RACGP report points to a brighter future for Australian general practice
21 Oct 2026
Australia’s general practice sector is showing encouraging signs, according to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ (RACGP) 2026 Health of the Nation report. However, rising clinic expenses and increasingly complex patient needs remain key concerns.
The annual report draws on a nationwide survey of GPs to assess the state of general practice and help guide discussions with policymakers. This year’s theme is General practice at the heart of a thriving health system.
Federal Government spending on general practice reached $13.4 billion in 2024–25. RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said investment was helping improve access to care and supporting the GP workforce.
He said funding gave medical practices, patients and future GPs greater certainty.
However, the cost of running a practice continues to put pressure on owners. The report found that 82% of GP practice owners identified rising business expenses as a major challenge.
Dr Wright said governments needed to keep funding in line with the growing demand for care, including support for people living with chronic conditions, complex illnesses and mental health concerns.
Separate data has also shown that hospital spending is increasing faster than investment in general practice.
Despite these pressures, the report points to several positive developments. More GPs are recommending general practice as a career option for medical students, although about one-third of surveyed GPs are considering retirement within the next five years.
Last year, GPs provided more than 171 million healthcare services to over 22.9 million Australians.
The report found that 99% of patients could see a GP when they needed one. The proportion able to see their preferred GP also increased from 64% to 67%.
The GP workforce grew in 2025, with full-time equivalent numbers rising to 30,476, compared with 29,976 in 2024.
GP training is another area of progress. Since general practice training returned to the medical colleges in 2023, the RACGP has continued to expand its training programs. In 2026, applications for training exceeded the number of places funded by the Federal Government.
The college is calling for more government support to train additional GPs, including Australian-trained doctors and international medical graduates. It also wants an RACGP-led pre-vocational program to help doctors move towards general practice training from 2027.
Dr Wright said the findings offered good reasons to feel positive about the profession’s future, but stressed that continued government investment would be needed to maintain access to quality care across Australia.
RACGP report points to a brighter future for Australian general practice
Source: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Health of the Nation.