Q. What is the AGPT program?
A. The Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program is an Australian government initiative which provides training for doctors to obtain general practice Fellowship and gain specialist registration.
Currently, registrars enrolled in the AGPT can elect to train to either or both the Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM) and the Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP). FACRRM training is open to both rural and general pathway registrars providing they train in ACRRM-accredited training posts.
The AGPT Program is three to four years of full-time training offered in urban, regional and rural locations nationally. It comprises hospital training, general practice placements and extended skills training.
Q. I am a PGY1. Should I apply to the program now or during my PGY2 year?
A. It is your choice when to apply.
- If you apply in PGY1 you will complete the 12 month hospital component whilst in the AGPT program.
- Registrars applying in PGY2 or above and wishing to commence in GP training the following year will need to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in lieu of completing the hospital year whilst in the program. Our medical educators will also review your hospital experience (as part of the Hospital Experience Assessment) to determine your readiness to begin in a general practice setting.
Q. Is my chance of being selected by MCCC reduced if I completed my hospital training outside of Victoria?
A. AGPT is a national training program. MCCC welcomes your application, regardless of where you completed your hospital training in Australia.
Q. Will RTO Selection interviews be virtual?
A. Yes, all interviews will be online.
Q. How are the interviews conducted?
A. This year MCCC will conduct virtual panel interviews for RACGP candidates. ACRRM will conduct virtual Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs). More details will be released soon.
Q. How can I prepare for the interviews?
A. Understanding the requirements for each college, thinking about your past clinical experiences and come up with a variety of examples that you may use depending on the questions asked. Dress smartly and make sure you really listen and understand the question and listen for any prompts.
Q. When will I find out the outcome of my interviews for the second intake in 2022
ACRRM candidates will receive their offers on 18 November, 2021
RACGP candidates offers will be issued after 29 November, 2021
The Colleges deadline to return these offers is very tight, so please keep your eye on your email.
RACGP practice readiness is assessed by MCCC through a process that involves a review of hospital statements that provide details of the rotations you have completed. This process is different to Recognition of Prior Learning.
Eligible candidates will be sent an email with a link to the Hospital Experience Assessment portal, where they will be asked to provide statements of service. It is imperative that you have Statements of Service for all your hospital time, listing all rotations completed. Please request these from your Workforce Medical Unit as soon as possible.
MCCC will review and approve the submissions, however in some circumstances RACGP will be included in this assessment.
ACRRM candidates will develop a training plan to ensure all mandatory core hospital components are achieved prior to training or throughout.
Q. What are the mandatory requirements for RACGP?
A. The mandatory requirements are summarised below, but we recommend you read the Fellowship Handbook for detailed information.
- You require either 1 year FTE after full general registration or 2 years extensive experience in an Australian hospital post if you trained overseas.
- RACGP require 10 week rotations in Medicine, Surgery, Emergency (8 weeks) and Paediatrics. Please refer to the RACGP Paediatrics requirements here.
- As well as a demonstrated breadth of experience ideally in disciplines relating to GP, MCCC specifies this as three different rotations of 10 week terms.
Q. What are the mandatory requirements for ACRRM?
- ACRRM require 10 week rotations in Medicine, Surgery, Emergency
- ACRRM also require you to obtain Paediatric, O&G and Anaesthetics rotations, however these can be undertaken throughout your training.
- ACRRM registrars are required to develop a training plan indicating how these rotations or equivalent will be obtained.
Q. Can I complete my RACGP Paediatric requirement after I have started in a general practice?
A. No. You are required to complete your Paediatric requirement prior to commencing in general practice.
Q. Does the ‘Sydney Child Health Program’ meet the RACGP paediatric requirement in full?
A. No, it will be considered for part of the paediatric component but you will also require some clinical experience i.e. in an emergency department term or PGPPP term. Please see the RACGP Paediatric Policy or the ACRRM handbook for more information.
Q. If I have completed an emergency department rotation with paediatrics, will that cover me for the paediatric requirements?
