General Practitioner Industry Updates

Joannah 23/02/2023
General Practice Updates Australia | People Medical Consulting

In a constantly changing environment, we summarise the most important updates for General Practitioners. 

This week’s summary includes updates from:

  • AMC
  • AHPRA
  • Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
  • 3GA/GP Programs
  • ACRRM
  • RACGP
  • OET
  • MBS

LATEST NEWS

REMINDERS:

  • 19 October 2026: SA HWSP Applications Closing
  • HSWP Open for NSW, VIC, & NT

NEW GP RESOURCE FOR INTERPRETING SUPPORT 

The RACGP and NAATI have developed a new resource to help GPs and practice teams work effectively with professional interpreters. The guide covers when to engage an interpreter, the risks of relying on family or friends, AI-assisted communication, NAATI certification and billing for interpreted consultations. Check out the resources here:

CANCER SCREENING TOOLKIT

GPs and general practices can access new resources to help patients understand and take part in Australia’s national cancer screening programs. The resources include posters, eligibility information and practical guides to support conversations about bowel, breast, cervical and lung cancer screening. Find out more about the news here.

MBS HEALTH ASSESSMENT REVIEW RELEASED

The Australian Government has released a review of MBS health assessment services, outlining 18 recommendations to improve their delivery and use in primary care. While three recommendations have already been implemented, the remaining recommendations are still under consideration. The review may be worth following for GPs and practices providing Medicare-funded health assessments. Read the report here.

PIP QI DATA ANNUAL DATA UPDATE 

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released its 2025–26 annual update on the Practice Incentives Program Quality Improvement (PIP QI) measures. The report provides data on areas such as chronic disease management, preventive care and clinical information recorded by participating practices. GPs and practice teams can use these insights to reflect on their own data and identify opportunities to improve patient care. See RACGP’s summary here and the full PIP QI Measures: Annual Data Update 2025–26 report here.

GP RESOURCE TO SUPPORT CALD PATIENTS

The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration has developed a resource to help GPs provide inclusive, trauma-informed and culturally safe care for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients. It includes practical suggestions for building trust, asking sensitive questions respectfully and considering how cultural background, migration experiences and systemic barriers may affect a patient’s care.

Explore the resource for GPs supporting CALD patients here and check out the other specific populations resource hub here.

VIC: PHARMACISTS CAN RESUPPLY MENOPAUSAL HORMONE THERAPY

Eligible patients in Victoria can now access a one-month resupply of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) from participating pharmacists under the expanded Chemist Care Now program. Read the update and RACGP’s take here.

REMINDERS FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEKS

MBS NOVEMBER UPDATES

Several changes to MBS general medical services will take effect from 1 November 2026: 

  • CCM: Four new phone attendance items for chronic condition management (CCM). The new items (92033, 92034, 92063 and 92064) will allow GPs and prescribed medical practitioners to prepare or review a CCM plan by phone where the relevant requirements are met.
  • Medicare Healthy Kids Check: GPs can provide the new Medicare Healthy Kids Check for 3-year-old children using the existing time-tiered health assessment items 701–707. The check aims to support early identification of developmental delay and/or neurodevelopmental differences and help connect children with appropriate support or further assessment.
  • Other changes:
    • Enabling immunomodulating treatment item 14245 to be provided by a qualified health practitioner on behalf of the prescribing medical practitioner
    • Expanding ambulatory blood pressure monitoring item 11607 to include child and adolescent blood pressure measurements and thresholds
    • Amending item 18360 to provide treating clinicians access to a third pharmaceutical option (Xeomin) to treat patients with moderate and severe focal spasticity caused by a neurological disorder;
    • Enabling services provided under item 45518 to be performed outside of a hospital setting;
    • Expanding the definitions of the terms “eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker” and “health professional” in relation to services to which item 73813 applies for detection of infection with chlamydia trachomatis, neisseria gonorrhoeae or trichomonas vaginalis; and see the full list here.

Find out all of the November MBS changes here, including the detailed information about the Medicare Healthy Kids Check.

GP INCENTIVE: MENTAL HEALTH CARE

GPs providing ongoing mental health care to eligible veterans can now claim the new Veteran Mental Health Incentive through DVA Webclaim in HPOS. The $99.30 incentive (Item No. VC65) can be claimed up to four times a year when the relevant requirements are met.

No additional training is required to claim the incentive, although the DVA encourages GPs to complete the Veterans’ Health eLearning Platform (VETs HeLP) training within MedCast.

See the DVA guidance here for eligibility, claiming requirements and co-claiming rules.

DILTIAZEM 360mg CAPSULES TO BE DISCONTINUED

Both brands of diltiazem 360 mg controlled-release capsules are being discontinued in Australia due to manufacturing issues:

  • Cardizem CD 360 mg: Already unavailable
  • Vasocardol CD 360 mg: No longer supplied from 1 November 2026

A Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument (SSSI) will allow pharmacists to dispense diltiazem 180 mg controlled-release capsules in place of the 360 mg strength without a new prescription from 1 October 2026 to 1 October 2027. GPs should consider discussing ongoing treatment options with affected patients.

Read the TGA update here to see more details for prescribers, patients, and pharmacists.

