Flexible Funds Policy

1. Purpose

The Australian Government has provided an additional pool of flexible funding to the RACGP to support supervisors, training sites and registrars on the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program.

This policy defines the principles, requirements and application of the RACGP’s use of Flexible Funds across Australia that is consistent with the business rules set out in the National Consistent Payments (NCP) Framework.

2. Scope

2.1 This policy applies to:

1. 1. Registrars in the RACGP AGPT Program who are engaged in a Community General Practice Training Term (excluding Extension Awaiting Fellowship) or an Additional Rural Skills Training (ARST) term,

   2. RACGP-accredited Supervisors who are engaged in the Supervision of an AGPT Registrar in Community General Practice Training Terms,

   3. Practice Managers who are working in an RACGP-accredited community general practice,

   4. RACGP-accredited Supervisors and Registrars who are engaged in an RACGP-approved AGPT Remote Supervision placement, and

   5. Accredited Training Sites.

2.2 This policy applies to the following payment types:

1. 1. Supervisor professional development payments (refer to Schedule 1),

   2. GPT1 Supervisor capacity incentive payments (refer to Schedule 6),

   3. Remote Supervision payments (refer to Schedule 2),

   4. Registrar financial support for Incentivised Placements (refer to Schedule 3),

   5. Registrar financial support for Additional Rural Skills Training (refer to Schedule 4),

   6. Registrar travel to mandatory out of practice education workshops (refer to Schedule 5),

   7. Practice Manager travel to attend RACGP professional development events (refer to Schedule 5), and

   8. Supervisor travel to attend RACGP Supervisor professional development events (refer to Schedule 5).

3. General principles

3.1 This policy is subject to the RACGP receiving flexible funding from the Australian Government for the AGPT Program.

3.2 The RACGP encourages and seeks to provide opportunities for AGPT Registrars to undertake training in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health settings.

3.3 The RACGP is committed to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Registrars in the Flexible Funds processes in culturally appropriate ways per the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural and Health Training Framework, including:

1. 1. the collective right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to self-determination in decision-making relevant to training and career progression.

   2. ii. the right to control how individual and community data is collected, owned, stored, accessed and used, ensuring it accurately represents communities, experiences and stories.

   3. recognising the need to address cultural bias in health systems shaped by western, non-community-led approaches, to achieve equitable outcomes across health, education and research.

3.4 Accessing Flexible Funds payments does not exclude access to existing NCP entitlements and other RACGP claimable items.

4. Payment conditions and responsibilities

4.1 The RACGP is not liable for the recovery of payments made to incorrect accounts. The payments are made to the nominated bank account. It is the responsibility of Registrars and Supervisors to ensure their account details are up to date in the Training Management System (TMS).

4.2 It is the responsibility of Registrars and Supervisors to ensure that any claims or declarations submitted are correctly completed, signed and supported by the required evidence.

4.3 It is the responsibility of Registrars and Supervisors to seek independent taxation advice and check the impact of any payments on their tax liability.

4.4 All payments are paid:

1. 1. in accordance with the relevant schedule

   2. for activities that relate to the current training semester

4.5 Payments are not paid:

1. 1. where a payment for the same activity has already been paid by an alternative entity

   2. for retrospective semesters

5. Supervisor professional development payments

Details of the Supervisor professional development payments are outlined in Schedule 1.

5.1 New Supervisors who meet the following criteria are eligible for supervisor professional development payments:

1. 1. have applied to become accredited per the Accreditation Policy,

   2. have completed the Foundations of GP Supervision Program modules per Schedule 1, and

   3. are in an Accredited Training Site.

5.2 Accredited Training Sites supervising at least one Eligible Registrar and Training Sites in an incentivised location will receive a Supervisor professional development stipend each semester to support attendance at professional development activities per Schedule 1.

1. 1. Training Sites determine who will attend the Supervisor professional development and how the stipend is distributed among the Supervisors.

