The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) President Dr Michael Wright and RACGP Vice President and WA Chair Dr Ramya Raman will visit regional Western Australia this week, meeting with local GPs, healthcare teams and communities in the Great Southern region.
The visit will include stops in Denmark and Albany, meeting with local GPs and Aboriginal health service providers and providing an opportunity to hear directly from people delivering and accessing care regionally.
The visit will focus on strengthening the regional general practice workforce, supporting high-quality training, and listening to local GPs and patients to inform national advocacy and policy.
Dr Wright said spending time in regional and rural communities is essential to understanding the realities of general practice across Australia.
"GPs in regional WA are delivering comprehensive, high-quality care, often across large distances and with unique challenges," Dr Wright said.
"Hearing directly from local practices and patients means our advocacy reflects what's happening on the ground. It's important these voices are heard and reflected in national policy."
Dr Ramya Raman said engaging directly with local practices and Aboriginal health services is key to ensuring the sustainability of general practice in the state.
"General practice is the backbone of healthcare in regional WA, but many communities continue to face workforce shortages and access challenges," she said.
"GPs in regional areas are doing extraordinary work to care for their communities, often with limited resources and increasing demand. International medical graduates are critical to regional communities - they need better support, not more barriers.
"It's vital that governments invest in workforce attraction and retention, as well as training opportunities, to ensure people living in regional WA can access timely, high-quality care close to home. The RACGP WA Pre-Budget submission makes it clear that targeted investment in general practice is essential. This includes workforce incentives, support for training in the regions, and funding models that reflect the complexity of care."
Dr Raman said the visit would also strengthen connections with RACGP members across the state.
"Opportunities to meet face to face with members, hear their experiences, and discuss solutions are incredibly valuable," she said.
The RACGP is calling for continued investment in regional general practice, including support for training pathways, infrastructure and policies that improve access to care for communities across Western Australia.
"Every Australian deserves access to high-quality general practice care, no matter where they live," Dr Raman said.
"Ensuring the sustainability of general practice in regional WA must be a priority."
