General Practices and General Practitioners (GPs) are the first point of contact for patients seeking medical help and guidance. They provide accessible, comprehensive, and ongoing primary health care to people of all ages and stages in life.
GPs usually offer 10-15-minute consultations and a range of general and family medical services.
GPs can prescribe and administer medicines, provide health checks, treat acute or chronic health conditions, and discuss concerns. They write referrals, receive results, keep records, and coordinate patient care with other specialists and health care providers, offering ‘continuity of care’ for their patients and the community.
General Practice plays an important role in preventative health care and health education. It seeks to provide long-term 'patient-focused' care which helps to reduce the overall demand for hospital care and resources.
In Australia, General Practice is recognised as a medical specialty and GPs can attain specialist registration with the Medical Board of Australia after completing GP Fellowship training.
General Practitioners (GPs) have undertaken extensive training in medicine and general practice. They work autonomously and are often responsible for training junior staff and registrars and leading multidisciplinary teams. They may manage a GP business. Most GPs have attained specialist registration with the Medical Board (AHPRA) as General Practitioners, after completing GP Fellowship training. However, doctors who have general registration can also work as GPs, as long as they have appropriate experience and skills. There are pathways available for medical generalists, specialists, or international doctors to want to formally achieve specialist GP accreditation and registration.
For more information regarding working as a GP and GP accreditation, please see these links: