GP Wellbeing Must Become a National Priority
12 Nov 2025
The November issue of the Australian Journal of General Practice (AJGP) focuses on GP wellbeing.
Psychologist Dr Shaun Prentice explains that doctors have long struggled with effective self-care due to the culture of medicine and the ingrained expectation of self-sacrifice. He says that messages encouraging self-care are often met with doubt and are not always followed. He stresses that supporting GP wellbeing is important not only for their own health but also for the care they give to patients. His series in AJGP offers guidance for GPs to create personalized self-care plans as part of their professional duty.
Dr Michael Wright, President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), said that while GPs are responsible for their own wellbeing, systems and regulatory structures must actively support them.
He mentioned ongoing work with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to reduce the impact of nuisance complaints and improve the process for mandatory notifications, which can prevent doctors from seeking help.
Dr Prentice also pointed out that GP wellbeing directly affects patient safety.
He said, “The goal is to ensure doctors care for themselves as much as they care for their patients.”
To help GPs, the RACGP has launched a CPD-recognised package that assists practitioners in assessing their wellbeing and creating a 12-month self-care plan.
The AJGP has also introduced a new digital journal and mobile app, offering flexible access to peer-reviewed research and resources.
Source: RACGP newsGP | Australian Journal of General Practice
