There are two programs available to become a rural generalist/procedural GP and both are managed by NSW Health Education and Training Institute (HETI):

• NSW Rural Generalist (Medical) Training Program (RGTP)
  • The NSW Rural Generalist (Medical) Training Program (RGTP) is a program offering 12-month advanced skills posts funded by the Health Education Training Unit (HETI).
• NSW Rural GP Procedural Training Program (GPPTP)
  • The NSW Rural GP Procedural Training Program (GPPTP) is a concurrent program funded by HETI for procedural training which offers some of the same disciplines as the RGTP program, as well as surgery.

• NSW Rural Generalist (Medical) Training Program (RGTP):
  • Trainees need to be enrolled, or planning to enrol, and working toward meeting the requirements of Fellowship with either the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP)/Fellowship of Advanced Rural Practice (FARGP) or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM).
  • Doctors who are in the process of applying for the AGPT program can apply for an RG position, however RGTP offers will only be made upon successful entry into the AGPT program.
• NSW Rural GP Procedural Training Program (GPPTP):
  • Generally only accessible to doctors who already have vocational training qualifications (FRACGP/FACRRM), however GP registrars may be able to apply and gain places if the site is offering GPPTP procedural training places only.

• NSW Rural Generalist (Medical) Training Program (RGTP)
  • Applications for the Advanced Skills Training Year can be made from PGY2 onwards. HETI also offers a Foundation Year program available for application from PGY1 onwards.
• NSW Rural GP Procedural Training Program (GPPTP)
  • Applications can be made from PGY2 onwards.

Applications are made via NSW Health online Annual Medical Recruitment (AMR) (as per normal JMO recruitment) which open 23 July - 16 August 2020.

The HETI Foundation year provides an introduction and support for doctors interested in exploring rural generalism. Foundation Year participants are provided with access to program and mentor support with career and training advice and education.

There are many locations where registrars can undertake procedural skills training. However, where registrars train to acquire procedural skills, and where they can practise is often different and depends on several factors:

1. the type of procedural skill
2. if you are a GP registrar – availability of adequate supervision and mentoring when practising your advanced specialised skill during your GP training
3. if you are a GP registrar – your subregion allocation and training location requirements.

GP Synergy has collated a list and maps of training locationsby discipline and towns where you can train and practise skills inNSW and ACT.

Job advertisements of specific training positions available are posted during Annual Medical Recruitment (AMR).

Rural generalist/procedural skills training can be completed at any time after the mandatory hospital year of training in the AGPT program (known as the ‘Hospital Year’ for RACGP or 'Core Clinical Training Time’ for ACRRM), which means it can be commenced anytime from PGY3 onwards.  Once this requirement is met, rural generalist/procedural skills training can be undertaken at the start, middle or end of training.

Yes, however to take up a rural generalist /procedural skills post as an RACGP registrar you will need to undertake the additional fourth year of training – the Fellowship of Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP) which will shortly be transitioning into the Fellowship of Rural Generalism.

To undertake the FARGP (or equivalent) requires a minimum amount of GP term training time to be completed in a rural area (MMM3-7). See the RACGP website for further information. 

The 2020 AGPT Rural Generalist Policy provides additional flexibility for registrars on the AGPT Program who are selected to pursue and committed to rural generalist training.

This includes an additional one year of training time (optional) for in recognition that a registrar may need to undertake more than one skills training term to best meet community need.

Under the new 2020 policy, doctors can choose to join or withdraw from the Rural Generalist program at any time, and can continue to train in the AGPT program. 

Training under this policy is optional for RACGP registrars. 

The 2020 AGPT Rural Generalist Policy makes it easier for registrars to undertake two skills during their training due to the extended training time.

Skills placements will be dependent on availability and funding.

HETI website - Rural Generalist Program

HETI website - NSW Rural GP Procedural Training Program 

HETI website - Foundation Year

AGPT Rural Generalist Policy