The Coalition Government’s health reform agenda has been strengthened with nearly 1,500 doctors accepting positions that will see them study, train and work in practices, clinics and hospitals across the nation.
These GP registrars will embark on three to four years of full-time training with 50 per cent of them training in rural and remote areas of Australia.
Minister for Rural Health, Senator Bridget McKenzie welcomed this latest round of placements, especially those who will be undertaking their training in rural and remote areas of Australia.
“Australia’s general practice workforce of the future will be strengthened by these placements and communities in rural, regional and remote areas will directly benefit from better access to doctors,” Minister McKenzie said.
“We know that doctors who study and train in the regions are also more likely to apply for permanent jobs and reap the benefits of working with smaller communities and enjoy a rural lifestyle.”
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said boosting Australia’s GP workforce is a priority because our world class health system has a strong foundation in primary care.
“Health workforce reform is making sure that GPs are more available, to more Australians, now and into the future.”
This year is the first time the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) had responsibility for the selection process under the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program. This brings general practice training in line with other specialist training programs.
The program is delivered by a network of nine Regional Training Organisations, (RTOs) across 11 training regions nationally, and in accordance with the high standards of the RACGP and ACRRM.
Applications for the 2019 Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program will open on 26 March and close on 30 April 2018.
For more information about eligibility for the AGPT program visit www.agpt.com.au and for more information about the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) visit www.acrrm.org.au and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) visit www.racgp.org.au.