Reflections on the history of general practice in Australia

General practice has experienced change over the past century driven by a variety of influences, the most important of which have been changes in the health needs of the population, the organisation of the workforce, and medicine itself. Over this time, general practice has developed as a profession through education and, ultimately, recognition of its specialist qualifications. There has been increasing organisational sophistication at the practice, regional and national levels. Despite contested scope of practice and vision of its future, general practice's place in the health system as a whole has been increasingly recognised and affirmed.