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The NSW and ACT GP Workforce Planning and Prioritisation (WPP) Consortium continues to provide independent, evidence-based recommendations to inform the geographic distribution and placement of GP registrars in NSW and ACT regions. The NSW & ACT WPP Consortium, consisting of 11 PHNs led by CHN, makes suggestions to guide the 2 GP training colleges, RACGP and ACRRM, in their placement allocation processes to meet the community’s current and future GP workforce needs. Over the last year, the NSW & ACT WPP Consortium submitted Reports 2 and 3 to the Department of Health and Aged Care.
CHN is building its knowledge and understanding of GP training and workforce planning, and ways to encourage general practice as a career choice through collaboration and consultation with local key stakeholders.
In collaboration with the ACT Medical Officer Support, Credentialing, Employment and Training Unit (MOSCETU), CHN met with ACT junior medical officers (JMOs) to gather insights from the future medical workforce about their interest in general practice training. Of the JMOs and IMGs attending the event, some had decided to choose general practice as their specialty, some were undecided, and others had decided on non-GP specialties. Some aspects of general practice that interest JMOs is the provision of continuity of care, interesting case mix and good work life balance. Barriers to choosing general practice as a career included reduction in income when moving from the hospital system to the community, loss of employment entitlements, and the 10-year moratorium requirement for IMGs which requires working in a rural location.
Additional local engagement held with GP registrars, medical educators and RACGP provided insights from trainees about the contributing factors to choosing general practice as a career which include lifestyle, flexibility of hours, diversity of clinical work, provision of continuity of care and opportunities to subspecialise. The event will be an ongoing collaboration between CHN and RACGP as both organisations look for ways to provide support the future ACT GP workforce.
Testimonial
“The Workforce Planning and Prioritisation Program is working to advance the provision of primary care in the ACT region, through its extensive work in identifying areas of need for GPs. The program has focused strongly on collaboration from a wide variety of stakeholders and has an excellent track record of incorporating stakeholder feedback into its methods and considerations. The program has made extensive progress on identifying improvements for general practice training and community access to primary care for the ACT region.” Professor Emily Haesler, Director of Canberra Region Medical Education Council – NSW and ACT WPP Steering Group member.