Outline of Training

GP training is a three or four year program which generally consists of at least one year (post intern) hospital training and two years in supervised general practice (in a variety of practices). Entry to the program is competitive. At the end of training there is a FRACGP exam with both written and clinical components. The training is delivered by different regional training providers and you must therefore apply to your region of choice. Your training will take place in that region. For more information re application requirements, policies and documents, please access the AGPT website.

Geographic Requirements

When accepted into GP training you will either follow a general or rural training pathway. For information relating to pathway options and requirements please access the AGPT website.

Those enrolled in the General Pathway must complete at least 12 months of their GP terms in an area of medical need. New rules for this came into effect from January 2011.

From January 2011 all GP terms in this region satisfy this 'area of medical need' requirement - so this requirement will automatically be met by undertaking your training in this region.

The full new General Pathway rules are that the 12 month requirement can be met by a combination of:
- rural (can meet up to 12 months of the requirement) – this is defined as RA 2 to 5
- non-capital city RA 1 (can now meet up to 12 months of the requirement) – this includes Newcastle, Maitland and most of Lake Macquarie
- outer metro (can meet up to 12 months of the requirement) – this includes Central Coast
- inner metro capital city Aboriginal Medical Services (can meet up to 6 months of the requirement)
(NB AMS posts in rural/non-capital city RA1/outer-metro can meet up to 12 months of the requirement as per their geographical location).

Those enrolled in the Rural Pathway must undertake all their GP terms in RA 2-5 locations.

We have both Rural Pathway and General Pathway training places. The majority of places are for General Pathway.

In this region, there are accredited general practices in both urban (RA 1) and rural locations (RA 2 in our region). 
 

Hospital Terms for GP Training

These are available with the Hunter New England Area Health Service and Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service. Please enquire with them as to available RMO rotations or more senior posts. These may be appropriate for the 12 months of hospital training or for Extended Skills Posts. Please check with the Australian General Practice Guide for GP Registrars regarding appropriate disciplines (on AGPT website) or phone us for advice.

If you have already completed post intern years in hospital terms it is possible to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning for some of this. Discuss this with one of our Medical Educators.
 

GP Terms available in the Region

There are a variety of practices that are accredited for GP Term 1, 2 and 3 on the Central Coast and the Newcastle area (RA 1).  Rural towns (RA 2) with accredited teaching practices for GP Term 1, 2 and 3 include Scone, Muswellbrook and Singleton (Hunter Valley); Cessnock, Dora Creek and Bonnells Bay; Gloucester, Taree, Wingham and Forster (Manning Region); Nelson Bay and Shoal Bay (Port Stephens area). For Extended Skills in General Practice terms the range of available locations is greater.

Paid study leave during training

• In GP Terms 1, 2 and 3 (the first eighteen months of supervised general practice) registrars receive structured teaching in their practices on a weekly basis.
• GP Term 1 and 2 registrars have 6 full day monthly workshops held in Newcastle. For further information please follow the link to the calendar.
• There are six additional days set aside for workshops in GP Term 1 and three additional days in GP Term 2. For further information please follow the link to the calendar.

Other sessions

• Orientation Workshop for new entrants.
• Term 1 Preparation Workshop prior to commencing GP Term 1.
• Additional workshops for those in hospital time.
• Two workshops per year for all GP Registrars

Teaching Visits

Medical Educators will sit in with registrars during consulting sessions on several occasions during training.

Support

Support is provided to registrars through regular training advice contacts with their Medical Educator and through the activities of the Registrar Liaison Officer (RLO).

Click here for details of our applicant and registrar support package