5.3 Supervisors located in MM 2–7, per the Modified Monash Model, or working in an incentivised location without an Eligible Registrar can claim for the travel costs associated with attending RACGP face-to-face supervisor professional development per Schedule 5.

6. GPT1 supervisor capacity incentive payments

Details of the GPT1 supervisor capacity incentive payments are outlined in Schedule 6.

6.1 Supervisors who meet the following criteria are eligible for supervisor capacity incentive payments:

1. 1. the Designated Supervisor for a Registrar in GPT1 and

   2. in a Training Site located in MM 2–7.

      1. Designated Supervisors located in MM 1–7 in Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS), Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) or a Category 2 Training Facility per the AGPT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Salary Support Program Policy are eligible. These incentive payments are payable to the Training Site.

         1. The Training Site can nominate for the payment to be made to the Designated Supervisor.

6.2 This payment is in addition to the supervisor payments under the National Consistent Payments (NCP) Framework.

6.3 GPT1 supervisor capacity incentive payments are payable to the Designated Supervisor.

1. 1. The Designated Supervisor can nominate for the payment to be made to the Training Site.

6.4 The Supervisor must be recorded in the Training Management System (TMS) as the Designated Supervisor.

6.5 Supervisors of Registrars who are undertaking GPT1 as Part-Time Training are only eligible for the supervisor capacity incentive payment for the first GPT1 semester for that Registrar.

6.6 This payment is currently only available for the 2026.2 semester and 2027 semesters (2027.1 and 2027.2).

7. Remote supervision payments

Details of the Remote Supervisor professional development payments are outlined in Schedule 1.
Details of the Supervision payments are outlined in Schedule 2.

7.1 New Remote Supervisors who meet the following criteria are eligible for remote supervisor professional development payments:

1. 1. have applied to become accredited per the Accreditation Policy,

   2. have completed the Foundations of a GP Supervision Program modules per Schedule 1,

   3. have completed the Remote Supervision in GP Training module, and

   4. are in an Accredited Training Site.

7.2 Remote Supervision payments are payable to the Supervisor who is providing remote (offsite) Supervision to Registrars in GPT2, GPT3, or Extended Skills Training terms undertaking an approved Remote Supervision placement.

8. Registrar financial support for incentivised placements

Details of the Registrar financial support for Incentivised Placements are outlined in Schedule 3.
Information relating to travel can be found in Schedule 5.

8.1 Financial support for Incentivised Placements is paid to Registrars who:

1. 1. are undertaking a term in community general practice (excluding Extension Awaiting Fellowship) in a GP Catchment or Training Site that has been identified as an Incentivised Placement, and

   2. reside within the same GP Catchment (or an adjoining GP Catchment), for a minimum of two nights in a calendar week, or within 80kms of the placement or are working in an identified Unique Training Location where residing in the GP Catchment is not suitable, and

   3. meet the minimum RACGP Part-Time Training requirements per the Training Program Requirements Policy, working a minimum of 14.5 hours per week over at least two days.

8.2 Recommended uses of this financial support:

1. 1. relocation costs

   2. housing rental assistance

   3. placement childcare and education costs

   4. additional relevant training (eg X-ray courses)

   5. travel for personal health care or wellbeing (respite)

   6. internet connectivity

9. Registrar financial support for additional rural skills training

Details of the Additional Rural Skills Training payments are outlined in Schedule 4.

9.1 Financial support for Registrars is available for Registrars who are:

1. 1. enrolled in Rural Generalist training,

   2. undertaking Additional Rural Skills Training, and

   3. have not received an Additional Rural Skills Training financial support payment during training in any location.

10. Registrar travel to mandatory out of practice education

Details of the Registrar travel payments to mandatory out of practice education are outlined in Schedule 5.

10.2 Travel can be claimed by Registrars attending mandatory out of practice education workshops who are:

1. 1. in a GPT1, GPT2 or GPT3 term, and

   2. training in an MM 2–7 location.

11. Practice manager travel to attend RACGP professional development events

Details of the Practice Manager travel payments for professional development are outlined in Schedule 5.

