Overview

From 1 January 2026, ACRRM registrars training under the Rural Generalist Training Scheme (RGTS) will be transitioned to the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) funded pathway of the ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program. 

ACRRM has been able to demonstrate the need and appetite for additional funded RG training positions through RGTS over the years, and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) is supportive of bringing these positions across to AGPT in order to simplify the delivery of training. 

Unifying the funding pathways enables ACRRM to offer a training program with clarity, simplicity and funding equity for registrars, training posts and supervisors. 

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What's changing?

Registrars

Day-to-day training for registrars will remain the same once they have been transitioned to AGPT. Education delivery, training requirements, placements process and assessments will remain the same.

The consolidation will streamline training delivery and registrars will move to access financial support and incentives through the ACRRM Flexible Funds program in line with the Nationally Consistent Payments (NCP) framework. 

 

Supervisors and training posts

Find out what this change means for supervisors and training posts with RGTS registrars.

Be prepared for the consolidation

This consolidation will come into effect from 1 January 2026 for all registrars enrolled on the RGTS. 

Registrars are required to complete the following steps to ensure they are compliant and ready to continue their training under the AGPT funded pathway. 

Registrars will be supported through the consolidation process by their training program advisor and are encouraged to make regular contact.

  • Step 1
    Register for a PRODA account and add your bank details
    30 October 2025

Provider Digital Access (PRODA) is an online identity verification system that enables you to securely access government online services. 

You'll need to make a PRODA account and follow the instructions to add your bank details.

  • Step 2
    Supply ACRRM with your bank details
    30 October 2025

You’ll need to login to MyCollege and enter or update your bank details to ensure we can pay your incentives as part of the Flexible Funds program.

  • Step 3
    Update MyACRRM with your Medicare provider stem ID number
    25 November 2025

This is the first fix numerals of your Services Australia (Medicare) provider number. Your stem identifies you for payment. Login to MyACRRM and record your stem number.

 

  • Step 4
    Apply for a new Medicare Provider Number (MPN)
    25 November 2025

Request the Medicare Provider Number (MPN) application form from your training program advisor. Complete and return the form to your training program advisor. 

  • Step 5
    Confirm your training placement as per the placement process
    25 November 2025

Participate in the placement process as facilitated by the training engagement team. 

If you have secured a placement for Semester 1, 2026 please complete the placement confirmation form and return to your training program advisor as soon as possible. 

  • Step 6
    Notify your indemnity insurer
    31 December 2025

Registrars will be required to notify their indemnity insurance provider that they are now training under the AGPT funding pathway with ACRRM from Semester 1, 2026. 

  • Step 7
    Learn about your funding eligibility through Flexible Funds
    Ongoing

Read through ACRRM's Flexible Funds guidelines and the NCP framework to learn about the financial supports and incentives available to registrars training under the AGPT funded pathway. Download the ACRRM Flexible Funds Application Form and contact your training program advisor if you have questions.  

Practical scenarios

We know every registrar’s situation is different, and the transition may raise questions about how it applies to you. To make things clearer, we’ve outlined some common scenarios that show how payments, education, and provider numbers will work across the transition. These examples are designed to help you see what the changes mean in practice and what steps you may need to take.

Dr Smith commenced their AST placement in Semester 2, 2025 under the RGTS. They will continue in the same AST placement into Semester 1, 2026, after the program transitions to the consolidated ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program.

  • In Semester 2, 2025, Dr Smith received their registrar support payment as usual under RGTS.

  • When Semester 1, 2026 begins, their payments will shift to the National Consistent Payments (NCP) Framework with access to ACRRM Flexible Funds.

  • An assessment will be conducted to ensure Dr Smith is not disadvantaged. If there is a gap between what they received under RGTS and what they are entitled to under NCP, the balance will be paid to them in 2026.

Dr Smith would have been eligible to receive a payment of $9,250 per semester under RGTS (totaling $18,500 for the year). By transitioning to AGPT, Dr Smith would have a funding gap of $12,500.

Dr Smith will be eligible to submit an application through Flexible Funds for the gap of $12,500, to ensure they are not financially worse off under AGPT. 

Dr Lee began their training on the RGTS in Semester 2, 2025. As part of their program, they are required to attend the face-to-face education workshops.

