About GPET

General Practice Education and Training (GPET) Limited (ABN 95 095 433 140) manages three general practice training programs on behalf of the Australian Government:

The Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program, which provides vocational training for medical graduates wishing to specialise in general practice. The two endpoints of the AGPT program are the Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM) and the Fellowship of the Royal Australia College of General Practitioners (FRACGP).

The Prevocational General Practice Placements program (PGPPP), which provides junior doctors with a well-supported general practice experience in their intern and PGY2+ years.

The Overseas-Trained Doctor National Education and Training (OTDNET) program provides OTDs with access to education and training which supports the learning needs of the OTD towards gaining general medical registration and/or specialist (general practitioner) registration. OTDNET is funded by Health Workforce Australia.

GPET contracts with 17 regional training providers (RTPs) throughout Australia to deliver these three programs in urban, regional and rural areas

Objectives

GPET's national objectives include delivery of high quality education and vocational training; competent and capable GPs; sustainable community benefits through the achievement of GPET's aims regionally and nationally; and promotion of general practice as a career.

GPET Corporate Brochure (PDF 703 KB)

Vocational Recognition

The vocational endpoints of training are Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, either of which is required for specialist (general practitioner) registration under the Health Insurance Act 1973. This model is different to all other vocational training in Australia, where the medical specialist college is both the training delivery and standard-setting organisation.

GPET and the RTPs work closely with the colleges and other key stakeholders including universities, Medicare Locals, rural workforce agencies and GP student, registrar and supervisor organisations.

History of GPET

In January 1997 a Ministerial Review of general practice training was announced by the then Minister for Health and Family Services. The Review Group conducted a comprehensive consultation process, which confirmed that general practitioners and educational experts saw a need for change.

In June 2000, as a result of the review, the Minister announced the establishment of General Practice Education and Training Limited in 2001. GPET set up a regionalised system of general practice education and training, now delivered through 17 regional training providers (RTPs) across Australia, which promotes horizontal and vertical integration of general practice education and training .