Over the past month, RACGP Rural has been proud to represent members at a series of important events, each strengthening our advocacy and highlighting the vital role of rural general practice. 

We began with the Roma Forum, which this year marked the 20-year anniversary of the first Rural Generalist forum in Queensland. This milestone was an opportunity to celebrate how far the Rural Generalist pathway has come while looking ahead to the next 20 years. Conversations reflected on progress in training and service delivery, and also highlighted the continuing need for sustainable supervisor support, better locum relief, and recognition of advanced skills. The forum concluded with the launch of a draft Roma Charter, setting the stage for ongoing collaboration and advocacy. 

Soon after I was privileged to attend the launch of the RACGP’s Health of the Nation report in Canberra. This report provides a national spotlight on the state of general practice, highlighting key trends in patient access, workforce distribution, and the challenges GPs face in delivering comprehensive primary care.  

We also hosted our annual Rural Member Forum, which brought members together online from across Australia. The event featured a keynote by Dr Ineke Wever, highlights of the faculty’s achievements over the past year, and the introduction of our new Rural Council. Members valued the chance to connect, celebrate progress, and guide the faculty’s future direction. 

Finally, our Rural Generalist webinar provided timely updates following the recognition of Rural Generalist medicine as a new field of specialty practice. During this, we outlined what this milestone means for training, accreditation and workforce planning. Importantly, the webinar also gave members a chance to have their common questions answered, with strong engagement and discussion underscoring just how significant this recognition is for rural GPs and their communities.  

Looking ahead, we’re excited to connect with many of you at GP25 in Brisbane this November, where RACGP Rural will be hosting sessions, workshops and our Rural Council meeting. It promises to be another valuable opportunity to celebrate achievements, share knowledge and advocate for the future of rural general practice. Our very own RACGP Rural Doctors for Women in Rural Medicine Committee's pre-conference workshop "Empowering women in rural general practice: Leadership, advocacy and mentoring" led by an inspirational panel of speakers is sure to be a highlight.

Empowering women in rural general practice: Leadership, advocacy and mentoring – pre-conference workshop at GP25

The Doctors for Women in Rural Medicine Committee (DWRM) is excited to be hosting a pre-conference workshop at GP25.
 
‘Empowering women in rural general practice: Leadership, advocacy and mentoring’ is an immersive, face-to-face professional development workshop for rural women GPs. The aim is to strengthen networks, build confidence, and offer tangible skills to support women in navigating and shaping their careers.
 
The session will cover chairing meetings; mentoring; how to meet with your MP (and why you should); networking; career pathways and possibilities; and an interactive panel discussing leadership from the bush, where we’ll be joined by Dr Nicole Higgins, Dr Ashe Coxon, Dr Danielle Allan, Dr Karen Nicholls and Shayne Sutton, RACGP Chief Advocacy Officer.

Register for GP25 here
 
Make sure you include the workshop in your GP25 registration. If you’ve already registered for GP25 and would like to add the workshop to your registration, email the team at events@racgp.org.au.
 

Rural Generalist medicine: Next steps following formal recognition

Last month, we shared the exciting news that Rural Generalist medicine is now formally recognised as a specialist field within general practice – a milestone achieved after years of advocacy by the RACGP and ACRRM. 

We continue to work closely with the Australian Medical Council to accredit the RACGP Rural Generalist Fellowship (FRACGP-RG) as an official qualification. Meanwhile, Rural Generalist trainees and Fellows can proceed with their current training and applications. 

To support rural GPs interested in pursuing RG, the fee to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning and Experience has been reduced to $450*. Apply online. 

For more details, including FAQs and how this impacts you, visit our website.  

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to rural communities – as a rural GP or as an RG.  

*Additional fees may apply if additional training is required.

Congratulations to our Rural Generalist New Fellows

Congratulations to our Rural Generalist New Fellows who completed FRACGP-RG in September.

New RPGP online course directory

The RACGP Rural Procedural Grants Program (RPGP) team have put together a handy list of online courses that are eligible for online grant funding.
 
Join the RPGP to access financial support and keep your procedural and emergency medicine skills up to date – so you can continue delivering vital care to your community. You may be eligible for up to $32,000 per financial year, depending on the services you're credentialed to provide. Need assistance? Email the team at rural.procedural.grants@racgp.org.au
 
To be eligible to claim, you must first be registered on the program. Visit the RPGP website to learn more.

AGPT Rural and Rural Generalist training

Rural Generalism – what’s it really mean? 

