With the Federal Election approaching, specialist GP leaders from Australia's peak general practice body are visiting Wangaratta in northeast Victoria this week to highlight solutions to get more GPs training in communities to meet local needs today, and in the future.
Royal Australian College of GPs President Dr Michael Wright is part of the delegation that will meet with new GP registrars during their orientation, from Tuesday to Wednesday. They will also meet with local practice owners, GPs and RACGP members to discuss the issues they're facing on the ground.
Dr Wright said: "I'm looking forward to meeting local GPs and registrars in Wangaratta to learn about the issues they're facing.
"We know there is a shortage of local health services, which is a common problem in rural and remote communities across Australia. Hospitals are often a long drive away and it's harder to get medicines, nurses, doctors, and specialists.
"There is simply no substitute for the quality care you get from a specialist GP who knows you and your history. It is essential healthcare that keeps people healthy and out of hospital. Everyone in Australia deserves affordable access to GP care, including those in our rural and remote communities.
"The 2025 Federal Election is especially critical because the need for specialist GPs is skyrocketing. Australia has an ageing population and an epidemic of chronic illness. We need more specialist GPs, and we need them in rural communities like Wangaratta.
"The RACGP has a plan for accessible and affordable GP care for Australia, and as part of it we're calling on all political parties to invest in training more GPs to meet patient needs today, and for future generations.
"The RACGP trains 90% of GPs across Australia, in our cities and our rural and remote communities – with more funding we can train more.
"The RACGP represents four in five rural GPs, and we know many GPs want to train and work in rural communities. But they often need support to relocate, and some may want to do extra training like emergency medicine.
"Funding can remove the barriers for GPs to go rural. The College has had great success using incentive funding to support registrars to work in communities which haven't had a GP in training in years. In Yarrawonga, just up the road from here, we placed six new registrars this year through incentive support – double what we'd normally get.
"As the election approaches, I hope all political parties get out and visit rural and remote communities and talk to the local GPs there about the issues they're facing. We need all political parties to commit to training more GPs to meet the increasing need for care across Australia."
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