For mothers and families in regional, rural, and remote Australia, accessing local birthing services can be stressful. With many rural maternity services in crisisand workforce shortages impacting service delivery on the ground,expectant mothers and families are often forced to travel hundreds of kilometres to access essential care. To prevent rural and remote communities from falling further behind, strategies that address both workforce recruitment and retention are urgently needed.
The General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program (GPPTSP) is one such strategy, designed to strengthen maternity services for women living in these areas. General practitioners (GPs) play a critical role in Australia’s vast regions. In smaller communities, they often provide a broader scope of services than their metropolitan counterparts. However, financial and logistical barriers can make the additional training required to expand scope unattainable for some clinicians.
To gain qualifications such as the TV Associate (Advanced Procedural) credential in obstetrics, GPs must take time away from their regular practice, often temporarily relocate, and accept a GP registrar’s reduced income whilst training. For those with mortgages, families, or other financial responsibilities, this pathway is simply not always feasible.
Funded by the Australian Government, GPPTSP provides eligible GPs or rural generalists with grants of up to $40,000 per year for two years to support training in obstetrics or anaesthetics. We spoke to three former participants, Dr Claire Walter, Dr Lillian Barrymore, and Dr Madeleine Brenner to better understand how GPPTSP is helping to build GP obstetric workforce capacity.
Dr Claire Walter
Dr Lillian Barrymore
Dr Madeleine Brenner
In what ways did the GPPTSP grant assist you in undertaking the RANZCOG Associate (Advanced Procedural) (APTP) certification?
Claire: I had a fantastic year of training at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane. The General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program assisted with relocation from my home in rural Stanthorpe to Brisbane, as well as supporting training and childcare costs, essential to my ability to complete the program.
Lillian: The GPPTSP offered a crucial financial incentive to pursue further training in obstetrics. Without this support, clinicians often face a significant financial burden which can be difficult to manage. To access the RANZCOG Associate (Advanced Procedural) Training Program, I relocated 700 km from home, and the grant was essential in helping cover both the move and the costs associated with completing my training.
Madeleine: Moving from a tertiary hospital with a state-employee salary to working as a GP registrar while also undertaking obstetrics training came with significant financial pressures. I was managing a heavy clinical workload without the guaranteed income I’d previously had in a tertiary setting. Once I became a GP Fellow, the GPPTSP grant made up for this as it allowed me to focus primarily on building my obstetric skills and experience without worrying as much about billing or income.
The funding also meant I could take time away from clinic consulting to attend upskilling opportunities. These days were supernumerary and unpaid, but they were crucial in consolidating my knowledge and gaining the practical experience needed to complete the RANZCOG APTP. In addition, the grant supported my attendance at key workshops, such as the Basic Obstetric Skills Workshop and the OASI course, which were held interstate. Without GPPTSP, accessing this level of training and experience would have been extremely difficult.
In your opinion, how has obtaining the APTP credential impacted workforce shortages and access to maternity services in your community?
Claire: I now have dual training in anaesthetics and obstetrics, which has enabled for more flexibility in our medical roster. I’m able to support multiple areas of care, which is particularly important in a rural setting with a limited workforce. It has also helped future-proof our service as several clinicians approach retirement over the coming years.
I also was fortunate to forge lifelong connections with supervisors, consultants and registrar peers at the Mater who have continued to support me even after completing training and moving home. The relationships I’ve built have strengthened access and I have even called upon Mater consultants for help via the flying obstetric, and gynaecology service. I’m grateful to have expanded my network and can access advice and support when needed which is so important in reducing isolation and retaining the rural workforce.
Lillian: We are experiencing significant workforce shortages in my community which have evolved over the last few years. Five years ago, we had six GP obstetricians (GPOs) on the obstetric roster, but as of 2025 there are only two local GPOs regularly on the obstetric roster with one available for on call assistance – the remainder of the roster is covered by locums.
It wouldn’t have been feasible for me to continue working in obstetrics with only basic Associate Procedural skills, given the limited number of colleagues able to provide surgical support. Completing Associate (Advanced Procedural) training has strengthened local maternity services by increasing access to care and ensuring there is an additional obstetrician with procedural capability available in emergencies – something I believe is essential to the long-term sustainability of the service.
The APTP has also improved patients’ access to additional choice when seeking antenatal care providers.
Madeleine: Obtaining the APTP credential has taken a load off our existing workforce, as I’m now able to participate on our on-call roster unsupervised. My colleagues have had to carry a significant on-call load while I’ve completed the APTP. I feel proud and grateful that I can now repay the favour in a way and allow them some reprieve from our busy obstetric roster.
Now that you have completed the APTP, how do you plan to use your skills?
Claire: I will continue providing safe, supportive and non-judgemental women’s health services in our community, caring for our local women during their pregnancy, birth and postnatal period. It has been an enjoyable time of learning for me, and has added value to my skills, insights into the healthcare system and how best I can improve access and improve health inequities in rural Australia.
Lillian: I plan to continue to offer antenatal and obstetric services in rural towns throughout the remainder of my career. In addition, I hope to be able to undertake upskilling with our visiting gynaecology consultants to offer more gynaecology procedures for women locally.
Madeleine: I plan to continue working at Murray Bridge as a rural generalist obstetrician. I have developed a great love of our community and feel strongly about continuing our maternity service here for years to come. I also look forward to participating in the supervision and teaching of registrars as they pass through our town during their training and think it a great privilege to be able to share such knowledge and skills with others.
Applications for the 2026 round of grants through the General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program are currently open.
The GPPTSP is open to rural and remote GP Fellows, including those already undertaking the APTP. Check your eligibility and submit an online application by Friday 31 July 2026.
