Media Release: GPSA and GPRA release updated NTCER: New base rates and expanded pathway employment guidance for the GP sector

General Practice Supervision Australia (GPSA) and General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) are pleased to announce the release of the updated National Terms and Conditions for the Employment of Registrars (NTCER) for 2025–2026.

The 2025–2026 NTCER, developed through joint consultation with sector stakeholders, includes indexed base rate increases from 1 July 2025 and the formal inclusion of new schedules providing consistent guidance for registrars on pathways other than the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program.

As the independent national peaks for GP registrars and supervisors, GPSA and GPRA remain committed to providing national leadership to ensure fair and lawful employment conditions across all general practice training settings.

Key updates in the 2025–2026 NTCER include:

• MBS-indexed base rate increases: Following the announcement of a 2.4% Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) indexation, base rates for all AGPT registrars have been updated, effective from the first pay cycle after 1 July 2025.
• New schedules for non-AGPT training pathways: The NTCER now includes additional Schedules B–F, offering tailored guidance for registrars on alternative GP training pathways, including the Fellowship Support Program (FSP), ACRRM’s Independent Pathway (IP), Rural Generalist Training Scheme (RGTS), Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS), and registrars employed via secondment arrangements such as with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) or under Single Employer Model (SEM) pilots.

GPRA President Dr Chris Dickie said GPRA has welcomed working with GPSA and sector stakeholders over the past six months to develop the additional new schedules for other non-AGPT pathways.

“It is important that all GP registrars, regardless of what GP pathway they are training under, have access to national and consistent guidance for their employment conditions,” said Dr Dickie.

“Both GPRA and GPSA’s members asked for the NTCER to also extend guidance to GP training pathways other than the AGPT, and as the peak bodies who set and provide advice on the national employment standards and conditions for all GP registrars and practices/services, we are really happy to release the new updated NTCER.

“The NTCER is based on Australia’s national employment standards and ensures that employment practices for GP registrars are in line with contemporary relevant laws."

GPSA Chair Dr Srishti Dutta reiterated that both GPSA and GPRA remain committed to supporting their members across the pipeline of GP training, and this includes joint advocacy for equitable funding and conditions for all pathways of training.

“I hope that the inclusion of the extended pathways is an indication of this commitment and support for our members,” said Dr Dutta.

“Furthermore, I would add that enabling the highest contribution to the care of our communities from the sector will be achieved, when in addition to these NTCER changes, the trainees and supervisors in pathways like IP and FSP are supported with additional government investment as recognition of the value they deliver.”

The latest NTCER is designed for immediate use from 1 July 2025.

It has been carefully aligned with the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), Superannuation Guarantee legislation, and other relevant regulatory frameworks.

A copy of the NTCER for 2025-2026 is available here.