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Chapter 2: State of the general practice workforce

GP perceptions

The proportion of GPs who felt they were able to maintain a good work–life balance (48%) and believed that their work–life balance would improve in the coming 12 months (28%) was very similar between 2023 and 2024 (Figure 26). Although still at high levels, burnout is slowly decreasing, with 69% of GPs experiencing burnout in 2024, compared with 73% in 2022.

Figure 26. Perception of work–life balance

Perception of work–life balance

Measure: Proportion of GP responses to the question, ‘To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?’ 
Sample: Practising GPs 2017 n=1309, 2018 n=1537, 2019 n=1174, 2020 n=1782, 2021 n=1386, 2022 n=3221, 2023 n=2050, 2024 n=3006
Source: The Navigators, RACGP Health of the Nation survey April/May 2024.

Compared with last year, GP satisfaction levels for hours of work and remuneration remained the same (Figure 27). However, the proportion of GPs who reported being dissatisfied with the amount of administration associated with their work increased markedly, from 60% in 2023, to 70% in 2024. GPs have continued to raise concerns about the heavy administrative burden on general practice, exacerbated in the last 12 months by ongoing changes to the already complex funding arrangements under the Medicare Benefits Schedule, onerous reporting requirements for bulk-billed telehealth consultations, and the variable implementation of payroll tax across Australia.

Figure 27. Satisfaction with work hours, pay and administration

Satisfaction with work hours, pay and administration

Measure: Proportion of GP responses to the question, ‘To what extent are you satisfied or dissatisfied with?’
Sample: Practising GPs 2021 n=1386, 2022 n=3221, 2023 n=2050, 2024 n=3006
Source: The Navigators, RACGP Health of the Nation survey April/May 2024.

GP INSIGHT‘I think the ever increasing difficulties and red tape of being a GP (audit threat, medico-legal risk, administrative burden, encroachment on scope of practice) make it very unappealing to be a GP which will result in less GPs and ultimately worse health outcomes for patients.’