‘Can Do’ for Families and Carers aims to improve the capacity of general practice and the Divisions of General Practice to recognise and effectively respond to the needs of families and carers of people at risk of or experiencing mental health and substance use issues in their local community. It does this by strengthening, supporting and networking GPs and other key stakeholders who deliver health and community support services to families and carers of people at risk of or experiencing mental health and substance use issues.

Key learning objectives
The overall educational goal of this accredited training program is to provide general practitioners, allied health professionals and other service providers with specific knowledge and skills to work together and with families and carers of people at risk of or experiencing mental health and substance use issues to improve both the health of the patient and the family and carers.  On completion of this program, participants should be able to:

• demonstrate an increase the capacity of general practitioners, allied health professionals and other service providers to work with families and carers of people at risk of or experiencing mental health and substance use issues
• demonstrate increased understanding of the role of families and carers in treatment of people with mental health and substance use issues
• demonstrate increased confidence in providing support and understanding required by families and carers of people with mental health and substance use issues
• identify health and community services at the local level, particularly those that engage with families and carers
• demonstrate an increase in ability and confidence in developing appropriate pathways of referral and care for people with mental health and substance use issues and their families and carers.

AGPN would like to acknowledge the following for their time and hard work in researching and putting together ‘Can Do’ for Families and Carers: Tony Trimingham and Theo Chang, Family Drug Support Inc;
Dr Cate Howell, Melanie Verdins and Melissa Opolski for CM Consulting SA: Workplace Health and Productivity; Meriel Schultz and Leah Parker for the Australian General Practice Network; Moya Sayer-Jones, Only Human.