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As I make a call to our local GP to get an appointment, I am anxious. To get a time slot the same day is rare, and it’s not possible to book in advance. This is the reality. Our local medical centre has been like this for the last few years.

I’m not alone with this concern, 6 in 10 Australians have this difficulty. However, new medical centres are opening up around the city – I’ll be first in line….

There are more graduate doctors coming out of local universities each year, and they are being encouraged to join general practices – where there are shortages, and work in communities where needed.

Doctors training to be GPs on the AGPT program train in general practice settings in rural and urban locations. This investment also provides funding so that trainees can choose to undertake training time in Aboriginal health services. Attractive incentives are offered to those who commit to rural or remote general practice locations.

The Government is also investing an extra $18.4 million in the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) for medical practitioners in remote and isolated communities throughout Australia.

This program helps remote communities retain access to their GP because training is structured to allow them to continue to provide general medical services to their communities while accessing distance education and supervision.

What the future holds, we wait to see……