General practice training terms

General practice training terms

General practice placements mark the beginning of your core vocational training. You must complete three general practice training terms (18 months FTE) as part of your core vocational training requirements. These terms are known as GPT1, GPT2 and GPT3.

We begin the process of placing registrars in accredited community general practice training sites as early as possible before each training semester. The registrar placement process is designed to create flexibility and choice for both registrars and practices. It takes into consideration: 

• your preferences, training needs and program obligations
• the primary healthcare needs of communities
• strengthening quality standards and capabilities of training sites, and equitable access to registrars for practices participating in the training program. 

Practice diversity

While undertaking GPT1, 2, 3 and your extended skills training term, you must have exposure to a diverse range of patient populations and presentations (eg age, gender, socioeconomic status, and cultural and linguistic backgrounds), at least two different supervisors and two different general practice management systems, as outlined in the Placement Policy. 

It may be appropriate for a registrar to remain in the same practice for extended periods:

• If the registrar is filling a significant workforce need in a rural/remote location (eg in rural communities of MM 4–7).
• When leaving a rural town would be detrimental to the registrar and their family (eg carer responsibilities for parent locally, partner working in town, educational needs of children).
• Where there are limited accredited training sites (or training sites suitable to be accredited) within the training location and minimal variation in practice models. 

Other situations are assessed on a case-by-case basis and approved by the Regional Director of Training. In these instances, the RACGP will support registrars to meet diversity requirements.