Practice managers play a vital role in the running of General Practice Training Tasmania.

Often GP Supervisors get caught up with the day-to-day responsibilities of seeing patients, educating and assessing their registars, and need the support of the practice manager to maintain and submit documents and claim forms and unsure the registrar is not lost in the system.

Practice managers usually have the responsibility of the registrar's financial and accommodation arrangements, as well as supervision of patient loads and appointment variations.

Even more importantly, the practice manager can provide orientation to the practical aspects of work in private general practice - its routines, administration, billing procedures, scheduling of meetings, use of computers and information management, replenishing of stocks, and even social activities. For example a new registrar may be unfamiliar with item numbers or not sure where to find the Work Cover paperwork. They many not know which surgeons visit the local hospital. Or even what the hospital's phone number is. They will need to know what tasks the practice nurse performs.

Finally, the practice manager plays an important role in making the registrar feel welcome. Registrars want to socialise within their new community, and practice managers can help introduce them to the other staff and give advice on local sporting, social and other activities. Sometimes the practice manager is there when the supervisor is unavailable - or the registrar, new to general practice, is feeling a bit overwhelmed.