A. Two rotations are required in emergency departments, one undertaken in PGY1 and one in PGY2 or above. These rotations must have a minimum 20% RACGP and 25% ACRRM paediatric case presentations.
Refer to the ACEM website for recognised Paediatric locations. Smaller hospitals may not be listed, however if the applicant can provide a letter from the hospital confirming the paediatric case presentations during the time the registrars completed the rotation.
Keeping a log book can be beneficial where the percentage is only just being met. See the RACGP Paediatrics Policy for further information.
Q. I have heard the term ‘Hospital Experience Assessment’ or ‘Practice Ready’. Is this the same as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)?
A. No, they are not the same.
Practice Readiness is an assessment of your training to date conducted by MCCC to ensure you meet the requirements of either College before commencing in your General Practice term.
RPL is only required if your hospital term was not completed whilst in the AGPT program.
Q. Can MCCC tell me if I am Practice Ready over the phone?
A. No.
MCCC can provide you with an indication of your practice readiness to help guide your decisions.
Practice readiness is assessed by MCCC through a process that involves a review of hospital statements of service that provide details of the rotations you have completed. This assessment is completed when you have been accepted into the AGPT program.
Q. Does my ALS certificate cover me for the required CPR/BLS?
A. BLS/CPR is a component of the ALS certificate. However, the BLS/CPR component is required to be updated annually, whilst the ALS component is valid for 4 years. If the ALS is undertaken within 12 months of commencement of training the CPR component will be current. For further information on RACGPs BLS and ALS requirements please see here.
Q. Where is GP training delivered?
A. Murray City Country Coast GP Training delivers training across a region that encompasses North Western and North Eastern Victoria, the greater Albury region into Southern New South Wales, Central Victoria, South Western Victoria and the Greater Northern and Western metropolitan Melbourne area, which covers approximately 40% of the population base of Melbourne. MCCC operates from four regions with five training offices in Bendigo, Parkville, Warrnambool, Geelong and Wodonga.
- General pathway (Modified Monash Model – MM1) incorporates metro west (Melbourne CBD, western Melb and Geelong CBD)
- All other MM2 and above areas are considered rural locations. Please refer to Doctor Connect website and put in specific addresses for all MMM listings.
Q. If I select the rural pathway, do I have to be a Rural Generalist and undertake an Advanced Skill?
A. No. You can be a rural registrar and work in a rural location without any additional training or additional years.
If you wish to undertake an Advanced Skill you will be required to enrol to be a Rural Generalist registrar, and apply to either ACRRM or in RACGP’s RG program and discuss your training plan with MCCC. This is in accordance with the Victorian Rural Generalist program.
Q. If I join the AGPT program with MCCC as a Rural Pathway registrar can I change to the General Pathway during my training?
A. These changes are difficult and only possible if there are extenuating and unforeseen circumstances. Please refer to the AGPT Transfer Policy. for further information.
Q. If I choose the General Pathway can I train in a rural location?
A. Yes, you can. General Pathway registrars can be placed in any MM location within the MCCC footprint.
Rural Pathway registrars can only be placed in MM2 – MM7.
Q. Do I have to undertake all training in rural or remote locations?
A. No, while most registrars will spend a significant amount of training in rural areas, the focus is gaining skills and knowledge required in rural and remote settings. Some of these skills can be developed in urban or rural facilities. However having a good understanding of the context of rural medicine is also essential. Therefore all registrars must spend a minimum of 12 months of training living and practising in a rural or remote setting.
You may change your RTO or pathway preference during the applicant preference change period.
RACGP: 4-9 November 2021
Please note, all ACRRM places are rural pathway positions.
Q. When do I need to indicate the my region of choice within MCCC?
A. Once the names of shortlisted applicants are received by MCCC, all candidates will be asked to complete an Application to Train, which will allow you to indicate your region preference.
Q. How am I allocated to a region within MCCC?
A. Following the MMI results, MCCC will allocate successful candidates to the regions based on their MMI score and, where possible, genuine links to the region.
