The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has welcomed the Federal Government's decision to expand GP training in 2028, paving the way for more Australians to access high-quality care from a specialist GP.
The announcement will see the RACGP receive an additional 87 Commonwealth-funded training places, bringing its total to 1,627 in 2028. This includes 37 additional rural training places to help strengthen the GP workforce outside Australia's major cities.
The increase forms part of the Government's national allocation of 2100 GP training places for 2028.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said the announcement was welcome news for patients, communities and the growing number of junior doctors choosing a career in general practice.
"This is a fantastic result for the future of general practice and the millions of Australians who rely on their GP every day," he said.
"We've seen what happens when governments invest in general practice. More doctors are choosing this rewarding specialty, and more Australians will benefit from having a specialist GP they can turn to throughout their lives.
"The RACGP has a proud record of training the next generation of specialist GPs and Rural Generalists, and we're ready to build on that success.
"Interest in general practice has never been stronger. We filled every available training place for 2027 during the first round of applications, showing just how many doctors want to pursue a career in our specialty.
"These additional places mean we can help even more of those doctors realise that ambition."
Dr Wright said the investment would deliver lasting benefits for patients, particularly in regional, rural and remote communities.
"Every Australian deserves access to high-quality care from a GP who knows them and their medical history, regardless of their postcode.
"More specialist GPs means more people will be able to build that trusted relationship, get the care they need and stay healthier for longer.
"We're particularly pleased to see another 37 rural training places on top of the 638 in 2028. Training doctors in rural communities is one of the best ways to build a strong, sustainable local GP workforce."
Dr Wright said the Government's broader investment in general practice, including salary incentives and support for parental and study leave, was helping make the specialty a more attractive career choice.
"These investments recognise the incredible contribution GPs make to Australia's health system and help ensure general practice remains a rewarding career for the next generation of doctors," he said.
"We thank the Government for its continued commitment to strengthening general practice and look forward to training even more specialist GPs to care for Australians in the years ahead."
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