Hunter Postgraduate Medical Institute
HPMI Medical Education Update 2026
Join us for a full-day education program covering key topics in general practice, delivered by experienced specialists.
Date: Saturday, 19 September 2026
Time: 8:30 AM – 3:45 PM
Location: NEX, 309 King Street, Newcastle West 2302
Earn up to 6 CPD Hours (Including up to 3 RP Hours)
Designed for GPs and Healthcare Professionals
Reduced Membership Fees for the Remainder of 2026
Take advantage of our reduced membership rates and enjoy access to events, webinars, courses and professional development opportunities for the remainder of 2026.
General Practitioner (GP) Membership – $400 (incl. GST)
Specialist Membership – $275 (incl. GST)
Allied Health Professional, Nurse & Practice Administration Membership – $200 (incl. GST)
Keynote Speaker
A/Professor Stephen Macfarlane, Consultant Psychiatrist, Head of Clinical Services, Dementia Support Australia
2.30 pm: Managing Difficult Dementia Behaviours in Aged Care Facilities
Why attend?
– Apply practical strategies to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in aged care
– Assess risks and benefits of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options
– Recognise common challenges and pressures when managing agitation and behavioural disturbance
– Use effective communication strategies with families and aged care staff.
Bio
A/Prof Steve Macfarlane graduated from Monash University in 1991. He is a geriatric psychiatrist and past Chair of the Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age for the RANZCP. He has held Director positions in two public hospital aged psychiatry services in Melbourne, and has been Head of Clinical Services with Dementia Support Australia since 2016. He remains involved in medical student and postgraduate teaching. Steve has published over 50 peer-reviewed academic articles, has presented numerous times at international conferences, and has been active in Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials for over 25 years, serving as lead investigator on a number of local, national and international studies. He continues to maintain a small private practice.
Prof Macfarlane appeared as an expert witness before the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety on two occasions, and was co-editor of ‘The BPSD Textbook,’ the first comprehensive book to deal with the assessment and management of the behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia. Steve was deeply involved in working with the Commonwealth to establish the national network of Special Dementia Care Units.
Steve has deep interests in ancient history and in film. He has two children in young adulthood, and enjoys spending time with his partner, Lulu.
Program Agenda
PLEASE NOTE
The three 1-hour RP sessions will not be available via live stream. Recordings will be available after the event; however, the interactive components will be available only to in-person participants.
All other sessions will be available via live stream.
Time
8.00 am – Registration and trade displays
8.30 am – Welcome
8.40 am – PAEDIATRIC ENT – (1 RP hour)
Dr Niall Jefferson, Ear, Nose and Throat, Head and Neck Surgeon, Ear Nose Throat Newcastle, Charlestown
9.40 am – VOLUNTARY ASSISTED DYING
Dr Anne-Marie Vilain, General Practitioner, Waratah General Practice and Hunter New England Voluntary Assisted Dying Service
10.10 am – BRAIN TUMOURS AND HEADACHES
Professor Michael Fay, Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare; Centre Director and Foundation Chair, MHF Centre for Brain Cancer Research, University of Newcastle; Scientific Advisor, Mark Hughes Foundation
10:55 am - Morning Tea and Trade Displays
Time
11.20 am – AI IN GENERAL PRACTICE – (1 RP hour)
Dr Lee Fong, General Practitioner, Brunker Road General Practice, Adamstown
11.30 am – 1.30 pm – MIRENA INSERTION COURSE (CONCURRENT WORKSHOP) (Limited to 15 participants. To learn more, click the Mirena Insertion Course Information tab below)
12.20 pm – CKD UPDATE
Professor Bobby Chacko, Director, Renal Services, John Hunter Hospital and Hunter Kidney Clinic
12.50 pm – CARDIAC FAILURE
Dr Rajinder Harjit Singh, Procedural Heart Failure Cardiologist, Heart Solutions Centre, Maitland and Charlestown
1:20 pm - Lunch and Trade Displays
Time
2.00 pm – HOSPITAL LIAISON GP – WHAT DO WE DO?
