Message from your PMLO

As a practice manager – supporting RACGP registrars or any new doctor starting at your practice – you play a key role in ensuring they’ve lodged a Medicare provider number (MPN) application. It’s an essential administrative task. 

MPNs enable registrars to bill Medicare and make referrals. They are site-specific, so if you manage more than one location and your registrar will be working across multiple sites, you’ll need a separate application for each location. 

Delays can affect both training and patient care. Now that you’ve finalised your applications and issued offers for 2026.1 placements, here are a few reminders: 

• Start early – MPN applications can take 6–8 weeks to process 

• Double-check details – ensure demographic data and Ahpra registration match before lodging the application 

• Track expiry dates – set reminders for MPN renewals 

• Communicate early – keep registrars informed about timelines and ask them to let you know when they receive any communication from Services Australia 

• Stay organised – maintain a checklist for each registrar and site 

Thanks for all you do, 
 
Ruth Debuque 
Practice Manager Liaison Officer, NT  

The Government’s Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program took effect on 1 November. As patients may have questions or new expectations about billing, the RACGP has launched a comprehensive support campaign to assist your practice during this transition. 

We’ve developed ready-to-use resources tailored to different billing models – whether your training practice remains private or mixed billing, has transitioned to bulk billing, or continues bulk billing. These include posters, patient FAQs, receptionist scripts, and website content to help you manage patient conversations smoothly. 

Educational webinars and recordings cover topics such as understanding the new incentives, practical enrolment steps, and confidently navigating these changes. Plus, the Cubiko incentive calculator is available to help assess potential impacts on your practice. 

Access these resources on our website or contact the RACGP Medicare changes hotline for ongoing support. The College supports your billing autonomy and is here to help your practice confidently navigate this transition. 

Placement confirmations and Medicare provider numbers

Applications for 2026.1 placements are now open, and training sites can make offers for the upcoming semester via the Training Management System (TMS). When an offer is issued, registrars will be notified by email and can then accept or decline. You can only offer up to the number of places available under your practice cap. 

If you wish to decline a registrar's application, please send a letter of regret via the TMS so they can progress with other applications. Registrars need to secure a placement and submit their Medicare provider number (MPN) paperwork by Friday 28 November. Late MPN applications may cause delays to placements, as registrars cannot begin working at a training site until their MPN is allocated. 

Registrars must still submit an MPN application form, even if they are staying at the same practice in 2026.1. This allows the RACGP to work with Services Australia to ensure their MPN is allocated prior to the start of the semester. 

If you have any questions, please visit the MPN information page or speak with your training coordinator. 

Thank you for your commitment and participation in the 2026.1 placement process. We understand it’s a busy time and your training coordinator is here to help if you’d like to discuss any part of the process. 

Changes to training location commitments from 2026.1

From 2026.1, training location commitments (TLCs) will be measured in calendar weeks rather than FTE. In NSW/ACT, we’ve also expanded the list of eligible composite pathway locations. You can find the updated list in the TLC schedule. 

These changes are designed to improve consistency across regions, support access to priority workforce areas, and provide greater flexibility for registrars. 

Please get in touch with your training coordinator to talk through your options and how these changes affect you. 

New registrar incentive payments from 2026.1

The Australian Government has introduced three incentive payments for AGPT registrars available from 2026.1. These initiatives have successfully addressed some barriers to GP training resulting in an oversubscribed 2026 intake. This has not happened for some years and is a positive outcome. 

From 2026.1, registrars may be eligible for the following incentive payments: 

Study leave incentive: Registrars can access up to five days (FTE) per annum for exam preparation and professional development. For practices, this is leave without pay. Further details about this and the government incentives are now included in the NTCER on the GPSA website.

Parental leave incentive: Primary carers receive up to 20 weeks (FTE); secondary carers receive up to two weeks, with payment made directly to registrars by Services Australia. 

Salary incentive: Registrars receive $5000 (FTE) monthly for their first six-month core training semester. 

All payments are pro-rata for part-time registrars. Registrars apply via the TMS and manage their own super transfers and tax obligations.

We’ll keep you informed as soon as more details are provided by the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Over 16 years, more than 6600 registrars and 2000 practices have contributed to the Registrar Clinical Encounters in Training (ReCEnT) project, recording over one million consultations. 

This world-leading project highlights patterns in GP training consultations, shapes curriculum, workshop content and training policy, and reveals the educational value of rural, regional and outer-metro placements. 

It has provided personalised feedback for registrars, a rich resource for academic registrars, and positioned Australian GP training at the forefront of medical education research, with 100 peer-reviewed publications to date. 

RACGP CEO Georgina van de Water said: 

‘ReCEnT has given us a window into the day-to-day reality of GP training across Australia, and the scale of this milestone has enabled remarkably detailed insights. The data has helped answer questions that once felt out of reach, and it continues to shape how we teach, train and support registrars. By strengthening the experience of our members it’s helping us deliver on our shared strategy to build a flourishing GP workforce for the future.   

We're incredibly proud of what’s been achieved – and of what’s still possible with this remarkable resource’.  

Contact us

For any queries about the information enclosed, please contact your local training team.