GPRA President statement/response on 2023-24 Federal Budget
The Government has made a good start to strengthening the attractiveness of general practice to our nation’s future doctors.
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Media Releases
For media enquiries please contact GPRA Communications
enquiries@gpra.org.au | 03 9629 8878
enquiries@gpra.org.au | 03 9629 8878
Budget must deliver equitable employment conditions for GP registrars
AMA and GPRA are calling on the Commonwealth Government to support general practice training by committing to equitable employment conditions for GP registrars.
Medical students across the nation have their say on the future of general practice
Australia is experiencing a GP shortfall but our future doctors hold the answer to attracting more doctors to take up general practice
$75 million needed to boost GP trainee numbers and reverse decline in general practice
GPRA is calling on the Federal Government to invest at least another $75 million over five years to fix a funding gap in GP registrars’ base salary or risk a further decline in the number of junior doctors choosing the general practice specialty.
GPRA welcomes new President and Chair
General Practice Registrars Australia announces the appointment of a new President, Dr Karyn Matterson, and Chair, Mrs Nicki Herriot.
GPRA announces National RLO of the Year as it marks its 21st birthday
RLO of the Year recognises an individual RLO’s outstanding work advising and supporting GP registrars in training, and their contribution to the general practice training community.
Do medical students hold the solutions to addressing Australia’s GP workforce shortage?
As Australia faces a looming GP shortage, medical students are stepping up to find out why there is a decline in interest in general practice training and identify solutions for our politicians and policy makers.
Medical students get a taste of rural practice in East Gippsland
Thirty-five medical students have taken a glimpse of life as a rural GP in East Gippsland at an event called Farm Stay.
GP trainees’ pay and conditions to be reviewed this year
GPRA and GPSA, the two national peak bodies that represent GP registrars and the general practitioners who supervise them during their training placements, will lead the review of the NTCER.
The answer to solving the GP workforce crisis? Fix inequities in conditions and pay to attract junior doctors back to general practice
Attempts to solve Australia’s GP workforce crisis will fail unless inequitable employment and pay conditions for GPs in training are addressed, the president of General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA), Dr Antony Bolton, has warned.
A better vision for primary health will attract junior doctors back to general practice
GPRA is calling on the next Federal Government to urgently increase funding for primary health care and address inadequate employment conditions for GP registrars.
GPs in training excluded from paid parental leave, leaving the next generation of young doctors to think twice about a career in general practice
GPRA fears that for many young doctors in training a lack of paid parental leave is a major disincentive for choosing a career as a general practitioner.
GPRA welcomes new CEO Ms Jo-anne Chapman
This week, GPRA staff and board welcomed newly appointed CEO Ms Jo-anne Chapman, who commenced with the organisation on Monday, January 17th.
GPRA announces the stepping down of CEO
GPRA Board Chair Mr Scott Williams today announced the resignation of GPRA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Andrew Gosbell.
New data shows GPSN sparks interest in GP
New data published shows that one in three medical students are more likely to consider general practice as a career after joining the GPSN.
Dissatisfaction with employment and training is the reality for many GP trainees
New data from GPRA’s GP Trainee Benchmarking Report highlights continuing dissatisfaction with general practice training and employment with a worrying gap between what GP trainees’ rate as important in their training and employment arrangements, and what they are able to receive.
The RACGP must do better for exam candidates in WA lockdown
MEDIA RELEASE General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) is calling on the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) to respond quickly and compassionately to all Western Australia (WA) exam candidates unable to sit the written exams due to the current COVID-19 lockdown in metropolitan Perth and the Peel and South West regions. GPRA is aware…
‘Thank you GPs’ campaign launched
GPSN launched their national ‘Thank you GPs’ campaign this week, inviting everyone to express a message of gratitude to their GP.
Bipartisan approach to GP trainee employment begins at GPRA Round Table
In a watershed moment, GP trainee representatives from across Australia joined to discuss long-standing problems with general practice trainee employment and began to explore potential solutions at a Round Table discussion hosted by GPRA.
More must be done to restore the trust of GP trainees in the RACGP
GPRA calls on the RACGP to extend leniency to enable the affected exam candidates to undertake the clinical exam without the usual prerequisite pass in the written exam. Additionally, the RACGP must commit to an investigation which is open, independent, and informed by the trainee experience.
Cancelled exams—GP trainees deserve much better
GPRA is calling on the RACGP to respond quickly, decisively and with upmost compassion to all affected trainees.
