General practice hospital training pathway (GPHTP)

GP-suitable rotations are those that have been identified by the RACGP or ACRRM as meeting mandatory training requirements and/or providing relevant and useful experience for GP training. Completion at RMO level of a combination of highly recommended, preferred and other GP-suitable rotations will support current and intended GP Trainees to prepare for the next stage of their GP training. 

GP-suitable rotations for 2026 can be found in Appendix A of the 2026 Framework located on the website.

Please note: The ACRRM and RACGP consider that all GP Trainees can benefit from additional exposure to the highly recommended generalist rotations. While these may have been completed in internship, this is not considered optimal for the purpose of this program. Completion of these rotations at RMO level provides for greater development of clinical expertise and independence in decision making. 

The Community Residency Program (CRP) can provide RMOs with GP intent with valuable exposure to a community placement. The CRP application process is separate from the GPHTP. To access CRP terms, participant must submit an EOI through the metro CRP (Silver Chain) or rural CRP application process.

The rotational matrix is the suite of GP-suitable rotations made available to the program by each participating EHS for allocation to GPHTP participants. It can be found in Appendix B of the GPHTP Framework on the website 

The rotations offered by EHSs will vary depending upon operational structure and training capacity. Not all rotations are available at all sites.

Some specialty rotations not included in the rotational matrix may be useful for GP Trainees with rural or remote primary care, Rural Generalist (RG) and/or Aboriginal health intent. These include ENT, vascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, renal medicine, endocrinology, rheumatology, and sexual health medicine. These can be preferenced to EHS MW Teams via standard EHS preferencing processes and may be allocated on a case-by-case basis if training capacity allows. 

Each GP Trainee confirmed to the GPHTP before October, except for those employed solely at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) and King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH), will have a Rotation Guide developed in collaboration with their GP College. 

The Rotation Guide will provide high level recommendations to their EHS on:

• priority rotations for allocation - outstanding highly recommended rotations not completed previously at RMO level will always be suggested for allocation.
• rotations that should not be allocated, if possible, as the GP Trainee appears to have had sufficient previous clinical exposure.

Rotation guides are drafted in collaboration with the RACGP/ACRRM during onboarding processes using information provided by the applicant during in their EOI, such as specialty rotations previously completed, preferences, and rural or remote GP, RG and/or Aboriginal health intent. 

EHSs will be advised of their GPHTP applicants by mid-October 2025, so that they can begin allocating them to GP-suitable rotations using standard EHS allocation processes. Some EHSs will allocate to a defined line of their rotational matrix, while others will allocate more flexibly to GP-suitable matrix rotations.

Variables such as cohort, experience, training pathway and training intent will influence the rotations that a participant will be allocated by their EHS. 

During October and November 2025, EHS MW Teams will allocate:

• GP Trainees as a priority to a combination of highly recommended, preferred and other GP-suitable matrix rotations with reference to their Rotation Guide.
• RMOs with GP intent to unfilled matrix rotations, considering any preferences they have provided to their MW Team as part of standard EHS processes.

New GP Trainees (2026 Cohort) - PGY2 in 2026

GP Trainees in PGY2 in 2026 can expect to be allocated to available highly recommended rotations as a priority, and a variety of other/preferred rotations factoring in their preferences, where possible.

This group will be encouraged to maximise their opportunity to complete a broad range of GP-suitable rotations by returning to the GPHTP in 2027.

New GP Trainees (2026 Cohort) - PGY3+ in 2026

GP Trainees entering the program in PGY3 or higher can expect to be allocated to available highly recommended rotations not previously completed at RMO level, and a variety of other/preferred rotations factoring in their preferences, where possible. 

Returning GP Trainees (previous cohorts)

GP Trainees approved by the RACGP/ACRRM to return for another year on the program can expect to be allocated to outstanding available highly recommended rotations as a priority, and variety of other/preferred rotations factoring in their preferences, where possible. 

