Pathways to GP Training

There are many pathways that lead to becoming a GP in Australia. This page provides advice on the more common pathways available, starting from Internship through to GP vocational training.

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InternshipPGY1 foundations HMO (PGY2+)Resident & hospital year Applying to RACGPAGPT pathway RACGP Vocational2-year training Rural GeneralistFellowship pathway ACRRM TrainingAlternative pathway IMG InformationInternational graduates Financial SupportsIncentives & subsidies

Training Pathway Overview

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RACGP Pathway
Internship HMO year(s)
incl. RACGP Hospital Year
(Minimum 1 Year PGY2+)		 Vocational Training
(Minimum 2 Years)		 (Optional) Rural Generalist Fellowship
1 Year
No specific rotations required. All Hospital year requirements (including Paediatrics) available at NH. 18 months of community GP placements, external to NH.

6 months of Extended Skills. Rotations available at NH in ED, Paediatrics, O&G, or part-time in VVED.		 1-year Advanced Skills Training. Rotation available in NH Anaesthetics.
ACRRM Pathway
Internship Core Training
(Minimum 3 Years PGY2+)		 Advanced Specialist Training
(1 Year)
Available to complete at NH
No specific rotations required.		 Available to partially complete at NH
Paediatrics (3 months)
O&G (3 months)
ED (3 months or critical care year)
Anaesthetics (internship or critical care year)

Rural/regional practice (Kilmore District Hospital)
GP Placement (John Flynn in PGY2)		 Complete External to NH
Remaining rural/regional practice (12 months minimum)
Remaining primary care placements (6 months minimum)

1-year Advanced Skills Training available at NH in Anaesthetics.
Last reviewed: 25/06/26 — Please be aware the latest information regarding GP training should be sought via the RACGP and ACRRM websites. If you notice anything requiring updating, please email northerndoctorseducation@nh.org.au.

Internship

Internship is the first year of post-graduate training (PGY1). No specific rotations are required for GP training, but completing a mix of acute and community-based rotations will strengthen your application.

Northern Health offers a range of internship rotations across acute medicine, surgery, psychiatry, and emergency departments.

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HMO (PGY2+)

After internship, you’ll complete at least one year as a Hospital Medical Officer (HMO) at PGY2 level or above. This is a key year for building clinical experience before applying for GP training.

RACGP Hospital Year requirements: All Hospital year requirements (including Paediatrics) are available at Northern Health.

ACRRM Core Training: Can be partially completed at NH. Required rotations include Paediatrics (3 months), O&G (3 months), ED (3 months), and Anaesthetics (internship or critical care year).

IMPORTANT: If planning to train through RACGP, before progressing to community practice you must ensure all Hospital Year requirements are met. See here for details.

For more details, see the RACGP application section or ACRRM section below.

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Applying for RACGP Training through AGPT

Summary: There are many avenues to apply for GP training. This section presents how to apply for a RACGP position through the AGPT pathway (the most common pathway for domestic graduates). For full details, visit the RACGP website.

  • Intake dates: Check this link for application timelines.
  • Pathway eligibility: Review requirements here.
  • Victoria Training Region: Specific information for Victoria here.
  • Selection & assessment: AGPT selection process details here.
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RACGP Vocational Training

RACGP vocational training is a minimum 2-year program combining community GP placements with hospital-based extended skills rotations.

  • 18 months of community GP placements (external to NH)
  • 6 months of Extended Skills — rotations available at NH in ED, Paediatrics, O&G, or part-time in VVED
  • Training handbook and fellowship exam details available here
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Rural Generalist Fellowship with RACGP

The Rural Generalist Fellowship is an optional 1-year advanced skills training program following RACGP vocational training.

  • Advanced Skills Training rotation available in NH Anaesthetics
  • Apply for the RACGP Rural Generalist Fellowship here
  • Rural classification: Modified Monash Model
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ACRRM Vocational Training

ACRRM offers an alternative pathway to GP fellowship. See the ACRRM Application and Selection Process for details.

  • Core Training: Minimum 3 years PGY2+, partially completable at NH
  • Advanced Specialist Training: 1 year, completed external to NH (rural/regional practice + primary care placements)
  • Training handbooks and guides available here
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Information for International Medical Graduates

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) have several pathways to GP fellowship in Australia:

For NH-specific IMG recruitment enquiries: nh-mwurecruitment@nh.org.au

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Financial Supports and Incentives

A range of financial supports and subsidies are available for GP trainees, including rural incentives, bond programs, and training allowances.

View available supports on the RACGP website.

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Dr Richard Sia in front of Royal Flying Doctor Service aircraft

Meet Dr Richard Sia — GP Liaison Officer, Northern Health

Q: What is your coffee order?
A: Small latte, no sugar.
Q: Tell us about your new role at Northern Health?
A: I am Northern Health’s GP Liaison Officer. This is a new position working in the Primary Care Liaison Unit within the partnerships team. Our primary role is to identify and implement strategies that will improve the continuity of care and communication between Northern Health and General Practitioners.
Q: What is the most exciting part of your job?
A: Meeting people from the hospital, local practices and the community. I enjoy organising education events for GPs and working on quality and improvement. We have a few education events in the pipeline and are working on a few projects within Northern Health.
Q: What is your ideal work-life balance?
A: Travelling around the world on someone else’s yacht while getting paid. Otherwise, a decent trip per year to avoid the Melbourne winter. Trying out new restaurants and heading out to Timezone on the weekends.
Q: Would you rather be able to travel into the future or into the past?
A: Definitely the future, I’ve been to the past already and it was so so.