The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has welcomed plans by the South Australian Government to expand medical training capacity in Mount Gambier through the development of a new education and training facility in partnership with Flinders University.
The proposed $13 million centre, to be located adjacent to Mount Gambier Hospital, would significantly enhance existing clinical training infrastructure and enable up to 120 medical students to undertake part of their training in the region each year.
RACGP SA Chair Dr Siân Goodson said strengthening regional training pathways is essential to addressing longstanding GP workforce shortages across rural and remote communities.
“We have a well-documented national maldistribution of rural and regional doctors, and South Australia is no exception,” she said.
“One of the most effective ways to address this is to train more medical students in the regions themselves.
“When students learn in rural communities, they form connections, gain valuable experience, and are far more likely to return as qualified GPs. Expanding training capacity in Mount Gambier is a practical, evidence-based step toward building a stronger future workforce.”
Dr Goodson said the initiative will make a meaningful difference for patients across the Southeast of the state.
“People living in regional areas deserve timely access to high-quality healthcare close to home,” she said.
“A dedicated training centre will help attract and retain the next generation of doctors, strengthen local general practice teams, and support better continuity of care for country communities.”
The RACGP emphasised the importance of continued investment in medical training, supervision, and primary care infrastructure to support long-term workforce sustainability.
“This is the type of long-range planning regional South Australia needs,” Dr Goodson said.
“We look forward to working with education providers, health services, and government agencies to ensure students and supervisors have the support they need to deliver the best possible care.”
~ENDS
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