More specialist rural GPs are coming to rural and regional Australia, with the popular new rural GP specialty reaching a critical milestone, as 2025 welcomes the largest cohort of doctors starting GP training in Australian history.
More than 1,750 doctors are expected to begin government-funded training to become a GP in 2025, in what will be the largest cohort of future GPs in Australian history.
One-third these future GPs are training in the new general practice specialty of Rural Generalism, which has now reached a critical milestone in its recognition as an official medical specialty.
Under Australian law, for a new medical specialty to be recognised, it must first be assessed and recommended by the Australian Medical Council. That assessment and recommendation is now complete and an application to recognise Rural Generalism is expected to be submitted to the Council of Health Ministers for approval soon.
Rural Generalists are rural GPs that provide vital primary and emergency care to rural and regional communities, and often have additional training in areas such as obstetrics, mental health and anaesthetics.
In the latest Medical Deans' survey of new medical graduates, close to 1 in 5 graduates say they aspire to become a GP or rural GP, with 18 per cent of new graduates selecting the GP specialties.
This means general practice has reclaimed its position as the most popular choice for new medical graduates for two years in a row.
This is another very welcome sign of confidence returning to general practice and reflects the Albanese Government's financial supports to encourage even greater growth.
There are currently more than 5,000 future GPs in the GP training program funded by the Albanese Government, who will each spend around half their time training in rural or regional Australia.
A fast-track pathway for GPs from New Zealand, the UK and Ireland to join the Australian health system began in October 2024. Since then, Ahpra has been receiving an average of around 11 applications a week from such GPs, who under Medicare rules must spend their first 10 years in a rural or regional community.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"Because of our efforts to strengthen Medicare, more doctors are starting GP training than ever before, and more doctors have joined our health system than any time in the past decade.
"This is making a meaningful difference, but we know we have more to do after a decade of Coalition cuts and neglect, because it is still too difficult to get in to see a GP in many communities around Australia."
"I applaud the efforts of the general practice colleges, the RACGP and ACRRM, and all those who have worked so hard to advance the recognition of Rural Generalist specialty to this critical milestone."
Quotes attributable to Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine President, Dr Rod Martin:
"We have always contended that Rural Generalist Medicine recognition is a key step toward improving rural healthcare, and this has now been affirmed by an exhaustive six-year expert analysis.
"The AMC finding is a critical advancement towards the final approval.
"The breadth of RGs' work-which is grounded in primary care but spans multiple specialty areas-is essential to the sustainability of healthcare in rural communities.
"We are tantalisingly close to seeing RGs in Australia gain the recognition they deserve."
Quotes attributable to Royal Australian College of General Practitioners President, Dr Michael Wright:
"All rural GPs, including Rural Generalists are critical to the healthcare of many rural, remote, and First Nations communities, and formal recognition will validate the critical work they do every day."
"All rural GPs continue to provide essential and valued care to our communities and will now have the opportunity to undertake further training to achieve this nationally recognised endpoint if their community is in need."
