What Should a Junior Doctor Include in Their CV for AGPT GP Trainee Applications in Australia? Your Complete Guide

2. Highlight Your Clinical Experience with a Strong GP Focus

This is the most important section of your CV for AGPT. Your clinical rotations and experiences should be described in detail, not just listed. This is where you demonstrate your practical skills and understanding of patient care, with a clear emphasis on how these experiences prepare you for general practice.

For each rotation, include:

• Role: (e.g., Intern, Resident Medical Officer).
• Hospital Name and Location:
• Department or Unit: (e.g., General Medicine, Emergency Department, Paediatrics, Rural Generalist).
• Dates: (e.g., “Feb 2024 – May 2024”).
• Key Responsibilities and Achievements: Use strong action verbs and bullet points. Focus on what you did, how you did it, and what the outcome was, specifically aligning with general practice competencies.

Crucially, align each experience with AGPT and GP-relevant skills:

• Chronic Disease Management: Did you manage patients with diabetes, hypertension, asthma, COPD, or heart failure? Did you contribute to care plans, medication reviews, or patient education for long-term conditions? This is core to GP.
• Communication & Patient Education: Did you explain complex medical conditions to patients and families from diverse backgrounds? Conduct sensitive conversations (e.g., breaking bad news, end-of-life discussions)? Obtain informed consent? This is paramount in GP.
• Multidisciplinary Teamwork: Did you collaborate with nurses, allied health professionals (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers), pharmacists, or specialists? GPs frequently coordinate care across multiple providers.
• Continuity of Care: Did you follow up on patient results, referrals, or discharge planning? Did you understand the importance of ongoing patient relationships?
• Undifferentiated Presentations: For ED or rural rotations, highlight your experience managing varied, undifferentiated presentations, as GPs are often the first point of contact for complex, non-specific symptoms.
• Preventative Health & Health Promotion: Did you counsel patients on lifestyle modifications, vaccinations, screening (e.g., cancer screening, health checks), or chronic disease prevention?
• Cultural Safety & Diversity: Did you work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients or culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations? How did you ensure culturally safe care?
• Mental Health: Did you assess and manage common mental health conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression)? Were you involved in mental health care plans or referrals?
• Paediatric and Geriatric Care: GPs see all ages. Highlight any experience managing children and the elderly.

Avoid vague descriptions. For example:

• Bad e.g- “Worked in emergency medicine.”
• Correct e.g- “Assessed and managed a wide range of acute undifferentiated presentations including cardiac chest pain, acute respiratory distress, and febrile children under supervision in a busy Emergency Department, enhancing my diagnostic reasoning and ability to prioritise in a busy primary care-like setting.”

Detailed Examples for Clinical Experience (AGPT Focus):

Internship (PGY1) Royal Alfred, Sydney, NSW Feb 2024 – Present

• General Medicine Rotation (Feb – May 2024):
  • Managed a diverse caseload of 10-15 acute and chronic medical conditions daily, including complex diabetes, heart failure exacerbations, and pneumonia. Contributed to the development of chronic disease management plans for patients with multimorbidity.
  • Formulated differential diagnoses and implemented evidence-based management plans, focusing on holistic patient needs and safe discharge planning to the community.
  • Proficiently performed common ward procedures (venepuncture, cannulation, ECG interpretation) essential for initial assessment in primary care.
  • Collaborated effectively with multidisciplinary teams (nurses, pharmacists, social workers, allied health) to ensure comprehensive patient care, facilitating seamless transitions to primary care.
  • Communicated complex medical information clearly and empathetically to patients and their families, including navigating difficult conversations and managing expectations about long-term conditions.
• Emergency Department Rotation (May – Aug 2024):
  • Assessed and managed a broad spectrum of undifferentiated presentations, from minor injuries to acute medical emergencies, often acting as the initial point of contact similar to a GP.
  • Performed minor procedures including wound suturing (e.g., 5-8 cases per shift), splinting, and incision and drainage.
  • Developed proficiency in rapid assessment and initial management, including basic mental health crisis assessment and referral pathways, skills directly transferable to general practice.
  • Provided clear patient education and safety netting advice for patients discharged home, emphasising follow-up with their GP.
• General Surgery Rotation (Aug – Nov 2024):
  • Provided comprehensive pre- and post-operative care, including wound management, pain control, and fluid balance monitoring for 10+ patients daily, with a focus on patient education for recovery at home.
  • Identified and managed common surgical complications, understanding the role of primary care in post-operative follow-up and chronic wound management.
  • Participated actively in daily ward rounds and contributed to multidisciplinary team discussions regarding complex surgical patient management, highlighting the need for good communication between hospital and primary care.

