Registrar voices being heard more important than ever

At GPRA, we believe it is crucial that we keep communicating with you, and you with us, to ensure that we are representing you effectively.

This has always been the case, but this is an intensive period of policy and service delivery change for GP registrars and junior doctors who are considering applying to the GP specialty.  A key focus for GPRA is to continue advocating for our members as the Federal Government transitions GP training to the two Colleges in 2023.

The Federal Government is yet to finalise a detailed transition plan, but we are expecting to receive more detail by the end of March.  

To date, GPRA has been designated an advisory role – we have not been part of the Government decision-making process – but we are taking every opportunity to ensure our members’ voices continue to be heard. 

At the end of the day, any change in the training pipeline and training arrangements for GP training impacts on junior doctors and registrars, so GPRA will continue to act on our members’ concerns.

GPRA does not want the AGPT transition to college-led training to put current registrars and their training at risk, we don’t want to see further erosion of the employment conditions for registrars, and we want to see the decrease in junior doctors applying to the GP speciality program reversed. 

Further, we don’t want the transition of training to impact on the delivery of quality primary care to Australian communities.

The voice and experience of GP registrars must not be overlooked during the proposed AGPT transition.  

Last week, I hosted the first of a monthly webinar series with registrars in training. This Saturday I am also meeting with our GPRA Advisory Council whose membership consists of the current network of Registered Liaison Officers to discuss the current “on the ground” concerns and questions they are hearing from current registrars in training across Australia.  

I encourage all members to continue to let GPRA know your thoughts and concerns regarding the proposed AGPT Transition to College-led training. GPRA has established some additional communication channels to make this easier for you: