Comprehensive Australian general practice guide

Page last updated 17 September 2026

Introduction

The term comprehensive Australian general practice sets the standard expected in RACGP accredited training sites based on the guiding principles (1, 2, 8 and 9) of the RACGP educational framework and is defined as a practice that:

addresses the health needs of all people living in Australia in an equitable way
prioritises holistic, clinical person-centred healthcare that is ethical and socially responsible
covers the full breadth of patient demographics (eg age, gender), case presentations (eg all body systems, disease processes), and the diverse settings where GPs work
meets the needs of underserved populations, including those living in rural and remote regions and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
is evidence based
isn’t limited to a specific interest or subset of general practice

Scope

This guide applies to:

Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program
Fellowship Support Program (FSP)
Practice Experience Program Specialist (PEP SP – specialist pathway)
Practice Experience Program Standard Stream (PEP ST – GPE pathway)
Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS)
GPs with recognition from Services Australia training towards RACGP Fellowship (GPE pathway)
Post-fellowship GPs training towards RG Fellowship
Specialist international medical graduates awarded unconditional specialist registration as a general practitioner on the MBA’s Expedited Specialist pathway who are applying for RACGP Fellowship
rural workforce agencies

This includes:

training sites (seeking accreditation for RACGP general practice training)
supervisors and training site staff
registrars/participants and applicants

Overview

This guide defines comprehensive Australian general practice and outlines the underlying principles to support decisions, including for:

assessment of experience (AGPT, FSP, PEP SP and GPE pathway)
approval of training positions and sites (GPE pathway)
eligibility to sit Fellowship exams (GPE pathway)
eligibility for Fellowship (GPE pathway)
assessment of recency and context of practice (PEP SP, GPE pathway)

The principles of comprehensive Australian general practice

1. Specialist GPs are clinically responsible for:

preventing illness
promoting health
intervening early for those at risk
managing acute, chronic and complex conditions
providing end-of-life care
providing healthcare to all Australians.

2. General practice occurs primarily in the practice setting, but also in patients’ homes, health services, outreach clinics, other community facilities, and at times in hospitals. General practice is delivered face to face in a clinic or via a range of modalities, including with telehealth (to complement face-to-face delivery).

Comprehensive Australian general practice settings:

provide continuity of care in primary health through an ongoing doctor–patient relationship over time
are primarily non-referral based
aren’t limited to a specific discipline
ensure medical care is provided and clinically managed by GPs
provide comprehensive care, including preventive, acute and chronic care
coordinate care according to the needs of the patient, their family and the community
deliver person-centred healthcare

3. The capabilities in the Progressive capability profile of the general practitioner and the competencies expected of an Australian GP are achieved by working in comprehensive general practice.

4. Sufficient time must be spent working in comprehensive Australian general practice to gain experience working with a diverse range of patients, presentations and practice processes, and providing continuity of care.

When working in general practice part time, the time requirements are:

in each training site, a minimum of 14.5 hours over at least two days per week and a minimum of 10.5 hours in face-to-face, rostered, patient consultation time undertaking general practice activities
work periods must be at least three consecutive hours
placements must be a minimum of four consecutive weeks in any one training site

The AGPT Program and FSP

Training sites for general practice training terms undergo a rigorous accreditation process and are continuously monitored to ensure they provide training in comprehensive Australian general practice.

At times, the registrar will train in contexts that don’t comply with the principles outlined in this guide. These contexts may be approved on the basis that they provide opportunities for the registrar to further develop specific skills relevant to general practice. They include:

hospital training (AGPT)
extended skills training (AGPT)
additional rural skills training (ARST)
special training environments (generally ADF registrars).

PEP Standard

Participants in PEP - ST can access a Medicare provider number to work in an approved medical deputising service (AMDS). However, provider number approval doesn’t indicate that the workplace is considered a comprehensive Australian general practice primarily because an AMDS doesn’t provide continuing, comprehensive whole-person care.

GPE and specialist pathways

Applicants to the general practice experience pathway or specialist pathways must apply to have their general practice experience assessed in accordance with the definition of comprehensive Australian general practice.

GPE pathway - overseas general practice experience may need to be assessed to determine the doctor’s eligibility to sit RACGP Fellowship exams and apply for Fellowship. Refer to the Assessment of General Practice Experience Policy.
Specialist pathway - overseas general practice experience is assessed to determine how comparable (partially or substantially) it is to that of an Australian-trained specialist GP at the point of Fellowship. Refer to the Practice Experience Program – Specialist Stream Comparability Assessment Policy.

