The following statement can be attributed to Dr Chris Dickie, President, General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA):

“General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) welcomes the AMA’s call today for improved pay and leave entitlements for GP trainees, a reform we have been actively advocating for over the past three years and which led us to the development of our national employment fund solution.

“As the national, independent peak body representing GP registrars, GPRA has long championed national structural reform to address the inequity between GP trainees and their hospital-based counterparts.

“GPRA has been leading the charge on this issue, advocating for base rate parity and fair leave entitlements for GP registrars through our national employment fund proposal.

“This fund would provide financial stability for GP registrars entering GP training in the first years, covering parental leave, study leave, and a base wage supplement for first-year registrars so they have base rate parity with their other hospital-based specialty registrars.

“It aims to ease financial pressures and make general practice a more attractive career path – across the nation – to stop the jurisdictional hunger games.

“Our fund idea and development has previously received support from General Prdactice Supervision Australia (GPSA) – the national peak who represents GP training practices across Australia.

“Together we want to support the GP workforce pipeline and viability of GP practices, and the Fund concept does this.

“Ensuring GP trainees receive equitable pay and conditions is fundamental to making general practice a more attractive career choice and securing Australia’s future GP workforce, and it is encouraging to see the broader sector now aligning with this critical reform.

“GPRA continues to push for lasting structural change to support GP registrars, and will work with all stakeholders to ensure these long-overdue reforms become a reality.”

ENDS