Planning for your registrar’s training – WBAs, Mini-CEX and RCAs

Every practice manager has their own approach to coordinating registrar training in their practice. Tasmanian Practice Manager Lisa Richardson from Brighton Regional Doctors and Bothwell Doctors shares a simple system that works well.

Planning begins as soon as a registrar placement is confirmed. Using a training calendar template, Lisa: 

1. schedules supervisor teaching sessions for the six-month term, preferably first thing in the morning
2. allocates sessions for Mini-CEXs, RCAs, and mid- and end-of-term reports 
3. distributes the calendar to supervisors for approval 
4. enters all scheduled activities into the supervisor calendar on the PMS 
5. enters the above into the registrar’s calendar when setting them up on the PMS
6. adds WBAs as medical educators confirm bookings. 

This proactive approach keeps training requirements visible, reduces pressure on supervisors and administration staff, improves the registrar experience, and helps ensure assessments and reports are completed and uploaded to the TMS on time. 

Then grab a coffee – the term is planned, organised and ready to set and forget! 

Margaret McPherson 
PMLO 

Update your training site capacity by 14 September

Training sites can update their capacity in the training management system (TMS) until Monday 14 September. 
 
Please ensure your vacancies, practice profile and contact details are up to date. This information is vital for planning and helps ensure registrars are distributed equitably across your region.  
 
Priority placement support is available, and local training support teams are ready to assist you throughout the process. 
 
Please take note of the placement key dates, and reach out to your training coordinator if you need support. 

Flexible Funds

Flexible Funds Policy Version 7 has now been published with several key updates. 

The general principles section now links to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural and Health Training Framework, reflecting the RACGP’s commitment to supporting AGPT registrars in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health settings. 

Training sites will now receive $500 per eligible registrar for supervisor professional development payments, with no cap on the number of registrars or total payment. See Schedule 1 for details. 

ATO Table 2 rates now apply to registrar, supervisor and practice manager travel expense subsidies. See Schedule 5 for details. 

Section 6 outlines the new GPT1 supervisor capacity incentive pilot, running from 2026.2 to the end of 2027. Payments will be available to designated supervisors of GPT1 registrars training in MM 2–7 areas, or within an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS), Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) or Category 2 Training Facility, as defined in the AGPT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Salary Support Program Policy. See Schedule 6 for further details.

Pilot AGPT GPT1 Supervisor Capacity Incentive

The RACGP is introducing a pilot AGPT GPT1 Supervisor Capacity Incentive from 2026.2 to the end of 2027, to support supervision capacity and increase GPT1 training placements in priority workforce areas.  

Eligible designated supervisors will receive $5,000 per semester for each GPT1 registrar they supervise, up to three registrars, in: 

• MM 2–7 areas 

• Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs) and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) or a Category 2 Training Facility in MM 1–7 areas, per the AGPT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Salary Support Program Policy. 

The incentive is in addition to National Consistent Payments, and funded through the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) Flexible Funds.  

Training sites are encouraged to consider hosting GPT1 registrars from 2027.1.  
In early September, training teams will contact eligible current GPT1 supervisors and practice managers about receiving the 2026.2 incentive.  

Supporting registrar wellbeing: recognising and preventing burnout

Burnout can affect registrars during training. Practice managers play an important role in supporting registrar wellbeing. 

Join us for Running on empty – ten tips to beat burnout in GP training, a practical webinar exploring how burnout presents in general practice, the impact it can have on training and strategies to support registrars and foster wellbeing in the workplace.  

Featuring Dr Amy Imms from The Burnout Project.  

Webinar details  
30 September  
7.30–8.30 pm (AEST)  

Presented by GPiT in partnership with Avant.  

Planned implementation of new accreditation standards in mid-2027

The RACGP is implementing the Australian Medical Council (AMC) Model Standards for specialist medical college accreditation of training settings. These standards will be used to accredit training sites and supervisors for the AGPT and FSP programs and will replace the current 4th edition of the RACGP standards for general practice training.  

What's changing?  
While the format and wording will differ from our current standards, the expectations and requirements for training sites and supervisors largely remain the same.   

Why is this happening?  
The AMC developed Model Standards which all specialist medical colleges must use to accredit their training sites and supervisors.   

How is this being implemented?  
The RACGP is developing a guide for training sites which will include guidance statements and listed evidence for assessment against each criterion. PMLOs and SLOs will be consulted during the development.   

Further information will be provided in the coming months.    

Connection key for mitigating supervisor burnout, experts say

With high rates of burnout across the profession, GP supervisors face additional loads. But what are their experiences of burnout? 

A new paper describes a study where researchers spoke with 14 active supervisors and stakeholders from training organisations in 2022 to understand risk factors facing this group.

Beyond pressures commonly facing GPs, supervisors also described the additional load of being a supervisor. This included the stress of navigating registrars in difficulty or struggling to engage with training, juggling assessments, and grief when registrars leave the practice. These pressures could be compounded by limited valuing of supervision in the practice.  

A key theme was the importance of connection between supervisors to share expertise and experiences and reinvigorate a sense of purpose. 

Dr Shaun Prentice, lead author and researcher with the RACGP GP Training Research team, says the findings may help inform approaches to supporting supervisors.  

Read the full paper in the July issue of the Australian Journal of General Practice.  

Updated RACGP training resource

We've updated the Comprehensive Australian general practice guide (V2) as part of the Maximum Program Time Cap project, improving clarity and consistency. 

Contact us

The RACGP acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land and sea in which we live and work. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and culture and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.