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RACGP clarifies registrar placement priorities amid speculation
Registrars are placed according to community need, registrar choice, and the quality of the training environment, regardless of setting, the college has confirmed.
RACGP general practice registrars are placed according to community need, registrar choice, and quality of the training environment, the college says.
General practice registrar placements are not solely based on whether a practice chooses to operate under a bulk-billing model, the RACGP has clarified.
The college has spoken out after the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) expressed concerns about a bulk-billing clause in the recently signed Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Grant agreement.
The landmark agreement was announced earlier this month, with the RACGP and ACRRM sharing in $1.1 billion to deliver the training program for the next five years.
In response to the placement concerns, the RACGP has reiterated its training priorities include meeting community need and positive experiences, rather than placement based on a practice’s billing model.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said since returning to the specialist medical colleges in 2023, the success of GP training has been built on high‑quality practices, engaged registrars, experienced educators and supervisors, and positive placement experiences.
‘We know positive placement experiences are one of the fundamental reasons why the college’s training is successful,’ he told newsGP.
‘This has not changed with the new AGPT contract and absolutely does not mean that registrars will be forced into bulk‑billing practices at the expense of communities that need them or where registrars want to train.
‘If bulk-billing models were the only KPI [key performance indicator], that would be a major concern for both colleges and our registrars.’
Dr Wright added that registrars will continue to be placed according to their choice, quality of the training environment, and community need.
‘The college has clearly established principles around training placements that apply to every setting where our registrars train, and these are aligned to our AGPT Grant agreement and KPIs,’ he said.
‘These principles do not change with the billing policies of a practice.’
Dr Wright said the Federal Government has detailed an ‘extensive’ list of KPIs, tasks, and priorities under the newly renewed AGPT Grant agreement.
‘These include meeting training targets in rural communities and boosting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce,’ he said.
‘Within that broader context, the Government would like us to prioritise bulk‑billing. But our priorities include building the workforce and supporting registrars with valuable training experiences.’
This year will see a record 1772 doctors begin their general practice training, with a further 1110 eligible doctors applying for the AGPT Program.
These figures are a catalyst for the college to continue prioritising training GPs in the communities that need them most, Dr Wright says.
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bulk-billing practices general practice registrar general practice training registrar placements
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