Patients in Victoria will soon find it easier than ever to see a GP, with a strong cohort of future specialist GPs commencing training in the Commonwealth-funded Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program with Australia's leading medical training college, the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP).
In 2026, 363 future GPs have commenced training in Victoria. Of these:
- 149 are training on an AGPT rural training pathway, spending the complete three years of their training in Victoria's regional, rural, or remote communities, a 9.6% increase on 2025
- 161 are training on the general pathway, completing metropolitan-based training with at least 12 months in an outer-metropolitan, rural, non-capital city, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health post
- 53 are training on Victoria's composite pathway, which requires six months of non-metropolitan training in high-need areas including the Northern Territory
- 63, or 17% of the cohort, will train as Rural Generalists (RGs), completing an additional year of advanced rural skills to deliver hospital and emergency services that regional communities rely on.
This compares favourably with the national growth in junior doctors training as GPs with the RACGP, reinforcing Victoria's strong foundation for future workforce expansion and highlighting opportunities to strengthen training capacity and supervisor support across the state.
RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz said the 2026 intake demonstrated both stability and strategic growth in key pathways.
"The steady number of future GPs training in Victoria shows there is sustained demand for GP training and confidence in general practice as a career," she said.
"What's especially positive this year is the shift toward pathways that deliver direct benefits to communities outside metropolitan Melbourne. Rural and composite registrars play a critical role in strengthening primary care where it's needed most.
"The growth in composite pathway uptake tells us that early-career doctors want training options that offer flexibility, real-world experience, and meaningful community impact. It's an encouraging sign for the future GP workforce, particularly for regional Victoria.
"Now, we need to match this enthusiasm with the right support. GP supervisors, rural training posts, and teaching practices need sustained investment. When we back the training system properly, we create a stronger, more equitable healthcare system for every Victorian, from Mildura to Gippsland."
A further 145 eligible doctors applied to train as GPs in Victoria, indicating that with additional Commonwealth-funded AGPT places and increased support for GP supervisors, the RACGP can train even more specialist GPs statewide.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright called on the Federal Government to continue investing in training to support all communities' access to high-quality general practice.
"We've worked with the Federal Government to fill all available Australian GP Training Program places for the second year running," he said.
"The 47% national growth in future specialist GPs training on a rural pathway shows what we've been saying for years, funding gets results.
"Registrars and medical students who experience rural general practice are far more likely to stay rural. Communities outside our capital cities desperately need more specialist GPs.
"There has been an 81% increase in applications to train as a specialist GP since 2024. Doctors are recognising the AGPT Program as offering outstanding training, continuity of care, and better work-life balance.
"We've shown that with more investment, we can train more GPs. The Government's 2025–26 funding boost helped fulfil its commitment to grow the GP workforce, but demand shows we can go further. Australia needs more specialist GPs, and the RACGP is ready to train them."
Among the 363 future GPs training in the RACGP's Victoria training regions:
- 118 will train in the RACGP's Metro East Victoria subregion
- 76 in the Metro West Victoria subregion
- 56 in the Metro and Rural South West Victoria subregion
- 51 in the Rural North East Victoria subregion
- 33 in the Rural North West Victoria subregion
- 29 in the Rural South East Victoria subregion.
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