May has been a busy month for the Rural team with various conferences taking place, and of course, the release of the federal Budget on 14 May. Unfortunately, it was a disappointing Budget, with our key asks as outlined in the  RACGP’s 2024-25 Pre Budget-Submission largely not addressed.

As you may recall, our rural priorities included ensuring Australia has enough GPs by supporting more training places in the RACGP’s Fellowship Support Program, Practice Experience Program, Specialist Program, strengthening Medicare and access to primary care through an increase in Medicare rebates for Level C and Level D GP consultations.
 
The President, Dr Nicole Higgins, Dr Michael Wright and I spent two days in Canberra during Budget time talking to the politicians about missed opportunities and what is really needed. Had our asks been successful, we would have seen greater incentive to increase the rural workforce, greater patient access to appointments, and improved remuneration for GPs.
 
Instead, specific measures relevant to general practice announced in the federal Budget included additional funding for Urgent Care Clinics, an extension of the Single Employer Model trials until 31 December 2028, and funding to be used towards implementing the health-related recommendations from the Kruk review. The good news is that we've been assured the next Budget will return the focus to general practice care. In the meantime, we will continue to advocate for rural GPs and I encourage you to continue connecting with colleagues and engaging with your local MPs to discuss your experiences in rural general practice with them.
 
Some of you may have seen my Facebook post asking for feedback relating to the Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP). We have initial concerns around the requirement for an upfront rural placement and what this means from a safety and quality perspective for those in our rural communities who deserve high quality healthcare and well-supported and highly trained general practitioners. Please continue to reach out to myself and/or the Rural team at rural@racgp.org.au with your thoughts on the PFP, as your stories will be key to our upcoming advocacy efforts regarding this issue.

In more positive news, this month I visited Waikerie, South Australia before heading to the Single Employer Model (SEM) National Conference in Renmark. The conference was a great opportunity to discuss a national approach to SEM and receive an update on the SEM trials to date. We also heard from trainees who had moved out of the SEM due to seeing the financial benefits of a private practice contract. Currently, we do not support the implementation of a national SEM, however we do acknowledge the role that SEMs have as one of the tools to improving workforce issues. We will continue to monitor the SEM trials and I look forward to providing updates in due course.
 
Other members of the Rural team travelled to Mildura to hold a pre-conference Introduction to Point-of-care Ultrasound workshop at the Victorian Rural Health Conference. Deputy Chair Rod Omond also attended the conference and has provided a summary of the event in his Deputy Chairs report. We also had the Tasmanian Rural Health Conference in Devonport, where it was great to see a strong turn out from medical students. Hopefully we will see a few of them come through one of the College’s fellowship pathways in time.
 
Last but not least, we had the Practice Owners Conference in Cairns which was a great opportunity to network with peers. I chaired a discussion on rural pathways to fellowship outside of AGPT and the College released its inaugural Advocacy Plan, which includes the establishment of a GP Advocate Network. I strongly encourage you to get involved with the GP Advocate Network, as it will really help strengthen our advocacy reach.


A/Prof Michael Clements
Chair, RACGP Rural

Deputy Chairs Report

Dr Rod Omond

I attended the Victorian Rural Health Conference in Mildura hosted by Rural Doctors Association of Victoria on 17 – 19 May. As was the case last year, the concerns expressed largely reflect issues the Rural Faculty are currently working on; which is good.
 
They are:            

1. Unsurprisingly, workforce. Plenty of examples of GPs retiring with no one to take their place.
2. The related issue of training. Quite a bit of innovation is occurring in the Rural Generalist space in the area.
3. Single Employer Models (SEMs). Also, part of training, and the approach they are trialing in the area sounds appealing. It is an opt out model, that allows the Registrar moving from the hospital sector support until they reach an earning level equivaliant to a GP until they feel  support is no longer required in their current social situation. There are some potential negatives but hopefully the trial will give us some insights on those.

Dr Vicki Mattiazzo

This month I did an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald about video telehealth in response to the Bureau of Health Information (BHI) report showing a decline in telehealth uptake since the end of the pandemic in NSW, which is not unexpected. Interestingly, virtual care post hospital discharge was more likely to be used by urban patients. The challenges of using video vs Telehealth in rural areas to access care plans. The red tape of getting written consent is adding administrative burden and the RACGP is advocating for that decision to be reviewed. I am interested to hear about the limitations and benefits of telehealth - what works and what does not. 
 
I have also been looking into models which may support urban based GPs to do some work in rural areas to support our rural workforce. This may mean travelling to a clinic for several weeks a year and providing some Telehealth support. A large proportion of our rural membership lives in MMM 1 or 2. This means that some may live urban, work rural or have an interest in rural health. What incentives would it take for urban based GPs to share some of their time and support the rural workforce? Would it be: money, mentoring, or upskilling? I am keen to hear your ideas. 
 
