General practice relies on skilled, confident and well-supported teams.

The Standards for general practices (6th edition) reflects this by strengthening expectations around induction, training and performance support. F4 – Induction, training and supporting performance brings these elements together into a clearer, more contemporary framework that recognises the diversity of practice teams and aims to support consistent, person‑centred care.

A more comprehensive and structured approach

The sixth edition expands and clarifies on existing expectations for staff induction and training. Practices are supported to:

• provide structured and consistent induction for all members of the practice team
• ensure employed members of the practice team receive ongoing, role‑appropriate training that reflects changes in systems and patient needs
• support staff to recognise and respond to abuse and violence, including family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV)
• hold performance discussions with employed team members to guide professional growth
• maintain CPR training for all staff at least every three years.

This framework underscores that capability-building is an ongoing, shared responsibility, not a one‑off process completed at the start of employment.

Induction: setting teams up for success

The sixth edition reinforces the importance of a structured induction program that helps new team members understand:

• the practice’s mission, values and approach to quality and safety
• core systems and processes, including information management, privacy and emergency procedures
• the practice’s operating environment and local health context
• the practicalities of day‑to‑day work – key contacts, workflows, and patient pathways.

The sixth edition places a clear emphasis on consistency, recognising that well‑embedded induction contributes to safer practice, smoother operations and more confident staff.

Training that adapts to change

Healthcare is dynamic, and so is the work of general practice teams. The sixth edition asks practices to ensure employed members of the practice team:

• receive role‑appropriate training when they start
• receive ongoing training to keep pace with changes in systems, technologies and practice needs
• know how to access Medicare billing education resources
• are supported to deliver person‑centred, culturally safe care.

The inclusion of ongoing training highlights an expectation for practices to build capability over time, not only at the point of onboarding.

Spotlight: Recognising and responding to abuse and violence

The sixth edition calls for training in recognition and response to abuse and violence, including family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV).

The builds on existing safeguarding responsibilities in the Standards, with the sixth edition providing clear expectations for practices to:

• adopt recognised guidelines and a practice framework for recognising and responding to abuse and violence
• make local referral pathways available to the practice team to support safe, trauma‑informed practice
• confirm that employed members of the practice team have completed role‑appropriate training in recognising and responding to FDSV
• obtain reasonable assurance that independent doctors in practice have completed role‑appropriate training in recognising and responding to FDSV
• promote a consistent team approach through team discussions/briefings and access to current resources.

This practical and structured approach aims to ensure general practices are equipped to play their critical role in early identification, safe response and ongoing support for affected patients.

Dedicated guidance at F4 signals the importance of this capability across the entire practice team.

A stronger, more cohesive framework

Taken together, the updates in F4 reflect the sixth edition’s broader ambitions: to support practices to build strong, capable teams; to embed safe and ethical practice across all roles; and to ensure that every person in the practice understands their contribution to high‑quality care.

From structured induction to ongoing training, from safe responses to abuse and violence to supportive performance discussions, the sixth edition positions workforce capability as a cornerstone of safe, responsive and resilient general practice.