The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has welcomed the release of the 2025 General Practice National Registrar Survey, which shows consistently high satisfaction among GP registrars and strong confidence in the quality of GP training across Australia.
The annual survey, conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) for the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, provides the most comprehensive snapshot of registrar experiences across the general practice training pipeline.
Almost 1000 RACGP registrars took part, equivalent to one in three program participants, with responses informing workforce planning, training quality improvement and future policy development.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said the results reflect a high-performing GP training system that is continuing to strengthen under college-led training.
"GP registrars continue to tell us they are highly satisfied with their supervisors, their training environments, and the support they receive throughout their program. This is critical to securing Australia's future GP workforce," he said.
"Our supervisors and training practices provide exceptional teaching and rich clinical experiences. Registrars consistently highlight the quality of their patient work, the diversity of presentations, and the support they receive every day.
"These results tell a very clear story: Australia's GP registrars are thriving in high-quality training environments, supported by passionate supervisors. To keep strengthening this workforce, we need long-term funding certainty for general practice, and stable, well-supported training pathways.
"General practice is the foundation of the health system, and this report shows that the next generation is ready to deliver the care every Australian needs – access to a GP who knows them and their history. GPs are the first point of call and the most accessed medical specialists by Australians.
"We know that strong, continuous GP care leads to fewer hospital admissions, fewer emergency presentations and faster recovery for patients. It's one of the most effective ways to keep the entire health system running."
Across all regions and training contexts, satisfaction remained exceptionally strong:
- 94% satisfied with their overall training and education experience
- 92% satisfied with RACGP training support
- 94% satisfied with their training placement
- 94% satisfied with their supervisor support
- 98% satisfied with the clinical work they undertake
Registrars in both metropolitan and rural settings consistently reported strong access to diverse patient presentations and meaningful workplace responsibility, factors known to support skill development and retention.
Registrars highlighted high-quality clinical environments as a major strength of general practice training:
Almost 89% of registrars have now completed cultural education training, with 93% satisfied with the quality of that training. Access to cultural mentoring is increasing, with 72% reporting they know how to access a mentor for guidance.
Particularly pleasing is the fact that 46% of RACGP registrars have trained in a rural location, and that 16% aim to work in rural or remote communities post-fellowship.
The RACGP says this growth is essential for ensuring safe, culturally responsive general practice care. Most registrars intend to continue in general practice long-term, with 97% plan to be working as a GP in five years.
These findings confirm that the GP workforce is growing strongly, with strong interest in continuity, community practice and future training roles.
