MEDIA STATEMENT: Major funding injection to aid Queensland’s trainee GPs 

Published Yesterday at 01:02 PM

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services
The Honourable Tim Nicholls

Major funding injection to aid Queensland’s trainee GPs  

  • The Crisafulli Government delivers $24 million this year to assist early career trainee GPs.
  • The General Practice Trainee Incentive Scheme will give eligible trainee doctors who start their GP training in 2025 a one-off $40,000 payment.  
  • The funding is part of the Crisafulli Government’s Easier Access to Health Services Plan to fix Labor’s Health Crisis and to grow a stronger, more supported workforce. 

The Crisafulli Government is delivering a major multi-million-dollar incentive program to support and strengthen general practice in Queensland throughout 2025. 

The $24 million General Practice Trainee Incentive is providing eligible doctors starting their GP training in Queensland in 2025 with a substantial one-off payment of $40,000.  

More than 575 doctors who have either commenced or are soon to begin their general practice training in 2025 are expected to be eligible for the one-off payment.  

This financial support is in recognition of the challenges future GP’s face when they start to enter the workforce and encourages them to continue their training. 

Frontline health worker attrition rates soared under the former Labor Government, with 4 per cent of doctors leaving last financial year, deepening Labor’s health crisis. 

The Crisafulli Government’s Easier Access to Health Services Plan is focused on delivering more doctors, nurses and paramedics to the frontline to ensure all Queenslanders have better access to health services, no matter where in Queensland they live. 

The General Practice Trainee Incentive program joins a suite of other initiatives by the Crisafulli Government that aim to support primary care, such as slashing Labor’s Patient’s Tax to reduce cost burdens of healthcare for Queenslanders. 

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the Crisafulli Government is pleased to provide assistance for Queensland’s future GPs. 

“We are doing what we can to help doctors complete their GP training because we know how important GPs are to communities across Queensland,” Minister Nicholls said.  

“We are removing barriers for the next generation of GPs to ensure Queenslanders across the State have access to quality primary healthcare no matter where they live.”   

The Crisafulli Government will work with the two medical Colleges who deliver GP training - the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) - to implement this important initiative. 

RACGP chair Dr Cath Hester said the Crisafulli Government's decision to fund the incentive showed a commitment to improving access to specialist general practice care across Queensland. 

“Specialist GPs and our practice teams keep patients out of hospital and relieve pressure on our entire healthcare system,” Dr Hester said. 

“The General Practice Trainee Incentive removes a significant barrier to junior doctors choosing to train as specialist GPs and providing care in the community.”  

ACCRM President Dr Rod Martin welcomed the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to GP training, particularly for those doctors in rural and remote practices. 

“ACRRM is pleased to see the focus be on attracting and retaining GP trainees across Queensland in order to improve the accessibility of primary care for Queenslanders,” Dr Martin said.  

“ACRRM welcomes the support that will continue to shine a light on Rural Generalist Medicine and the valuable work our doctors provide in rural, remote and First Nations communities.” 

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: David McLachlan 0428 716 171