The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) President, Dr Michael Wright, will visit two Northern Territory general practices on Friday (18 September) to highlight the crucial role supervisors and training practices play in growing the future GP workforce.
Dr Wright will meet practice leaders, supervisors and GP registrars at Territory Medical in Nightcliff at 2.30 pm and then Palmerston GP Super Clinic, which currently hosts two GPT1 registrars, at 3.30 pm.
The visits will highlight increasing GP trainee numbers, particularly in MM2–7 areas and showcase the impact of the RACGP's new Pilot GPT1 Supervisor Capacity Incentive.
The program is designed to support practices and supervisors to take on first-term GP registrars and support their transition into community general practice to strengthen training capacity and support across MM 2–7 areas and Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs) and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs).
The RACGP has introduced a pilot AGPT GPT1 Supervisor Capacity Incentive from Semester 2 2026 to the end of 2027, supported through Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) Flexible Funds to increase supervision capacity and GPT1 training placements in priority workforce areas.
The RACGP has committed approximately $5.5 million over the next 18 months, with the first payments to eligible supervisors being made by the end of October. More than $1 million will be distributed in this initial payment round, providing immediate support to supervisors training the next generation of GPs.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said training the next generation of specialist GPs was essential to ensuring patients could access high-quality care close to home.
“We have never had such great interest from junior doctors wanting to go into general practice," he said. "That is great news which will benefit rural and remote communities. The next step is making sure that we have enough supervisors and practices able to take on the training of these newest GP registrars.
"General practice training depends on the commitment of supervisors and practices that invest significant time and resources into teaching Australia's future GPs.
"The Northern Territory faces unique workforce challenges, making it especially important that we support practices to train and retain more doctors in local communities.
"The Pilot GPT1 Supervisor Capacity Incentive will help practices build confidence in taking on early-stage registrars and recognise the vital contribution supervisors make to training.
In 2026 the Northern Territory is hosting record numbers of RACGP registrars with 64 Australian General Practice Training Program (AGPT) and 25 Fellowship Support Program (FSP) registrars.
Territory Medical Group Medical Director and GP Supervisor Dr Dimitri Andropov said supporting GP training was an investment in the Northern Territory’s future health workforce.
"GP supervisors play a critical role in helping registrars develop the clinical judgement, skills and confidence they need to become specialist GPs," Dr Andropov said.
"Programs that help practices train more registrars create more opportunities for doctors to undertake general practice training and help build a stronger, more sustainable GP workforce for Territory communities”
Palmerston GP Super Clinic CEO Bernie Cummins said the practice was proud to help train the next generation of GPs.
"Having registrars in our practice benefits both learners and patients, and helps build a sustainable workforce for the future," Ms Cummins said.
"The incentive pilot is a positive step that will encourage more practices to get involved in training."
The RACGP delivers GP training across Australia and is committed to supporting supervisors and practices to expand training opportunities, particularly in regional, rural and remote communities where workforce pressures are often greatest.
Media opportunities
Date: Friday, 18 September 2026
Time: 2:30m
Location: Territory Medical in Nightcliff
If media cannot attend the first visit, Dr Wright will also be available at:
Time: 3:30m
Location: Palmerston GP Super Clinic
Available: RACGP President Dr Michael Wright
About us:
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is the voice of general practitioners (GPs) in our growing cities and throughout rural and remote Australia. For more than 60 years, we’ve supported the backbone of Australia’s health system by setting the standards for education and practice and advocating for better health and wellbeing for all Australians.
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Dominique Yohanes
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Contact: 03 8699 0992 / [email protected]
