Staff Training & Orientation Policy Template for Australian General Practices

What's in this template?

This staff training and orientation policy covers the full training lifecycle for general practice staff. It maps to RACGP Criterion C8.1, Education and training of non-clinical staff in the Standards for General Practices (5th Edition), with Criterion GP3.1 covering the clinical team. In the 6th edition, published on 26 August 2026, staff training sits under criteria F4.B (role-specific training and competency) and F4.E (CPR certification). Accreditation assessments still use the 5th edition. The policy covers 15 sections:

1. Purpose: supporting safe, competent practice through structured training
2. Scope: all staff (GPs, nurses, admin, cleaners, locums, students, volunteers)
3. Roles and Responsibilities: Training Coordinator, Practice Principal, all staff
4. Induction and Orientation: general orientation (practice overview, IT, confidentiality, Medicare billing education resources), safety orientation (emergency, WHS, IPC), role-specific orientation (clinical, reception, cleaning), registrar/student orientation
5. Induction Checklist: signed completion record for each new starter
6. Mandatory Training: annual requirements (IPC, hand hygiene, fire safety, WHS, privacy), CPR with AED for every team member at least every three years, cultural safety, person-centred care, plus role-specific (sterilisation, cold chain, chaperone, ISBAR, complaints, first aid, and abuse and violence training for 6th edition practices)
7. Continuing Professional Development: GP/nurse CPD requirements, non-clinical staff development
8. Performance Reviews: probation review, annual review process, training needs identification
9. Training Register: what to track, monthly review for due dates
10. Training Methods: face-to-face, online, external courses, peer learning, self-directed, on-the-job coaching
11. Locum and Contractor Orientation: abbreviated orientation checklist
12. Student Placement: supervision, patient consent, assessment requirements
13. Monitoring and Review: quarterly completion rates, annual policy review
14. Related Policies: cross-references to IPC, Emergency, WHS, Privacy, Chaperone, Handover, Cold Chain, Complaints, Abuse and Violence Response
15. Review History

Editable placeholder fields

• {{ }}Practice name{{practice_name}}, {{ }}ABN{{abn}}, {{ }}Practice address{{practice_address}}, {{ }}Phone{{phone}}, {{ }}Email{{email}}
• {{ }}Training coordinator name{{training_coordinator_name}}, {{ }}Practice principal name{{practice_principal_name}}
• {{ }}Performance reviewer role{{performance_reviewer_role}}: who conducts performance reviews
• {{ }}Review date{{review_date}}, {{ }}Next review date{{next_review_date}}

How to customise this template

1. Download and fill in all {{ }}Placeholder{{placeholder}} fields
2. Create your induction checklist as an appendix. List every induction item with checkboxes
3. Set up your training register: a spreadsheet tracking each staff member, training completed, and due dates
4. Map your mandatory training schedule: plan which training happens in which month
5. Identify training providers: online platforms (e.g. Hand Hygiene Australia, RACGP online courses), reading such as the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines (Strive for 5) for cold chain training, and local CPD opportunities

Related templates

• Abuse and Violence Response Policy: role-appropriate training in recognising and responding to family, domestic and sexual violence, which the RACGP 6th edition adds as criterion F4.C. It carries its own training and assurance record, or the training can be logged in the register this policy sets up.
• Staff Orientation and Induction Checklist: the signed per-starter checklist that sits under section 5 of this policy.
• Triage Policy and Protocol: triage training at induction and refresher, which the RACGP 6th edition (criterion PP9.A) puts under a named clinical team member. It carries its own training record, or the training can be logged in the register this policy sets up.

Frequently asked questions

Does this only cover non-clinical staff?

No. While RACGP 5th edition Criterion C8.1 specifically addresses non-clinical staff education, this template covers all staff including GPs, nurses, and allied health. Clinical staff CPD is managed through RACGP/ACRRM/NMBA requirements, but the practice still needs to ensure mandatory training (IPC, fire safety, WHS) is completed by everyone.

What mandatory training is required annually?

At minimum: infection prevention and control, hand hygiene, fire safety/evacuation, WHS, and privacy, plus CPR with AED (every team member, at least every three years). Additional role-specific training includes sterilisation, cold chain, and chaperone training. For CPR, the 5th edition dealt with CPR training for non-clinical staff (C8.1B) and clinicians (GP3.1A) separately, while 6th edition criterion F4.E asks for the whole practice team to hold CPR certification, renewed at least every three years. The 6th edition guidance adds that the course must be run by an accredited provider, include AED operation and end with a physical skills demonstration: online-only CPR training does not count.

Can I use this for AGPAL or QPA accreditation?

Yes. Surveyors will check for a documented training policy, induction records, a training register showing mandatory training completion, and evidence of ongoing staff development. Assessments still use the 5th edition, where this sits under criterion C8.1; in the 6th edition it sits under criteria F4.B and F4.E.