11.1 Practice Managers located in MM 2–7 or working in an Incentivised Location without an Eligible Registrar, can claim for the travel costs associated with attending RACGP face-to-face professional development events.

12. Amendment of this policy

The Chief Education and Training Officer (CETO) may, without the consent of the RACGP Board, make minor, moderate and consequential amendments to this policy at any time. The Education & Training Policy Lead can make editorial amendments (no approval required by the CETO).

If the CETO makes amendments, they must advise the RACGP Board of those amendments as soon as practicable.

The CEO may make amendments to this policy at any time

All amendments must be communicated to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing as soon as practicable. 

12.1 Major amendment	An amendment that materially changes the policy’s scope, intent, or application, including overhauling key sections, redefining the policy’s purpose, or fundamentally reallocating responsibilities.
12.2 Moderate amendment	An amendment that makes a targeted change to one or more policy clauses, modifying applicable requirements or assigned responsibilities, with a limited and contained effect on the policy’s overall scope, intent, or application.
12.3 Minor amendment	An amendment that makes deliberate improvements to policy content, such as clarifying ambiguous language, updating outdated references, terminology or contact details, or restructuring content, without altering the policy’s scope, intent, or application.
12.4 Consequential amendment	An amendment made to ensure alignment with a change introduced in another policy. It is not initiated independently but is a direct consequence of an approved change in another policy.
12.5 Editorial amendment	An amendment made solely to correct typographical, grammatical, or formatting errors, without altering the policy’s scope, intent, or application.

13. Responsibilities

13.1 CEO	Approving major amendments
13.2 Chief Education and Training Officer	Approving minor amendments Approving moderate amendments Approving consequential amendments
13.3 National Planner, GP Training Workforce	Annually reviewing this policy and confirming the incentivised locations for registrar support payments
13.4 Program Support Officers and Training Coordinators	Liaising with registrars, supervisors and practice managers affected by this policy Supporting stakeholders with access to paperwork and questions about policy requirements and scope Providing advice of incomplete information Accessing and recommending applications that meet all criteria for approval Providing advice to registrars, supervisors and practice managers whose applications do not meet criteria
13.5 Regional Director of Training	Identifying mandatory educational release activity
13.6 Regional Operations Manager	Approving or declining applications for payments
13.7 Registrar	Ensuring the bank details provided in the TMS are correct Submitting applications on the correct form and including all relevant supporting documentation Ensuring the application form is completed in full and signed Responding to requests for additional information from the RACGP
13.8 Supervisors	Ensuring the bank details provided in the TMS are correct Ensuring the details of the registrars they are the designated supervisor for are accurate and recorded correctly Submitting applications on the correct form and including all relevant supporting documentation Ensuring the application form is completed in full and signed
13.9 Training Site	Ensuring the bank details provided in the TMS are correct Ensuring supervisor professional development stipend payments are distributed to supervisors proportional to their participation in supervisor professional development activities Responding to requests for additional information from the RACGP

