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Part 2: Foundations of general practice | Insights into the RACGP Standards 6th edition
Building Better Practices: Insights into the RACGP Standards 6th edition
PART 2: Foundations of general practice
Following the release of the draft the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Standards for general practices 6th edition, industry consultation period and the commencement of the pilot program, our team is excited to provide you with a five-part content series exploring key themes within the proposed new edition of the RACGP Standards titled ‘Building Better Practices: Insights into the RACGP Standards 6th edition’.
Through this series, we aim to provide you with a greater understanding of some of the essential elements shaping the RACGP Standards 6th edition.
PART 1 looked into the Quintuple Aim of healthcare improvement and its role in Australian general practice, with our next instalment, PART 2, unpacking Standard 1 of the RACGP Standards 6th edition – ‘Foundations of general practice’.
DISCLAIMER
The information contained within this content-series is general in nature and has not been provided or reviewed by the RACGP. The RACGP Standards 6th edition are still in draft format and will be undergoing further review and updates as part of the pilot program and consultation period. The details of the 6th edition are subject to change and therefore this information has been collated based on the information provided to us at the time of publishing. Information regarding each proposed new Standard also discusses general themes associated with each particular topic.
Foundations of general practice
A key element of building a successful business across any industry is the need to have a strong foundation on which to do so. The proposed first standard of the RACGP Standards for general practices 6th edition echoes this fundamental rule of business with the inclusion of ‘Standard 1: Foundations of general practice’.
By addressing the essential elements of general practice, your team is provided with a strong base for the delivery of safe and high-quality patient care. This can support teams with setting up new practices or enhancing existing systems and processes within a practice. These core foundational elements revolve around central infrastructure and systems required to support the clinical and operational functions of a general practice.
Getting these aspects right takes time, involves planning, reflection and a recognition that there’s always an opportunity for improvement. Operating in a sector where change is a constant, the foundations your practice started on and where your future lies will be vastly different, yet your drive to create a quality and patient-focused, sustainable and safe practice will always remain a top priority.
It’s fitting that the RACGP has set ‘Foundations of general practice’ as Standard 1 in this proposed new framework so we encourage you to read on to learn more about what this updated Standard encompasses.
RACGP Standards 6th edition: Standard 1 – overview
The RACGP has stated that “the Foundations of general practice standard encompasses the fundamental principles and structures necessary for the effective operation and management of a general practice. This includes defining strategic objectives and goal setting, managing clinical risks, ensuring continuity of services, minimising environmental impact, and implementing IT continuity and security measures. The standard seeks to promote a culture of team involvement, supporting practice team roles and training. These elements form the cornerstone for a well-functioning, viable, and sustainable general practice”.
When looking at the RACGP’s overview and the key elements of Standard 1, it’s associated criteria and indicators, ‘Foundations of general practice’ revolves around:
- Governance and leadership: Highlighting the importance of strong leadership and governance structures to support practice teams in meeting their clinical, ethical and regulatory obligations.
- Safety and quality systems: Focussing on having effective systems in place to manage safety, quality, and risk within your practice to ensure the standards of patient care are consistently met and enhanced.
- Information management: Ensuring that patient data is handled securely with appropriate systems in place to maintain privacy, confidentiality, and effective clinical record-keeping.
- Workforce development: Highlighting the importance of investing in your staff by providing continuous education and professional development, supporting competency, career progression and satisfaction within the workplace.
- Practice environment: Stressing the importance of contributing to environmental sustainability while creating a safe and accessible physical environment. Additionally focusing on compliance with relevant regulations to ensure priority is given to the health and safety of your patients and staff.
As part of these key areas, the RACGP has noted several notable updates from the 5th to the 6th edition which sit under Standard 1:
F1: Defining and planning for your practice
Defining your practice’s vision and mission lays the foundation for your strategic direction and contributes to your organisational culture while informing continuous quality improvement efforts.
Within Criterion 1 of the proposed 6th edition Standards, your is asked to:
- Define and monitor its mission and values.
