GP workforce to receive essential support

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman is introducing a $20 million incentive program to give aspiring GPs $40,000 grants to undertake training in Queensland in today’s budget.

This is a direct result of AMA Queensland advocacy over the past two years.

Our Budget Submission 2023-24 and 2024-25 both called for financial incentives to attract junior doctors to general practice.

AMA Queensland Immediate Past President Dr Maria Boulton strengthened these calls in April.

“Forty years ago, about 50 per cent of medical school graduates chose general practice as their specialty. Today it is less than 15 per cent,” Dr Boulton said.

“GPs are highly trained medical practitioners. It can take up to 15 years to train and Fellow as a GP.

“However, junior doctors who choose general practice face a substantial pay cut in their training years compared to their colleagues. They also lose access to leave entitlements that hospital doctors get.

“At the same time, there is increasing competition from other states and territories for healthcare workers.

“The Victorian Government has addressed the need to train more GPs with $40,000 grants to trainee doctors who enrol in a general practice training course.

“We need the Queensland Government to do the same and compensate junior doctors who make a huge financial sacrifice to train as GPs. Many junior doctors want to become GPs but the costs stop them following their dream.”

The package is understood to give up to 500 trainees a $40,000 cash payment if they undertake general practice training in Queensland from 2025 and 2026.

This is an important step towards guaranteeing all Queenslanders have access to best practice primary care and preventative health while ensuring junior doctors who make a huge financial sacrifice to train as GPs are adequately compensated.