300 Additional Places Announced for the Australian General Practice Training Program

The announcement of a further 300 training places, for the 2015 Australian General practice Training Program (AGPT)  has been welcomed by General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA).
The funding decision was made as part of wider Budget announcements and made possible through savings gained by ending the Prevocational General Practice Placement Program (PGPPP).
“Last year a significant number of eligible applicants missed out on GP training despite the need for more GPs," GPRA Chair Dr David Chessor says. "GPRA is very pleased that a significant commitment has been made to increase training places.”
“GPRA believes firmly in the importance of community-based placements for junior doctors. However, the expansion of vocational training places must take priority and it is good to see PGPPP savings reinvested into the GP training environment."
Dr Chessor says GPRA will continue to advocate for alternative models of community-based terms for junior doctors in the future.
“This Budget has also signalled major structural reform in the GP training environment. GP training has benefited greatly from direction from within the profession over the past decade."
GPRA will look to engage positively with the government and will advocate for the AGPT to retain a strong profession-led focus in the context of any change.
But, Dr Chessor says,  this significant reform and expansion will present challenges.
“The apprenticeship model of GP training is fundamental to producing well trained GPs. We must ensure that proposed changes do not disadvantage registrars whilst continuing to support the medical educators, supervisors and training practices that are so vital to training.
"GPRA looks forward to working with relevant stakeholders to explore new models of training whilst ensuring that this growth can be achieved without compromising on quality,” he says