GP Training Step A Must For Future Workforce, Australian Medical Association

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 05 Nov 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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The launch of 197 new GP training places over the next two years is a positive step towards securing the future of the general practice in Australia, the Australian Medical Students' Association (AMSA) said today. Health minister Nicola Roxon and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today announced an extra 175 GP training places over two years and 22 extra places in the remote GP vocational scheme.

AMSA President Michael Bonning said that this was a huge win for medical students who are concerned about future training prospects.

"The projections from the Government show that we need to train more GPs per year to meet the needs of the Australian population," Mr Bonning said.

"We have the medical students coming through the system to meet these needs, but we have concerns about their prospects for vocational training.

"The announcement of these extra training places represents a huge step towards ensuring the education of future general practitioners who will be the cornerstone of primary healthcare in Australia," he said.

Rural and remote Australians are the hardest hit by GP shortages, and the additional 22 training places represent a huge increase on the 35 that currently exist.

"Give medical students and trainee doctors positive training opportunities in rural and remote areas and they are likely to return to service those communities in the future," Mr Bonning said.

"The Remote Vocational Training Scheme allows continuity of medical education in rural and remote settings, from medical student, to junior doctor through the PGPPP program, to registrar, making general practice an enticing choice for medical graduates.

"We look forward to working with the government in the future, to provide appropriate training pathways for the 3,000 new junior doctors graduating from Australian medical schools each year," he said.

Australian Medical Students Association