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How do universities shape Australia’s future GP workforce?
A landmark collaboration is geared towards better understanding of what drives medical students into a career in general practice.
‘This research helps both colleges understand what drives that choice, so we can work with universities to build on it.’
New research has delved into the role of medical schools in shaping the future GP workforce, with results showing where the one in three medical graduates who progressed into the 2025 general practice training program studied.
Undertaken by the RACGP, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand (MDANZ), the analysis offers the first integrated national view of how medical schools help shape Australia’s future GP workforce – particularly for regional, rural, and remote communities.
To understand how student intentions translate into actual workforce outcomes, the RACGP and ACRRM analysed their incoming 2025 Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program cohort.
The findings show that 33% of Australian medical graduates have progressed into GP training across both colleges.
Key findings from the 2025 AGPT cohort analysis show:
- James Cook University (JCU) and the University of Notre Dame (Fremantle) have the highest progression rates at 52% and 51%, respectively
- Bond University leads the metropolitan (RACGP general pathway) cohort with 34% undertaking GP training
- JCU has the highest representation in rural training (ACRRM and RACGP Rural Pathway) cohorts at 27%
- Monash University leads in absolute numbers with 106 commencing registrars, followed by University of Queensland (91) and Griffith University (68) – showing that both urban and rural universities can produce GPs
- for the AGPT rural pathway, Monash University again leads in absolute numbers with 53 registrars, followed by University of Queensland (30) and University of Tasmania (22).
An annual survey by MDANZ
reveals a steady decline in medical students intending to pursue general practice – falling from 13.3% in 2020 to 9.4% in 2024.
However, the introduction of the rural generalism option in 2021 sparked renewed interest, with an additional 5.7% of students indicating intent – bringing the combined interest in generalist careers to 15.1%.
This new analysis shows almost twice as many graduates enter GP training as those who initially express interest, reflecting the complex and changing nature of career decisions in medicine.
It also reveals significant differences across universities and training pathways, reinforcing the need for long-term research to understand what drives GP career choice and to guide targeted workforce planning.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright, who presented the fresh data at the
Medical Deans’ Annual Conference this week, said the collaboration with MDANZ and ACRRM is a first and positive step forward.
‘It heralds the beginning of closer and even more collaborative relationships that will result in more medical students choosing general practice training, which is vital for the health of communities across Australia,’ he said.
‘We urgently need more graduates choosing general practice to meet the growing need for health care in communities all around Australia.’
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin said every doctor who chooses rural and remote medicine makes a difference to a community in need.
‘This research helps both colleges understand what drives that choice, so we can work with universities to build on it,’ he said.
‘Too few students get to experience the variety, flexibility and range of options general practice offers during their time at university, particularly in Rural Generalist practice.
‘Medical students must be able to see that GP and Rural Generalist practice allows them to be more innovative, flexible, and impactful in communities where healthcare is needed most.’
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