About us
Research and policy
GPSA’s research mission is to support quality GP training through evidence-based resources that in turn support member wellbeing and satisfaction by building workforce capacity and resilience.
Our research agenda is nimble and responsive to the priorities of our members and the GP training sector, enabling us to pivot our focus across evidence-based advocacy, policy, education and a broad range of resources as the environmental context changes.
Alongside our members, we also partner with universities, sector stakeholders and policy makers to expand our work in the GP / RG training space.
Research themes
GP training is complex and so are the needs, concerns, and priorities facing our members. To address these, GPSA has developed three strategic research themes designed to support the delivery of high-quality GP training, optimise wellbeing and satisfaction, and ensure the sustainability of the GP training community.
Click on the buttons for each for more details:
Research snapshot
GPSA research, highighting the barriers, enablers and innovations for high quality supervision in community general practice is regularly showcased at medical and academic conferences across Australia. As a snapshot of the calibre of our research, we invite you to view the three research papers GPSA Director of Research and Policy, A/Prof Samia Toukhsati, presented at the two biggest industry conferences in October 2023:
This paper focussed on the benefits of mutual sharing, or ‘reciprocal vulnerability’, on building trust in the GP supervisor-registrar alliance. These findings have significant implications for nurturing the GP supervisor-registrar relationship and improving learning outcomes in GP training; planning is underway to translate these findings into guidelines to help supervisors and registrars navigate this difficult space.
Brave enough to be vulnerable in GP Training
A fascinating paper on GP supervisors’ and GP registrars’ willingness to disclose areas of professional or personal uncertainty within the alliance. We found that if GP supervisors share their vulnerability – such as uncertainty – GP registrars will reciprocate.
Reveal or conceal – Self-disclosures build trust in the GP supervisor-registrar relationship
This paper focussed on the benefits of mutual sharing, or ‘reciprocal vulnerability’, on building trust in the GP supervisor-registrar alliance. These findings have significant implications for nurturing the GP supervisor-registrar relationship and improving learning outcomes in GP training; planning is underway to translate these findings into guidelines to help supervisors and registrars navigate this difficult space.
National Supervision Survey
GPSA 2024 National Supervision Survey Report | This report summarises the perspectives of GPSA members about their experiences in supervision along the training pipeline, their wellbeing over the past 12 months, and explores several special interest topics (ECTVs, Aged Care, and research capacity). | October 2024 | |
| GPSA 2023 National Supervision Survey Report | This report summarises the perspectives of GPSA members about their experiences in GP training, wellbeing over the past 12 months, and intentions for the future. | October 2023 | |
GPSA 2022 National Supervisor Survey Report | This report summarises the perspectives of GPSA members about their wellbeing and self-care experiences over the past 12 months. | July 2022 | |
GPSA 2021 National Supervisor Survey Report: The future of GP training | The 2021 GP Supervisors Australia (GPSA) Annual Survey revealed 70% of GP supervisor respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their Regional Training Organisation (RTO). | May 2021 | |
| GPSA 2018 National Supervisor Survey Report | This report summarises the perspectives of GPSA members about supervision experiences over the past 12 months. | June 2018 |
Manuscript Repository
Burnout and retention of general practice supervisors: prevalence, risk factors, and selfcare | This manuscript reports on burnout rates and selfcare practices in GP supervisors in Australia and their intentions to remain in GP supervision | December 2024 | |
Medical students and prevocational junior doctors on placement in general practice: perspectives of supervisors and practice teams | This paper was presented by Dr Simon Morgan at the Australia and New Zealand Prevocational Medical Education Forum, 11-14 Nov 2024, Darwin, Australia. It reports on the perspectives of supervisors and practice teams towards the supervision/hosting of medical students and junior doctors on clinical GP placements and their intentions to continue in the future. | November 2024 | |
Engaging rural generalists through excellent training environments | This workshop was presented by A/Prof Samia Toukhsati at the Rural Medicine Australia conference, 23-26 Oct 2024, Darwin, Australia. It explored the perceived benefits, barriers, and enablers of using the GP Clinical Learning Environment framework (GPCLE) tool as a means of supporting and showcasing excellent quality learning environments in rural training settings. | October 2024 | |
