Placement considerations
International placement
You must undertake all training within Australia and Australian external territories (ie Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos/Keeling Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Australian Antarctic Territory, Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island). We won’t place you in an international placement.
If you’re an Australian Defence Force registrar training on overseas deployment, you can undertake approved extended skills terms overseas.
Pre-existing personal relationships with training site staff
A pre-existing personal relationship between a registrar and a member of staff at their training site could create a conflict of interest and lead to poor training, particularly if that person were a supervisor, practice manager or practice owner.
General practice placement
If you have any type of close personal relationship with a staff member at the training site where you wish to train, you and the training site must disclose this to us as a potential conflict of interest at the start of the placement process.
Registrars aren't allowed to apply for a placement at a training site where there is a significant pre-existing relationship with the supervisor, practice owner or practice manager, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
We also discourage you from seeking placement at a training site where you have a significant pre-existing relationship with another staff member (eg practice nurse, administrative staff, other GP).
Extended skills post
If you're seeking an extended skills post at a training site where there is a pre-existing personal relationship, consider alternative options unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Telehealth
Telehealth refers to the delivery of health services over a distance that use telecommunication technologies as an alternative to face-to-face consultations between a patient and a health professional. These may include video or phone (audio-only) consultations, transmitting digital images and/or data, and prescribing medications.
The RACGP recognises that telehealth consultations are an important extension of comprehensive general practice, particularly in rural communities. We support the use of telehealth in practice and in training provided:
- the time spent isn't the majority of your training time
- you are appropriately supervised
- telehealth sessions are fair and equitably shared with other doctors at your training site
Refer to Telehealth and supervision: A guide for GPs in training and their supervisors.