BidgeeCon is a 1.5 day conference designed for regional and rural general practice teams, bringing together GPs, registrars, practice nurses and allied health practitioners working in general practice for practical learning, collaboration and future-focused discussion.

BidgeeCon will deliver hands-on clinical workshops, practical skills sessions and expert-led presentations focused on strengthening and future-proofing general practice. Topics will span emergency care, chronic condition management, aged care and dementia, CPR training, workforce and recruitment, healthcare reform, medico-legal issues, AI and more.

Potential CPD hours Educational Activity (EA) 7hrs and Reviewing Performance (RP) 3hrs.

Program:

The program has been built to support sustainable practice, build workforce capability and help general practice teams adapt to a rapidly changing health system, while creating valuable opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the region.

Friday 12.00pm-4.30pm 

• 11.30am-12.30pm – Registration and light lunch

• 12:30pm-12.40pm – Welcome and introduction

• 12.40pm-1.40pm

  • Stream 1 – Wound care

  • Stream 2 – CPR

  • Stream 3 – Emergency simulation

• 1.40pm-2.40pm

  • Stream 1 – ECG interpretation

  • Stream 2 – CPR continued

  • Stream 3 – Emergency dental

• 2.40pm-3.00pm – Afternoon tea

• 3.00pm-4.10pm

  • Stream 1 – Emergency simulation

  • Stream 2 – CPR

  • Stream 3 – Wound care

• 4.10pm-4.30pm – Closing address

Saturday 8.30am-4.30pm

• 8.00am-8.30am – Introduction, housekeeping and Welcome to Country

• 8.30am-9.00am – Keynote speaker

• 9.00am-10.00am – Keynote speaker – Shared medical appointments (Associate Professor John Stevens)

• 10.00am-10.30am – TBC

• 10.30am-10.50am – Morning tea, expo stalls

• 10.50am-11.50am

  • Stream 1 – Eating disorders (Angela Farrell)

  • Stream 2 – Aged care (Jane Gerhard, MPHN)

  • Stream 3 – ADHD

• 11.55am-12.55pm

  • Stream 1 – DREAM / Endocrinology

  • Stream 2 – Chronic Condition Management / Nurse led clinics (Rebecca Manski)

  • Stream 3 – Endo pain clinic

• 12.55-1.30pm – Lunch, expo stalls

• 1.30pm-2.30pm – Panel discussion: ANU Health Workforce Data

• 2.30pm-3.15pm

  • Stream 1 – Recruiting in a candidate driven market (Kaity Fuller, Huntsman Recruiting + Cristy Houghton, MPHN)

  • Stream 2 – AI and Medico-Legal

  • Stream 3 – MLHD Community Care Intake Service (CCIS)

• 3.15pm-3.30pm – Afternoon tea

• 3.30pm-4.20pm – Maximising MBS in MDT

• 4.20pm-4.30pm – Final address (Associate Professor Alam Yoosuff)

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Meet your keynote speakers

A/Professor John Stevens RN PhD FACN FASLM

Discipline Lead Lifestyle Medicine
National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine
Co-founder and Director Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine Ltd

A/Professor John Stevens is a co-founder of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine and remains a member of the Board of Directors. He also engaged in developing the World Lifestyle Medicine Organisation (WLMO). With 40 years of experience in health practice, teaching, and research, he has developed a strong translational research focus aimed at improving ageing well and chronic disease management through the application of Lifestyle Medicine. Prof. Stevens and colleagues are pioneering the use of Shared Medical Appointment (SMA) in Australia and Internationally with a special interest in empowering First Nations communities with SMAs. He has trained over 2000 people in SMA facilitation. Currently, John is an Associate Professor and Discipline Lead for the Master of Lifestyle Medicine program at Southern Cross University in Australia.

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BidgeeCon Cocktail Evening

Friday 19 June 2026 | 6.00–8.30pm
The Gardens Function Centre,
Botanic Gardens, 43 Tom Wood Drive, Wagga Wagga

Unwind after the day’s sessions and join us for a relaxed cocktail evening designed for connection, conversation and a bit of surprise.

Enjoy great company, drinks and light catering while being entertained by Jay Cristo, magician and mentalist. Expect moments of astonishment, genuine laughs and those “how did that just happen?” experiences that will have you talking well after the night ends.

Due to catering requirements, tickets are limited. Partners are very welcome. Just remember to purchase a ticket for them as well.

Don’t miss out on one of the most enjoyable social events of BidgeeCon.