Introduction
All SBOs have been offered by the Primary Care Programs Branch of DoHA a contract to support nursing in general practice through divisions for the remainder of 2005. GPDV has agreed to accept the funding and to work with Victorian divisions to develop plans that will enable Victoria to meet the objectives of the program, which are to

• increase the number of divisions in Victoria running nursing support programs;
• increase the uptake of practice nursing PIP payments or MBS practice nurse items;
• increase the number of practice nurses undertaking training in key priority or competency areas.

The commonwealth have encouraged GPDV and divisions to

• integrate practice nursing with other program areas (ie immunisation, MAHS, Quality Use of Medicines, Chronic Disease Management);
• form links and partnerships with state-funded health services, allied health providers, specialist services, etc.

Contacts
The GPDV Staff members dedicated to this program are:

Lesley Czulowski, Special Programs Consultant
Warren Loorham, Program Support Officer