Cancelled KFP and AKT devastating for GP trainees
GPRA is very disappointed to learn that the RACGP KFP and AKT exams were cancelled due to a technical outage at their external exam provider.
GPRA welcomes extension to temporary COVID-19 telehealth MBS items
GPRA welcomes the Federal Government’s decision to extend the temporary telehealth arrangements under Medicare for another six months.
GPRA propose framework of change to GP registrar employment model
“We insist that the voice of GP registrars be heard; GP registrars must be kept central in discussion about their employment arrangements and consideration of any new employment models. We must strive to have modern, equitable and flexible employment arrangements which considers the circumstances of GP trainees,” said Dr Balasubramanian.
New GPRA survey shows worrying impacts of COVID-19 on GP training
General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) President Dr Sama Balasubramanian has today highlighted findings from GPRA’s recent GP trainee survey which show the worrying impacts of COVID-19 on GP training.
GPRA urges use of COVIDSafe app
“We urge everyone to download and use COVIDSafe; the success of the app is dependent on a high uptake in the general population; low participation rates will reduce the app’s efficacy,” Dr Balasubramanian said.
COVID-19 screening tests must be expedited for all frontline medical staff
“GPRA has received a number of reports from GP trainees having to wait for more than three days to receive their COVID-19 test result. GP trainees have quite limited paid sick leave to cover this time out of practice. If their COVID-19 test is found to be negative they must be supported in their return to work when deemed safe, according to our evolving public health criteria”.
GP trainees concerns on inadequate personal protective equipment to respond to COVID-19
“GPRA has received a number of enquiries from worried GP trainees who are reporting that their GP practices are considering, or have already implemented, steps to ration the use of PPE amongst their GPs and GP registrars.”
IGPRN and GPRA welcome Minister Wyatt as Minister for Indigenous Australians
IGPRN and GPRA welcome Minister Wyatt as Minister for Indigenous Australians Indigenous General Practice Registrars Network (IGPRN) and General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) today congratulate the Honourable Ken Wyatt AM on his appointment as Minister for Indigenous Australians. “It is a historic moment in Australian history to welcome the first Indigenous person to hold the position…
GP registrars should not have to provide medical care to colleagues and practice staff
“GP registrars should not have to provide clinical consultation services or provide medical care to practice staff or others who they work with, or the immediate family of these professional colleagues,” said GPRA President Dr Sama Balasubramanian.
GPRA and GPSA agree to work together towards sensible systemic change
The executive of both organisations agreed that, in the spirit of goodwill and co-operation and with the best interests of the training program at heart, there is a need for an addendum to the current NTCER.
GPRA announces new president
“I am delighted to announce that Dr Sama Balasubramanian has been unanimously ratified as the next President of GPRA,” said Mr Williams.
A Modern, Equitable Negotiation Process Is Needed
GPRA is seeking a better way of understanding and modernising the arrangements under which GP registrars take their journey toward independent general practice.
GPRA Seeks New Approach
GPRA withdrew from the current negotiations for the NTCER in order to begin a process of change.
GPRA will support GP registrars affected by RACGP exam technical issues
“GPRA notes with concern that technical issues with the AKT and KPF exams have caused distress for a number of registrars,” said Dr Smith.
GP Registrar dissatisfaction with employment conditions
Base rates of pay for registrars in their first term in general practice are now lower than base salaries for hospital-based junior medical officers (PGY2)
GP Registrars need to learn as well as earn
10% of registrars are dissatisfied with the amount of in-practice supervision and almost 1 in 5 were dissatisfied with both the amount and quality of…
Most GP Training Practices and Fair and Reasonable
GPRA President Dr Melanie Smith advised that recent national research shows most training practices are fair and reasonable when paying registrars their percentage of Medicare billings.
Stressed GP Registrars: Where to Next?
GPRA CEO, DR Andrew Gosbell said that, initially, he will seek to discuss with the Commonwealth Government the best ways of further investigating this range of issues.
Budget: Great Preventive Health Initiatives
GPRA President said that the Federal Budget 2018 has critically important preventive health initiatives.
Budget: Continuing Commitment to Supporting Health Peak and Advisory Bodies is Important
Budget 2018: continuing commitment to supporting health peak and advisory bodies is important.
Key problems during general practice training
Several Key Causes of Stress for Early Career General Practitioners The President of General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA), Dr Melanie Smith today announced that results from recent national research quantify the major causes of stress for those embarking on a career in general practice. “Close to half of all GP registrars find coping with study…
Budget: a Move in the Right Direction
With the focus on improving access to health services in regional, rural and remote areas, the health budget 2018 is a move in the right direction.