  • In Semester 2, 2025, Dr Lee attends the Semester B workshop under the RGTS.
  • In Semester 1, 2026, now under the consolidated program, they attend the Semester A workshop.
  • Because Dr Lee is completing the workshops across the transition period, they are eligible for the $3,900 travel and accommodation subsidy.

This subsidy is designed to offset the costs of attending the required education sessions.

Dr Ho is an RGTS registrar with a placement that runs from Semester 2, 2025 into Semester 1, 2026. They want to know if they need a new Medicare Provider Number (MPN).

  • Because Dr Ho is continuing in the same placement in 2026, they must apply for a new MPN with a start date of 1 January 2026, showing they are now funded under AGPT.
  • If instead Dr Ho were starting a new placement in Semester 1, 2026, they would also need to apply for a new MPN to reflect the AGPT funded pathway.
  • For registrars who finish their placement in 2025, their existing MPN will remain valid until the end of Semester 2, 2025.

Medicare has advised that the peak application period is late November, so registrars like Dr Ho should apply early to avoid delays in 2026.

Dr James is an RGTS registrar planning to commence their Adult Internal Medicine AST at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA over 2026. Adelaide is identified as an MMM1 location.​

If Dr James were to remain on RGTS, they would not have been eligible to receive a payment for the year, as Adelaide is an MM1 location.​

When Dr James transitions to AGPT, they will be eligible for funding for this placement under Flexible Funds.

AGPT registrars commencing their AST are eligible to receive a payment of $6,000 to subsidise the costs associated with completing the AST. ​

By transitioning to AGPT, Dr James will be eligible to receive a payment of $6,000.

Dr Nguyen commenced their training under RGTS in early 2024 and has been training full-time since then. They have already received four training support payments (one each semester).

Through the transition of RGTS registrars to AGPT, ACRRM will acknowledge the payments already made to registrars. Dr Nguyen's payment history and their eligibility for future payments under the National Consistent Payments (NCP) framework will be reviewed by ACRRM to ensure that the appropriate payments are applied for Semester 1, 2026 onwards.

This means:

  • ACRRM will review Dr Nguyen's eligibility based on the four payments they have already received while under RGTS.
  • Dr Nguyen may be eligible for payments through Flexible Funds under the NCP framework, depending on their training location and circumstances.
  • Any future payments for Dr Nguyen will be calculated on a pro-rata basis in-line with the NCP framework



 

Resources

FAQs

This change will see the introduction of pro-rata payments for registrars training part-time in a particular Modified Monash (MM) location. Registrars training across multiple MM locations will receive payments for each training location based on the full time equivalent (FTE) of training completed in that location, instead of one combined payment.

Part–time registrars will receive payments based on their FTE, rather than a fixed standard amount.

Registrars who are training part-time (less than 38 hours per week and/or fewer than 26 full-time weeks in a semester), will receive pro-rata payments based on the number of hours worked, rather than a fixed standard amount.

If registrars are placed in multiple MM locations during a semester, the payments may be split across those placements. If a core training term extends over multiple semesters, payments will also be spread across those semesters.

The payment rates for FTE in each MM will remain the same. As per below:

  1. Payment for registrars training in MM 2: $1,800
  2. Payment for registrars training in MM 3-4: $3,425
  3. Payment for registrars training in MM 5: $4,810
  4. Payment for registrars training in MM 6-7: $9,250
Yes, ACRRM currently funds the course fees for REST and ALS2 for AGPT and RGTS registrars and this will continue after the consolidation.  
Read through the guidelines to confirm your eligibility. Download the application form and return the completed form to your training program advisor.  

ACRRM has sought guidance from the Department (DoHDA) to determine if RGTS registrars will be able to continue on the AGPT funded pathway under contractor arrangements. 

If you are currently employed as a contractor, your training program advisor will contact you with next steps once further information is available from the Department.  

Indemnity insurers assess risk partly based on the registrar’s employment status, funding source, and the nature of their medical practice. A change in these factors could alter the terms of cover or premium.

Indemnity policies often require members to disclose changes in circumstances that could affect liability or risk exposure. If a registrar fails to notify their insurer, it could jeopardise their coverage in the event of a claim. 

Yes, you will still have the same allowances for flexibility to move locations. ACRRM runs one national Fellowship program irrespective of training pathway and region.