For returning GP Trainees successful in obtaining a service registrar level position in 2026, EHSs will be asked to provide GP-suitable rotations, in accordance with their preferences, where possible.

RMOs with GP intent

RMOs with GP intent will be allocated second to any unfilled GP-suitable rotations for 2026, factoring in any preferences they have provided to their EHS MW Team as part of standard RMO preferencing processes.

Please note that the priority for allocation to high demand rotations will be GP Trainees. 

In general, all GPHTP participants can expect to:

• receive some rotations at non-tertiary sites, as general hospitals provide excellent GP-suitable training opportunities and greater access to high demand rotations, including paediatrics, and obstetrics and gynaecology.
• be allocated to some highly recommended rotations, even if completed previously at RMO level. Repeat exposure to these rotations has been identified by ACRRM/RACGP as benefitting all GP Trainees.
• experience working after hours, being on call and providing cover at night. These are important in preparing GP Trainees for the level of autonomy they will experience in a community GP placement. EHSs should only allocate one leave relief or after-hours term per year.
• participate in leave relief, as per EHSs’ usual rostering requirements for junior doctors; however, they should only receive a maximum of one rotation of leave relief per year.

After the new employment year/training year commences, GPHTP participants are expected to fulfil their employment and training obligations, in accordance with their Trainee Declaration, if applicable. 

Employment and training issues should be raised with their EHS MW team and GP College, respectively.

Monitoring is undertaken by OCMO to ensure that the rotations allocated are GP-suitable and the GP Pathway continues to meet GP Trainees’ training needs.

The GPHTP is available to eligible junior doctors who:

• will have applied, or plan to apply, for the AGPT
• will hold a Resident Medical Officer (RMO) contract for 2026 at one of the following participating EHS:
  • Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group
  • North Metropolitan Health Service
    • Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group
    • King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH)
  • Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH)
  • Royal Perth Bentley Group
  • WA Country Health Service
  • Private providers
    • Ramsay Health Care (RHC) Joondalup Health Campus
    • RHC Hollywood Private Hospital (New in 2026)
    • St John of God Midland (SJG) Midland
    • SJG Subiaco (New in 2026)
    • SJG Murdoch (New in 2026)

Newly enrolled GP trainees are eligible if they:

✅ have secured an RMO employment contract for a minimum of 12 months at one or more participating EHSs (can include split contracts)

✅ will be completing a full hospital training year (12 months). For RACGP trainees, this can include six months of extended skills with the approval of the College.

✅ are willing to sign a Trainee Declaration.

While GP trainees must hold a RMO contract to commence the program, they can ‘step up’ into a service medical registrar or similar if they are 1. offered the opportunity to do so by their EHS; and 2. approved to do so by their College.

GP trainees who joined the GPHTP in a previous year are eligible to return for an additional 6-12 months (maximum of 52 weeks FTE) if:

✅ their GP College has approved their continuation on the GPHTP

✅ will have secured a minimum 6-month RMO employment contract at one or more participating EHSs. Note: 

• can include split contracts
• can include six months in extended skills (RACGP trainees only) 
• returning GP trainees can ‘step up’ to service registrar employment in their second year, if offered a position and approved by their College.
• if employed at a specialty hospital in the first year, a GP trainee is not eligible to return if they plan to stay at the same hospital.

✅ their employment contract matches their GP training intentions, i.e. if a GP trainee is planning not to complete a full 12 months of training at their hospital of employment, they must negotiate a contract with a corresponding end date.

✅ will have adhered to their previous Trainee Declaration

RMOs with GP intent are eligible if they:

✅ have applied to the EOI process 

✅ have secured an employment contract as an RMO for a minimum 12 months at one or more participating EHSs (can include split contracts) 

✅ plan to apply for the AGPT within the next 18 months

✅ have been allocated to GP-suitable rotations by their EHS.

