More General Practice training places for the ACT

An additional five general practice vocational training places will be made available in Canberra in 2010 by the Commonwealth Government.

This means that five more GP registrars on the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program will be placed in Canberra from next year, taking the number of Canberra registrars in training to more than 30.  

“The Rudd Government is committed to addressing the serious shortage of general practitioners currently being experienced by Canberra and many rural communities.  We have already taken action to reduce these shortages by removing the former Government’s cap on places, and have increased training places by 35%.

“As GP registrars provide services to patients while they train, this will help to improve the Canberra community’s access to much needed GP services.  

“We are continuing to work in partnership with our state and territory colleagues to address these shortages and other health workforce issues,” Ms Roxon said.

The decision to add an extra five GP training places follows discussions between the Commonwealth Minister for Health Nicola Roxon and the ACT Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher.

“This is welcome news for the ACT and it is pleasing to see the Federal Government responding to the workforce shortages that we are experiencing here in Canberra,” Ms Gallagher said.

“The GP Taskforce that I commissioned earlier this year to examine GP workforce issues has presented compelling evidence that the ACT does need additional support and that’s been recognised by the Federal Government,” she said.

“Minister Roxon and I have regular discussions about these matters and we are both committed to tackling the challenges facing primary health care in the ACT.

“This decision shows what both levels of Government can do when they work together to improve health services.”

The Rudd Government has already increased the total number of training places available on the AGPT program by 100, bringing the total being offered nationally in 2010 to 700. In 2011 this number will increase further, to 812.

The ACT Government is also doing what it can and has allocated $12.2 million over four years for initiatives that support and grow Canberra’s GP workforce. This includes one-off incentive payments to general practices for initiatives that attract and retain staff, teaching incentive payments and scholarships for ANU medical graduates who commit to working in Canberra.

22 December 2009