Dr Victoria Frostis and Dr Michelle Redford
2.15 pm – BEYOND WEIGHT LOSS: BROADER THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF GLP‑1 RECEPTOR AGONISTS
Professor Shamasunder Acharya, Endocrinologist, Clinical Director, Endocrinology and Diabetes Lead, Diabetes Alliance
2.30 pm – MANAGING DIFFICULT DEMENTIA BEHAVIOURS IN AGED CARE FACILITIES – (1 RP hour)
A/Professor Stephen Macfarlane, Consultant Psychiatrist, Head of Clinical Services, Dementia Support Australia
3.30 pm – Q&A
3.45 pm - Close
The program provides a range of clinically relevant topics designed for general practice teams, with opportunities to engage during scheduled breaks and trade displays
Fees
Early Bird Price Ends – 14 August 2026
Early Bird
Non-Member Medico – $ 169.00 (incl.GST)
Non-Member AHP, Nurse, Admin – $129.00 (incl.GST)
Mirena Only – $150 (incl.GST)
✔ Full event access
✔ CPD hours included
✔ Catering included
Standard Pricing
Non-Member Medico – $ 199.00 (incl.GST)
Non-Member AHP, Nurse, Admin – $159.00 (incl.GST)
Mirena Only – $150 (incl.GST)
✔ Full event access
✔ CPD hours included
✔ Catering included
Please note: This workshop is an optional concurrent session. Participants who register for the Mirena Insertion Course will attend this workshop in place of the main educational program between 11.30 am and 1.30 pm. Places are strictly limited to 15 participants
This workshop teaches participants how to assess a patient for the use of a Mirena intrauterine device. The workshop will include a practical component involving hands-on instruction of its insertion by Dr Milton Sales.
HPMI will provide a certificate of completion after the online component and evaluation questionnaire. The online component may be completed at home.
The course will include:
- Types of IUDs
- Pre-Insertion assessment of clients
- Practise of insertion techniques
- Management of IUD-related problems
FAQ
Early Bird registrations close on 14 August 2026. We encourage early registration as catering requirements need to be confirmed in advance.
RACGP and ACRRM CPD hours are available.
Educational Activity (EA) hours are available for all sessions. Additional Reviewing Performance (RP) hours are available for eligible sessions and associated activities as outlined in the program.
The event has been designed for:
- General Practitioners
- GP Registrars
- Practice Nurses
- Practice Managers
- Primary healthcare professionals
The program focuses on practical, evidence-based updates that can be applied immediately in clinical practice.
Yes. Online streaming is available for most sessions.
Please note that the Mirena Insertion Workshop and designated RP sessions are available only to in-person participants. Session recordings will be made available (excluding Mirena) following the conference, where applicable.
The $400 reduced GP Individual Membership includes access to a range of education activities at no additional cost, including:
- HPMI Medical Education Update
- Interventional Medicine Webinar
- Treatment Resistant Depression, Anxiety and PTSD Webinar
- Child Protection and Paediatric Asthma Update
- Perimenopause and Menopause Update
- Nursing CPD Online
- Practice Administration CPD Online
Membership offers excellent value for practices and individuals looking to access ongoing professional development throughout the year. To see all of our reduced membership offers, click here
The Mirena Insertion Workshop is an optional concurrent session. Participants who register for the Mirena Insertion Course will attend this in place of the main educational program between 11.30 am and 1.30 pm. There is a fee of $150 for non-members.
The workshop includes practical training in assessment, insertion techniques and management of IUD-related issues. Places are strictly limited to 15 participants.
Yes. Participants interested in obtaining additional RP hours can register their interest during the registration process.
Further information about the additional online component will be provided closer to the event.
Yes. A certificate of attendance can be provided upon request after the event. Participants can use this certificate when recording CPD activities with their relevant college where applicable.
Limited parking is available at NEX.
The closest public parking option is the Bull Street Car Park, located behind the venue. Standard parking fees apply. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure a parking space.
Attending in person gives you the opportunity to:
- Participate in interactive sessions
- Meet and network with colleagues
- Engage directly with presenters
- Visit trade displays
- Access content not available via livestream
Face-to-face attendance provides the most complete conference experience.
Yes. Registration includes morning tea, lunch and refreshments throughout the day for face-to-face attendees.
⚠ Early bird pricing ends in
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