Resident Medical Officer (PGY2/3) Rural Health Service, Tamworth, NSW Feb 2025 – Present

• Rural Generalist Term (Highly Valuable for AGPT):
  • Managed a broad spectrum of undifferentiated medical, surgical, paediatric, and obstetric presentations in a busy regional hospital and associated GP clinic, often as the primary medical responder.
  • Provided comprehensive GP-style care to inpatients and outpatients, including chronic disease management reviews, mental health assessments and care plans, and preventative health screenings (e.g., cervical screening, skin checks).
  • Performed a range of procedural skills relevant to rural general practice, including advanced trauma life support interventions, intubation, and intercostal drain insertion under supervision.
  • Collaborated closely with local GPs, Aboriginal Health Workers, and community services to ensure integrated and culturally safe care for rural and remote patients, understanding their unique health challenges.
  • Contributed to after-hours on-call rosters, demonstrating resilience and independent decision-making in resource-limited settings typical of rural general practice.

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3. Understand the GP Core Competencies – and Address Them Directly

AGPT selection panels for both RACGP and ACRRM assess applicants based on a robust framework of core competencies specific to general practice in Australia. Your CV must not just list what you did, but explicitly demonstrate how those experiences align with and build these competencies. This is where most CVs fall short – they list tasks, not the skills demonstrated or lessons learned relevant to a GP.

Key Competencies for AGPT to Weave In:

• Clinical Knowledge and Diagnostic Ability in General Practice: Ability to manage undifferentiated presentations, common acute and chronic conditions across all age groups.
• Person-Centred Care and Cultural Safety: Empathy, respect, understanding patient preferences, shared decision-making, working effectively with diverse populations (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and CALD communities), and understanding health inequities.
• Communication and Teamwork: Clear, empathetic communication with patients, families, and multidisciplinary colleagues; effective collaboration with nurses, allied health, and other GPs/specialists.
• Professionalism and Ethics: Adherence to ethical guidelines, maintaining confidentiality, accountability, self-reflection, and commitment to lifelong professional development.
• Continuity of Care: Understanding and facilitating ongoing patient care, effective referrals, follow-up, and the importance of long-term patient relationships.
• Health Advocacy and Community Focus: Understanding social determinants of health, promoting preventative health, connecting patients with community resources, and public health awareness.
• Teaching, Leadership, and Quality Improvement: Mentoring, taking initiative, improving systems, contributing to audit/research that impacts patient care or practice efficiency.
• Procedural Skills: Competence in common GP procedures (e.g., skin excisions, wound management, injections, suturing).
• Information Management and Technology: Proficiency in using EMRs, e-prescribing, and telehealth.

How to Address Them:

Integrate these competencies into your experience descriptions using specific examples.

• Example (Person-Centred Care & Cultural Safety): “Developed individualised chronic disease management plans for Aboriginal patients, incorporating cultural considerations and local health services, demonstrating a commitment to culturally safe and person-centred care.”
• Example (Continuity of Care): “Actively reviewed discharge summaries to ensure seamless transfer of care from hospital to community general practitioners, reducing potential gaps in patient management.”
• Example (Health Advocacy): “Counseled patients on preventative health strategies, including lifestyle modifications and vaccination schedules, empowering them to take an active role in their health.”

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4. Include Quality Improvement Projects or Research Relevant to Primary Care

Even if it was a simple audit or a small presentation, any contribution to improving healthcare delivery is a huge asset for AGPT applications. This demonstrates your analytical skills, initiative, and commitment to evidence-based practice, patient safety, and system improvement – all highly valued in general practice. Focus on projects that have a direct or indirect impact on primary care.

What to include:

• Title or Topic: Clear, concise title of the project.
• Your Role: Briefly describe your involvement (e.g., “Led,” “Contributed to data collection,” “Analysed results”).
• Key Outcomes or Changes Implemented: What was achieved? How did it improve patient care, efficiency, or safety? Did it have implications for primary care?
• Presentation or Publication (if any): Where was it presented (e.g., hospital grand rounds, conference, departmental meeting)? Was it published?

Examples:

Quality Improvement Project “Audit of Diabetes Management Plan Completion in General Medicine” Royal Newcastle Centre, May – July 2024

• Led an audit on the completeness and effectiveness of diabetes management plans for inpatients on the general medicine ward, focusing on the transition to community care.
• Analysed data from 80 patient charts, identifying inconsistencies in discharge medication reconciliation impacting GP follow-up.
• Presented findings at weekly departmental meetings, advocating for improved communication protocols with primary care providers at discharge.
• Contributed to the development of a standardised discharge checklist for diabetic patients, aiming to improve continuity of care with their GPs.

Research Project “Community Perceptions of Telehealth Services in Regional NSW” University of New South Wales, Jan 2023 – Dec 2023

• Assisted in designing and conducting patient surveys and focus groups to gather insights on telehealth service utilisation and barriers in a regional population.
• Analysed qualitative and quantitative data to identify key themes and recommendations relevant to expanding primary care access via telehealth.
• Contributed to preliminary findings presented at the university’s annual research symposium, highlighting potential areas for GP service development.

