Australia's leading general practice training college, the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP), proudly welcomed 149 new specialist GPs at a prestigious Fellowship ceremony on Sunday 24 August in Melbourne.
Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP) recognises a doctor's qualification and expertise as a specialist GP. It is the gold standard of general practice in Australia and follows around 11 years of education, clinical training, rigorous assessment, and hands-on experience in primary care.
Among the newly recognised Fellows were four Rural Generalists (RGs) – GPs who undertake Additional Rural Skills Training in fields vital to rural communities, such as anaesthesia and obstetrics.
Two Aboriginal New Fellows received their papers at the ceremony.
New Fellow Dr Sharni Wilkes is a Yamatji woman whose Illawadjardi family group also have strong connections to the Malgana lands and waters of Shark Bay, WA, within Yamatji Country.
She had been interested in rural practice since university and completed the precursor to the Rural Generalist program, Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP), with Additional Rural Skills Training in paediatrics.
Dr Wilkes now works at an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and an alcohol and other drugs-focused practice in Warrnambool, applying her general practice and paediatrics training across generations of patients.
"There are a lot of challenges facing general practice in Australia, but I still couldn't imagine doing anything else," Dr Wilkes said.
"I love being rural, and my background in paediatrics means I often see entire generations of families, which is a massive privilege.
"Following a woman throughout pre-conception planning, her pregnancy, and then seeing her new baby for a six-week health check – all while also looking after her grandpa – is the kind of care you can't usually provide in any other area of medicine."
Dr Wilkes lost her sister and cousin during her GP training, but said the support of her friends, family, and educators helped her through the heartbreak and challenges.
She has now been accepted as a GP training supervisor with both the RACGP and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and hopes to provide future GPs with the same support.
"I had a legendary team of friends, family, and RACGP medical educators who all rallied around me to get me through my training and exams," she said.
"The challenges I experienced during my training showed me that with time and community, life can get better. Hopefully this helps me be a source of strength for any GPs in training facing their own adversities."
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright congratulated the New Fellows and underscored the essential role of GPs in Australia's healthcare system.
"Australia's never needed specialist GPs more than it does right now – and the RACGP is stepping up," Dr Wright said.
"We train 90% of the country's GPs, and today we're celebrating 149 New Fellows in Victoria who are at the start of what I know will be incredible careers.
"General practice is one of the most rewarding paths in medicine. It's challenging, but it's also full of variety, flexibility, and the chance to build deep, lasting relationships with patients. No other specialty offers that kind of connection.
"And the research is clear on how essential the connection with a usual GP is for all parts of our health.
"People who have a usual GP live longer, healthier, and happier lives. We're here for the long haul, helping people stay well and navigate life's changes, year after year."
RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz also extended her congratulations, highlighting the depth of skill and commitment required to achieve Fellowship.
"This ceremony marks the end of a long and demanding journey," Dr Muñoz said.
"You've put in years of study, reflection, hands-on experience, and guidance from incredible GP supervisors, not to mention some seriously tough exams. You've earned this moment.
"As GPs, we're specialists in the unknown. We take symptoms that might not be obvious, combine them with what we see in an exam, test results, and insights from other specialists, and come to a diagnosis from a sea of possibilities. That's no small feat.
"You're being recognised not just for your hard work, but for your expertise. You're now the first point of contact for patients facing complex health challenges. You're the doctor they open up to about their mental health, the one checking in after a hospital visit, the one they turn to when starting a family, and the one who helps them stay well through every stage of life.
"This is a proud moment, and the RACGP couldn't be more excited to see how you'll shape the health and wellbeing of communities across Victoria."
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