New medical graduates - can general practice help with training?

Medical student numbers in Australia have increased significantly in recent years. A resulting increase in medical graduates is inevitable and desirable. Western Australian medical graduates will double by 2012 and treble shortly afterward. Insufficient training positions in hospitals will likely require additional training opportunities to be provided by general practices. This article reviews innovative general practice training schemes for new medical graduates in Australia and overseas. It examines whether Australian general practice can play a role in training the rising numbers of new doctors.