Australian gov’t invests $9.70m for 306 GP training

This comes as more junior doctors are training for general practice.

The Australian Government announced an investment of $9.704m to deliver an additional 306 new general practice (GP) training places in 2026 through the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) programme.

The programme will be delivered by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the government said in a statement. 

This investment will take the total number of doctors commencing GP training to around 2,100, a 14% increase from the Australian Government’s previous record of 1,840 achieved in 2025, it added.

The government said that more junior doctors are training to become GPs and more doctors are registering to practise in Australia since its investments to strengthen Medicare.

“By boosting the health workforce and strengthening Medicare, our government is making health care more accessible and affordable for all Australians,” said the minister for health and ageing minister for disability, and the national disability insurance scheme, in the announcement.  

GP colleges have reported an increased demand for AGPT training places, reflecting heightened interest in GP careers following the training incentives in the government’s 2025-26 Budget, the announcement said. 

Almost half of the training under the AGPT programme occurs in regional, rural and remote areas, boosting the local health workforce in communities most in need, it added. 

The government is continuing to invest in more GP training places in 2027-28 and beyond as part of its $443.47m boost in the Medicare package to grow the primary healthcare workforce.