- Maintain a strategic plan and measure progress toward achieving its goals.
- Maintain an operational plan and measure progress toward delivering its objectives.
The RACGP has specified he importance of these requirements in establishing the core principles and purpose for guiding your practice’s operations. Having strategic and operational plans to set goals and objectives, respectively, aims to enhance professionalism, quality, ethics and progressive leadership within your practice.
F2: Response planning
Response planning, including but not limited to responding to an emergency, helps you to consistently identify, document and manage risks and will allow your practice to be able to provide clinical care in an emergency.
Response planning has been expanded in the 6th edition while still being inclusive of emergency response planning. This Criterion and associated Indicator now covers planning for unexpected events more broadly (i.e. interruptions to business as usual).
F3: Environmental sustainability and responsibility
In line with global trends toward sustainable healthcare and a commitment to promoting responsible practice management across Australia, the proposed 6th edition Standards now include new environmentally sustainable measures.
Criterion and indicator requirements aim to support practice teams in reducing energy consumption, minimising waste, and promoting eco-friendly practices, contributing to improved patient well-being and satisfaction while assisting to mitigate your practice’s impact on the environment.
The theme of environmental sustainability appears throughout the Standards with key elements focused around:
- Environmental responsibility: Each practice is required to designate a team member responsible for leading sustainability efforts.
- Sustainable clinical practices: Practice teams are provided with guidance around incorporating sustainability within clinical and medicines guidelines.
- Patient engagement: Practices are encouraged to educate patients on environmental health issues and empower them to make eco-friendly health decisions.
- Continuous improvement: Practices are required to track and report their environmental performance, integrating these efforts into their broader quality improvement activities.
In relation to Standard 1: Criterion 3 – Environmental sustainability and responsibility, Indicators F.3►A and F.3►B specifically ask your practice to:
- Be aware of, and take steps to minimise, its environmental impact
- Have at least one member of your practice team who has primary responsibility for engaging in and promoting the environmental sustainability of your practice
Practical actions to assist your team in meeting these requirements have been provided on page 14 of the draft RACGP Standards 6th edition.
F5: Registration & qualifications of healthcare practitioners
Provision of care within your practice must be provided by, or supervised by, appropriately qualified professionals at all times.
The draft 6th edition Standards currently stipulates that practices no longer need to retain documentation regarding registration and CPD for each practitioner; however, you must still ensure each healthcare practitioner has current national registration and accreditation/certification.
F10: Digital care
COVID-19 certainly amplified the opportunities for digital care throughout every corner of the globe. In recognition of this digital shift and the need for high standards of security, Criterion F10 includes new indicators linked to digital care, including the use of telehealth.
Digital safety and security is paramount and therefore this criterion requires your practice to support these essential components of digital care, as well as monitor and evaluate your provision of digital care.
Reflecting on the advancements in digital care, this particular Criterion will support your team’s responsiveness to digital trends and solutions, both current and emerging.
Standard 1: Foundations of general practice emphasise the critical role of strong governance, sustainability, workforce development, and digital care in building resilient, high-quality practices. With a focus on strategic planning, safety systems, and environmental responsibility, these updates provide a blueprint for continuous improvement while fostering patient trust and team engagement. As practices adapt to evolving healthcare demands, these foundational elements ensure they remain aligned with best practices, delivering sustainable and patient-centred care well into the future.
Transition information
The RACGP has stipulated that practices can choose to be accredited under either the 5th or 6th edition Standards for the first 12 months following the publication of the 6th edition – which is currently planned for early 2026. After this transition period, all practices seeking accreditation must meet the requirements of the 6th edition Standards.
Our team will continue to provide you with updates as we work with the RACGP as they refine and test the RACGP Standards 6th edition.
We appreciate your patience as we wait for further information regarding timelines and program readiness. We’re committed to providing you with timely updates to ensure you and your team are informed and prepared for this transition when the time comes.
For current accreditation support with the RACGP Standards 5th edition, contact the AGPAL Team:
P: 1300 362 111
E: info@agpal.com.au