Please note: 

• The total number of RMOs with GP intent selected to the program is dependent upon the training capacity at each EHS.
• Selection outcomes will not be known until allocations have been assessed by OCMO.
• RMOs with GP intent identified later as having enrolled in the AGPT will be reclassified as GP trainees. A Trainee Declaration will only be required if they return in 2027.

GPHTP participants can be in either full time training/employment or part time training/employment.

Any GP Trainee who takes parental leave or is part-time in their first year on the program will be classified as a Returning GP Trainee the following year, even if still completing their first year of AGPT training.

The EOI process for 2026 opens 7 July 2025 for both RMOs with GP Intent and GP Trainees. Details will be available on the MedCareersWA. Sign up for job alerts to receive notifications.

This process is facilitated by OCMO and includes simple questions that will support an eligibility assessment. No CV is required.

Junior doctors participating in the RMO centralised recruitment process for 2026 should identify ‘General Practice’ in the training/career intention section of MedCareersWA. This will enable OCMO to provide updates on the EOI process.

New GP Trainees will be requested to provide additional information about their training experience and preferences.

Returning GP Trainees planning to return to the program in 2026 should discuss their options with their College. GP Trainees currently on the GPHTP will be contacted in July 2025 regarding the EOI process.

All applicants will be screened for eligibility against the relevant eligibility criteria.

After the EOI closes in late July 2025, formal confirmation of selection to the GPHTP can take up to six months.

New GP Trainees will be advised of their eligibility and requested to confirm their place on the GPHTP by signing and returning a Trainee Declaration by the end of September 2025. 

RMOs with GP intent will be advised of their selection after OCMO has been confirmed that they have been allocated to GP-suitable rotations by their EHS. The date can vary by EHS. Some may not be advised until January 2026.

No, although there is a greater likelihood at some EHSs (refer to the rotational matrix in the Framework). 

Access to paediatric rotations is a systemwide challenge. Fortunately, GP Trainees with the RACGP can meet their GP paediatric training requirements via a paediatric specific term, or dilute paediatric term/s such as mixed Emergency Department (ED), or a hospital allocated general practice rotation. Mixed ED can provide preparation for a community GP placement that is as good as a paediatrics rotation and better than a sub-specialty rotation at a paediatric hospital. Some WACHS CRP terms also contribute to meeting paediatric training requirements.

EDs providing paediatric exposure include Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH), WACHS and non-tertiary hospitals. In a mixed ED term, GP trainees are required to complete a logbook demonstrating at least 100 paediatric patients were seen. This can be accumulated over more than 1 term.

The FSFHG matrix does not include paediatric terms; instead, they provide participants with sufficient mixed ED to meet paediatric GP training requirements. GP Trainees can still preference paediatrics as part of FSH’s preferencing processes and may receive a paediatrics term, but GPHTP participation is not a deciding factor. 

GP Trainees with the RACGP will be asked to share their previous training experience when submitting their EOI so their EHS can be advised of the terms required to achieve their paediatrics training requirements.

For GP Trainees, only GP-suitable preferences submitted in the EOI will be included in their Rotation Guide. 

While EHSs are asked to ‘do their best’ in accommodating GP Trainees’ preferences where possible, their priority will be to allocate those GP-suitable rotations assessed by the RACGP and ACRRM as being highly recommended. This may mean that some GP Trainees receive rotations that they ‘need’ rather than all of those that they ‘want’.

It is recommended that applicants not employed at KEMH and PCH review the list of GP-suitable rotations in Appendix A of the Framework before providing their preferences to their EHS MW Team via their standard processes for RMOs. Participants can preference rotations not included in their EHS’s matrix, but it is at the discretion of their EHS as to whether these are allocated. 

RMOs with GP intent provide their preferences to their EHS MW Team through their standard processes. EHSs will accommodate RMOs with GP intent to unfilled matrix rotations taking into consideration any preferences that they have provided, where training capacity allows.