New Fellowship option for expedited pathway

The RACGP has introduced a Fellowship option for members who have successfully completed the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) Expedited Specialist pathway, in a move designed to support safe integration into Australian general practice and strengthen the college’s role as the continuing professional development (CPD) home for all GPs.
 
According to the college, the new initiative recognises that these members have already completed training and assessments substantially equivalent to Australian-trained GPs, and will connect experienced, internationally trained doctors to the RACGP and its standards. 
 
Fellowship offers ongoing support, with New Fellows given a professional CPD home, peer support, access to evidence-based resources, and opportunities to contribute to the profession through roles such as supervision and education. 
 
Under the new model, safeguards will remain in place to ensure all standards are maintained and the Fellowship recognises equivalence and does not reduce RACGP oversight. The model aims to support workforce needs without compromising quality or safety, focusing on orientation and mentorship to ensure safe integration into Australian general practice. 
 
RACGP Vice President Dr Ramya Raman welcomed the new pathway, saying it will reinforce support networks to benefit both GPs and patients.
 
‘These doctors are already working safely in our communities. By offering them Fellowship, we can reduce professional isolation, strengthen their connection to Australian standards, and ensure they have access to ongoing education, mentorship, and resources,’ she said. 
 
‘Patients will benefit because GPs who train overseas and meet the MBA’s high standards can now connect more fully with the Australian system.
 
‘This is about building a stronger, more connected GP workforce – without compromising safety or quality.’
 
According to the most recent Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) monthly report on its expedited specialist pathway , 200 specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs) have been registered since the scheme opened in October 2024, including 254 GPs.
 
When announced, the RACGP raised ongoing concerns about elements of the pathway, with doubts around a lack of appropriate integration into Australia’s healthcare system and wraparound supports for SIMGs. More recently, the college warned of the impacts of the rural and remote workforce being side-stepped.
 
However, Dr Raman said the new Fellowship option for the expedited pathway will help to close some of the gaps and ensure the necessary foundations are in place.
 
‘We need every GP who is practising safely in Australia to feel supported, valued, and connected,’ she said.
 
‘That’s what this initiative is about – stronger care for patients, and a stronger profession for the future.’
 
She also highlighted the college will continue to monitor and evaluate the expedited pathway. 
 
‘We will … consult with the Medical Board and Government to ensure evaluation remains rigorous and upholds Australian standards, and if issues arise, they are promptly addressed,’ she said.
 
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Ahpra CPD expedited pathway Fellowship of the RACGP GP workforce international medical graduates Medical Board of Australia