Advanced skills in general practice are becoming a priority for the profession, commonwealth and state governments as well as Australian communities. The General Practice field of study identifies key areas for advanced skilling in primary care and provides students with practical knowledge and skills in the content areas, as well as quality assurance and research skills to support life-long learning. The program is broad and applicable to general practitioners in urban, rural/remote and provincial settings. It also includes a focus on the general practice business model, with a strong emphasis on the implementation of clinical and quality assurance skills in the practice setting.
The program will be available by distance learning in the main, with a one-day face-to-face workshop for each course. It is therefore not suitable for international students. This allows busy general practitioners to utilise a web-based flexible learning program to the maximum, yet still allows valuable peer interaction and demonstration of techniques/approaches by expert teachers. Clinical attachments in specialist's clinics will be offered in the eye and dermatology courses.

The program includes modules on the prevention and effective management of chronic disease in the primary care setting; the clinical, psychosocial and management issues in caring for an ageing Australia, particularly the very old (greater than 85 years); common and important conditions in general practice dermatology; primary care ophthalmology, advanced skilling in mental health (including training appropriate to qualification for the Better Outcomes in Mental Health level 1 and 2 proficiencies), evidence-based health care and clinical decision-making, reflective practice (implementation of personal and organisational systems for maintenance of professional standards and clinical quality improvement) and e-health initiatives and approaches important to the Australian primary care environment.