GP placements in rural, regional, and remote practices: perspectives of supervision teams | This poster was presented by A/Prof Samia Toukhsati at the Rural Medicine Australia conference, 23-26 Oct 2024, Darwin, Australia. It reports the perspectives of supervisors and practice teams involved in supervising/hosting medical students and junior doctors across rural, regional, and remote training practices and explore factors linked to intentions to continue in the future. | October 2024 | |
Measuring and improving quality in general practice training | This poster was presented by Dr Simon Morgan at WONCA Europe 25-28 2024, Dublin, Ireland. It reports on the translation of the GPCLE framework into a GPCLE quality improvement tool to support the achievement of high-quality learning environments in GP. | September 2024 | |
PQRST – a new tool for trainee-initiated case discussion in GP training | This paper was presented by Dr Simon Morgan at WONCA Europe 25-28 2024, Dublin, Ireland. It reports on the development, implementation and evaluation of the ‘problem-question-reasoning-solution-teaching’ (PQRST) model as a framework for ad hoc supervision and problem case discussion in Australian general practice training. | September 2024 | |
| ‘It’s the vibe’: quantifying ‘quality’ in the general practice clinical learning environment’, | This paper was presented by A/Prof Samia Toukhsati at the Australasian Association for Academic Primary Care 15-16 Aug 2024, Paramatta, New South Wales, Australia. It describes working with the GP sector to co-design the GPCLE tool, supported by funding from RACGP’s Education Research Grant program. | August 2024 | |
| ‘Fixing the leaky general practice training pipeline: identifying placement barriers and enablers’ | This paper was presented by A/Prof Samia Toukhsati at the Australasian Association for Academic Primary Care 15-16 Aug 2024, Paramatta, New South Wales, Australia. It reports on attitudes, expectations, and intentions of GP supervisors and practice teams to supervise/host medical students and junior doctors in GP training placements. | August 2024 | |
Overcoming isolation: building a global community of practice through SCENARIO Ed | This paper was presented by Carla Taylor at the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) 1-4 July 2024, Adelaide, Australia. It describes SCENARIO Ed as a companion application that builds on teaching sessions through a global, online forum that enables medical students and trainees to discuss scenarios with other learners at different educational levels and in a variety of international jurisdictions. | July 2024 | |
Supporting best practice in vocational GP training: field testing a quality improvement tool | This poster was presented by Dr Simon Morgan at GP24: The conference for general practice, 25-28 July 2024, Wellington, New Zealand. It describes field testing the General Practice Clinical Learning Environment (GPCLE) quality improvement tool in various locations and practice settings across Australia. | July 2024 | |
| ‘Putting the PQRST into PCD’ – a new tool for effective problem case discussion in GP training | This poster was presented by Dr Simon Morgan at GP24: The conference for general practice, 25-28 July 2024, Wellington, New Zealand. It reports on a pilot study evaluation of the utility and acceptability of the PQRST framework for problem case discussion. | July 2024 | |
A balancing act: Exploring how medical educators model vulnerability whilst maintaining credibility | This workshop was presented by Dr Niroshe Amarasekera and Dr Simon Morgan at GP Medical Educators 6-7 June 2024, Surfers Paradise, Australia. It explores how educators can be vulnerable with learners in a purposeful manner, without losing credibility. | June 2024 | |
| The PQRST framework for case discussion: a pilot evaluation | This poster was presented by Prof Pemra Unalan at the 98th EGPRN Meeting, 9-12 May 2024, Porto, Portugal. It outlines a proposed international collabration to pilot test the PQRST in GP training in Europe. | May 2024 | |
| Exploring the nexus between employment, supervisory relationships and trainee assessment in GP Training Practices | This paper was presented by A/Prof Nancy Sturman at WONCA World 26-29 Oct 26-29 2023, Sydney, Australia. It reports on the power dynamics at play when supervisors directly employ trainees, and identifies strategies to mitigate negative impacts on in-practice assessment and learning. | October 2023 | |
| Brave enough to be vulnerable? The benefits of reciprocity in the GP supervisor-registrar relationship | This paper was presented by A/Prof Samia Toukhsati at WONCA World 26-29 Oct 26-29 2023, Sydney, Australia. It describes the willingness of GP supervisors and registrars to share their vulnerability with one another, and the impact this has on teaching/ learning. | October 2023 | |
