RACGP's 2028 total rises to 1,627 places
The Royal Australian College of GPs will receive 87 additional Commonwealth-funded training places in 2028, including 37 extra rural places, under a Federal Government expansion of GP training.
That will lift the RACGP’s total allocation to 1,627 training places in 2028. The increase forms part of the Government’s national allocation of 2100 GP training places for that year.
The college welcomed the decision and said it would help more Australians access care from a specialist GP. It said the 37 additional rural training places are intended to strengthen the GP workforce outside Australia’s major cities.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said the move was welcome news for patients, communities and junior doctors choosing a career in general practice.
“This is a fantastic result for the future of general practice and the millions of Australians who rely on their GP every day,” Dr Wright said.
2027 places filled in first round
Dr Wright said interest in general practice had never been stronger. The RACGP filled every available training place for 2027 during the first round of applications, which he said showed many doctors want to pursue the specialty.
He said the extra places would help more of those doctors realise that ambition. Dr Wright also said more doctors are choosing general practice, and more Australians will benefit from having a specialist GP they can turn to throughout their lives.
Dr Wright said the investment would deliver lasting benefits for patients, particularly in regional, rural and remote communities.
“Every Australian deserves access to high-quality care from a GP who knows them and their medical history, regardless of their postcode,” Dr Wright said.
He said more specialist GPs would help more people build a trusted relationship with a GP, get the care they need and stay healthier for longer.
Rural training made up a distinct part of the increase. Dr Wright said the additional 37 rural places would sit on top of 638 rural training places in 2028, taking that total to 675 in rural and remote areas.
“We’re particularly pleased to see another 37 rural training places on top of the 638 in 2028. Training doctors in rural communities is one of the best ways to build a strong, sustainable local GP workforce.”
Dr Wright said the Government’s broader investment in general practice, including salary incentives and support for parental and study leave, was helping make the specialty a more attractive career choice.
He said those investments help ensure general practice remains a rewarding career for the next generation of doctors. The RACGP also said it looks forward to training more specialist GPs to care for Australians in the years ahead.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners says it is the voice of GPs in cities and throughout rural and remote Australia. The organisation says it has spent more than 60 years setting standards for education and practice and advocating for better health and wellbeing.
