JCU’s GP training organisation has closed its doors (again).
The regional training organisation headquartered at James Cook University has officially transitioned its final 200 GP registrars this week, making it the final RTO to have done so.
Around 140 JCU registrars had already made the jump to college-led training in May, when ACRRM transitioned its registrars.
“I thank JCU for continuing their close relationship with ACRRM to ensure a well-organised handover with no disruption to registrars, supervisors and training posts participating in our rural and remote focused fellowship program,” ACRRM president Dr Dan Halliday said at the time.
This left the final 200 registrars, who were with the RACGP.
Around 38 JCU GP training staff members have been rehired by either the RACGP or the ACRRM-RACGP joint venture which supports cultural education for GPs.
RACGP GPs-in-Training faculty chair Dr Rebecca Loveridge said the changes on the registrars’ end will be minimal.
“Maintaining the GP training relationships and domain knowledge James Cook University built in the Far North Queensland region has been a major priority,” she said.
“For many of our new registrar colleagues, little will change beyond a login and access to RACGP resources.”
This marks the formal end of the country’s last RTO.
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While the WA and SA organisations technically still do exist, neither have offered GP training since February 2023.
JCU had initially been subcontracted by both GP colleges to continue to deliver training but announced it would be wrapping up just one year into the arrangement, citing funding concerns.
Over its eight years of operation, the JCU team trained more than 900 GP and rural generalist fellows.
In one final update on its website, the JCU training team wished its registrars the best and said it was eager to continue to support its former supervisors and placement sites.
“Our biggest thanks go to our medical educators and administrative staff over the eight years,” it said.
“The passion and dedication demonstrated in supporting registrars to fellowship has been beyond expectations.
“It has been a privilege to have such a great team of inspiring people.”