| Reveal or conceal? Self-disclosures build trust in the GP supervisor-registrar relationship | This paper was presented by A/Prof Samia Toukhsati at WONCA World 26-29 Oct 26-29 2023, Sydney, Australia. It describes the benefits of self-disclosures on trust in the GP supervisor-registrar relationship. | October 2023 | |
| Wellbeing support for GP registrars: misaligned perspectives and experiences of GP supervisors and GP registrars | This paper was presented by A/Prof Samia Toukhsati at WONCA World 26-29 Oct 26-29 2023, Sydney, Australia. It describes the perspectives and experiences of GP supervisors and GP registrars as providers and recipients of wellbeing support in GP training. | October 2023 | |
| Learning together: barriers, enablers and benefits | This workshop was presented by Dr Simon Morgan, A/Prof Samia Toukhsati, Carla Taylor and Jo-anne Chapman at the Rural Medicine Australia conference, 18-21 Oct 2023, Hobart, Australia. It was a guided discussion about opportunities and benefits of GP/RG supervisors and GP/RG registrars learning together. | October 2023 | |
| Supervision intentions: identifying and activating enablers | This paper was presented by A/Prof Samia Toukhsati at the Rural Medicine Australia conference, 18-21 Oct 2023, Hobart, Australia. It describes the findings of GPSA's 2023 annual national survey with respect to future intentions to supervise GP trainees. | October 2023 | |
| Eliminating isolation: GPSA's virtual community of practice | This workshop was presented by Carla Taylor, A/Prof Samia Toukhsati, and Dr Simon Morgan at the Rural Medicine Australia conference, 18-21 Oct 2023, Hobart, Australia. It was a guided discussion on the value of virtual communities of practice to GP and RG supervision teams. A summary of the workshop findings is provided in the Report. | October 2023 | |
| Medical student’s perceptions of general practice and the influence of different employment models | This paper was presented by Oliver Little at the Monash Drivers 2023, 23 September, Bendigo, Australia. It describes the single employer model and the lack of evidence currently available to substantiate claims this model will attract medical students and junior doctors to careers in general practice. | September 2023 | |
| Exploring the nexus between employment, supervisory relationships and trainee assessment in GP Training Practices | This paper was presented by Prof Nancy Sturman at ANZAHPE, 26-28 June 2023, Gold Coast, Australia. It describes the power dynamics at play when supervisors directly employ trainees, and identifies strategies to mitigate any negative impacts on work-based assessment and learning. | June 2023 | |
| Burnt out? It’s more common than not | This paper was presented by A/Prof Samia Toukhsati at GP22, 25-27 Nov 2022, Melbourne Australia. It describes the wellbeing status and selfcare practices of GP supervisors in Australia. | Nov 2022 | |
| Structuring a GP learning environment in rural and regional practices | This poster was presented by Lachlan Butcher at Monash Drivers Monash 22 Oct 2022 Oct 22, Bendigo, Australia. It describes the 'GP Clinical Learning Environment' (GPCLE) Framework a best practice model for structuring the learning environment in general practice. | Oct 2022 | |
| Bad attitude? Conflict in GP training | This paper was presented by A/Prof Samia Toukhsati at RMA22 12-15 Oct 2022, Canberra, Australia. It describes the sources and contexts of conflict within GP supervisor/practice manager relationships with GP registrars. | Oct 2022 | |
| Feeling burnt out? You’re not alone | This paper was presented by A/Prof Samia Toukhsati at RMA22 12-15 Oct 2022, Canberra, Australia. It describes the wellbeing status and selfcare practices of GP supervisors in non-urban locations in Australia (MMM2-7) in comparison to their urban-based counterparts (MMM1). | Oct 2022 | |
| Enabling uptake and sustainability of supervision roles by women GPs in Australia: a narrative analysis of interviews | This narrative inquiry aimed to explore the uptake and sustainability of supervision roles for women GPs in the Australian context. | May 2022 | |
| Blended supervision models for post-graduate rural generalist medical training in Australia: an interview study | This study explored factors which support the use of blended supervision models (consisting of on- and offsite components) for postgraduate rural generalist medical training (broad scope of work) in small rural communities. | February 2022 | |
| The financial costs and revenue associated with teaching and supervision in General Practice | This project aimed to better understand the sustainability of GP supervision by determining the associated financial costs and revenue. This study included: interviews with supervisors (n=9) and practice managers (n=9); a survey of supervisors (n=238) and practice managers (n=142), and; a cost-revenue analysis. | May 2022 | |
