisory Group meeting will be held on 12th November and will focus on VGMTP’s future directions.
Resignation of SETA (Alfred) DoT - Dr Eva Kipen
VGMTP would like to thank Dr Eva Kipen for her work as the SETA (Alfred) Director of Training. Eva has been a highly respected colleague who has contributed to the education and development of Geriatricians through VGMTP as well as via her work with the RACP.
Her fellow SETA Directors of Training (Drs Helena Ng and Jonathan Marriot) provided heartfelt recognition of her contributions at our recent Board of Studies meeting and it is fitting to reproduce their comments here:
2026 VGMTP Board of Studies 26th March
Our first BOS meeting in 2026 was held as a hybrid in-person/MS Teams meeting. This is our first time holding an in-person BOS meeting since COVID restrictions.
2025 VGMTP Advisory Group 13th November
The Advisory Group met on 13th November to reflect on 2025 and discuss plans for VGMTP in 2026.
A review of VGMTP in 2025 highlighted the significantly increased number of Advanced Trainees in 2025 compared to the number of trainees prior to the establishment of VGMPT.
Attendance at the fortnightly training sessions has been excellent this year with attendance averaging 100 trainees. Trainees continue to access the recording of the sessions, and the most popular recordings have been of key geriatric topics.
2025 VGMTP Board of Studies 9th October 2025
VGMTP was excited to welcome the new Director of Training for the Greater Victorian Alliance, A/Prof Marc Budge to his first BOS meeting. The establishment of the new GVA to support geriatrics training in non-metropolitan hospitals throughout Victoria is progressing and Marc will be liaising with potential GVA members over the coming weeks.
2025 VGMTP Board of Studies 26th June
Mid-way through 2025 and VGMTP continues to provide highly regarded geriatric medicine training to Advanced Trainees and Nurse Practitioners. Attendance at our fortnightly sessions remains high with an average of 110 trainees registering for each session.
2025 VGMTP Board of Studies 27th March
2025 Board of Studies 27th March
2025 marks the 20th year of VGMTP and we acknowledge the contributions of the founding director, A/Prof Benny Katz. Over the last 20 years, the quality of geriatric medicine training has contributed to making geriatric medicine a preferred training program for physicians.
2024 VGMTP Board of Studies 12th December
2024 has seen VGMTP complete another very successful year. The final BOS meeting of the year was focused on a review of the performance of VGMTP and highlighting directions for next year.
2024 VGMTP Advisory Group 14th November
The Advisory Group oversees the operation of VGMTP, comprising chairs of each alliance and representatives from Department of Health (our funders), St Vincent’s (the lead hospital), ANZSGM and other key stakeholders.
2024 VGMTP Board of Studies 10th October
This marks the first BOS meeting not chaired by founding director, A/Prof Benny Katz and the BOS gratefully acknowledged his commitment to VGMTP. This allowed for reflection on the growth of Geriatric Medicine ATs from 30 in 2007 to 137 in 2024.
2024 VGMTP Board of Studies 27th June
- Dr Kim Jeffs was welcomed as the new Director of Training for the Northern Training Alliance
2024 VGMTP Advisory Group 9th May
The Advisory Group oversees the operation of VGMTP; comprising chairs of each alliance and representatives from Department of Health (our funders), St Vincent’s (the lead hospital), ANZSGM and other key stakeholders.
2024 VGMTP Board of Studies 28th March
- Board of Studies will produce a news bulletin following each meeting. It will be distributed to Directors of Geriatric Medicine of participating health services, together with the site training coordinators. You are welcome to distribute the bulletin to other geriatricians within your health service. The bulletins will also be posted on the VGMTP website.