FSP supervisor and training site newsletter

In this issue

• RACGP end-of-year closure
• Finalise term requirements
• Changes to FSP eligibility and selection process
• Communication and language resources
• FSP evaluation survey findings
• Supervisor liaison officer
• General practice experience assessment reminder for 2025.2 AKT / KFP
• RACGP examinations
• Wellbeing resources
• Coming up

RACGP end-of-year closure

All RACGP offices will be closed from 5.00 pm Monday 23 December 2024 to Thursday 2 January 2025 for the holidays.

Please be mindful that we won’t be able to respond to any queries over this period.

Finalise term requirements

End-of-term reports

If you haven't already completed an end-of-term report for your registrar, please ensure you submit this on the FSP portal by 10 January 2025.

Term requirements

As we draw to the end of another term, please follow up with your registrar to ensure they complete any outstanding tasks for the current term. We've outlined the requirements for each GP term below:

GPT1 

• FSP Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Awareness Module
• Significant event analysis (SEA)
• Acknowledge all workplace-based assessment (WBA) feedback.

GPT2 

• Clinical audit
• Begin your multi-source feedback (MSF) surveys
• Acknowledge all WBA feedback.

GPT3 

• Finalise any outstanding components of the multi-source feedback (MSF)
• Upload evidence-based medicine activity documentation
• Acknowledge all WBA feedback.

Acknowledge your WBAs

Your registrar can contact fspadmin@racgp.org.au if they have any questions or concerns.

Changes to FSP eligibility and selection process

Following feedback regarding changes to eligibility requirements for FSP for the 2025.2 intake, RACGP has decided the implementation of the following new eligibility criteria be paused to allow the opportunity for further consultation and review, to ensure the changes provide the best possible outcomes for members, applicants, and patients:

• At least 12 months of full-time equivalent (FTE) general practice experience in Australia within the last four years.
• For applicants who have already attempted an RACGP Fellowship exam, must have at least one exam semester remaining from the commencement of training and need to have previously passed at least one Fellowship exam to apply.

These changes will not apply for the 2025.2 intake.

For further information, please visit our website or read the latest version of the FSP Application handbook.

Communication and language resources

Is your registrar struggling with communication?

International medical graduates from non-English speaking backgrounds may find it challenging to integrate themselves into Australian general practice when language and communication is a barrier.

We recommend the following communication resources to assist, if you feel your registrar needs some extra support.

FSP evaluation survey findings

The RACGP evaluation team contact FSP registrars at the end of their first term and after program completion. We’d like to report some key findings from these surveys so you’re aware of the overall program satisfaction. 

• The large majority of FSP registrars are satisfied with the EASL and WBA assessments. 
• 93% of first term registrars from 2024.1 were satisfied/very satisfied with the support and availability of their supervisor/s – the majority being very satisfied.  
• 94% of first term registrars from 2024.1 felt the induction / orientation they were provided at their training site was satisfactory/very satisfactory. 

As we gather more data from our surveys, we’ll be sure to add this information to future newsletters.

Supervisor liaison officer

We’d like to thank Dr Ian Kamerman, our FSP supervisor liaison officer (SLO) for making himself so available to support other FSP supervisors in the past 12 months.

We’re delighted to see him continue in the role and he is happy to be contacted at Ian.Kamerman@racgp.org.au for advice and support when needed.

General practice experience assessment reminder for 2025.2 AKT / KFP

FSP registrars must submit a complete GPE application by 5:00 pm (AEDT) Monday 27 January 2025 to receive an outcome advising whether they meet the experience requirements to enrol for the 2025.2 AKT and KFP.

FSP registrars need a valid outcome before enrolments close, and it needs to remain valid for the date of the exam/s.

We’ll contact affected registrars with further details relating to the GPE assessment by the end of today, Thursday 19 December.

RACGP examinations

Updated Key Feature Problem exam format

From 2025.2, the Key Feature Problem (KFP) exam will consist of 70 individual scenarios, each with a multiple selection question (MSQ) that is answered on a paper bubble sheet, similar to that used for the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT). Handwritten responses will not be required.

We’re not changing what we assess, only the format by which we assess it.

The exam will remain four hours in duration and be delivered in the same locations as the current exams. The new format will mean candidates will receive their results before the Clinical Competency Exam (CCE) enrolment period.

To support candidates with the new format, a full suite of resources and detailed information is available on the RACGP KFP webpage. These include:  

• gplearning exam preparation modules     
• FAQs  
• example questions  
• updated handbooks and guides. 

For more information, please reach out to examinations@racgp.org.au. 

Exam preparation

Refer to the RACGP's exam planning webpage for more information on timelines, tips for preparation, and general information.

Wellbeing resources

As it is the busiest time of year for most, we want to remind you about RACGP’s wellbeing support resources, specifically the wellbeing support program, that allows GP members who are registered medical professionals to access three free EAP style support sessions.

Coming up

• New term commencing Monday 6 January 2025.
• 2025.2 FSP Applications opening Wednesday 15 January 2025.