Valuing the General Practitioner in Australian Society: A 50th Year Commemorative Essay of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners

Introduction | Establishing the College | In defence of General Practice: the National Health Act 1970 | Conclusion: A question of value | Bibliography

In 2008, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) celebrates its golden jubilee. To acknowledge its achievements, the college commissioned this historical essay, which aims to shed light on the college's place in Australian society. This essay will not focus on the roles played by some of the members whose contribution was pivotal to the success of the RACGP. Rather, it will briefly outline the impetus for the formation of the RACGP before reflecting upon its defence of the specialised role of the general practitioner and their value in Australian society.

Introduction

The successes of the first 50 years of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) in developing education, research and preventive medicine programs, reflect the dedicated work of many talented and enthusiastic general practitioners. The founding fathers (and they were all men!) were committed to the practical pursuit of their specialisation, as well as their commitment to the wellbeing of the Australian public.

The RACGP was founded during a post-war period that saw an increase in population and a more affluent society. In its first decade, it witnessed increasing pressure for social change, and post-war prosperity was replaced with political unease. During its second decade, in 1972, after 23 years of a Liberal-Country Party Coalition Government, the Australian Labor Party won office and began to implement its program of reform, including the introduction of the Medibank Health Scheme. In later decades, further economic, educational, social, and political reforms were implemented by successive Liberal and Labor governments amid increasing unemployment, interest rate rises, inflation and economic recession. The past decade has seen a return to prosperity and once again a succession of Liberal and Labor governments. Throughout the decades, the college has weathered these storms of change, during which its actions have emphasised the value and importance of the GP to Australian society.

Education, research, publications and preventive medicine have underpinned the activities of the college for 50 years. However, the evolving nature of general practice and, in recent years, a greater emphasis on advocacy, rural and Aboriginal health, have contributed to the broadening focus of the college and its membership. Social and political events, and public policy and their outcomes, have also impacted upon the activities of the college.