Withdrawal and re-entry

Withdrawal and re-entry

There may be circumstances where you need to withdraw from the program, or where we determine you need to be withdrawn from the program. In either situation, we will offer case management support throughout the process.

There are two types of withdrawal, voluntary and involuntary.

Voluntary withdrawal

You may decide to voluntarily withdraw from the training program. We strongly encourage you to discuss your intention with your program team before starting any formal withdrawal process, so that we can discuss alternative options and support you in your pursuit of Fellowship.

If you do believe that voluntary withdrawal is the best option given your circumstances, you must inform the regional team in writing of your intention to withdraw from the program.

It’s also possible to withdraw from the Rural Generalist Fellowship training but stay with the training program by notifying the regional team in writing. If you withdraw from the Rural Generalist Fellowship, you’ll be required to stay with the rural stream.

Voluntary withdrawals are not subject to the Dispute, Reconsideration and Appeals Policy because the decision to withdraw is yours alone. Therefore, make sure voluntary withdrawal is the most appropriate decision for your circumstances and consult with your program team before informing us of your intention to voluntarily withdraw.

Cooling off period

We recognise that withdrawing from the program is a significant decision to make and it’s possible you may change your mind.

If you withdraw after the commencement of training, your decision is subject to a 20-business day cooling off period. You’ll need to advise the regional team in writing by the end of the cooling off period if you wish to cancel your voluntary withdrawal. After the cooling off period, the withdrawal will be processed.

This cooling off period doesn’t apply to a voluntary withdrawal before the commencement of training. That means, if you withdraw before the training program begins and then change your mind, you’ll need to re-apply to join the FSP in the following intake.

You can waive the cooling off period if you wish to reapply for entry, in which case you’ll need to advise the regional team of this in writing.

Involuntary withdrawal

In some circumstances, we may decide that you should be withdrawn from the training program. If we intend to withdraw you, we’ll advise you in writing before you’re withdrawn.

We may withdraw you for the following reasons, as per the Withdrawal Policy:

• Clinical competence – You have not met and maintained an appropriate level of clinical competence at each milestone of training, as assessed by your local and regional teams.
• Capacity – You are unable to continue your training program because:
  • you’re unable to maintain appropriate AHPRA general registration throughout the program
  • addenda have been added to your medical registration which restrict your ability to continue in the program.
• Compliance – You need to comply with the education and training requirements of the training program. If you don’t comply, you may be withdrawn from the program. For example:
  • if you don’t comply with and complete the requirements of an approved remediation term
  • if you don’t respond to correspondence from any RACGP staff member about your enrolment in the program
  • if you can’t meet your program time requirements
  • if you’re not able to meet the required standards to enable to you to be admitted to Fellowship and obtain registration as a specialist GP
  • if you defer commencement of training for more than 52 calendar weeks
  • if you don’t maintain financial membership of the RACGP throughout training
  • if you don’t pay your program fees.

A decision to withdraw you from the program can be disputed as per the Dispute, Reconsideration and Appeals Policy. You must lodge a dispute within 20 business days of the date of withdrawal or the date of receiving the notification. If no dispute is raised, we will proceed with the withdrawal process.

You can’t be reinstated on the program unless the decision to withdraw you has been overturned through the processes in the Dispute, Reconsideration and Appeals Policy.

Re-entry

If you’re involuntarily withdrawn from the training program, we may set certain conditions about if and when you can re-apply to join the FSP. These conditions will be outlined to you as part of the withdrawal process.

If we determine you can re-apply to the program, you may need to satisfactorily complete remedial activities relating to the reason for your withdrawal.

There may also be some circumstances where you can’t reapply to the FSP, for example, if the reason for withdrawal can’t be resolved through remedial activities.

After withdrawal

After withdrawal, you’ll be invited to participate in an exit activity. We’ll give you information about career counselling, wellbeing support and other support specific to your needs.

We’ll notify Services Australia of your withdrawal. Services Australia will provide 14 days notice of the intention to withdraw your name from the Register of Approved Placements. Once the notice period has passed, you’ll be removed from the register and your Medicare provider number will be cancelled.