AGPT Rural and Rural Generalist training
Western Australia
Congratulations to video competition winner Dr Christopher Chi
RACGP WA partnered with Rural Health west for a new initiative – the ‘Live and Work in Rural WA’ competition – where health professionals and students were invited to share what it’s really like working in rural WA.
Chris’s video stood out for its authenticity as he rode through the town on his bike to give us a genuine look into life as a Rural Generalist in Kununurra, WA. It captured not just the work, but also the strong connection to community that makes rural medicine so rewarding for him.
Chris said ‘I’m honoured to win the ‘Live and Work in Rural WA’ competition! Being able to showcase what life is like in Kununurra, to hopefully inspire others to come up here and work, has been an enormous privilege. The Kimberley is honestly such a beautiful place and I would highly, highly recommend visiting if you've never been before.’
You can watch Dr Chris Chi’s winning video on Facebook.
South Australia
Rural Registrar Radiography training
In March, a select group of AGPT registrars travelled from across South Australia to attend a four-day Rural and Remote Radiography Course delivered by Country X-ray Training in the Clare Valley. The eight attendees will now be issued with intermediate radiography licences, enabling them to take X-rays at their local rural hospitals.
Many rural towns across SA rely on rural GP’s and Rural Generalists to provide radiography services at small local hospitals. Training registrars in this skill delivers clear benefits for local communities and rural GP supervisors. Participants found the course engaging and informative and are looking forward to taking their new skills back to their rural communities. This training was supported through rural training’s access to AGPT flexible funds.
Spotlight on the Lower Eyre Peninsula (MMM 6)
RACGP SA was delighted to partner with Country SA PHN at the inaugural meet and greet event for registrars, interns, and medical students from the Lower Eyre Peninsula, held in Port Lincoln.
Port Lincoln GP and RACGP SA Council Member Dr John Williams (pictured with local GP registrar trainees) shared his inspiring personal career journey, showcasing the many benefits and rewards of rural training. In a significant and exciting milestone for the region, Dr Williams commenced earlier this year as a locally based, ‘on-the-ground’ medical educator in this MMM 6 community. He will deliver ten small group learning sessions locally – an important first for this remote area and a major boost to local training capacity.
RACGP AGPT training numbers continue to grow strongly across the Lower Eyre Peninsula, spanning all levels of GP and Rural Generalist training. This includes a local practice hosting the region’s first Additional Rural Skills Training (ARST) post in Small Town Rural General Practice, and CORE Emergency Medicine Training (Rural Generalist – Emergency) at Tumby Bay. Both are clear signs of a thriving and expanding rural training pathway.
Victoria
RWAV Conference
The RACGP Rural and RACGP Victoria faculties were pleased to attend the RWAV Conference in Geelong on 5–6 March.
The conference provided a valuable opportunity to engage with key stakeholders central to rural training and workforce development, including representatives from the Victorian Rural Generalist Program (VRGP), universities, the Rural Workforce Agency, and Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS). These discussions strengthened existing relationships and fostered new connections that will directly inform ongoing work supporting rural generalist training across Victoria.
Networking opportunities throughout the event reinforced the importance of collaborative approaches to building a sustainable rural medical workforce.
Regional Visit
In early March, RACGP staff were pleased to undertake a series of rural and regional GP practice visits across Bendigo and Castlemaine.
Across the two days, RACGP engaged with a diverse range of practices including Strathfieldsaye Primary Health, The GP Clinic Bendigo, Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co‑operative, Castlemaine Botanical Health, Goldfields Medical Hub and Brooke Street Medical. Discussions highlighted the breadth of multidisciplinary care delivered by rural and regional practices, as well as the significant complexity and scope of care provided in these settings. The visits provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from members about workforce sustainability, business viability and training capacity
A practice visit by the Hon Mary‑Anne Thomas, Minister for Health, to Brooke Street Medical also enabled direct, grassroots discussion of the challenges facing rural general practice – reinforcing the message that regional practices can provide even more comprehensive care for their communities when supported by sustainable policy and funding settings.
Queensland
General practice registrars from Brisbane and surrounds travelled to St George, Surat, and Roma from 25–27 March as part of an RACGP program designed to showcase the realities, opportunities, and rewards of rural general practice. Led by RACGP Senior Medical Educators Dr Mike Hurley and Dr Cindi Jackson, the registrars visited local hospitals, general practices, and community health services including St George Hospital, Goondir Health Services, St George Medical Centre, Surat Multipurpose Health Service, Roma Hospital, and Maranoa Medical Centre. Education was a major focus of the trip, with registrars taking part in rural case discussions, sessions on skin cancer, sepsis and palliative care, and emergency medicine simulation training.
The RACGP acknowledges the support of the Western Queensland PHN, which has contributed funding for the trip, and the South West Hospital and Health Service, whose executive team has been instrumental in coordinating local site visits.
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