The Northern Territory is getting a boost with 26 doctors beginning their community-based GP training this month.
The fully-qualified doctors will spend the next three-to-four years training to become specialist GPs with local GP training provider Northern Territory General Practice Education (NTGPE).
They follow the 41 NT-based GPs who fellowed in 2020 after undertaking their training under the supervision of local GPs through NTGPE, with a further intake of trainee GPs due later in 2021.
This year’s first intake of doctors will all begin their Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program training at various practices and organisations across the Territory, including in:
Darwin
Katherine
Alice Springs
Remote communities.
NTGPE Chief Executive Officer Stephen Pincus congratulated this year’s first intake of doctors at the start of their journey to become GPs.
“Our GP registrars make up vital workforce numbers, and our commitment to rural and remote health placements means we are making significant contributions to improving health in these regions,” said Mr Pincus.
“We work with colleges, healthcare providers, medical educators, cultural educators, and GP supervisors to offer a training program which delivers culturally competent and varied training opportunities.”
The Australian Government-funded AGPT Program trains doctors to become GPs, providing full-time, on-the-job training for Australian and overseas-trained doctors who want to specialise in general practice.
NTGPE works with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) to select, train, and educate future GPs on behalf of the Australian Government.
NTGPE is the sole provider of the AGPT Program in the NT, and placed GP registrars throughout the Territory in 2020, including 32 per cent undertaking placements in Indigenous health training.
Mr Pincus said the delivery of world-class training and high-level support to GP registrars in the NT has been built on a foundation of experience, relationships, and local knowledge of healthcare delivery,
especially in rural and remote Australia.
“NTGPE is a significant contributor to rural and remote health care in the NT,” he said.
“Our unique approach to the challenges of primary health care in Indigenous communities means NTGPE is at the forefront of supplying GP registrars to help the most vulnerable and least accessible people in Australia.”
Mr Pincus said NTGPE and the GP registrars who train within the AGPT Program are the leaders in rural and remote health care, both in the NT and nationally.
“We train well-rounded, highly-skilled GPs who are passionate about primary health care in Australia, and our latest recruits are no different.
“NTGPE also sets an expectation that our GP registrars will apply their cultural expertise throughout their career and contribute to closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage nationally.
“We are training the future GPs who will find a solution to Australia’s biggest health problem.”
To find out more about NTGPE, visit https://ntgpe.org
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