Comparability ratings

After the RACGP has assessed an applicant’s general practice experience, to assign a compatibility rating the scope of that experience is rated according to the

This determines how comparable the experience is to comprehensive Australian general practice:

100% comparable
85%, 75% or 50% comparable
not comparable (eg hospital experience).

Health systems are compared to the scope of general practice service to the Australian community per the PEP SP – Comparability assessment guide.

AMDS don’t meet the definition of comprehensive Australian general practice. An AMDS may be assessed as 75% or 50% comparable or not comparable, depending on the location, context and scope of practice.

Experience in overseas general practice isn’t considered 100% comparable because it isn’t in an Australian context.

The following table outlines the assessment criteria for each level of comparability and the different pathways.

Comparability rating	Attributes of the post	GPE pathway	Specialist pathway
85% comparable*	Undertaken in a comparable overseas health system Covered the full range of demographics and presentations expected to be seen in comprehensive Australian general practice	No cap on the amount of time that will be recognised	May contribute to a substantially comparable recency assessment for PEP Specialist
75% comparable	The post covered the full range of presentations expected to be seen in comprehensive Australian general practice, but either: took place in a different health system took place in an Australian or comparable overseas health system, but with either: a reduced scope of practice due to a slightly reduced demographic of patients a slightly reduced range of presentations	A cap of 3.5 years FTE on the amount of time that will be recognised	May contribute to a partially comparable recency assessment for PEP Specialist
50% comparable	The post had one or more of the following attributes: a limited demographic of patients a limited range of presentations limited management options	A cap of 2.5 years FTE on the amount of time that will be recognised	Not comparable for PEP Specialist

* This rating is most applicable to PEP Specialist Stream applicants.

Comparability rating examples (provided for guidance only: outcomes cannot be guaranteed)

Examples of a 100%-comparable post

Dr A has experience working in a long-established general practice in a large rural town, seeing the full age range of patients from neonates to the elderly, and slightly more female than male patients (60/40). Dr A has an interest in intrapartum care and performs deliveries at the local hospital. Dr A also visits the local aged care facility half a day per week and offers home visits.
Dr B works in a capital city in an inner metropolitan general practice near a university. The practice sees a large number of students who may be transient, but approximately 60% of patients are long term. Dr B sees the full spectrum of ages and presentations.
Dr C works in a small rural town three days per week and spends one day per week in a satellite clinic in a smaller town 100 km away. The satellite clinic shares staff and medical records with the main practice. The next nearest practice is 200 km away. Dr C is responsible for acute care, chronic disease management and preventive health.

Examples of an 85%-comparable post

Posts that are assessed as 85% comparable are outside Australia but provide comprehensive care in a similar health system.

Dr D has worked in general practice in a large group practice in rural Ireland, seeing patients of all ages and genders. Dr D managed acute care, chronic disease management and preventive care.
Dr E trained in a large city practice in a busy UK city. The practice sees patients of all ages and with all presentations. The practice is well supported by the local hospital when required.

Examples of a 75%-comparable post

Dr F works in a large general practice in New Zealand and has a particular interest in men’s health. Dr F works with five female colleagues and therefore sees few female patients (20%), most of whom are children. Although the health system is similar to Australia’s, the reduced demographics means the post is only considered 75% comparable.
Dr G works in a rural general practice outside Australia. Dr G sees the full scope of practice but the health system and disease patterns are different to Australian general practice.

Examples of a 50%-comparable post

Dr H is working full time in a women’s health clinic in an urban general practice with four other female doctors. She sees only female patients, and no children or men. Dr H provides general health services, including preventive care, family planning, and antenatal care.
Dr I has worked part time as a medical officer at a remote mining site for the past six years. Dr I sees mainly acute presentations and provides some preventive care but doesn’t see any children.
Dr J works in a home-visiting AMDS.

Examples of a non-comparable post

Dr K migrated to Australia three years ago and has since completed full-time hospital resident terms in gastroenterology, psychiatry, orthopaedics and emergency medicine in a capital city hospital.
This post is assessed as not comparable because it isn’t general practice. While the skills gained will be transferable to general practice, the work itself isn’t general practice.
Dr L works 20 hours per week doing immigration medicals in an Australian capital city.
This work experience is assessed as not comparable because it isn’t general practice. Dr L doesn’t take clinical responsibility for the ongoing care of the applicants.