GPs in training jump 31% in WA

A record result will see 194 future GPs begin their training in Western Australia this year.
 
This represents a 31% jump for the state in 2025, boosted by 67% growth in the number of GPs in training following a rural pathway.
 
While the spike is well above the national average of 19.8% growth in general practice registrars, WA is still battling fewer GPs per person compared to Victoria and New South Wales.
 
According to the RACGP’s latest Health of the Nation survey, there around 99 GPs per 100,000 people currently working in WA, compared to 116 in Victoria and NSW, and 115 in Queensland.
 
In response, RACGP WA Chair Dr Ramya Raman called for greater State Government investment to address this ‘unique challenge’.
 
‘The WA Government needs to consider offering incentives to strengthen general practice access and prevent the number of GPs in our state from falling further behind our population growth,’ she said.
 
‘This is an opportunity to meet the needs of our growing community.’
 
According to the Fair share for WA health report, the state’s specific challenges come from its isolation, as the ‘lower availability of GP services in WA places significant pressure on the health system’.
 
The RACGP’s calls for state-based incentives come after offerings in other regions have proven successful in enticing junior doctors to the career.
 
In Victoria, a $40,000 State Government incentive resulted in 44% of successful applicants saying they would have pursued a different career in medicine if the program did not exist.
 
Dr Raman is now urging the WA Government to follow Victoria’s lead.
 
‘While this is a record training result for WA, our communities need State Government investment to catch up to where we need to be to keep all of our patients healthy,’ she said.
 
‘The GP training grants program in Victoria has been transformative … it’s a proven and cost-efficient way to get more GPs into our communities.’
 
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said a boost to GP numbers would also help ease Australia’s cost-of-living crisis, making a trip to the doctor more accessible to patients.
 
‘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,’ he said.
 
‘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.
 
‘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.’
 
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