Our WA Rural training team, the Rural Clinical School, and WACHS recently co-hosted a new Rural Generalism initiative in WA’s Mid West. Prevocational doctors and medical students gathered at the Geraldton Golf Club to explore what it means to be a Rural Generalist.  

Local GPs and RGs shared their diverse experiences across emergency, primary care, obstetrics, anaesthetics, mental health, and dermatology, highlighting the strong training pathways and collegiality within the Mid West. A lively ‘speed-dating’ activity gave attendees the chance to quiz panellists and bust myths about the RG pathway.  

Participants left with a clearer understanding of the RG curriculum and the many rewards of a career in rural medicine.  

Chapter of Perioperative Medicine update – ANZCA

The September 2025 Chapter of Perioperative Medicine Communique discusses the introduction of a new scholarship for ANZCA Course in Perioperative Medicine, announces registrations have opened for the November Perioperative Medicine SIG meeting in New Zealand, and provides an update on the number of multispecialty graduates of the chapter. 

These fully funded scholarships provide training in Implanon and IUD insertion for eligible health professionals, equipping you with the skills to expand contraceptive choice and support reproductive health in your community.  

AUSLARC is led by Sexual and Reproductive Australia (SRHA) in partnership with the RACGP. This initiative received grant funding from the Australian Government. It includes a national evaluation framework to support long-term impact and sustainability.  

Who can apply?  

• GPs  

• Nurse Practitioners  

• Registered Nurses  

• Midwives  

What’s included?  

• Free Implanon and IUD training delivered by SRHA Sexual and Reproductive Health Organisations in every state and territory  

• Travel reimbursement for eligible participants travelling more than 100km to attend training  

• Streamlined online access via a new centralised portal for registration, scholarships and reimbursement claims  

Apply today on the SRHA website and take the next step in strengthening access to long-acting reversible contraception across Australia.  

Online Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training

RACGP Rural’s Online Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training (FPS ST) package provides GPs with essential training to enable them to become a GP provider of Focussed Psychological Strategies (FPS) and provide cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)-derived counselling to patients in their practice.
 
This flexible, fully online and accredited training package uses technology, peer learning groups and locally available resources to provide GPs with access to complete all the requirements of FPS ST – without leaving their home or practice. 
 
On completion, GPs can register with Medicare as FPS providers and access FPS related MBS numbers 2721, 2723, 2725 and 2727.
 
The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) is currently offering GPs a training subsidy that covers part of the cost of completing accredited Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training (FPS ST). The subsidy is limited and subject to availability.
 
Eligible GPs will be reimbursed $600 once they complete the requirements for the Online FPS ST package and register as GP providers of FPS with Medicare Australia. For more information on the FPS training subsidy, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the GPMHSC website.

Changes to Medicare: resources for your practice

From 1 November, the Federal Government’s new bulk billing incentives will take effect. To support you, the RACGP has developed a suite of practical resources to help you navigate patient conversations and manage the impact on your practice. 
 
Resources include posters, postcards, FAQs, website and on-hold wording, and social media content for your practice channels. Recordings from the Changes to Medicare webinar series are also available. 
 
These materials are designed to help you: 

• explain what the changes mean for your practice 

• reassure patients about the value of ongoing GP care 

• reduce pressure on reception and clinical staff. 

Explore the resources 

Have your say in the 2025 RACGP Member Engagement Survey

The 2025 RACGP Member Engagement Survey is open next week, 29 October, and we hope you’ll take this chance to tell us what matters most to you as an RACGP member. Whether you’re navigating the early stages of general practice or well established in your career, we’re listening and acting on what you tell us. 
 
You’ll receive a personalised link by email to complete the survey. It takes about 15 minutes, and your input will shape how we represent, support and connect the profession in the years ahead. Participants will go in the draw to win their choice of one year of complimentary RACGP membership or full registration to GP26. 

Notice of the 68th RACGP Annual General Meeting

The 2025 RACGP AGM will be held on Thursday 13 November at 5.00 pm AEST at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, and livestreamed via Zoom. 
 
Eligible members will have the opportunity to vote on key resolutions, including governance reforms. AGM voting opens Monday 3 November. 
 
Register to attend, submit a question for the Board of Directors, or view the AGM notice in full on our website.

RACGP Convocation at GP25

Join us at 3.00 pm on Thursday 13 November (directly before the AGM) for RACGP Convocation – a chance to vote for the member proposal you'd like to see enacted by the College over the coming year. 

Shortlisted proposals will be presented by their authors in person at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, with the winner to be announced on the day. 

Discover the proposals and vote for your favourite here.