What’s Happening?
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) celebrated its first-ever Toowoomba Fellowship (FRACGP) ceremony, welcoming new specialist GPs.
The historic event recognised doctors who achieved Fellowship after 11 years of rigorous education and training.
Why it Matters?
Specialist GPs significantly enhance healthcare quality and accessibility, particularly in regional areas like Toowoomba. RACGP President Dr Michael Wright emphasised the importance of ensuring reliable, high-quality GP care nationwide.
Local Impact
The newly recognised specialist GPs will directly boost health services across Toowoomba and regional Queensland. RACGP Queensland Chair Dr Cathryn Hester highlighted the inspiring stories shared, showcasing the rewarding nature of general practice careers.
By the Numbers:
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9 in 10: Participants satisfied with the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program quality.
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177 GPs: Successfully placed in rural communities previously without registrars, through RACGP incentives.
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11 years: Average duration of education and training required to achieve RACGP Fellowship.
Zoom In
Dr Wright stated, “It was an honour to return to my home state of Queensland and congratulate our newly awarded Fellows in Toowoomba. This is the first ever RACGP Fellowship ceremony in Toowoomba. As a medical college, one of our core roles is education and GP training, as well as advocating for policies that ensure all Australians can access timely, high-quality general practice care from a GP they know and trust.”
Attendees at the RACGP Fellowship Ceremony in Toowoomba:
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Dr Michael Wright, RACGP President
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Dr Cathryn Hester, RACGP Queensland Chair
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Hon David Janetzki MP, Queensland Treasurer and local member for Toowoomba South
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Mr Trevor Watts MP, Member for Toowoomba North
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Mr Garth Hamilton MP, Federal Member for Groom
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Dr Tony Bayliss, Board Chair, Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network
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Tim Keane, Executive Director of Primary Care and Integration
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Associate Professor Michael Clements, RACGP Rural Chair
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RACGP Board Directors
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Members of RACGP Queensland Faculty Council
Zoom Out
He further added, “Access to general practice care is important for all patients no matter where they live. We applauded the Federal Government’s recent workforce commitment to train more GPs every year and incentivise more junior doctors to choose the GP path – all commitments matched by the Opposition. The RACGP has our own incentives, which successfully placed 177 GPs in training in rural communities that had not had a registrar in years.”
Dr Wright continued, “However, the job is far from done, and the RACGP will keep pushing for greater investment in general practice care. Only by boosting patient rebates, including for longer consultations, can we put general practice care on a more sustainable, and viable long-term footing. We must also ensure that no regional, rural or remote communities lose access to general practice care. The College continues to urge state and local governments to work together and offer incentives such as housing, childcare, spousal employment and other benefits to boost the attractiveness of working as a GP outside of capital cities.”
Dr Hester emphasised, “These new GPs will make a vital difference to general practice care and patients across Queensland. I can tell you from personal experience that being a GP is such a rich and rewarding career, and this Fellowship ceremony featured some inspiring life stories that bodes well for the future of general practice care.”
What to Look For Next?
The RACGP continues advocating for increased investment and incentives, aiming for improved healthcare sustainability in regional communities like Toowoomba.
