Giving Back to General Practice Through Mentoring
12 Feb 2026
For Dr Subana Amirthanandan, helping fellow GPs is a “great way to give back to the profession.
The service supports GPs with issues such as conditions on their medical registration, returning to practice, or changing their scope of practice. While it has been running for years, many doctors are still unaware of it.
Associate Professor Janani Mahadeva, National Lead Medical Educator for the service, says its goal is to make sure Fellows “have access to expert guidance and mentorship when they need it most.” The program is especially useful for GPs returning from time away from practice, moving from non-clinical roles, or dealing with regulatory bodies.
Dr Amirthanandan became a supervisor for the service last year, helping Fellows who have conditions placed on them by AHPRA. Her work can include providing education on clinical topics, reviewing clinical notes, conducting audits, supervising in practice, and assessing performance.
The Fellow Support Service relies on GPs across Australia to volunteer as supervisors. Supervisors must be registered GPs with no conditions on their registration. Some mentoring can also be done remotely if in-person support isn’t possible. Payment for supervisors is arranged privately with the Fellow.
Dr Amirthanandan says the program is a valuable way to support colleagues, maintain high clinical standards, and ensure patient safety. “It’s about assisting colleagues while keeping best practice within our community of GPs,” she says.
https://www1.racgp.org.au/
Source: RACGP / newsGP
