The Fellowship Support Program—to gain Fellowship via the GPE pathway        

The Fellowship Support Program is the latest self-directed education and training program that will support doctors who wish to complete their Fellowship through the General Practice Experience (GPE) Pathway. The new support program is to replace the Practice Experience Program (PEP) Standard Stream which ends in 2023.

We have compiled this guide to provide important information to help you prepare and apply for the Fellowship Support Program. The information in this guide may be subject to change. Therefore check the RACGP website for any recent changes.

Key Information about the FSP

·       FSP is a self-funded program run independently by the RACGP with no financial support from the government.

·       Applications for enrolment will be open on July 4th and close on July 15th, 2022.

·       The first FSP entry exam is scheduled for October 2022.

·       Program’s education and training component duration span up to 24 months comprised of 4 semesters before proceeding to the post-education component where candidates start sitting exams.

·       Doctors will be undertaking Workplace-based Assessments (WBAs) in addition to self-directed learning, in-practice learning and participating in workshops.

·       There are two intakes per year. The first cohort commences in January 2023.

·       Participants will have access to A1 (VR) Medicare rebates during the education and training component as well as while sitting exams.

Why Gain Fellowship with the RACGP?

By obtaining a Fellowship of the RACGP, doctors authenticate to governments,

the general practice profession, and Australian and overseas communities that the required level of competence to practice is met. Fellows of RACGP are regarded as doctors who can practise safely and unsupervised within any Australian

general practice setting, be it metropolitan, rural, remote, or very remote communities.

Moreover, RACGP is the largest professional general practice organisation in Australia that has helped over 23,000 GPs to achieve Fellowship over the past seven decades.

FSP Components

The learning program is comprised of two components:

1.     Education and Training Component

The duration of this component of the FSP is 24 months divided into four six-month semesters which may cover basic general practice training in one semester, core general practice training in another semester and advanced general practice training in two semesters.

The FSP education and training plan has four key elements:

1. Education activities

2. Progressive assessment and WBA

3. Supervision

4. Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience (RPLE)

2.     Post Education Component

This component would take up to 36 months to complete where doctors’ suitability to face the fellowship assessment may be evaluated. This phase consists of six semesters with an additional six months waiting period for exam results before the awarding of the fellowship.

Candidates must complete the education and training requirements on a full-time basis and are allowed to work part-time if preferred.

Doctors who wish to complete the RG Fellowship training will have to spend an additional year completing that component of the program.

FSP Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the medical registration as well as employment and supervision standards:

Medical registration requirements:

• Appearing on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) Register as a medical practitioner 30 days before commencement of the first

semester of the program.

• Registration under the general or limited (Level 2 and above) categories.

• Registration without any restrictions, conditions, undertakings, or suspensions

that limit the scope of practice.

Employment Requirements:

• You must be working in a Modified Monash Model – 2019 (MMM – 2019) 2–7 general practice that is recognised as a Comprehensive Australian General Practice.

• Meet the minimum part-time training requirements of a 14.5-hour working week, over two sessions, 10.5 hours of which must be face to face.

• Demonstrate a contractual arrangement to provide medical services for at least six months in the same practice from the commencement of the first semester

of the FSP.

• Work in an approved placement in Comprehensive Australian General Practice as determined by the RACGP.

Employment Practice requirements:

FSP participants are required to work in an accredited training site—that means, a practice that is accredited against the RACGP Standards for general practice training.

Supervision:

While following the FSP, an accredited supervisor should support doctors by providing them with teaching sessions and clinical supervision. Supervisors will also be involved in the assessment of progress through Workplace Based Assessment (WBA) in addition to medical educators.

How to Apply

There are three stages that RACGP has set to apply for the FSP application process:

Stage 1: Application and eligibility

Participants of the FSP must include the following in their application:

• personal details

• general practice experience

• medical registration

• training location

• letter of support (each practice applied for)

• supervisor details

• supporting documents

The applications and supporting documents will be assessed by the RACGP against the FSP entry policy, General Practice Fellowship Program Placement Guidelines and the Fellowship Exam Attempts Policy to establish eligibility for the program.

Candidates could submit online application forms here.

Stage 2: National Entry Assessment

Stage 2 includes the Candidate Assessment and Applied Knowledge Test (CAAKT–FSP).

The eligibility results will be emailed directly to the applicants notifying them to enrol and sit the CAAKT– FSP, an exam containing Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) questions as well as Situational Judgement Test (SJT) questions.

The computer-based test is centred around the RACGP Curriculum and focuses on the knowledge, skills and attributes required of a GP to enter training.

Stage 3: Training program offer and agreement

The CAAKT–FSP-selected candidates may receive a Training Program Agreement, an application for a new RACGP Fellowship program provider number along with an invoice for the first semester in the program. The instructions provided in the offer email should be followed in order to secure their place in the program. Moreover, the candidates must hold a RACGP membership at the commencement of training.

FSP Fees

Applications to FSP will involve an enrolment fee. Since the program is fully funded by applicants, program fees should be paid by applicants at the start of each semester. Fees may vary depending on your level of supervision and program time.

To find out the exact costs, visit RACGP’s details on Fellowship Support Program fees.

Opportunities & Support for GPs

RACGP enables GPs to pursue a wide variety of interests and tailor their careers to match their desired work-life balance. During GP training, doctors can make use of multiple opportunities that may help in expanding their career in future. Click the links below to view more information:

RACGP Rural

RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Yagila Wadamba Support Program

Growing Strong Award

RACGP Specific Interests

RACGP Foundation

For more information about other fellowship programs for GPs, visit Medfuture Blog. To discuss eligibility requirements for a specific pathway, reach out to Medfuture Medical Recruitment Specialists at feed@medfuture.com.au.

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