RACGP seeks formal mandate to bring training back to the college

The RACGP is seeking membership support to bring general practice training back to the college, by asking members to vote on a new resolution in the leadup to this month’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
 
According to the RACGP’s Notice of the Annual General Meeting, the formal mandate will allow the RACGP to ‘take all actions necessary’ to ensure general practice training returns to the college in 2023. 
 
‘We want new trainees to have a college and a professional home that they can influence and by which they’ll be supported,’ the Notice states.
 
‘A college within which they can grow as they experience the pastoral care to develop the best of themselves; a training and education experience that can begin in medical school and run through hospital training and Fellowship into post-vocational growth, education and leadership.
 
‘To achieve such a goal, we need your support. Vote in favour of the motion to allow us to continue bringing this training model to life.’
 
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt first announced the transition back to profession-led, community-based training at GP17, before it was temporarily paused last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
An updated training model was subsequently presented to the Department of Health earlier this year, which generated ‘extremely positive’ feedback and would bring the RACGP in line with other specialist medical colleges by giving it determination over the education and training of the future workforce.
 
‘The return of general practice training to the RACGP provides a unique opportunity to reform training and secure the future of Australia’s primary health system,’ the Notice states.

‘The RACGP has a vision and a plan, and is actively working with Regional Training Organisations and all other stakeholders that represent GPs in training, supervisors and medical educators regarding transition arrangements, including agreeing on transition principles, resources and information-sharing arrangement.
 
‘We aim to maintain stability, standards and continuity through the transition period, as we know how important this work is to the future of Australian general practice.
 
‘We’re ready to start building a new future for the college that will support future generations of GPs and their patients.’
 
The RACGP has said it requires formal member support via an AGM resolution because the training transition will adjust the remit of the college from a membership organisation with some education responsibilities, to an organisation delivering training and education alongside membership.
 
This formal step – which requires the support of 50% of voting members – is also needed to comply with Director responsibilities under the Corporations Act.
 
The AGM will be held via Zoom on Wednesday 17 November, with voting now open. All members who are eligible to vote will have received voting instructions and links directly from the returning officer, Thomas Balakas from OGL Group.
 
More information is available on the RACGP website.
 
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