The region you have been allocated to will be indicated in your Letter of Offer. You may choose to accept or decline this offer. Should you decline, you will then need to speak to your College regarding future intakes.
Q. How do I know which practice I will be placed at?
A. MCCC holds a Registrar Placement process. You are able to apply to locations that are of interest to you and suit necessary training requirements.
We emphasise that you must have a wide range of options to increase the chances of being placed in locations of your choice. If you are unsuccessful in initial rounds or provide limited options leading to being unplaced, then MCCC will direct you to the remaining practices in the final stages of placement.
Q. What support is available for MCCC registrars?
A. MCCC provides administrative and medical educator support to registrars. A specific team of educators, the pastoral and learning support (PALS) team, offer individualised support from both a well-being and an education perspective and the team includes communication skills tutors, medical educators and registrar and supervisor representatives.
MCCC also employs a team of Registrar Liaison Officers (RLOs) who are important contact points for registrars in each area. In addition, General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) will be available to support registrars.
Dr JuMP is a medical mentoring program for rural and regional doctors, proving a platform for mentors and mentees to find one another. Find out more here.
Q. What is the Recognition of Prior Learning process?
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) acknowledges the experience, training and assessment that applicants have already undertaken, which may provide exemptions from training time, assessment or other training components as required by the colleges.
Q. How do I apply for RPL?
If you have sufficient, relevant hospital experience prior to joining the AGPT Program, you may be able to apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL), a process separate to the hospital experience assessment. Learn more about this process here.
Please note: Hospital Experience Assessment is different to RPL.
ACRRM: Eligible ACRRM candidates will contacted by the college on 6 October 2021 with an interview invitation.
You must book an interview before 5pm (AEST) 12 October 2021.
You must keep between 28 October- 4 November free as interviews will be held during this period.
RACGP: Eligible RACGP candidates will be contacted by MCCC from 12 November with further information about how to book an interview time slot and additional details of the selection process.
Q. Can I choose to stay in the hospital once selected into the AGPT program, even if I meet Practice Ready requirements?
A. Yes. You can remain in hospital once accepted into the AGPT program.
You will be required to submit HMO reports demonstrating that you are performing at the required level whilst in training. Hospital core training time does not have to be within the MCCC footprint but must be in an approved training environment with adequate supervision.
Q. Can I take leave or defer my AGPT training?
A. Leave and deferral from the AGPT program is restricted.
There are limited circumstances where a registrar can defer commencement of training or take leave. These are in exceptional circumstances and are detailed in the AGPT Program Leave Policy.
Q. What are the key features of the ACRRM training pathway
A. The Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine (ACRRM) training program has been developed by Australia’s leading rural doctors and academics, meaning you have access to the best training program in rural generalism.
Download this MCCC Guide for ACRRM registrars to learn more about the key features and opportunities available for registrars who choose this Fellowship pathway in our region.
Q. Why train for a FACRRM?
A. Fellowship of ACRRM equips you to practise unsupervised anywhere in Australia. This gives you real freedom, independence and scope of practice through your career. This unique integrated training program provides the skills and confidence to practise in a broad range of geographic and clinical settings. ACRRM Fellowship enables you to follow different career pathways, from solo practice in small communities to leadership roles in larger hospitals; from retrieval and expeditionary medicine to Aboriginal health services or urban general practice. Achieving a FACRRM will verify that you are qualified to practise anywhere – independently and safely.
Q. Can I do FARGP whilst doing FRACGP?
A. The FARGP is a specialist twelve-month program for registrars wishing to specialise in rural general practice. It is recommended that the FARGP is undertaken during general practice training to enable you to get the most out of your experience and fulfil the majority of FARGP requirements before heading into the FRACGP exams. FARGP can also be undertaken post-Fellowship.
Q. I currently hold a 457, 820, 309 or 482 subclass work visa, will MCCC write a letter of support?
A. MCCC does not provide letters of support to visa holders. Details of RTOs who will provide letters of support is available on the AGPT website.