Australian patients will have access to the most capable, professional and appropriate GPs in coming years, as the profession begins selecting doctors for the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program.
RACGP President Dr Bastian Seidel said he was pleased with the initial stages of the AGPT Program candidate selection transition to the RACGP.
“The successful planning, promotion and delivery of the RACGP AGPT selection process has been an RACGP-wide effort,” Dr Seidel said.
“By directly managing the process in conjunction with the regional training organisations (RTOs), we have been able to better align selection to the knowledge, skills and approach required of an RACGP Fellow.
“Medical knowledge and skills, effective communication, professionalism, sound management, and quality ethics are expected from every medical practitioner we select for general practice training.
“The candidates we are seeing are committed to general practice, they have the attitude required of an RACGP Fellow and they are passing the entry exam.”
From 2018, all general practice registrars in the RACGP AGPT Program will have sat a Candidate Assessment and Applied Knowledge Test (CAAKT) and attended an interview with an RTO.
“This ensures we are able to identify candidates that have the applied knowledge and personal attributes for general practice,” Dr Seidel said.
Dr Seidel said securing responsibility for selection into the AGPT Program was an exceptional outcome for the profession.
“Having the profession direct selection, based on contemporary evidence-based criteria, ensures only the most skilled registrar candidates are granted entry to general practice training,” Dr Seidel said.
“It improves completion rates and lessens the costs associated with remediation and withdrawal.”
“It is exciting for general practice and the broader community that in only four to five months we are succeeding.”
Dr Seidel said the $725 fee for entry to the recruitment process did not appear to have affected selection.
“Of the 1868 candidates who were contacted by the RACGP to pay the selection fee, 1645 enrolled to schedule their test,” Dr Seidel said.
“This would indicate that candidates who are most committed to a career in general practice, are sitting the test”.
“In the long-run, this will mean Australian patients will be seen by GPs who are highly-skilled, have the personal attributes to make a wonderful GP and are passionate about their profession.”
“We are in the very early stages of our journey to select the most skilled registrar applicants.
“The RACGP will continue to work closely with the RTOs and the Department of Health to ensure the AGPT application process is robust and transparent, and exemplifies continuous improvement.”