4.1 GP job satisfaction

Nine out of 10 GPs report that they are satisfied, or very satisfied, with their work overall. This figure has remained consistently high over time (Figure 40).

The areas in which GPs report the highest rates of satisfaction include freedom to choose their own method of working and physical working conditions (92% each), opportunities to use their abilities (91%), and the amount of variety in their work (93%) (Figure 41, Figure 42, Figure 43).³² GPs are least satisfied with their remuneration and the recognition they get for good work (Figure 50).³²

A career in general practice can be very fulfilling and opens up a life of endless possibilities. GPs report that they thrive on the varied and interesting clinical challenges that each patient presents, and the opportunity to build trusted, ongoing patient relationships, making a real difference to their patients’ lives.

As the first point of contact for most Australians seeking healthcare, GPs have an opportunity to take a holistic approach to patient health, and can work in partnership with patients and colleagues from other specialties.

GPs can choose where and how often they work, and workplaces are supportive and collegial. There is scope for GPs to pursue their own specific clinical interests, and further develop skills in areas such as obstetrics and gynaecology, refugee health or even aerospace medicine.

GPs are satisfied with their work overall — ^*Data representing less than 5% is not labelled
Measure: Responses to ‘Taking everything into consideration, how do you feel about your work?’
Base: Total survey respondents, n = 3077 (GPs); n = 3578 (other specialists); n = 894 (hospital doctors not enrolled in training)
Data source: University of Melbourne, Monash University. Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL). Data from MABEL Wave 11 survey. Melbourne: MABEL, 2020.

GPs report high levels of satisfaction with the freedom they have to choose their own method of working. When contrasted with other medical specialists and hospital-based doctors not enrolled in training, GPs are far more satisfied than their counterparts (Figure 41).

Ninety-two per cent of GPs report that they are satisfied or very satisfied with their physical working conditions, compared to 86% of other specialists, and 78% of hospital-based doctors not enrolled in training.³²

Ninety-one per cent of GPs report that they are satisfied or very satisfied with the opportunities to use their abilities in their work, compared to 89% of other specialists, and 80% of hospital-based doctors not enrolled in training (Figure 42).

GPs are very satisfied with the autonomy of their work — ^*Data representing less than 5% is not labelled
Measure: Responses to ‘Please indicate how satisfied or dissatisfied you are with each of the various aspects of your work as a doctor? – Freedom to choose your own method of working’
Base: Total survey respondents, n = 3077 (GPs); n = 3578 (other specialists); n = 894 (hospital doctors not enrolled in training)
Data source: University of Melbourne, Monash University. Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL). Data from MABEL Wave 11 survey. Melbourne: MABEL, 2020.

GPs are very satisfied with the opportunities to use their abilities in their work — ^*Data representing less than 5% is not labelled
Measure: Responses to ‘Please indicate how satisfied or dissatisfied you are with each of the various aspects of your work as a doctor? – Opportunities to use your abilities’
Base: Total survey respondents, n = 3077 (GPs); n = 3578 (other specialists); n = 894 (hospital doctors not enrolled in training)
Data source: University of Melbourne, Monash University. Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL). MABEL Wave 11 survey. Melbourne: MABEL, 2020.

32. University of Melbourne, Monash University. Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life (MABEL). MABEL Wave 11 survey. Melbourne: MABEL, 2020.

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4.1 GP job satisfaction

Figure 40. GPs are satisfied with their work overall*

Figure 41. GPs are very satisfied with the autonomy of their work*

Figure 42. GPs are very satisfied with the opportunities to use their abilities in their work*