| Mandatory bulk billing policies may have differential rural effects: an exploration of Australian data | This study aimed to understand the patterns of bulk billing nationally and explore the characteristics of practices more or less likely to bulk bill patients, to identify the potential impact of a rapid shift to bulk billing only policies. | March 2022 | |
| More women supervisors for teaching the next generation of GPs | This research project explored the barriers and enablers to increasing the participation of women GPs in the supervsiion of GP and RG registrars. | November 2021 | |
| Supervision Roadmap: Rural Generalist Training in Victoria | This collaborative research project lead by GPSA aimed to explore and expand on existing evidence about rural supervision to meet the learning needs of the RG2 group across the Victorian Rural Generalist Program curriculum. It specifically focused on three rural regions of Victoria: Hume, Loddon Mallee, and Barwon South West. Further, this project aimed to use this information to develop a Supervision Roadmap to guide the implementation of high-quality supervised learning across the core generalist curriculum in regional Victoria. | October 2021 | |
| Developing supervision capacity for training rural generalist doctors in small towns in Victoria | This project aimed to explore enablers and barriers to the supervision of RG2 learners across a core generalist curriculum in distributed towns in three rural Victorian regions. | October 2021 | |
| Exploring attributes of high-quality clinical supervision in general practice through interviews with peer-recognised GP supervisors | This research undertaken in 2019-20 interviewed 22 peer-recognised GP Supervisors and identified 7 key areas associated with quality supervision. These included reflecting and learning from other supervisors, structuring learning, caring relationships, involving the whole practice, learner centred approaches, building independence and encouraging reflection. This research was undertaken by GPSA with the support of the Australian Government’s General Practice Training Program. | August 2021 | |
| GP Clinical Learning Environment Framework research | The GPCLE is a new framework to guide continuous quality improvement of the practice learning environment. The GPCLE has been adapted for general practice training environments from the Best Practice Clinical Learning Environment (BPCLE) Framework as part of a research project funded by the Australian Government via the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program. | February 2021 | |
| A framework to guide the implementation of best practice clinical learning environments in community general practice: Australia | We aimed to develop a consensus-based framework to guide the implementation of high-quality learning environments suitable for the range of general practices and clinical learners | January 2021 | |
| Challenges in General Practice during initial COVID 19 response | This study involved a national online survey of Australian GPs and was conducted in April and May 2020, with 572 respondents. We found that the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia has resulted in major changes to general practice business models. |
| November 2020 |
| A national survey of COVID-19 challenges, responses and effects in Australian general practice | The objective of this study was to explore challenges, responses and effects of COVID-19 in Australian general practice in the early stages of the pandemic | November 2020 | |
| An exploration of the experiences of GP registrar supervisors in small rural communities: a qualitative study | Exploring what makes rural GPs’ based outside of major regional centres, participate in supervising or not, their experiences of supervising, and impact of their practice context. | September 2020 | |
| Adaptation and initial examination of the psychometric properties of the Short Supervisory Relationship Questionnaire (SSRQ) for use with general practice registrars | This paper presents an adaptation and initial validation of the clinical psychology supervisory relationship measure for GP registrars in an Australian context. | August 2020 | |
| Factors related to rural general practitioners supervising general practice registrars in Australia:'A national cross-sectional study' | This research aimed to use nationalscale data to explore the factors related to rural GPs participating in registrar supervision. | Jan-Feb 2019 | |
| Measuring the educational alliance with supervisors from the registrar perspective (GP-SRMR) | Following on from the successful work of GPTT, GPSA and Monash University to develop the GP Supervisory Relationship Measure for Supervisors (GP-SRMS), the GP Supervisory Relationship Measure for Registrars (GP-SRMR) project has successfully adapted and validated a complementary tool to explore the relationship from the registrar’s perspective. | November 2018 |
Date reviewed: 29 November 2024