You can contact me through RACGP Rural on rural@racgp.org.au.

Boost your skills with the Rural Procedural Grants Program

The Rural Procedural Grants Program (RPGP) is a Department of Health program administered by the RACGP. It provides financial assistance to GPs who provide procedural and/or emergency medicine services in unsupervised settings in rural and remote areas MMM3-7. 
 
This funding enables access to relevant educational activities aimed at maintaining or updating procedural and/or emergency medicine skills.

New program guidelines that reflect revised activity eligibility arrangements, including overseas activities and the continuation of online activity eligibility, were  released on 7 May 2024 and are available for viewing on our website as well as the Department of Health and Aged Care Rural Procedural Grants Program website.
 
Please visit our website for more information and details on how to register.

Doctors for Women in Rural Medicine Committee

According to the RACGP 2023 Health of the Nation report, rural general practitioners are more likely to own a practice compared to their urban counterparts. However female GPs are far less likely to be an owner compared to male GPs (16% vs 33% respectively). This is even lower in the younger GP cohort.

DWRM recently hosted a member meet-up featuring three inspiring women practice owners in rural Australia; Dr Emmy Hennell from Tumby Bay (SA), Dr Catriona Arnold-Nott from Malanda (Qld) and Dr Miriam Grotowski from Tamworth (NSW). Each have embarked on very different practice ownership journeys, but the joy in leading their practices, in a manner true to their own values, was a uniting theme in their stories. They spoke of the strong sense of connection they had with their practice teams and their communities as a result of practice ownership.

The recording of the member meet-up is available to view online on the DWRM website. DWRM hosts several online member meet-ups per year, with fantastic guest speakers and an opportunity to interact and network with peers. Information about our meet-ups is posted here in the Rural newsletter or via our Facebook page, which anyone can join.

Good news: we've extended the FRACGP-RG application fee waiver and free conference registration offer until 30th June 2024.
 
We’ve made it easier for FRACGP and FARGPs to be assessed for Rural Generalist Fellowship through our streamlined recognition of prior learning and experience (RPLE) process. Plus, you can apply for free until 30 June 2024.
 
If you’ve already been awarded your FRACGP-RG through a process of RPLE (FRACGP and FARGP holders) and paid an application fee, you are eligible to claim one RACGP conference registration voucher. This offer is being made in recognition of your early support of the Rural Generalist Fellowship. To claim your conference registration voucher email rural@racgp.org.au.
 
Visit out website to find out more.

Rural Doctors Association of Australia Commonwealth Financial Support Calculator

The Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) has launched a Commonwealth Financial Support calculator for RDA members. The calculator crunches the numbers on the Commonwealth financial supports available to rural doctors, and gives an estimate of the amounts you are eligible for according to your MMM area, style of work, advanced skill etc.
 
Find out more information and access the calculator here.

The General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program (GPPTSP) provides $40,000 for eligible GP Fellows to complete the RANZCOG Associate Training Program (Advanced Procedural) or Advanced Rural Skills Training in Anaesthesia.
 
The GPPTSP aims to improve access to obstetric and anaesthetic services for women living in rural and remote communities by supporting GP Fellows to attain procedural skills in obstetrics or anaesthetics.
 
Eligibility
To be considered, applicants must be working principally in Monash Modified Model classifications MMM 3–7 and have achieved Fellowship of the RACGP and/or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).
 
How to apply
Obstetrics – applications are open until 28 July 2024. Visit the RANZCOG website to apply.

Anaesthetics – applications are open until 31 July 2024. Visit the ACRRM website to apply.

Participate in a research project

The RACGP supports research that contributes to the knowledge base of the profession. Anne Davis invites you to contribute to the “Why (not) rural practice?” project.
 
Why (not) rural practice?
A GP choosing rural practice, considers the clinical work and from the practical side, they look at the characteristics of the job. This qualitative research, uses semi-structured interviews with current, previous or potential rural GPs or GPs-in-training to understand how job characteristics (agreements, responsibilities, rewards) influence choice of rural practice, focusing on experiences and perspectives of the doctor and the interplay between the characteristics, different rural contexts.
 
Read the Participant Information Statement for details of participant involvement:
 
Time involvement of participants:
45-60 minutes in interview face-to-face or by Zoom

Compensation offered:
Prepaid credit card $165, equivalent to Medicare payment for 4 Level B consultations.

