Media Statement
12 September 2024
GPRA and Dr Sophie Scamps MP host key Parliamentary briefing urging Federal MPs and Senators to advocate for key initiatives to ensure the future of General Practice
(Canberra, 12 September 2024) – Federal MPs and Senators were called upon today to advocate for critical support for general practice at the Parliamentary Friends of General Practice and General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) Breakfast, hosted by Dr Sophie Scamps MP.
The Parliament House event was attended by Dr Scamps, other Federal MPs and Senators, policy makers, GPRA President Dr Karyn Matterson, and General Practice Student Network (GPSN) National Chair Shawn Yang.
Dr Matterson urged MPs and Senators to actively support GPRA’s key initiatives designed to attract more junior doctors to general practice and address Australia’s growing GP workforce shortage.
She also emphasised the need for strong government action to sustain general practice, and improve healthcare access for patients nationwide.
“We are at a critical juncture,” Dr Matterson said.
“We need the extra push to sure up the ongoing conversion of prevocational doctors to GP and Rural Generalist registrars, and we need the Federal Government’s commitment to do so.
“Never before has there been a time where the depth and scope of generalism is as exciting for young doctors entering primary healthcare medicine.”
Alarmingly, only 10.5% of medical students in 2023 selected general practice as their first preference of specialty, a drop from 14.4% in 2019 (Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand National Data Report, May 2024).
Dr Scamps, who practised as a GP in Narrabeen before becoming a MP, emphasised the importance of addressing key issues affecting Australia’s future GPs.
“As a former GP myself, general practice is a profession close to my heart, and I was very pleased to meet and hear from future GPs today,” said Dr Scamps.
“As policy makers, we need to listen to their ideas on improving people’s access to GPs, community-based primary care, and the investment that is needed to attract and retain GPs in our communities.
“If we want to see more graduates choose general practice as their career, we need to urgently address the employment conditions for GPs in training – and this means investing in national study and parental leave funds.
“Fix that and we will attract more junior doctors to GP training, delivering benefits to communities who depend on GPs as their first port of call when they or their families are sick.”
Dr Matterson outlined GPRA’s key funding requests that require immediate government support:
- A National Independent GP Training Leave Support Fund of up to $17 million annually, providing GP registrars with essential access to parental and study leave during GP Specialty training.
- Base Rate Wage Supplement for GP Registrars (GPT1 and GPT2) of up to $40 million annually to close the wage gap between hospital-based and GP-based registrars.
- Increased funding for a future GP Peer initiative, as well as for the GPSN, to support 21 GP Clubs in medical schools and foster early interest in general practice as a career choice.
“The decisions made by Parliament now will have long-lasting effects on the sustainability of general practice,” Dr Matterson said.
“We urge MPs and Senators to advocate for these key initiatives, as they will directly impact the future of healthcare access for Australians, especially in rural and underserved communities.”
The breakfast provided an opportunity for MPs and Senators to engage directly with GPRA and GPSN representatives, including future GPs like Mr Yang and local Canberra medical student April Thompson.
Discussions centred on strengthening the GP workforce pipeline, and improving employment conditions for medical students and junior doctors.
ENDS
Media Enquiries
Gavin Broomhead (GPRA)
communications@gpra.org.au
0435 077 935
Anne Davies (Office of Dr Sophie Scamps MP)
anne.davies@aph.gov.au
0408 223 875
About GPRA
General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) is the independent voice for future GPs in Australia (gpra.org.au)