306 new GP training places announced by the Australian Government will commence in 2026 through a $14.5 million investment.
This brings the total number of doctors starting GP training to around 2,100. The expansion represents a 14 per cent increase from the 2025 record of 1,840 trainees.
The places will be delivered through the Australian General Practice Training Program. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners manages this fully Commonwealth-funded pathway to becoming a specialist GP.
This record investment addresses Australia’s growing GP workforce shortage, particularly in regional and rural areas.
The Growing GP Workforce Crisis
Australia faces a critical shortage of general practitioners. By 2026, the country will need an additional 13,000 doctors to meet demand.
Regional and rural communities experience the most severe shortages. Approximately 20 per cent of Australians in remote areas lack nearby GP services. Almost 60 per cent of rural populations cannot access specialists in their region.
The consequences are serious. Fewer cancer screenings occur in rural areas. Potentially preventable hospitalisations increase. People in remote areas have mortality rates 1.2 times higher than the national average.
Doctor registrations jumped more than 30 per cent in 2024-25 compared to 2021-22. More doctors joined the health system in the past three years than at any time in the previous decade. This growth follows record government investments to strengthen Medicare.
Health Minister Mark Butler highlighted the nationwide impact. He stated the record delivery of GP training places will make a meaningful difference right across the country. More doctors are starting GP training than ever before.
How the Training Program Works
The Australian General Practice Training Program provides full-time, on-the-job training. It supports Australian and overseas-trained doctors who want to specialise in general practice.
Training occurs in cities, regional, rural and remote areas. Almost half of all AGPT training happens outside major cities. This boosts local health workforces in communities with the greatest need.
Doctors train towards Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners or Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine. The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care oversees the program with college partners.
Training typically takes three to four years to complete. Registrars rotate through different placements every 6-12 months. This exposes them to diverse clinical environments and patient populations.
Where doctors train strongly influences where they practise long-term. RACGP President Dr Michael Wright noted they worked with the Department to ensure future GPs train where patients need them most.
New Incentives for GP Trainees
The 2025-26 Budget introduced significant financial incentives for GP trainees. These incentives drove increased demand for AGPT training places.
From semester one 2026, new GP trainees receive $30,000 in salary incentive payments. These payments apply when trainees transition into community general practice.
GP trainees also access payments covering five days of study leave per year. Up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave becomes available. The National Consistent Payments framework provides support to supervisors, practices and registrars.
All payments under the framework will be indexed from 2026. This incentivises greater training capacity, particularly in regional and rural areas.
Northern Territory trainees receive additional support. A $20,000 grant is available for doctors accepting NT training places. The grant pays in two instalments of $10,000 after completing the first and second community-based terms.
Streamlined Application Process for 2026
Significant changes to the AGPT application process began in 2026. These updates streamline selection and enhance accessibility.
Applicants no longer need to provide referees as part of applications. A single online assessment replaces the multiple mini-interview and candidate assessment test.
Non-citizens or non-permanent residents face relaxed requirements. Active permanent residency applications are no longer required at application time. Candidates must obtain PR by the end of training.
Applicants nominating RACGP-identified areas of need as first preference receive guaranteed training places. This ensures critical shortage areas receive priority staffing.
The Cancer Council Australia supports GP workforce expansion as essential for early cancer detection and management in regional communities.
Long-Term Workforce Strategy
The government committed to continued increases in GP training places. Additional 300 places commence in 2027 and 400 places from 2028 onward.
This forms part of a $662.6 million strengthening Medicare package. The package aims to grow the primary healthcare workforce sustainably.
From 2028, over 2,000 Commonwealth-funded GP places will commence annually. This represents a significant expansion from historical baselines.
One hundred medical student Commonwealth Supported Places were also announced for 2026. Ten universities each receive ten extra places directed toward primary care training.
These initiatives work together to build a comprehensive pipeline. Medical students, junior doctors, and GP registrars all receive targeted support.
The strategy recognises that workforce development takes years. Today’s medical students become tomorrow’s rural GPs. Early exposure to rural practice increases long-term retention.
Challenges Remain
Despite record investments, challenges persist in GP workforce development. International medical graduates comprise 32 per cent of Australia’s medical workforce.
Bureaucratic barriers prevent hundreds of qualified international physicians from working. Some drive Ubers instead of practising medicine. Streamlining visa and registration processes could help address immediate shortages.
Junior doctors face financial disincentives to choose general practice. Hospital-based training offers better pay and employment entitlements. GP trainees lose these benefits when transitioning to community practice.
Retention in rural areas remains difficult. Family proximity, partner employment opportunities, and professional isolation deter long-term commitment. The Medical Journal of Australia highlighted that comprehensive support beyond training placement is essential.
Infrastructure limitations affect rural practice sustainability. Lack of specialist support, poor facilities, and high responsibility levels discourage rural work.
Conclusion
306 new GP training places announced for 2026 represent significant progress toward addressing Australia’s doctor shortage. The $14.5 million investment brings total GP training commencements to around 2,100, a 14 per cent increase from 2025.
Combined with financial incentives, streamlined applications, and long-term commitments, these measures strengthen the GP workforce pipeline. Regional and rural communities stand to benefit most from expanded training capacity.
FAQs
1. Who can apply for the Australian General Practice Training Program?
Australian-trained doctors and overseas-trained doctors meeting Australian Medical Council requirements can apply. Applicants must be on appropriate visas and willing to train in allocated regions. Non-permanent residents must obtain PR by training completion.
2. How long does GP specialist training take?
GP training typically takes three to four years of full-time study. This includes supervised community practice rotations and hospital-based training. Trainees must pass Fellowship examinations before becoming vocationally registered GPs.
3. Will these new training places help regional doctor shortages?
Yes. Almost half of AGPT training occurs outside major cities. Where doctors train strongly influences practice location after Fellowship. Expanded regional training capacity should improve long-term rural GP retention.
4. What financial support do GP trainees receive?
Trainees receive $30,000 in salary incentives when transitioning to community practice. Five days of paid study leave per year and up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave are available. Northern Territory trainees receive an additional $20,000 grant.
5. When do the 306 new training places start?
The new places commence in 2026 through the AGPT Program. Applications opened in March 2025 and closed in April 2025. The RACGP announces cohort details in early 2026 before training begins.