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Chapter 5: The future of the GP workforce

5.2 Satisfaction and work–life balance

GPs in training reported high rates of satisfaction with their training position and workplace compared to their peers in non-GP specialist training (Figure 45).

There is substantial interest among respondents in supporting general practice training once they have achieved Fellowship, with a majority interested in becoming a general practice supervisor (57%) and/or medical educator (51%).47

Among PEP standard participants, 87% reported they would recommend the program to other doctors.48

Figure 45. GPs in training are very satisfied with elements of their training and workplace

GPs in training are very satisfied with elements of their training and workplace

Data of less than 5% not labelled.
 
Specialist GP includes respondents from AGPT Program, Remote Vocational Training Scheme, the RACGP PEP Program and the ACRRM Independent Pathway.
Measure: Responses to questions regarding training setting and workplace, as listed, by training cohort.
Base: total sample: prevocational and unaccredited = 5158, other specialist = 9020, specialist GP = 3132.
Source: Medical Board of Australia and AHPRA. Medical Training Survey 2020: National report. Melbourne: MBA and AHPRA, 2020.

More than half (59%) of GPs in training surveyed reported that it is moderately or very difficult to maintain a healthy work–life balance while in training, whereas less than one-quarter (23%) expect this to be the case once they achieve Fellowship.47

One in five GPs in training reported high rates of burnout according to the Maslach Burnout Inventory measures of emotional exhaustion or depersonalisation.47

Three-quarters (76%) of GPs in training surveyed reported that they have their own GP, an increase from 70% in 2017.47

Figure 46. Average hours worked per week, as reported by training cohort

Average hours worked per week, as reported by training cohort

Specialist GP includes respondents from AGPT Program, Remote Vocational Training Scheme, the RACGP PEP and the ACRRM Independent Pathway.
Measure: Average aggregated results in response to the question, ‘On average in the past month, how many hours per week have you worked?’, by training cohort.
Base: specialist GP = 2635, other specialist = 7301, prevocational and unaccredited = 4136, interns = 1033, IMGs = 1784.
Data source: Medical Board of Australia and AHPRA. Medical Training Survey 2020: National report. Melbourne: MBA and AHPRA, 2020.

Two-thirds (68%) of male GPs in training reported that they intend to work full time after attaining Fellowship, compared to one-third (34%) of female GPs in training.47

Nearly a third (31%) of surveyed GPs in full-time training reported undertaking additional employment, most commonly hospital locum work (53%). The most often cited reasons for undertaking additional employment were the need for additional income (63%) and pursuing other interests (41%).47

  • 47. General Practice Registrars Australia. Benchmarking Report: Insights on employment conditions and overall wellbeing of GP registrars 2019. Melbourne: GPRA, 2021.
  • 48. RACGP Evaluation Team. Practice Experience Program Evaluation Data 2020–2021. Unpublished data. Melbourne: RACGP, 2021.