The role of universities in shaping Australia’s future GP workforce
05 Sep 2025
A new national study has shed light on how universities influence whether medical students choose a career in general practice. A decision that is critical for meeting Australia’s growing healthcare needs, especially in rural and remote areas.
The research, carried out by the RACGP, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), and Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand (MDANZ), is the first of its kind to combine data on where students study medicine and how many go on to GP training.
The findings show that one in three Australian medical graduates – 33% – will start GP training in 2025.
Key highlights from the analysis:
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James Cook University (JCU) and University of Notre Dame (Fremantle) have the highest rates of graduates moving into GP training at 52% and 51%.
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Bond University leads the metropolitan group, with 34% of graduates going into GP training.
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JCU also has the strongest representation in rural GP pathways at 27%.
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In terms of total numbers, Monash University tops the list with 106 new GP registrars, followed by University of Queensland (91) and Griffith University (68).
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For the rural pathway, Monash again leads with 53 registrars, ahead of Queensland (30) and Tasmania (22).
While these results are promising, the study also highlighted a worrying trend: fewer medical students are expressing interest in becoming GPs. According to MDANZ surveys, that figure has dropped from 13.3% in 2020 to 9.4% in 2024. However, the introduction of Rural Generalism in 2021 helped lift combined interest in GP and rural careers to 15.1%.
Interestingly, the analysis found that almost double the number of students end up in GP training compared to those who initially said they were interested. This shows that career decisions in medicine are complex and can change during training.
Why this matters
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright called the collaboration a “positive first step” to better understanding GP career choices.
“We urgently need more graduates choosing general practice to meet the growing need for healthcare in communities all around Australia,” he said.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin added that doctors who choose rural and remote medicine can transform communities in need.
“Too few students get to see the variety and impact of general practice, especially Rural Generalist practice, while they’re at university. We need to change that.”
This research provides valuable insights to help universities and training bodies plan ahead and encourage more medical students to choose GP careers – something vital for the future of healthcare across Australia.
Source: RACGP