With the number of specialist GPs training in Melbourne surging by 42% and the greatest number of rural GPs in training of any state due to successful GP training incentives, Victoria must continue to fund the program to boost rural health, the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has said.
In 2025, 358 more future specialist GPs are commencing training in Victoria, 22% more than 2024.
The proportion of specialist GPs training in rural areas remained high following exceptional growth in rural training in 2024, when the Victorian Government's $40,000 GP training incentives were introduced.
Victoria has the largest number of GPs on rural training of all states and territories, and a survey of 2024 Victorian GP Grants Program recipients found 59% are undertaking placements in regional Victoria.
Almost half said they would not have pursued GP training without the grant, and 13% said they moved to Victoria because of the program.
RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Munõz said the training incentives have delivered, and called for them to continue.
"Our communities have seen the positive impact of the Victorian Government's training incentives for GPs," she said.
"The next generation of GPs have been clear about the value of these grants. They've been a fantastic success, and the continued growth of our GP workforce is a lesson for other states. Funding general practice delivers results.
"The Victorian Government should expand the program to get more GPs into our regional cities and rural towns.
"Victoria has led the way in recognising too many GPs in training lose out on parental leave, long service leave, and other entitlements when they train outside the hospital system. This was affecting young doctors' ability to train as GPs.
"Given their success, the Victorian Government should fund its GP training incentives in 2026 and beyond.
"There are also gains to be made by increasing junior doctors' opportunities to experience what general practice, and especially rural general practice, can offer. GPs build lifelong relationships with our patients, coordinate teams of other specialists to keep them healthy, and work with a level of independence that's rare in medicine.
"GP training also has the highest satisfaction ratings of all specialist training programs. Junior doctors want to become GPs – and the Victorian Government can build on this result by supporting them.
"With the right funding and incentives, we can rebuild the GP workforce to keep everyone healthy throughout their lives."
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.
Among the 359 new GPs training in the RACGP's Victorian training regions:
- 114 GPs in training will join the Metro East region on a general training pathway
- 83 GPs in training will join the Metro West region on a general training pathway
- 64 GPs in training will join the Metro and Rural South West region (Geelong to the SA border and southern Mallee); 25 general training pathway and 39 rural pathway
- 33 GPs in training will join the Rural North West region (Central Highlands, Wimmera, and Loddon Mallee) on a rural training pathway
- 23 GPs in training will join the Rural North East region (Hume region and area around Albury, NSW) on a rural training pathway
- 41 GPs in training will join the Rural South East region (Gippsland, Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges) on a rural training pathway.
