The federal government will invest $14.5 million to support an additional 306 fully funded places on the Australian GP Training (AGPT) Program in 2026.
Some 200 training places were initially promised for this year but due to increasing interest in general practice as a career an additional 106 places were added to that, the federal government said in a statement.
The investment will take the total number of doctors commencing GP training to around 2,100, a 14% increase on the 1,840 achieved in 2025, according to Health Minister Mark Butler.
The RACGP welcomed the announcement as a win for access to primary care.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said: “The Government is delivering on its commitment to train more specialist GPs.
“A record number of doctors took up Commonwealth-funded specialist GP training with the RACGP in 2025, with all places filled for the first time in a number of years.
“The RACGP trains 90% of GPs across Australia, in our cities and our rural and remote communities – and as we have said, more funding and support means we can train more specialist GPs.
“Funding general practice gets results, and the decision to increase funding for GP training places beyond what was in this year’s Federal Budget shows the Government knows we can deliver.”
Dr Wright said any investment in GP training means more GPs practicing sooner in communities.
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“Where a doctor trains, has a strong influence on where they continue to work once they finish their specialist GP training, and we’ve worked with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to make sure these future GPs train where patients need them most.”
The boost in training places comes as the number of doctor registrations nationally increased more than 30% in 2024-25 compared to 2021-22.
Minister Butler said more doctors have joined the health system in the past three years than any time in the past decade.
“By boosting the health workforce and strengthening Medicare, our government is making health care more accessible and affordable for all Australians.”
The RACGP is expected to announce further details about its 2026 AGPT Program cohort soon.
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