RACGP to launch national New Fellows committee

Becoming a New GP Fellow can be an overwhelming career stage, stepping into the unknown during a major transition period.
 
While the RACGP currently provides varying degrees of support for this member cohort via state-based New Fellows committees, these are not consistent across all jurisdictions.
 
In response, the RACGP recently endorsed the formation of a National New Fellows Committee as a sub-committee of the GPs in Training faculty, designed to formalise support and provide appropriate governance for this growing member cohort.
 
Dr Rebecca Loveridge is the Chair of RACGP GPs in Training. She told newsGP the new sub-committee will form the foundations for a vital support network.
 
‘The transition to Fellowship is one of the biggest changes GPs experience in their medical careers,’ she said.
 
‘Member surveys also show us it’s a risky time when it comes to our feeling of connectedness with our college.
 
‘New Fellows are also the key to a successful future of the RACGP and general practice as a profession, so it’s crucial this cohort is adequately supported and has a loud voice within the college.’
 
Dr Loveridge says the sub-committee will bolster the existing GPs in Training faculty and embed nationally consistent support.
 
‘Having national oversight and GPs in Training faculty support for the activities of each state’s New Fellows Committees will ensure consistency in each region, and allow us to leverage efficiencies and reduce duplication of work,’ she said.
 
‘It will also provide a dedicated mechanism for feedback from New Fellows to the RACGP Board, through my role as GPs in Training Chair and [Board] Director.
 
‘This has already demonstrated success in 2025 for current registrars, when the Registrar Liaison Officers moved under the GPs in Training faculty.’
 
The new committee follows the establishment of the National IMG Committee in November 2024, which provided an implementation model for developing the National New Fellows Committee.
 
The college’s GPs in Training faculty covers a broad scope of members from medical students and junior doctors, through to current general practice registrars and New Fellows until five years post-Fellowship.
 
With New Fellows currently making up around 8000 college members, RACGP GPs in Training Deputy Chair, Dr Cecilia Xiao, also welcomes the accompanying sub-committee.
 
‘We have a vested interest in supporting the transition of GP trainees to New Fellows in meeting the RACGP advocacy objective for a flourishing GP workforce,’ she told newsGP. 
 
‘Member journey mapping data indicates that the New Fellow career stage is the most at-risk group from membership attrition.
 
‘The purpose of the National New Fellows Committee is to formalise support for the needs of New Fellows and to foster a nationally consistent approach with regional interpretation and local delivery via the faculties.’
 
The new committee comprises a chairperson from RACGP GPs in Training and New Fellow representatives from each jurisdiction, allowing centralisation of resources and supporting national and regional coordination of activities.
 
‘This improves communication and marketing efforts targeting New Fellows for the GPs in Training faculty, thereby engaging members continuously from their training phase to beyond Fellowship,’ Dr Xiao said.
 
Among activities in the pipeline for the newly established sub-committee are a revamp of the RACGP New Fellows website and online and in-person events, including more early-career GP conferences, building on the recent success of the Western Australia event. 
 
‘We’ve had our first meeting to officially formalise the National New Fellows Committee, and it was great to have all the state New Fellows Chairs in the virtual room together,’ Dr Loveridge said.
 
‘Everyone on the committee is enthusiastic, motivated and engaged, and our first task will be sharing what works and what doesn’t in each region so we can come up with a more consistent offering for New Fellows across the country.
 
‘This is definitely an exciting space to watch for 2026.’
 
The RACGP National New Fellows Committee will officially begin operating in September 2025.

College members can join the GPs in Training faculty, or submit suggestions for the National New Fellows Committee by emailing GPIT@racgp.org.au
 
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