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5. Demonstrate Leadership, Teaching, and Teamwork for a GP Career

Even junior doctors can show leadership. These experiences highlight your ability to take initiative, collaborate, educate others, and contribute beyond your immediate clinical duties – all crucial skills for a GP who often leads a practice team and educates patients.

Have you:

• Coordinated a roster? (Demonstrates organisational skills, responsibility).
• Mentored medical students? (Highlights teaching, communication, and patience, essential for future GP registrars).
• Organised a teaching session for peers or students? (Shows initiative, presentation skills, knowledge dissemination).
• Participated in hospital committees with an impact on patient flow or community care? (Indicates engagement with broader healthcare systems).
• Led a student society or club with a community or health focus? (Leadership, teamwork, time management, social responsibility).

Again, the key is to frame them properly — not just saying “taught students,” but explaining how it improved your communication, clinical reasoning, or educational approach, especially as it relates to primary care principles.

Examples:

Teaching Experience:

• Clinical Skills Tutor, University of New South Wales (Mar 2023 – Nov 2023):
  • Provided small-group teaching and practical instruction in history taking, physical examination, and procedural skills to Year 3 medical students, with a focus on holistic patient assessment relevant to general practice.
  • Offered constructive feedback and mentorship to enhance student learning and confidence, inspiring future generations of doctors towards primary care.
• Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) Facilitator, Royal Sydney Centre (Sept 2024 – Present):
  • Organised and delivered weekly teaching sessions for PGY1 interns on common clinical topics (e.g., chronic pain management in the community, mental health referrals), enhancing peer learning and knowledge translation directly applicable to GP settings.

Leadership & Teamwork Experience:

• Junior Medical Officer (JMO) Representative, Royal Liverpool, Clinical Handover Improvement Committee (Feb 2025 – Present):
  • Represented the interests of junior doctors, advocating for streamlined handover processes to ensure continuity of care, particularly when patients transition to primary care.
  • Collaborated with senior medical staff and nursing leadership to implement a new electronic handover tool, demonstrating effective teamwork and system improvement.
• President, Rural Health Club, University of New South Wales (Jan 2021 – Dec 2022):
  • Led a student organisation dedicated to promoting rural health careers, organising community engagement events and rural placements for medical students.
  • Managed a team of 10 executive members and a significant budget, developing strong leadership, event management, and advocacy skills.

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6. List Your Skills – But Make Them Specific and GP-Relevant

Every CV needs a “skills” section, but it should go beyond generic terms. This section provides a quick overview of your practical capabilities, emphasising those most useful in general practice. Categorise your skills for clarity.

What to include:

• Clinical Skills: Be specific about procedures you are competent in (e.g., “independent cannulation,” “supervised intubation”). Focus on skills frequently used in GP.
• Procedural Skills: (e.g., skin excisions, suturing, wound care, iron infusions, implanon insertion/removal, injections, venepuncture, basic splinting, casting – indicate level of supervision).
• Medical Software/IT Skills: List specific Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems you’ve used that are common in Australian GP (e.g., MedicalDirector, Best Practice). Also mention hospital EMRs like Cerner, Powerchart, EPIC. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite is a given, but mention it if you’ve done advanced work in Excel for data analysis.
• Certifications: (e.g., Advanced Life Support (ALS1/ALS2), Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Management of Severe Trauma (EMST/ATLS), Mental Health First Aid). Include the completion date.
• Language Skills: (e.g., “Fluent in Mandarin Chinese,” “Conversational Spanish”). This is highly valuable in a diverse community setting.
• Cultural Knowledge: (e.g., “Familiarity with culturally safe practices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients,” “Experience working with CALD communities”).

Examples:

Clinical & Procedural Skills:

• Advanced Life Support (ALS2) – July 2024
• Emergency Management of Severe Trauma (EMST) – November 2023
• Mental Health First Aid – April 2024
• Competent in: Peripheral IV Cannulation, Venepuncture, Arterial Blood Gas Sampling, ECG Interpretation, Basic Suturing, Minor Skin Excisions (under supervision), Basic Wound Care, Urethral Catheterisation (male/female), Nasogastric Tube Insertion, Immunisation Administration, Joint Injections (basic).
• Exposure to: Implanon Insertion/Removal, Iron Infusion administration.

IT & Software Proficiency:

• Electronic Medical Records (EMR): MedicalDirector, Best Practice (preferred GP software), Cerner, Powerchart.
• Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel (Intermediate), PowerPoint.
• Telehealth Platforms: Zoom, Healthdirect Video Call.

Language & Cultural Skills:

Cultural Sensitivity: Extensive experience providing culturally safe care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, understanding local community health services and protocols. Proficient in utilising interpreter services for CALD patients.

English: Native Proficiency

Mandarin Chinese: Fluent (conversational and medical history taking – invaluable for patient communication)