General practice is a specialty of the medical field aiming for all-around health and well-being. This medical specialty implements general/ common and long-term disorders of any age. General practice can be focused on both medical conditions of physical health and mental health. Also the social aspects to some extent. Individuals structured with both physical and psychological aspects are the most essential in human health. It maintains the whole health condition.

A career in general practice provides for enhancement, benefits, financial security, chances for personal and professional development, a chance for varying experience in treating medicine and partnership. The connection between consultant medical practices and normal practice clinicians is detailed by the elements of their regulation. GP doctors’ services for rural general practices are very important.

Who are General practitioners?

Those who are working with common/ general medical or health issues are called general practice doctors. General practice doctors refer patients to medical centres, hospitals, and other medical services for emergencies and treatments. As GP doctors you should have wide medical knowledge and ability. When an individual has a health issue, the first port is to a GP doctor. It is for general treatment, and also the guidance of a specialist. A GP doctor should have the ability to address any common medical health issue. 

How to be a General practitioner in Australia/ Qualifications

To be a General Practitioner (GP) doctor in Australia, you need certified training for many years. And also you should have,

?      Complete an applicable degree, Bachelor of Medical Studies/ Doctor of Medicine. - an accomplishment of the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) and interview.

?      Complete an undergraduate degree/ postgraduate qualification, Doctor of Medicine. - required bachelor's degree, an accomplishment of Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test(GAMSAT) and interview.

?      Complete one-year internship (recognized hospital/ trained in different departments)

?      Apply to the Medical Board of Australia. - At least 1-2 or more years of training.

?      Attain GP alliance, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP).

?      Complete the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program.

?      Any IMG can get general registration through the standard pathway.

International Medical Graduates

IMG refers to the graduate physicians. IMGs are those who gained their medical qualifications from a medical school outside of Australia or New Zealand. Those who have medical qualifications from outside of Australian medical school have to register before practising medicine in Australia. They should have one of the following assessments to show their ability.

?      Competent Authority pathway

?      Standard pathway, or

?      Specialist pathway 

?      Competent Authority pathway

Knowledge and clinical skills of IMGs will be given by this assessment process to those who are looking to qualify for medical registration in Australia. International medical graduates (IMG)s follow this pathway for foreign-experienced non-specialists, also accessible to specialists, along with general practitioners. It leads to general registration. IMGs who have gone through examinations or recognized training can apply for assessment. IMGs who are going to apply for the Competent Authority pathway should apply to the medical board of Australia for temporary registration. 

?      Standard pathway

Those  IMGs who are not allowed for a competent authority pathway or specialist pathway can apply for this. According to their qualification in health care (medicine and surgery), the training given by the Australian Medical Council and the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) can apply for the Standard pathway. And also they should apply to the Australian Medical Council (AMC).

Before applying for the board of registration, IMGs should pass the AMC CAT MCQ examination.

?      Specialist pathway 

This is for,

- Foreign-experienced specialists appeal for assessment of the correspondence to quality of consultant experience in Australia (consultant identification)

- Foreign-experienced specialists appeal for an area of need consultant level point in Australia( area of need).

IMGs Who have a primary qualification in medicine and surgery given by the Australian Medical Council and the World Directory of Medical Schools can apply for the Specialist pathway (specialist recognition or area of need). IMGs should apply straight to the applicable specialist college for assessment.

The Australian medical association shows the details about IMGs by International Medical Graduates.  The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has declared the top members of general practice. GP doctor's service for rural hospitals is also a vital thing.

Community awareness and taking prevention and treatment patterns will help to build a career in general practice. Nowadays general practitioners are also following the psychological aspects/counselling to their treatments. And they suggest psychological/counselling aspects. When a GP is conducting telemedicine they should have 12 months, face to face practice before telehealth consultation. In the covid-19 situation, GP doctors have conducted a great job. And during this pandemic situation GPs work themselves safe from harm.

Gp registration in Australia

You should register as a general practitioner with the Medical Board of Australia. And also, to build your career in GP you must show your English proficiency before registration. According to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, a GP defined medical types. Such as,

?       General registration

?       Specialist registration

?       Provisional registration

?       Limited registration

?       Non-practising registration

?       Student registration   

For more information, please refer to the Medical Board of Australia website.

Tasks and Duties of GP doctors

GPs have knowledge of a wide range of disorders. They should have the ability to diagnose and treat patients of every age. Such as,

?      Clinical examinations

?      Provide appropriate medication and diagnose the illnesses.

?      Provide patient-oriented care

?      Address the health issues/ needs and give medical advice

?      Approach to the medical treatments

?      Having detailed information, medical records about treatments

?      Having detailed information, medical records about patient’s health practises

?      Awareness about new medical treatments and medications related to general health care

?      Providing health advice and also for the life habits

?      Guiding patients to hospitalised treatments if necessary

GP is the largest and major medical specialty in Australia. General Practice is patient-centred medical care providing for individuals, families and the community. General Practice differs from any other medical specialties. GPs have to deal with undifferentiated medical issues.

Skills of a GP

GPs are required to have a set of skills related to the specialty. GPs must have comprehensive knowledge and experiences about both the therapeutic and diagnostic. GPs have to work with unreliability, They do not know what the patient is going through. But the GP has to identify the illness.

To effectively practise as a General Practitioner, doctors should have,

?      Knowledge of medicine and treatments

?      Science skills

?      Knowledge of psychology and counselling

?      Counselling skills - knowledge about therapies and approaches

?      Should be very accurate and pay attention to facts

?      Good communication skills

?      Ability to work well under pressure

?      Best practice evidence in the light of individual situations

?      clinical independence

A career in general practice allows you to work in a vast community. Some particular skills related to RACGP (FRACGP). GPs can have flexible time and location arrangements.

General practice for health care system used in Australia

There is Universal health insurance which funds health services in Australia. All Australians are covered by this. It includes both community and hospital services.

With the Australian General Practice Training Program (AGPT),

?      You can practise alliance with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) or The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (

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