Civilian requirement

Australian Defence Force (ADF) GP Registrars can undertake General Practice training in civilian posts, full ADF posts and/or composite ADF posts. 

• Full ADF posts are defined as those having been accredited by the RACGP for GP training without requiring any simultaneous cilivian time.
• Composite ADF posts are defined as those having been accredited by the RACGP for GP training where release must occur to a civilian General Practice for a  minimum of three sessions per week.  

ADF GP Registrars are required to do a minimum six month (full time equivalent) general practice in a civilian setting.  Three of these six months must be completed before any full or composite ADF GP placements can be approved to count towards training.  This minimum requirement of training in civilian General Practice can occur as either:

• a three month (full time equivalent) term in civilian general practice and a further three month (full time equivalent) term in civilian General Practice or
• a three month (full time equivalent) term in civilian general practice plus a further six months (full time equivalent) in a composite post.  This six months in a composite post may be completed as one term or accrued overtime. 

When an ADF doctor joins the AGPT program with CSQTC in their first post-intern year (PGY2), the following guidelines should be taken into consideration:

• ADF GP Registrars are encouraged to achieve a full-time three month rotation out of the Hospital in order to undertake a civilian general practice term, during their first post-intern Hospital year (preferably not as a PGPPP rotation). CSQTC can assist the GP Registrar in facilitating this rotation.
• ADF GP Registrars are encouraged to complete some or all of their civilian placements in a rural location, where possible. Undertaking GP training in rural practice is recommended in order to prepare ADF GP Registrars for the type of medicine they will practise in the military setting.
• When an ADF GP Registrar is released from the post-intern hospital year of training for a three month (full time equivalent) term in civilian general practice, this  reduces the Hospital training year to nine months (full time equivalent).  ADF GP Registrars will meet their requirements for successful completion of the AGPT program by making up this three months (full time equivalent) in approved Hospital training posts at any time over the remainder of their active training time and/or in approved general practice training posts at the end of their active training time
• ADF GP Registrars are encouraged to negotiate full time release from the ADF in the first three months of their second year in the AGPT program (their first active service year with the ADF).  This time correlates well with the time available before ADF-Army commitments begin with Officer Training and other ADF-Army courses.  ADF-RAAF and Navy are encouraged to allow the same although it is recognised that the timetable for Officer training and other courses is varied
  
• Where possible, ADF GP Registrars should attempt to arrange their GP Term release from the Hospital for the last three month period of their Hospital year followed by the first three month period of their first active year of ADF service.  This allows for a continuous six month period of simultaneous completion of the general practice experience and the compulsory six month (full time equivalent) civilian requirement.  

When an ADF doctor joins the AGPT program with CSQTC after PGY2 (ie. after they have commenced active ADF service, the approach to how they complete their civilian requirement will be different. Where possible, GP Registrars in this category should attempt to gain full-time civilian GP release from the ADF.  If doctors in this category have completed a PGPPP rotation prior to joining AGPT, it is possible that this may be approved to count towards their civilian GP requirement, however the PGPPP rotation may not necessarily be approved for RPL.  Doctors in this category should discuss their situation with CSQTC.

CSQTC understands that all available ADF posts in Queensland are currently fully accredited by the RACGP.  CSQTC will therefore not require ADF GP Registrars to complete a minimum of three sessions (10 hours) per week using a composite post approach or to undertake other approved clinical experience outside of the existing six months civilian and six months rural requirements.

ADF GP Registrars undertaking fully accredited ADF general practice posts, who have an outstanding civilian requirement may still undertake time in civilian general practice to accrue part of the six months (full time equivalent) civilian general practice requirement.  When this occurs, there is no minimum session requirement for this civilian time (ie. an ADF GP Registrar may work only one session per week in the civilian general practice).

CSQTC’s rationale for this is based on the understanding that this situation is equivalent to that of any GP Registrar working concurrently in two General practice placements. In this situation, only one of the placements has to meet the part-time training requirements. That is, be worked at minimum of three sessions per week where two of these sessions must occur in normal working hours (see the handbook, “Australian General Practice Training – Guide for GP Registrars”). If the fully accredited ADF General Practice post meets this requirement, then the civilian general practice placement may be worked at the minimum of one session per week