RACGP welcomes recent increase in GP workforce
23 Sep 2025
From Western Australia to the Northern Territory, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has welcomed the latest additions to Australia’s general practice workforce.
In Perth, on Whadjuk Nyoongar Country, 84 New Fellows and three Rural Generalist (RG) Fellows were celebrated at a Fellowship ceremony on 19 September. More than 350 guests attended, including RACGP WA Chair and Vice President Dr Ramya Raman, faculty members, UWA School of Medicine Associate Professor Nahal Mavaddat, and WA Primary Health Alliance CEO Bernie Kenny.
Dr Raman highlighted the important role of these new doctors in Australia’s healthcare system. “New Fellows have put in years of study, passed rigorous exams, and gained hands-on experience with guidance from GP supervisors and medical educators,” she said. “Many of today’s New Fellows have a strong passion for rural and remote care, which is vital for communities across Western Australia.”
The three Rural Generalists will receive additional training in critical areas such as emergency medicine and obstetrics. Rural generalism has recently been formally recognised as a specialist medical field after years of advocacy by the RACGP and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.
Twenty of WA’s New Fellows come from rural areas, bringing vital skills to communities that rely on local, specialist GPs. “No other specialty offers the same level of long-term connection with patients,” Dr Raman said.
In the Northern Territory, the RACGP welcomed 13 New Fellows at a ceremony at Darwin’s Parliament House on Larrakia Country. Two of these also received RG Fellowship, alongside four other GPs receiving their RG qualifications.
RACGP NT Deputy Chair Professor Neil Spike said the new GPs would make a “vital difference” to health outcomes in Darwin, Alice Springs, and remote parts of the Territory. “Their achievements reflect dedication to service and the mission of general practice as the front line of healthcare,” he said.
The ceremony also recognised RACGP NT Award winners, top performers in Fellowship exams, and two Life Members for their long-standing service. RACGP NT Provost Associate Professor Emma Kennedy congratulated the new Fellows, praising their commitment to the community.
The addition of these Fellows and Rural Generalists supports ongoing efforts to strengthen the general practice workforce, expand training capacity, and enhance healthcare access in rural and remote areas.
Source: RACGP
