The government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.

Primary health care careers

General practitioners

General practitioners (GPs) are generally the first service people go to for health care outside of a hospital.

Benefits and opportunities

General practitioners (GPs) are generally the first service people go to for health care. GPs can provide diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of health conditions and injuries, as well as long-term care.

A career in general practice can take you anywhere in Australia and be tailored to your interests and ambitions. GPs provide care for patients at all stages of life, dealing with all aspects of physical and mental health. GPs work with other health professionals in primary care and coordinating care with other specialists for their patients’ health.

Many GPs choose to tailor their career by developing a specific interest.

There are currently 37 specific interest groups registered with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine also has a number of specific interest groups.

To become a rural generalist GP, there are dedicated training pathways providing primary health care services and emergency medicine in rural and remote communities.  Rural generalists also have additional training in skills such as obstetrics, anaesthetics or mental health services. 

Find out more about a career in general practice 

Study and training initiatives

The General Practice Training Program

Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program offers 1,500 training places in cities, regional, rural and remote areas of Australia each year.

The Australian GP colleges administer and deliver this program for us under the college-led training grant. You can choose which college to apply through. Learn more about the program and apply directly on their sites:

There are several initiatives available to support general practitioners and rural generalists in their training.

Incentives and programs for GPs already in the industry

Videos
0:59

So you want to be AGP and work with refugees?

Let's talk about it.

We started out with a dream.

We wanted to build a healthcare space that is tailored to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers.

And so we engaged with the community to build a service tailored to meet their needs.

We have a wonderful team at this clinic.

We also run a programme here for people suffering from loneliness and isolation, and it helps people engage with the healthcare system and with each other in the community.

The real reward is in the work.

It enables us to make meaningful changes in people's lives.

For me personally, it's building trust with the patients and seeing them improve and get better with time.

In primary care.

We get to make these changes in people's lives every day.

Primary care is rewarding, challenging and stimulating.

Want to join the team?
2:05

So my name is Marjid, I'm a Christian and I'm a calculating one year young leader boy, born and bred in Mount Isa. 

Yeah.

So my role, I'm a GP.

Some people call me a real generalist also.

So I'm a specialist GP and I have a few advanced skills in different areas like anaesthetics, so for example, and obstetrics.

And yeah, that's how I'm able to help help our people.

So my journey to become a doctor was a little bit different.

I firstly, I went into a battle of human movement science and I majored in Japanese and I was fortunate enough to get some good grades there. 

And yeah, basically my name got out there and I was able to apply for medicine. 

And James Cook University was very beautiful in nature and allowed me the opportunity to become a become a doctor after their medical school training. 

Yeah, look, the people are essential. 

And it's really important for them to go to Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander practitioners for many reasons. 

And the main reason, I think, is that that connection. 

We can talk about land, we can talk about culture and religion. 

We can talk about a lot of things. 

But it all starts with the connection and then walking through the doors and seeing us and, you know, that little nod to know who you are and where you come from, I think, you know, that's, that's priceless. 

And, and you know, that's already starting the health journey and, and, and improving, you know, their their mindset. 

So we need as much help as we can get. 

We need our First Nation people to continue to step up like we have been improve health of our mob and our communities and have a brighter future. 

For anyone considering a career in primary healthcare, I say the time is now. 

The time is now for you to help your people, your mob, your community, but also to help all other not only First Nation people but non First Nation people because we're all in this together. 
0:59

So you want to be free to explore?

Let me show you life in primary care.

Being in general practice, people often think that you just spend all your day in an office, but you can definitely choose whatever you’d like to do with your day.

So I have spent time volunteering in Papua New Guinea. 

And I regularly volunteer with a medical van delivering medical care to the homeless.

I really appreciate that in primary care you are able to choose your own time and you can decide how you want to spend it.

Having a cup of tea and a chat with patients, particularly with the homeless community actually makes a very big difference because a lot of those populations are marginalised.

Primary care really helps to open up the whole life experience of people.

In their difficult moments and in their joyful moments.

I really enjoy sharing those moments with them.

It's a privilege.

So, what do you think?

Want to join the team?

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