The government has announced 11 new training regions demarcated by geographic boundaries so that it can deliver the Australian General Practice Training programme (created in consultation with GP stake holders).
The new geographic boundaries aim to ‘streamline administration and assist to support more GP registrars, including 1500 fully funded GP registrar training places’. Of course this all requires a General Practice Training Advisory Committee, which will evaluate the program and provide advice to the government on GP training policy and delivery.
So, the last budget announced a training program that will bring about more GPs; the government will implement the program. The program requires new geographical boundaries to streamline administration and corporate requirements; a committee will (rather introspectively) advise the government and evaluate the program; tenders will be taken into the program.
Why not just make the money available to fund more GPs? Who knows. One good thing to come from the exorbitant spending, however, will be more GP positions and that bodes well for both the Australian public and overseas GPs wishing to relocate.
You can read the full press release at the Australian Department of Health.