Smooth handover of GP training is ‘highly unlikely by 2023’, warn RTOs

The regional training organisations are still waiting to sign contracts to keep the program running next year
Geir O'Rourke

There are fresh calls for the handover of GP training to the RACGP and ACRRM to be shelved until 2025, amid claims there is still no concrete plan for how the revamped scheme is going to work.

The nine Regional Training Organisations (RTOs) that currently deliver GP training say they have yet to sign contracts to ensure the Australian General Practice Training program continues next year before the official handover date of January 2023.

“Everyone involved with running regional training organisations is concerned by what is happening,” says Dr Ian Kamerman, the chair of GP Synergy, who also chairs the group representing the nine RTOs.

“How are we supposed to be recruiting GP trainees when we can’t tell them how they will be trained in 2023 and beyond?”