The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) is celebrating new Fellows at a ceremony in Cairns this week, marking their entry into the profession as specialist GPs.
The RACGP Queensland Faculty will host its annual regional Fellowship ceremony on Friday 17 April, welcoming 27 new Fellows to the profession.
Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP) reflects a doctor's qualification and expertise as a specialist GP, following around 11 years of education, training, rigorous assessment, and experience in primary care.
This event marks an ongoing commitment by the RACGP Queensland Faculty to hold a Fellowship ceremony in a regional area annually. The ceremony was last held in Cairns in 2021.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright congratulated the new Fellows.
"It is a privilege to join our Queensland colleagues in Cairns to celebrate this important milestone for our new Fellows," he said.
"Becoming a Fellow of the RACGP represents years of dedication, study, and hands-on experience caring for patients. Our new Fellows should be immensely proud of their achievement and the vital role they will play in supporting the health of their communities.
The ceremony is a celebratory occasion to honour our new Fellows. Fellowship of the RACGP is a specialist general practice qualification accredited by the Australian Medical Council. While general practice is a recognised medical specialty, not all medical practitioners working as GPs in Australia hold a specialist general practice qualification. The attainment of the FRACGP signifies that a GP has been assessed as competent across the core skills of general practice enabling him or her to practice safely, unsupervised, anywhere in Australia.
"Access to high-quality general practice care is essential for all Australians, no matter where they live. Regional training and celebration opportunities like this ceremony help strengthen the rural and regional workforce by recognising and supporting GPs where they are needed most.
"The RACGP will continue to advocate for the investment and support needed to ensure all communities, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas, can access timely, high-quality care from a GP they know and trust."
RACGP Queensland Chair Dr Cath Hester, who will host the ceremony, said the event highlights the importance of training and retaining GPs in regional communities.
"It's wonderful to welcome 27 new Fellows in Cairns and celebrate their achievements alongside their families, friends and colleagues," she said.
"This ceremony reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting GPs across Queensland by recognising their achievements in regional centres. These new Fellows are well equipped to make a meaningful difference in the lives of their patients and communities.
"General practice is a uniquely rewarding career, and it's inspiring to see the next generation of GPs ready to step into this vital role."
Other attendees will include Cairns local GPs Dr Lisa Fraser; Dr Aileen Traves (QLD Faculty Deputy Chair); and Dr Stephen Salleras (RACGP Deputy Regional Director of GP Training); they will join their colleagues in the official party including RACGP Vice-President and WA Faculty Chair Dr Ramya Raman; RACGP Acting CEO Pranay Lodhiya; and members of the RACGP Queensland Faculty Council who are travelling in from across the state and around the country for the ceremony.
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