RACGP RESOURCES

TO LOOK OUT FOR:

  • National Medicines Record: Patients, Prescribers, and Pharmacists will have access to a full record of a patient’s medicines under the new Australian Government reforms. As part of the changes, all medicines from online prescribers—along with the clinical context behind them—will be recorded in My Health Record to improve safety by reducing medication errors or inappropriate use. The reforms also include the creation of a National Medicines Record, built using existing digital health systems such as electronic prescribing, the Active Script List and My Health Record, to give healthcare providers accurate and up-to-date information. The 1800Medicare app will also continue to be upgraded, with a public consultation currently underway, and the first phase expected to be completed by December 2026. Learn more about the new medicine record updates here.

3GA/GP TRAINING PROGRAM UPDATES

ACRRM – 

  • Fellowship Training (IP & AGPT):
    • 2027 Semester 2 – Intake 2 applications are open until 26 October 2026.

RACGP – 

  • 2027.1 FSP application period closed last 23 June 2026.

RVTS – 

  • 2027.1 RVTS applications closed last 6 September 2026 for training to commence in January 2027.

EXAM UPDATES

AMC MCQ Exam Dates and Venues – 

AMC MCQ exams scheduled until October 2027 are now available. Kindly check this link for the dates and venues: https://www.amc.org.au/pathways/standard-pathway/amc-assessments/mcq-examination/mcq-examination-events/

Please note AMC will slightly raise the pass mark for the Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) exam. Results will still be reported on a 0–500 scale, with the pass mark shown as 250, but this will reflect the new, higher standard. 

To prepare for the AMC MCQ exam, you can check out the free MCQ preparation App with 210 practice questions, including feedback for all candidates scheduling into an MCQ exam. Find out more details in their news article here.

AMC Clinical Exam Dates and Venues – 

AMC Clinical In-person Examination places will be released in November 2026 for 2027 examination dates.

Reminder: you will only need to pass 9 out of 14 stations instead of 10!

See here: https://www.amc.org.au/pathways/standard-pathway/amc-assessments/clinical-examination/ 

ACRRM – 

  • Be prepared to sit your virtual ACRRM-PESCI within 2-3 months after sending your application, for its availability is dependent on demand.
  • ACRRM Rural Generalist Assessments
    • Projects, CBD and MSF Assessments Enrolments can be registered throughout the year.

IME – 

  • In-Person or Virtual PESCIs are available and can be applied online.

RACGP – 

  • Virtual PESCIs are available and can be applied online.

OET – 

  • Incoming OET on Paper test dates for registration are 21 Nov 2026, 05 Dec 2026, 19 Dec 2026, and more for 2026.
  • Incoming OET on Computer test dates for registration are on 26 Oct 2026 – 31 Oct 2026 and 02 Nov 2026 – 07 Nov 2026.

There are more available test dates for the Occupational English Tests. You may check and schedule yours here: https://oet.com/test/book-a-test

GENERAL UPDATES

AHPRA Pathway to Registration Self-Assessment Tool for IMGs

If you’re confused about which pathway to take as an IMG, AHPRA has created a Self-Assessment Tool to help you see which options are available for you based on your qualifications. See the Self-Assessment Tool here.

DPA or DWS classification – 

Kindly check the Health Workforce Locator for the latest DPA and MMM status of locations that you are interested in.

You may access the link here: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/health-workforce-locator/app

AMC – 

Apart from the various colleges accredited by AMC as CPD homes, DoctorPortal Learning also obtained initial accreditation as a CPD home. You may check their link here: https://www.dplearning.com.au/

MEDICARE –

  • MyMedicare Accreditation Exemption Extension: The exemption from the MyMedicare accreditation requirements has been extended to 31 December 2026. A general practice currently doesn’t need to be accredited against the RACGP Standards for general practices, 5th edition, to join MyMedicare due to the exemption. Read more about the RACGP news here and MyMedicare here.

GRANTS

  • General Practice in Aged Care Incentive: helps elderly individuals in aged care homes receive quality medical care from their usual GPs by giving incentives to GPs. General Practice in Aged Care Incentive program guidelines is live and you can read more about it here.

The Rural Workforce Agencies (RWAs) may have scholarships or grants available, like the Health Workforce Scholarship Program which is for health professionals providing primary care services in MM3-7 locations, to complete a postgraduate course or for professional development and upskilling. This would also depend on your state below:

The Local Primary Health Network (PHNs) may also have grants available for you. You can check your local PHN in the map locator, or see their contact details.

We have listed the ongoing grants below. You may also check the PHN Grants Guidelines for further reference or RACGP: General practice grants and commissioning per state.

  • Western Victoria Primary Health Network (PHN)

OTHER IMPORTANT DATES AND NOTES on 4th Quarter of 2026

DID WE MISS SOMETHING IMPORTANT?

We’re here to help. If there is something we’re missing, please let us know! Our team are available at help@peoplemedical.com.au 

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? 

Our team offers General Practitioners assistance with finding jobs and a career pathway, and Medical Facilities to find a new Medical Practitioner. We also help with the full application process with AHPRA, RACGP, ACRRM, Department of Health, Medicare including 19AA & 19AB. If we can help, please contact us at help@peoplemedical.com.au. 

People Medical Consulting are a team of professionals with a passion for guiding those specialising in the Medical industry to find their career pathway and settle into Australia. Working with both Australian trained and Overseas trained professionals, we have extensive experience in Recruitment of General Practitioners and Document Assistance for those requiring support with RACGP, AHPRA, 19AA and 19AB Medicare Exemptions.

Categories: AHPRA, Exams (AMC & Fellowship), Fellowship, Medicare, PESCI

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