14. Glossary

14.1 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS)	A primary health care service that is initiated and operated by the local community to deliver holistic, comprehensive and culturally appropriate health care to the community.
14.2 Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS)	A health service funded primarily to provide services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
14.3 Additional Rural Skills Training (ARST)	52 calendar weeks (FTE) in an accredited training post that provides the appropriate depth and breadth of experience necessary to meet the requirements of the particular ARST curriculum.
14.4 Category 2 Training Facility	A facility approved per the AGPT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Salary Support Program Policy (having met the criteria in schedule 1) that holds RACGP training site accreditation.
14.5 Community General Practice Training Term	Vocational training terms, undertaken in a community general practice setting excluding extension awaiting Fellowship.
14.6 Designated Supervisor	The accredited supervisor who has ultimate responsibility for a registrar and manages their supervision, by the supervisory team, to ensure safe patient care. The designated supervisor is the first point of contact for the RACGP for issues relevant to that registrar.
14.7 Eligible Registrar	All registrars, excluding those in an extension awaiting Fellowship term.
14.8 Extended Skills Training	A 26-calendar week (FTE) term undertaken to extend the depth and breadth of the registrar’s skill base in an area relevant to general practice.
14.9 Flexible Funds	Payments to provide continuing professional development for AGPT supervisors and address specific needs to build capacity and support training in areas of workforce need.
14.10 Foundations of GP Supervision Program	Learning modules that new supervisors in the AGPT Program are required to complete (a combination of online, webinar and workshops) per the Supervisor professional development webpage.
14.11 General Practice Training (GPT)	Core vocational training (26-week periods) referred to as GPT1, GPT2, GPT3, extended skills and ARST.
14.12 GP Catchment	827 non-overlapping geographical areas used in the Distribution Priority Area (DPA) classification to assess the level of access to GP services. Refer to the Health Workforce Locator.
14.13 Incentivised Placement	Placements identified by the RACGP at the GP catchment level as areas with significant workforce need. Refer to the Placement Incentives webpage and guidelines for further information.
14.14 Modified Monash Model (MMM)	The Modified Monash Model is a classification system that categorises metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas according to both geographical remoteness and town size. The MM classification for any given area can be found by using the Health Workforce Locator.
14.15 National Consistent Payments (NCP)	Financial support to AGPT Program participants by Services Australia on behalf of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing). Eligibility is assessed by the RACGP and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) using the NCP framework.
14.16 New Supervisor	A supervisor who is in the process of undertaking accreditation by the RACGP and has yet to complete their first year as a provisional RACGP supervisor.
14.17 Part-Time Training	At least 14.5 hours over a minimum of two days per week in one training site, of which at least 10.5 hours is face-to-face, rostered, patient consultation time, undertaking general practice activities. Work periods of less than three consecutive hours, or of less than four calendar weeks in any one training site are not considered. Refer to the Training Program Requirements Policy.
14.18 Practice Manager	A person in an administrative role within the training site responsible for managing the operations and compliance.
14.19 Registrar	A medical practitioner enrolled in the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program.
14.20 Remote Supervision	Supervision primarily provided by a supervisor who is offsite, using a model of supervision that provides comprehensive and robust support and training. Remote supervision may be considered when onsite supervision cannot be provided by an accredited supervisor.
14.21 Remote Supervisor	An RACGP-accredited supervisor who has been matched to an approved remote supervision model and registrar. In this context, a remote supervisor is predominantly offsite and supervision with the AGPT registrar is performed via electronic means in a variety of formats.
14.22 Rural Generalist	A medical practitioner trained to meet the specific current and future healthcare needs of Australian rural and remote communities, in a sustainable and cost-effective way, by providing comprehensive general practice and emergency care, and required components of other medical specialist care in hospital and community settings as part of a rural healthcare team.
14.23 Supervisor	An accredited GP who works in an accredited training site and takes responsibility for the education and training needs of the registrar while in the training site.
14.24 Training Management System (TMS)	A software solution for the administrative and logistical aspects of the RACGP AGPT Program.
14.25 Training Site	A health service accredited by the RACGP where the registrar may undertake their general practice training. For AGPT registrars, this excludes the mandatory hospital training time.
14.26 Unique Training Location	A training location in an area of need. This area has been identified by the RACGP as a GP catchment in which the registrar is not required to reside.

15. Related documents, legislation and policies

• Accreditation Policy

• AGPT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Salary Support Program Policy

• AGPT Registrar Training Handbook

• ARST Support Payment Guidelines

• Incentivised placement guidelines

• National Consistent Payments Framework

• National Consistent Payments Framework (NCP) fact sheet

• National Consistent Payments Guidelines

• Placement incentives

• Remote supervision guidelines

• Rural Generalist Fellowship Training Handbook

• Supervisor professional development (AGPT)

• Supervisor and practice manager resources

• Training Program Requirements Policy

14. Policy review and currency

This policy will be reviewed every three calendar years from the last approval date, or when there is a significant change in the intent of the policy. This policy remains valid and applicable notwithstanding if it is overdue for review.