Medical graduates who choose to pursue general practice are now being offered a $40,000 incentive as part of an effort to reverse the decline in those selecting this career path. Up to 800 grants are available, with 400 being offered this year and the remaining 400 in 2025, for individuals who begin studying to become a GP in Victoria. General practice colleges have already seen an increase in enrollments for GP training in 2024 and are in the process of assessing applicants for eligibility.
The decision to provide this financial incentive comes as a recent survey revealed that only 13 percent of final-year medical students selected general practice as their first career choice. Victoria’s Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas is hopeful that the incentive will attract more medical students to pursue careers as GPs, even when other specialties offer higher salaries. She stressed the importance of promoting careers as GPs to ensure that more people can access the care they need, particularly in light of the challenges related to obtaining appointments with GPs when needed.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, which will oversee a majority of the grants, welcomed the incentive package, emphasizing the crucial role of a healthy GP workforce in promoting overall community healthcare. Despite this positive reception, the government faced criticism from the opposition for being slow to address the issue of declining GP numbers, particularly in regional areas where access to GPs is already limited. The opposition spokesperson specifically highlighted the urgency of the situation and the need for proactive measures to prevent a further shortage of GPs in the future.