Background & Purpose

The GPNLG is the coalition of AGPN and the SBOs representing general practice networks in Australia. The GPNLG (formerly the AGPN-SBO Coalition) was formed following the establishment of SBOs in the late 1990s.

This coalition is seen as valuable given the common elements of their roles within each state in brokerage and coordination for general practice networks with state government departments/agencies and state offices of the Commonwealth. AGPN, formerly the Australian Divisions of General Practice Ltd (ADGP), participated in the coalition given the compatibility of its role at a national level supporting Network Member Organisations in relation to policy and emerging strategic directions. The parties were working collaboratively for a number of years and participate in regular teleconferences and face-to-face meetings between Chief Executive Officers and Chairs of the respective organisations.

In line with the growing and maturing relationship between SBOs and AGPN, the parties agreed to the establishment of a formal agreement to define parameters of common activity to ensure maximum outcomes from collaboration and to avoid duplication of effort. This group, the AGPN-SBO Coalition, was established in 2003 following the execution of the Memorandum of Understanding between the 9 organisations in the same year.

In 2007, the group reviewed its function, achievements and roles in supporting network members. It was agreed that a name change to the GPNLG more adequately represented the group's role. In doing so, the GPNLG acknowledged that network leadership occurs at a number of levels; locally, on a state level and nationally, and that the strength of the Network comes from local leadership and diversity. As the group that consists of elected leaders from AGPN and SBOs (ie; elected Chairs of each SBO and AGPN), the group is best placed to provide national network leadership with national stakeholders. The GPNLG acknowledged that there are other leadership mechanisms in place across the Network and that leadership was clearly not the exclusive domain of the group.

The roles, however, remain unchanged. The GPNLG was established to enable joint planning and strategy development between each SBO and AGPN with the aim of building the strength and capacity of the Network across Australia.

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The functions of the GPNLG are to:

  1. provide a forum through which issues of strategic interest or concern to the Network and their constituencies can be put forward and discussed
  2. develop agreed strategies and mechanisms to advocate for change and to progress and/or resolve issues
  3. identify and act on opportunities to build capacity and improve performance across the network with particular emphasis on activities that support agreed strategic priorities
  4. act as a leadership team to develop and present a professional and consistent approach to all levels of government
  5. provide a forum for knowledge sharing and collaborative effort between the states, territories and AGPN on issues of mutual interest
  6. to collaborate on developing and progressing directions for the whole Network
  7. provide advice to the AGPN Board and the Department of Health and Ageing as required on matters of strategic interest to the Network.

The flow and exchange of information and resources between GPNLG members is ongoing and not limited to scheduled meetings. Matters of simple communication and information sharing are generally dealt with out of session, or via monthly teleconferences.