Federal Government Expands Medical Training Places to Strengthen Future GP Workforce
26 Nov 2025
Ten universities selected for their focus on primary care
The new CSPs will be distributed evenly across 10 universities identified for their strong emphasis on general practice and primary care training. These institutions offer significant exposure to community-based placements and rotations in general practice:
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Charles Sturt University
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Flinders University
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Griffith University
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Monash University
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University of Melbourne
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University of New England
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University of New South Wales
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University of Notre Dame Australia
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University of Sydney
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University of Wollongong
These positions form the first stage of a broader expansion, with an additional 50 CSPs expected to be allocated next year.
Largest-ever cohort of future GPs beginning training
The announcement comes as more than 1800 doctors enter GP training in 2025 under the Australian General Practice Training Program—marking the largest intake of future GPs in the nation’s history.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said the extra student places reflect a shared commitment between the College and Government to encourage more graduates to pursue careers in general practice.
“These universities are committed to producing future GPs, and this investment ensures more graduates can go on to work in communities across Australia,” he said.
Long-term investment in Medicare and the GP workforce
Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler said increasing the number of medical training places is central to strengthening Australia’s primary care system into the future.
“By expanding our medical workforce, we’re reinforcing Medicare and ensuring every community has access to high-quality care,” he said.
To meet future workforce needs, the Government has also pledged additional funding for GP training, with a target of training 2000 new specialist GPs by 2028. Demand for training remains strong, with applications exceeding available positions for the second consecutive year.
Alongside these measures, the Government plans to introduce—pending legislative approval—a demand-driven CSP stream for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students from 2026, aiming to increase representation of First Nations doctors within the health system.
