Myths abound about General Practice that just aren’t true. Here’s a reality check.

Myth 1
General Practice is all about coughs, colds and referrals.

True False

Fact
General Practice is anything you want it to be.
True False

Every day an amazing variety of presentations walk through a GP’s door, so life is never boring!

General Practice is also unique in its flexibility. In fact, it’s the one specialty you can shape into whatever you want to do with your life. Many general practitioners supplement their everyday work with sessions in specific areas of interest (for example, Sports Medicine, Obstetrics, Forensic Medicine, education and research…the list keeps growing!)

Myth 2
General Practice is a poor cousin to the other specialties.

True False

Fact
General Practice is the profession of choice for variety, flexibility and work-life balance.
True  False

In the hospital system, General Practice is often misrepresented as a fallback career for those who don’t make it into their preferred choice of specialty. Such misinformation is spread not maliciously but out of ignorance because hospital doctors traditionally have little exposure to General Practice.

But all this is changing. There is a new “try before you buy” scheme called the Prevocational General Practice Placements Program (PGPPP) that allows junior hospital doctors to experience life in a private General Practice.

Here they can discover the true variety, flexibility and intellectual challenge of General Practice. And the joys of working regular hours instead of the mind-numbing hours of hospital shifts.

Myth 3
Training to be a GP is too easy.

True False

Fact
GP Registrars must complete three to four years of on-the-job training, exams and assessments to qualify for vocational registration.

True  False

Since 1996, all new general practitioners must become vocationally registered. The introduction of formalised GP training has done much to recognise the need for structured postgraduate training in view of the complexities of primary care medicine. It has raised the competency of young GPs and promoted the status of General Practice as a specialty in its own right.

Today, as in all other specialties, there is a defined pathway into General Practice through the two General Practice Colleges – the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).

Myth 4
Life is tough as a GP.

True False

Fact
You can “get a life” as a GP with part-time training options, family-friendly hours, minimal weekend work and no on-call.

True  False

As in any profession, you take the good with the bad, but the joys and rewards of General Practice are many. Having the options to train and work part-time, with no overnight on-calls and minimal weekend work is a big plus that GPs enjoy. You dictate the hours you want to work, and even the most seductive perks of other specialties, like travelling and training in exotic locations, are all possible in General Practice.

Myth 5
You’ll never drive a Porsche as a GP.

True False

Fact
As a GP you can make around $200,000 a year, without sacrificing your lifestyle.

True False

You might be surprised to learn that earnings have improved for GPs in recent years. It’s possible to make up to $200,000 or more for working around 40 hours a week leaving time to have a life as well as a nice car.