The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has grown the number of specialist GPs training in Tasmania in 2025 by 57%, securing a significant boost to Tasmania's GP workforce with the support of the State and Federal governments.
In 2025, 47 general practice registrars will commence training throughout Tasmania, up from 30 in 2024.
This is well ahead of a national 19.8% growth in junior doctors training as GPs, supported by a Tasmanian Government commitment to pay for up to $100,000 of the student debt of up to 40 GPs who train and work in rural and regional areas.
RACGP Tasmania Chair Dr Toby Gardner said the result shows what can be achieved when the state and federal governments work together to address workforce needs.
"This is a record number of GPs for Tasmania, and it's the result of smart state policies, strong federal support for training to meet our communities' needs, and a fantastic training environment for GPs," he said.
"The Tasmanian Government's incentive to train and practice as a rural GP is a smart one, and along with incentives we've seen in Victoria and Queensland, is something other states should be looking at.
"Rural GPs are essential. When patients can't access a local GP who knows them and their medical history, communities become unsustainable.
"We need to build on these results so all our communities can access a local GP. Many GPs are working towards retirement, our population is ageing, and sadly, Tasmania has the highest burden of chronic disease in Australia.
"We also benefit from strong general practice education in our state. More than a third of University of Tasmania graduates choose to train as specialist GPs, which helps get GPs into communities which need them. This should be a goal for every university.
"Research has shown preventable hospitalisations soar when there aren't enough GPs – this is a problem we can fix. Making general practice a central part of medical education is part of the solution."
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright called on all federal parties to commit to ensuring access to affordable GP care for Australians in the leadup to the Federal Election.
"The RACGP has a plan to ensure high-quality general practice care is accessible and affordable for all Australians," he said.
"We've shown we can train more GPs, and with Australia's growing and ageing population, and an epidemic of chronic illness, we need to increase the number we're training to meet the need for care.
"We're calling for funding to train an extra 1500 specialist GPs over the next five years. This will help ensure everyone has access to a GP who knows them and their history. That will keep people healthy and well in their community and take the pressure off the stretched hospital system.
"Patients are paying more to see a GP in a cost of living crisis because Medicare investment hasn't kept up with inflation, so patients' Medicare funding no longer covers the costs of providing care. That's also reduced the appeal of training as a specialist GP.
"With significant investment in Medicare, we can increase bulk billing and reduce out-of-pocket costs for people who aren't being bulk billed. Both these things are crucial."
The RACGP is calling on all parties to invest in a significant boost to patients' Medicare rebates, and:
- Fund 1500 more RACGP Australian GP Training places over the next five years.
- Link Government-subsidised medical places at universities to a target of 50% of graduates training as GPs.
This comes after the Health of the Nation report showed improvements in GP job satisfaction, particularly among GPs under 35, and that more GPs would recommend general practice as a career.
Specialist GPs training with the RACGP also reported higher satisfaction than other specialists in training, with 84% saying they would recommend it to others and 78% agreeing they have a good work-life balance, compared to 65% in other specialist training programs.
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