JCU GP Training Webinar

Information Webinar

Do you want to find out more about GP training in North Western Queensland? Watch our recent Information Webinar, featuring our host A/Prof Lawrie McArthur, about the JCU General Practice Training program and our registrars living and working across our region. You’ll learn about the application process, recognition of prior learning, how to optimise your hospital training to prepare for GP training and much more.

• Apply now 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply to the AGPT program as a nursing student? 

No, the pathway to becoming a Vocationally Registered GP is suited to recent medical graduates and experienced non-vocationally recognised doctors.   

For Australia medical graduates, general registration follows graduation from medical school and successful completion of an internship.   

The Australian Medical Council (AMC) has accredited the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) to deliver general practice Fellowship training. 

Do I have to choose a region I want to train in when I apply to join the program? 

Yes, when applying to their preferred college/s, applicants preference the region(s) where they wish to train.  Applicants should consider how the opportunities available in each region match their individual interests and learning requirements. JCU GP Training is classified as the North Western Queensland Region. 

Our team works carefully to ensure registrars are distributed across the entire JCU region, with priority given to areas with unmet health care needs. 

Successful JCUGP applicants, get an opportunity to nominate the JCUGP training region where they would prefer to train when they complete our placement questionnaire.  The questionnaire collects information such as registrars’ training terms, personal circumstances, as well as any specific training requirements such as being on the QH Rural Generalist program or training as an ADF registrar.  

Registrars attend a mandatory pre-entry Zoom meeting with a Medical Educator to review their hospital experience for meeting their chosen college's mandatory hospital terms and their eligibility to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, if applicable.  Following the placement questionnaire and pre-entry meetings, registrars who are deemed eligible to commence training in a community General Practice placement, will be allocated to a JCU training region where they will be expected to undertake their community General Practice training. 

Those commencing their training in a community General Practice will usually be offered an interview at two training posts in a JCU training region. The training posts make the offer of employment and registrars can choose whether to accept an offer.  Registrars without an offer after the first placement round, are offered another training post interview.  This additional interview may be in another JCU GP training region 

Registrars training in Queensland Health facilities will follow the processes required by Queensland Health. 

I would like a rural training experience, but I am not entirely sure on the difference between ACRRM and RACGP? 

The AGPT program is offered through Australia’s two general practice training colleges, ACRRM and RACGP, and currently delivered by accredited RTOs. From 2023, training will be delivered by the GP colleges. 

Component	ACRRM	RACGP
Training Duration	4 years – Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM)	3 years – Fellowship of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP)   4 years – FRACGP + Fellowship of Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP) changing to the new standalone Rural Generalist Fellowship**
Rural Generalist Registrars	Additional 52 weeks (full-time equivalent) training time can be accessed by Rural Generalist Registrars.
Fellowship Pathways	Rural Pathway	Rural and General Pathways
Program Structure	Core Generalist Training (CGT) – 3 years to complete the minimum training requirements:  Primary care – six months  Secondary care – three months  Emergency care – three months  Rural or remote practice – 12 months  Paediatrics  Obstetrics  Anaesthetics  Advanced Specialised Training (AST) – 1 year	12 months Hospital Training Time  24 months in RACGP accredited facilities / training practices:   3 x 6- month terms in general practice (GPT1–3)   6 months Extended Skills or an additional term in general practice
Advanced Program Structure	12 months AST in one of 12 accredited disciplines listed in the ACRRM Fellowship Training Handbook (surgery AST is 24 months).  AST curricula assessments are specific to the chosen AST.	**The RACGP is updating the FARGP to strengthen their rural training program and it will be replaced by RACGP’s new four-year, standalone Rural Generalist Fellowship (FRACGP-RG) offering robust, modern curricula in 9 disciplines and further training in emergency care.

How can I transition from being an RMO (started as an IMG) into GP training? 

The General Practice Training in Australia Guide explains everything you need to know about training on the Australian General Practice Training program (AGPT), the Colleges, the difference between Rural and General Pathways, and what you need to know before you apply to the AGPT program. 

 In order to apply to the AGPT program in the first 2023 intake, you would need to: 

1. Have received your AMC Certificate by the time you apply (applications for the first intake close 19 April 2022); 

1. Work 12 months with Provisional Registration to become eligible for General Registration; and 

1. Hold General Registration by the start of the 2023 training year, which is 23 January 2023. 

If you don’t receive your AMC Certificate in time, you could consider applying in the 2nd intake later this year (usually August / September). 

For further information on the application process and important dates for FRACGP and/or FACRRM visit the college websites: 

RACGP:  https://www.racgp.org.au/education/registrars/fellowship-pathways/australian-general-practice-training-program-agpt 

ACRRM:  https://www.acrrm.org.au/fellowship/pathways/agpt 

If you are an International Medical Graduate, further information about the 19AB requirement can be found at: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/doctors-and-specialists/what-we-do/19ab 

What are the different rural classifications of areas in the North Western Queensland training region (MM1-7)?  

You can check the rural classification via the Health Workforce Locator website, along with the information from our training region as above. 

You can view practice lists for each region at https://www.jcugp.edu.au/about-us/our-training-region/ - these lists are indicative of the type of training available in each region and they do not indicate capacity.  Although the team makes every effort, it is not always possible to allocate registrars to their most preferred region due to practice capacity and supervision requirements set by the colleges.  

Of course, if you’re already living and working in a particular region that is considered when region allocations are made however, we cannot guarantee a placement in any JCU training region.    

I am a resident of Sunshine Coast.  Can I complete my training here?  

JCU offers training to RACGP General Pathway, RACGP Rural Pathway and ACRRM registrars on the Sunshine Coast (including Gympie). 

Applicants wishing to undertake training in a community General Practice placement in Semester 1, 2023 should be aware that the Sunshine Coast is a popular training region and is often over-subscribed.  We cannot guarantee a placement in any JCU training region.  

Many of our other regions offer greater capacity for training and we encourage applicants to explore and consider some of our other regions as an alternative. 

I have applied for Permanent Residency and am currently on a Bridging Visa. Can I apply to train in North Western Queensland? 

No, JCU requires all applicants to hold Permanent Residency at the time they submit their application (closing date for the first 2023 intake is Tuesday, 19 April 2022).  Applicants may become eligible to apply to the second intake later in 2022 if their Permanent Residency is granted before that time.  

I am an IMG and I have completed my AMC clinicals. My IELTS is up to date. I wish to build a career in GP practice Australia. I have overseas GP practice experience.  Am I eligible to apply to join the AGPT program? 

No, in order to apply to the AGPT program in the first 2023 intake you would need to: 

1. Have received your AMC Certificate by the time you apply (applications for the first intake close 19 April 2022);
2. Work 12 months with Provisional Registration to become eligible for General Registration; and
3. Hold General Registration by the start of the 2023 training year, which is 23 January 2023.

If you don’t receive your AMC Certificate in time, you could consider applying in the 2nd intake later this year (usually August / September). 

If you have any other specific questions, please either email jcugp.selections@jcu.edu.au or call our team on (07) 5373 4413.