RACGP's February 2026 communique
Published on January 30, 2026
RACGP communique for February 2026: for more information visit racgp.org.au
Supervision and registrar training requirements
We've developed a summary of supervision requirements, registrar training activities, timelines and helpful resources for 2026.1, with specific requirements outlined for each GP training stage.
Evidence in practice
Registrar exposure to older patients – does it vary between practices?
Registrars are known to see fewer older patients than experienced GPs. If opportunities for registrars to see older patients are further limited in some training practices, this could affect how well they develop skills in managing complex, age-related health needs.
Using data from the Registrar Clinical Encounters in Training (ReCEnT) study, we compared the proportion of registrar consultations with older patients (aged 65 years and over) across practices. The study collected data from 978 practices and 4643 registrars between 2010–23.
We found that when a registrar moved to a practice with more older patients, they saw approximately twice as many older patients than before. Conversely, if they moved to a practice with fewer older patients, they saw approximately half as many as before.
These findings suggest that registrar exposure to older patients is largely driven by the practice. As such, strategies to improve registrar engagement with older patients should be targeted at the practice level. For example, practices could include registrars in nursing home visits and facilitate opportunities for them to jointly manage older patient care with their supervisors.
Read the full study: Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
AGPT Training Site and Supervisor Handbook v16 now available
The AGPT Training Site and Supervisor Handbook (previously known as the AGPT Practice and Supervisor Handbook) has been updated and is now in effect.
Key updates include:
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New section on the registrar’s consulting room and provision of equipment (under ‘Your role in hosting a registrar’)
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Information on ADF registrar placements and contractual arrangements (under ‘Your role in hosting a registrar’)
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ReCEnT report discussion added to the list of other teaching activities (under ‘In-practice teaching’)
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Updated ‘Work health and safety’ information, including links to the GP Training Safety and Wellbeing Policy and RACGP Wellbeing Hub (under ‘Work health and safety and adverse events’)
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Clarified supervision requirements and supervisor-to-registrar ratios (under ‘Supervision
requirements’) -
New sections on training program contacts, Who’s who in training, and dual college accreditation
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Updated designated supervisor requirements and assessment processes (under ‘Contribute to assessment’)
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Links to orientation checklists and the practice manager’s preparation checklist (under ‘Orientation’)
View the AGPT Training Site and Supervisor Handbook and the policy update notice for details on all changes.
Questions? Email [email protected].
Supervisor resources available via the RACGP training management system
Important documents for supervisors are now available on the AGPT supervisor resources page in the ‘Forms, Documents & Links’ section of the training management system (TMS). Bookmark this page to easily access templates throughout the semester, including assessment guides, teaching plans and orientation checklists.