The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has welcomed the transition of GP training on 1st February 2023 as a historic day.
The transition of the Australian General Practice Training program back to Australia's specialist medical colleges, the RACGP and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), was announced in October 2017 by then federal Health Minister Greg Hunt.
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins welcomed new registrars and GP training team members across Australia.
"This is a historic day, and I want to warmly welcome our new registrars and GP training team members across the nation who are working toward an even stronger future for GP training," she said.
"As a GP and owner of a training practice who supervises registrars, I am very passionate about GP training.
"General practice is the engine room of our health system, and GP training is essential to provide our next generation of GPs who will care for communities into the future.
"The RACGP recognises the privilege and responsibility entrusted in us as the custodians of GP training, and we are committed to delivering a world class training program.
"I also want to recognise the contributions of all those involved in delivering GP training over the years, including our regional training organisation colleagues, local supervisors and administrators."
RACGP National Director of Training Dr James Brown said as the next custodians of GP training, the College will build on the success of the previous program and embrace the many opportunities a national approach brings.
"Our GP training program prioritises local training delivery with national support and systems that enable training that best meets both community and registrar needs," he said.
"A key piece of our national architecture is our new national Training Management System, which came onstream on February 1st. This enables streamlined management of training information supporting registrar progress through training, and providing access to key resources including the Australian Therapeutic Guidelines.
"Our practices and supervisors will see the benefits of locally focused training delivery supported by a national framework. They will have access to local program staff and educators who will provide support appropriate for the local context. They will also have access to high quality training resources. Our agreement with the Australian Therapeutic Guidelines will put a best practice resource into all GP training participants hands from day one of the College's program.
"We need to prioritise local community needs and address areas where there are primary care shortages.
"The RACGP is working closely with our ACRRM colleagues to coordinate the two colleges' training programs. RACGP and ACRRM will be working with the Department of Health and Aged Care to map GP workforce needs at the local community level Australia-wide. For the first time, we will have a holistic national view of GP workforce needs and shortages.
"This will be a real gamechanger. When we finally have a complete picture of GP workforce needs across Australia, we will be able to direct training initiatives to address areas with GP shortages. All communities should have access to the care they need."
The RACGP President also encouraged registrars and practice owners to consider joining the remote supervision pilot.
"Our remote supervision pilot, which launched in August 2022, will be rolling out to more communities," she said.
"The pilot is enabling registrars to work in communities where there is no on-site supervisor, which is the case for many rural and remote areas.
"It will help get more GPs training, working and living in the communities that need them, and I strongly encourage registrars, practice owners and supervisors to consider joining the program."
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