A Smarter Solution to GP Workforce Shortages
Access to healthcare is a fundamental right, yet many Australian communities, particularly in regional, rural, and remote areas, struggle with inadequate access to doctors. To address this issue, the Australian Government's Department of Health has designated specific areas as Distribution Priority Areas (DPA). According to the Department of Health, a DPA is defined as “an area where people don’t have enough access to doctors, based on the needs of the community.” This classification is critical for ensuring equitable healthcare access across the country.
Bridging workforce gaps — with no cost to your practice
Partnering with GPAP allows medical practices to access pre-screened, motivated doctors ready to begin supervised practice under the Australian healthcare system. Participating practices benefit from:
No fees or recruitment costs
No sponsorship or visa responsibilities
No payroll tax or additional administrative burden
GPAP manages the employment, training, and compliance requirements, giving your practice the opportunity to focus on delivering quality patient care. designation identifies regions where the local population's access to medical services falls below a set benchmark. This benchmark is determined by evaluating various factors such as:
The age and gender demographics of the community.
The socioeconomic status of residents.
The population’s overall healthcare needs compared to the available health services.
If a community's healthcare services do not meet the defined benchmark, it is classified as a DPA. This designation is particularly significant in regional, rural, and remote areas, where medical services often lag far behind those in urban centers.
A fully supported placement model
Each IMG in the program is contracted to your practice for a minimum of four to six years, providing workforce stability and continuity of care. During this time, they receive structured education and professional development through GPAP’s training partner, the Institute of Medical Education (IME).
IME delivers ongoing learning and supervision, supporting the IMG’s progression to the Fellowship Support Program (FSP) and, ultimately, Fellowship with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). Once they enter the FSP, VR GP billable rates become applicable, ensuring fair remuneration and sustainable service delivery for your practice.
Empowering the next generation of GPs
By partnering with GPAP, your practice not only gains a committed general practitioner but also contributes to the development of Australia’s future healthcare workforce. IMGs receive hands-on clinical experience, mentorship, and access to high-quality education — while practices benefit from long-term, consistent staffing and reduced recruitment challenges.
Partner with purpose
GPAP is committed to connecting exceptional international doctors with practices that share a vision for quality care and professional excellence. Together, we can strengthen primary healthcare delivery and support the wellbeing of communities across Australia.
To learn more about partnering with the General Practice Australia Program, contact our team on (07) 5623 3324 or click here to submit an Expression of Interest Form.