Become a training practice
New accreditation application notice
GP Synergy is continually monitoring training capacity and registrar and community needs that inform training facility accreditation decisions. There is generally a surplus of accredited training facilities in most areas across NSW and the ACT with fewer registrars currently in training than the number of available placements.
Twice per year, we calculate the training capacity requirements for each region and identify the number of additional facilities that can be accredited to ensure a balanced supply of high-quality training placements for registrars. Facilities with an interest in becoming accredited can lodge an expression of interest in January and July each year. Expressions of interest are assessed against clear criteria and facilities are expected to demonstrate alignment with our Practice Quality Framework. The highest-ranked facilities in each region are invited to apply for accreditation, up to the maximum number of available positions.
Expressions of interest will next open on 4 July 2022 and close 29 July 2022. An accreditation information pack and expression of interest form will be available for download here at that time.
There are many benefits in becoming a training practice. As most of a GP registrar’s training takes place in a general practice, GP supervisors play an essential role in their development into a confident and competent GP.
Learn more below.
What’s involved?
Supervisors have four key areas of responsibility. More specific details of these requirements are outlined in the standards and guidelines below.
- Supervision: Supervisors are required to be on-site for a percentage of the time the registrar is in practice, depending on their stage of training.
- Teaching: Supervisors are required to provide in-practice teaching to registrars. This may include formal teaching activities, as well as informal activities such as direct observation, corridor consultations and case audits. The amount of teaching required will depend on the registrars’ stage of training.
- Continuing professional development: Supervisors are required to maintain their continuing professional development as an educator. They can participate in a variety of CPD activities, which are valuable educational and networking opportunities
- Administration: Supervisors are require to participate in activities such as providing formal feedback to registrars, maintaining activity logs, and advertising training vacancies.
Standards and guidelines
Guidelines on supervision and teaching are developed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). These standards ensure a safe, quality training experience for GP registrars.
All GP Synergy training posts and supervisors are accredited against these standards. These requirements, and those required by GP Synergy, are summarised in the GP Synergy Codes, Principles and Recommendations:
Registrar placement process
Before practices apply to become a training practice, it is important to understand that becoming accredited does not guarantee you will receive a GP registrar.
GP Synergy’s registrar placement process is based on an open-market style system. Every six months accredited training practices advertise training placements. Registrars can then apply for those vacancies.
To ensure appropriate distribution of registrars around our regions, registrars are required to train in locations across their allocated subregion. This means registrars may only be able to train at a particular practice for six or maybe 12 months at the most.
There also may be more training vacancies than there are registrars available in a given subregion. This means that some practices may not attract a GP registrar to their practice.
In addition, due to fluctuating numbers of registrars in training and the number of accredited practices, GP Synergy applies training practice caps each term which limit the number of registrars per supervisor and per practice. These caps may also change from term to term.
Practice application checklist
Before applying to become a training practice, ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I ready to commit to teaching?
- Do I have the time each week in my schedule to set aside for teaching?
- Is the practice AGPAL/GPA accredited?
- Is there sufficient consulting space available for a registrar to work in?
- Does my practice offer a wide range of clinical services and procedures to ensure the registrar has a positive experience in general practice?
- Have I read the GP Synergy Codes, Principles and Recommendations document and agree to the requirements of teaching?
- Am I comfortable with the understanding that being accredited does not guarantee I will receive a registrar?