Training site requirements
FSP registrars are required to enter training with a training site that has been approved by the RACGP. While you don’t participate in a placement process, the RACGP will review your nominated training site to ensure that it, and your supervisor, are accredited against the RACGP Standards for general practice training and doesn’t exceed the maximum numbers of registrars under supervision.
Accreditation helps ensure a high standard of general practice training across Australia and the provision of high-quality teaching resources, supervision and facilities for registrars.
It’s expected that all FSP registrars work in comprehensive general practice as outlined in the RACGP’s Comprehensive Australian general practice guide.
Please note that the General Practice Fellowship Program Placement Guidelines are revised regularly, in addition to revisions to the Commonwealth Government’s distribution priority areas (DPA) and Modified Monash Model (MMM) classifications. FSP registrars’ training site location must remain an approved location as per the guidelines for the entirety of their program. A change in training site location may be necessary if the DPAs or MMM classifications change.
The MMM defines whether a location is metropolitan, rural, remote or very remote. The model measures remoteness and population size on a scale of MMM categories MMM 1–7. MMM 1 is a major city and MMM 7 is a very remote community. More information on MMM areas can be found on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
Registrars are required to work in the hours between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm during training and may provide after-hours services if suitable. This arrangement needs to be equitable to other doctors at the training site.
After-hours work is usually not considered comprehensive. The after-hours period is defined as:
- after 6.00 pm and before 8.00 am on weekdays
- before 8.00 am and from 12.00 pm onwards on Saturday
- all day Sunday and all public holidays.
TIP
You can apply to work in up to two independent practices, or three branch practices on the FSP.
You may apply to work at a single training site, or two independent but affiliated training sites.
If you’re working across two independent training sites, you’re required to meet the minimum of 14.5 hours a week at each independent training site, with at least 10.5 hours face-to-face rostered patient consultation time over a minimum of two days.
If a training site has branch practices, you may be approved to work in up to three of these practices. Please note that you’re required to work across two of the three sites and meet the minimum of 14.5 hours per week. All three sites must meet the branch requirements and provide the appropriate level of supervision.