Contact details:
Anne Davis - anne.davis@anu.edu.au
Kirsty Douglas - kirsty.a.douglas@anu.edu.au

Join us for the final instalment of the highly popular Rural Health Webinar Series in collaboration with Medical Indemnity Protection Society (MIPS). This three-part series on medicolegal issues and risk management in rural practice is presented by Dr Owen Bradfield.
 
Owen is a dual-qualified general practitioner, health lawyer, and 2020 Fulbright Future Scholar who combines his role at MIPS with academic research at the University of Melbourne where he examines the intersection between legal claims and doctors’ health.
 
This webinar will explore different approaches to achieve a balanced and rewarding career in medicine. It follows on from Part 1: Common medicolegal risks in rural practice and Part 2: Health and wellbeing for rural doctors and the risks and impacts of medicolegal claims. You can catch up on the first two webinars here.
 
All sessions are CPD-accredited activities eligible for 1 hour of Educational Activities.

MIPS membership includes comprehensive indemnity cover for the provision of healthcare to individuals. MIPS exists to promote honourable and discourage irregular practice and to protect the interests of members. MIPS provides a range of benefits in addition to insurance covers such as our 24-hour Medico-Legal Support and accredited risk education workshops.  
mips.com.au | 1800 061 113 

Closing of the Joint Consultative Committee on Anaesthesia (JCCA)

As the Joint Consultative Committee on Anaesthesia (JCCA) is no longer responsible for GP anaesthesia training in Australia the Committee will be closing on 30 June 2024. Up to that date, rural GP anaesthetists who have enquiries of an administrative or historical nature (eg requesting copies of letters of satisfactory completion of training/ statements of equivalence) can email these to jcc@racgp.org.au for response.
 
For enquiries about the Rural Generalist Anaesthesia training program please email rga@anzca.edu.au.

Nominations for the RACGP Censor-in-Chief election close 3 June 2024

The Censor-in-Chief (CiC) provides academic leadership, strategic and policy advice and guidance on educational matters across the RACGP. The role ensures that the RACGP adopts an equitable, nationally consistent and coordinated approach to establishing and maintaining standards relating to education, training and assessment; to certification, re-certification and admission issues; and the recognition of qualifications and general practice experience.
 
As an elected member role, the CiC is also an ex offico member of the RACGP Board, who is bound by Board member obligations as set in the Constitution and has legal and common law responsibilities and duties as required under the Corporations Act and Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Governance Standards.
 
Visit the elections page to read through a detailed CiC position description and for further information on the nomination process for the CiC election.
 
Nominations close Monday 3 Jun 2024, 4.00pm (AEST).

Apply for a 2025 Education Research Grant before 31 May

Expressions of interest are open for the 2025 Education Research Grant program! Awarded annually, the Education Research Grant offers researchers an opportunity to fund their project. Grants of up to $150,000 are available for eligible projects. Expressions of interest close on Friday 31 May. Further information can be found here. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the future of GP training and medical education research, so apply today. 

Reconciliation starts with you

Join our webinar discussing the importance of National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2024, themed "Now More Than Ever." This year's theme highlights the urgent need to advocate for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  

Featuring guest speaker Dr. Mark Daley, GP at the First People’s Health and Wellbeing clinic and recipient of the 2023 RACGP Standing Strong Together Award. Dr. Daley’s work exemplifies collaborative healthcare partnerships recognised by the award, focusing on improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. 

The RACGP is committed to reconciliation and is devoted to positive relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.  

Date: Tuesday 4 June 2024 
Time: 7.30 – 8.30 PM (AEST)

Introduction to point-of-care ultrasound – pre-conference workshop at the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ) Conference, Brisbane QLD

RACGP Rural is running a full-day pre-conference, Introduction to point-of-care ultrasound for rural GPs workshop on Wednesday 19 June and will have a booth at the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland 2024 conference. We’d love to see you in Brisbane!

Date: Wednesday 19 June 2024
Time: 8.30 am – 4.30 pm
Location: Rydges South Bank Brisbane
Cost: $995 for RACGP members, $1,295 for non-members

Why attend?
The full-day workshop will enhance your understanding of the applications of point-of-care ultrasound in the diagnostic process. Experts will guide you through the diverse applications of point-of-care ultrasound in primary care services using advanced, high-end mobile ultrasound equipment provided by our sponsor GE Healthcare.
 
The workshop
The workshop will begin with an introduction by a GP with ultrasound expertise, who will explain the benefits of ultrasound and its various applications. For the remainder of the day, participants will rotate through six skills stations.
 
This workshop is a CPD-accredited activity eligible for 5 hours EA and five hours RP and is approved for all categories of the Rural Procedural Grants Program.