Female GPs Report Higher Burnout as Job Satisfaction Falls
26 Oct 2026
The survey gathered responses from more than 2,700 GPs across Australia about their experiences working in general practice.
The results showed that 65% of female GPs experienced feelings of burnout over the past year, compared with 53% of male GPs.
Job satisfaction also differed between the groups. Around 78% of male GPs said they were happy with their jobs, compared with 75% of female GPs. This is the first time the report has found lower job satisfaction among women than men.
The findings also highlighted differences in the types of care provided. Around 71% of female GPs said psychological concerns were a common reason for patient visits, compared with 58% of male GPs. More than half of female GPs also reported playing a key role in providing mental health care, compared with about one-third of male GPs.
Consultations are becoming longer, with the average appointment now lasting about 19 minutes. However, female GPs spent more than 21 minutes with each patient on average, while male GPs spent just under 18 minutes.
RACGP Vice President and Western Australia Chair Dr Ramya Raman said the findings showed the need for changes to the Medicare system, which she believes does not adequately recognise the time and complexity involved in patient care.
She welcomed the Government’s recent investment in primary care but said funding arrangements must also reflect patients’ needs and support GPs to provide ongoing care, particularly when treating mental health concerns.
A draft report from the Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Advisory Committee also raised concerns that the current payment structure favours shorter consultations and disadvantages doctors providing longer appointments.
Separate research commissioned by Ochre Health, which examined Medicare billings for 511 GPs across four states and the Australian Capital Territory, found that female GPs earned an average of $24.04 less per consulting hour than male GPs.
Dr Raman said addressing the payment structure was one part of a broader effort to improve fairness in general practice. She stressed that the issue was related to the healthcare system rather than the work of individual doctors.
The survey also found that the proportion of GPs who always bulk bill their patients increased to 63% in 2026, up from 56% in each of the previous two years.
Dr Raman linked the increase to Government investment in primary care but warned that the costs of running a practice remained a concern. She noted that the 2.6% increase in Medicare rebates this year was below the rise in the Consumer Price Index.
She said stronger financial support was needed to help general practices remain viable and continue providing care.
The report also identified growing concern about health misinformation. In 2026, 44% of surveyed GPs said misinformation was a challenge in their work, compared with 35% in 2025.
The full 2026 Health of the Nation report is scheduled to be launched at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday.
Female GPs Report Higher Burnout as Job Satisfaction Falls
Source: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), newsGP — 2026 Health of the Nation report coverage.