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Chapter 5: The future of the GP workforce

5.4 Trainee and New Fellow demographics

Age of GPs in training

More than half (59%) of AGPT Program participants are aged 34 and under, and 12% are aged 45 and over. By comparison, PEP standard participants are an older cohort of GPs, with only 14% aged 34 and under, and 42% aged 45 and over (Figure 48).

Figure 48. The average age of GPs in training varies by training program

The average age of GPs in training varies by training program

Measure: All GPs in the AGPT Program and the RACGP PEP standard stream (pre- and post-education), 2020–21.
Base: AGPT n = 3774, PEP standard n = 866.
Source: Unpublished training data.

Location of training and preferred location of future practice

GPs in training are located in all states and territories (Figure 49).

Whereas two out of five GPs in training (44%) reported that they intend to work in urban (metropolitan) areas after attaining Fellowship, a larger proportion (48%) plan to work in rural or a mix of urban and rural locations.47

Almost four in five (78%) PEP standard participants work outside major cities in MMM2–7 areas,44 and almost nine in 10 (88%) of completed PEP standard participants reported they would like to continue to work in their current practice location.48

The most common location of primary medical degree among PEP standard participants was India (11%), followed by Australia (9.1%) and Sri Lanka (8.7%).44

Figure 49. GPs in training are located in all states and territories

GPs in training are located in all states and territories

Measure: Total number of GPs in the AGPT Program and the RACGP PEP standard stream (pre- and post-education), 2020–21.
Base: AGPT n = 5240, PEP standard n = 866.
Source: Unpublished training data.

Most GPs in training surveyed express a preference to work in a group practice (68%) or corporate practice (18%) setting after attaining Fellowship. More than one-third want to work in a small practice, 16% in community-based practice and 11% in an Aboriginal medical service. Almost one in five (18%) want to work in a hospital (Figure 50).

Figure 50. The majority of GPs in training plan to work in a group practice after attaining Fellowship

The majority of GPs in training plan to work in a group practice after attaining Fellowship

Includes respondents from AGPT Program, Remote Vocational Training Scheme, the RACGP PEP and the ACRRM Independent Pathway.
Measure: Responses to the question, ‘In the first five years as a Fellow, what clinical settings will you prefer to work in (select all that apply)?’
Base: n = 282.
Source: General Practice Registrars Australia Benchmarking Report 2021.
 

Number and gender of GPs in training

There were more than 5600 GPs in training in the RACGP pathways in 2020, although the number of AGPT Program participants is now at its lowest since 2015 (Figure 51).

Sixty percent of all AGPT Program participants are female.49 The proportion of first-year female participants declined by 19% between 2017 and 2020, compared to a decline of 1% in the male cohort.44 This could be related to perceived barriers in accessing entitlements such as parental leave in general practice training compared to hospital-based training.

There are 668 active PEP standard participants in 2021 and 28 PEP specialist participants. To date, 198 PEP standard and six PEP specialist participants have completed the requirements for the program.44 As stated in Section 5.1, the PEP standard stream cohort is growing each year.

Among PEP standard participants, there is a greater proportion of male (56%) than female (44%) GPs.44

Figure 51. The total number of AGPT Program participants is declining

The total number of AGPT Program participants is declining

*ACRRM Independent Pathway training data for 2019 and 2020 and Remote Vocational Training Scheme for 2020 not included.
Measure: Number of GPs in the AGPT Program, RACGP PEP standard stream, ACRRM Independent Pathway and the Remote Vocational Training Scheme, by year.
Data sources: Department of Health. Medical Training Review Panel 19th report. Canberra: DoH, 2016.
Department of Health. Health Workforce Division. Unpublished data provided to the RACGP, July 2021.
Internal RACGP data (unpublished).

The number of New Fellows is growing, with the proportion who are female consistently greater than the proportion that are male (Figure 52). Given female GPs are more likely to work part time (Figure 39) and on average spend more time with patients (Section 4.3), this could have implications for the future GP workforce. A greater headcount of GPs may be required to provide the same number of services.

Figure 52. More New Fellows are female than male

More New Fellows are female than male

Measure: Number of trainees obtaining Fellowship of the RACGP, by year and gender.
Source: Internal RACGP data.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GPs in training

There were 79 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GP trainees on the AGPT Program in 2020,49 an increase from 69 in 2019.2

  • 2. RACGP. General Practice: Health of the Nation 2020. East Melbourne: RACGP, 2020.
  • 44. RACGP. Training data. 2021. Unpublished data.
  • 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.
  • 49. Department of Health. Unpublished training data provided to the RACGP. 2021.