Today, a ceremony in Melbourne has welcomed 167 new specialist GPs to full independent practice as Fellows of Australia's leading GP training college, the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP).
Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP) reflects a doctor's qualification and expertise as a specialist GP, following at least 11 years of education, rigorous assessment, and in-practice clinical training in primary care.
RACGP Victoria Co-Deputy Chair Dr Aadhil Aziz congratulated the new Fellows.
"There's no substitute for the quality care a specialist GP who knows their patients' health, history, and personal circumstances can deliver," he said.
"No other medical or health practitioner can do so much to keep you healthy at every stage of your life. These GPs have already started to contribute to their communities throughout their training in Victoria, and this ceremony recognises they're ready to support any patient through any health challenge or life change, from parenthood to living a long and healthy life in their senior years.
"General practice provides flexibility, variety, stimulation, and the chance to build long-term, meaningful relationships with patients. No other medical specialty gives you the same opportunities to build trusted long-term relationships, and the benefits for patients' mental and physical health and wellbeing are not just visible, they're measurable health outcomes.
"Congratulations to our new Fellows as you pass this milestone and embark on the rewarding career of a specialist GP!"
The boost to Victorian access to general practice care comes in a record year for specialist GP training both in Victoria and Australia.
Nationally, 1772 doctors are commencing the specialist training these new GPs have now completed with the RACGP, a 19% increase on last year's all-time high. Of those, 363 are training in Victoria – a record for the state.
"Australia needs specialist GPs more than ever, and we've had unprecedented growth in the number of doctors who want to train as GPs, and the number of GPs we've been able to train," Dr Aziz said.
"Meeting the challenges of Australia's growing and ageing population is a big challenge, but these new Fellows and the 363 GPs entering training with the RACGP in Victoria this year shows we're ready to meet it."
Of the 167 fellowing GPs, 163 are specialist GP Fellows (FRACGPs), and four are Rural Generalists (FRACGP-RG), GPs who complete an extra year of training in emergency medicine and a selection of disciplines needed in rural communities such as child health, mental health, surgery, or obstetrics.
Two GPs received RACGP Victoria Academic Awards recognising outstanding Fellowship exam performance:
- Richard Gutch Medal: Dr Jessica Del Gigante
- Rural Workforce Agency of Victoria (RWAV) Award: Dr Brooke Healey
New Fellow Dr Raghu Nandan Devkota, who has practised in Morwell and Sale in Gippsland, said his fellowship journey was "incredibly special".
"It began just as my daughter was expecting, and she ended up being my ultimate study partner through it all," he said.
"Navigating the intense late nights and rigorous study alongside her pregnancy made the experience completely new, exciting, and deeply meaningful. This achievement isn't just mine – it belongs to both of us and the new life that was part of the journey every step of the way."
RACGP National President Dr Michael Wright joined Dr Aziz in congratulating the new Fellows.
"GPs don't just care for our patients when they're sick, we help them stay well at every age – there's no career quite like it," he said.
"The Commonwealth-funded Australian GP Training Program has seen excellent growth, and the historic $751 million, five-year AGPT Grant agreement the RACGP and Federal Government signed this year will deliver more GPs where they're most needed.
"This year's record 1772 doctors training as Fellows with the RACGP also saw a 44% increase in the number of future GPs training on a rural pathway.
"The RACGP continues to train GPs and Rural Generalists in all Australian communities, from our major cities, to rural and regional Australia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
"No matter where you live, our GPs and the RACGP will be there."
