The Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges has raised questions over how international specialists will be used to address workforce shortages.
AHPRA has welcomed more than 100 new GPs thanks to fast-track registration.
AHPRA has reported that the health minister-approved pathway has “streamlined registration processes and maintained high standards, allowing highly qualified medical specialists from similar health systems to be registered faster so they can start seeing Australian patients sooner”.
The pathway has enabled eligible foreign-qualified medical specialists from the UK, New Zealand and Ireland to apply directly to both the Medical Board of Australia and AHPRA, bypassing college assessment.
The regulator been reported that 10 to 15 applications have been received each week from specialist international medica graduates, with most still waiting on additional information from candidates.
“Our registration teams are prioritising applications for registration where practitioners are in Australia and ready to commence employment,” said AHPRA CEO, Justin Untersteiner.
All applicants are made to adhere to identical registration standards as Australian GPs and are supervised for six months by an Australia-registered specialist, before completing a health system orientation and cultural safety education.
However, the medical colleges have expressed concern about being left out of oversight of the bypassing element of the program.
The colleges have elaborated on how integrating international specialists via stronger college oversight is highly beneficial regarding upskilling and acclimation to the Australian healthcare environment.
“Colleges have improved their system of rapid assessment, so they are doing their own rapid assessment of their SIMGs,” said Associate Professor Sanjay Jeganathan, chair of the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges.
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“The biggest advantage you have in that process is those overseas trained doctors are always associated with the colleges for quality improvement, CPD and everything else.”
Rural allocation of GPs was a major concern during the election cycle and there are now concerns from the CPMC that the program will not address the critical shortage of specialists outside major cities.
“Our rural and regional communities deserve the same access to specialist care as our cities,” said Professor Jeganathan.
“We’re seeing real results from our colleges’ commitment to rural training.”
The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine has reported that 80% of its graduates are now practicing in rural areas while the RACGP has filled all their rural training positions for 2025.
Data from the RACGP has shown a 20% increase from last year regarding the registration of junior doctors undertaking rural specialist training.
“We’re building lasting change by training specialists who understand regional communities and are more likely to stay long-term,” said Professor Jeganathan.
“Experience from similar programs shows most SIMGs relocate to metropolitan areas within two years.
“Fast-tracking specialists without addressing fundamental distribution issues won’t solve rural healthcare challenges.
“The current pathway includes only six months of supervision by an Australian-registered specialist, orientation to Australia’s health system, and cultural safety education.
“Long-term integration and retention of these specialists requires ongoing college support beyond the initial six-month supervision period.
“Sustainable solutions require coordination between all levels of government, colleges, and healthcare services.”
