The RACGP recently hosted GPs@Parliament in Canberra, bringing general practitioners from across the country together to meet directly with federal parliamentarians and policymakers. I was pleased to attend on behalf of RACGP Rural to ensure rural perspectives were strongly represented in these discussions.
The event provided an important opportunity to highlight the realities of providing care in rural and remote communities, and the critical role rural general practice plays in keeping local health systems functioning. Conversations focused on key issues affecting rural practices, including Medicare settings, workforce challenges, practice viability and ensuring rural patients can access timely, high-quality care.
While in Canberra, I also participated in the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges Rural Workshop, which brought together medical colleges and key stakeholders to discuss shared priorities for strengthening the rural medical workforce and supporting training pathways in rural and remote communities.
However, the recent Federal Government announcement of a new national pharmacy prescribing pilot represents a dangerous step, allowing patients seeking oral contraceptives to forego seeing their GP. Given the pilot will not commence until January 2027, there has never been a more important time for members to pick up the phone and contact your local MP and Senators. If you would like support drafting an email, contact gpadvocate@racgp.org.au or access a template the College has already drafted here.
Direct engagement with policymakers and stakeholders is essential to ensuring rural health policy reflects the realities of working in smaller communities. Thank you to everyone involved in these conversations and for continuing to advocate for rural general practice and the communities we serve.
Associate Professor Michael Clements Chair of RACGP Rural
Alison Penfold MP (Member for Lyne), Associate Professor Michael Clements and Dr Rob Hosking
Rural news
Update to WIP – Rural Advanced Skills eligibility
The RACGP is pleased that following our advocacy, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has advised that changes will be made to the Workforce Incentive Program – Rural Advanced Skills guidelines.
Previously, eligibility was assessed based on a GP’s total employment across MMM 1–7 locations, which meant some doctors providing regular services in MMM 3–7 communities were unable to access the incentive if they also worked in metropolitan areas.
Under the updated guidelines, FTE will now be calculated only based on service delivered in MMM 3–7 locations. This change better reflects the intent of the program and will enable more rural doctors, including those working across both rural and metropolitan settings to access this incentive.
RACGP Rural advocated strongly on this issue and welcomes the change. Updated guidelines are expected to be published shortly.
Following the success of our February webinar, join us for part two of our long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) webinar series. This extended 90-minute webinar will explore complex case scenarios, offer practical guidance to strengthen confidence and competence after training, and offer tips and strategies for establishing and sustaining rural LARC services – including information on funded training opportunities.
You’ll gain insights into:
how to set up and grow LARC services in rural and remote settings
strategies to increase community awareness and improve client uptake
building referral pathways and attracting clients
practical strategies from field experience
the AUSLARC outreach model, including rural and remote training opportunities and how you can get involved.
Supporting registrars with ongoing cultural education
Feel confident working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients by connecting with your local Joint Colleges Training Services cultural educator.
Cultural educators provide practical, culturally informed guidance to help you embed culturally safe approaches in everyday GP practice.
The Rural Procedural Grants Program provides financial support to 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. To be eligible to claim, you must first be registered on the program. Visit the RPGP website to check your eligibility for the program and learn more.
RACGP partnered with the WA Health Professionals Network (HPN) in October 2025 to strengthen collaboration across the health system and support high-quality, accessible care across WA. The partnership focuses on enhancing GP education, research, and professional support in rural and remote regions. Seven HPNs operate across the state, bringing local clinicians together to address regional health priorities.
As part of this collaboration, RACGP supported the Southwest HPN chronic pain workshop in Busselton. The interactive session was delivered by Dr Donnetta Charles, physiotherapist David Barton, and Dr Laura Haynes.
The event offered valuable insights into regional needs, networking opportunities in a relaxed environment, and reinforced the importance of our ongoing partnership with HPN to strengthen support for rural and remote clinicians.
Apply for the General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program
The General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program (GPPTSP) provides $40,000 for eligible Fellows to support completion of the RANZCOG Associate Training Program (Advanced Procedural) or ANZCA Rural Generalist Anaesthesia training program.
The GPPTSP aims to improve access to obstetric and anaesthetic services for women living in rural and remote communities by supporting Fellows to attain procedural skills in obstetrics or anaesthetics.
Eligibility
To be considered, applicants must be working principally in MMM3–7 areas and have achieved Fellowship of the RACGP or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).
How to apply
Obstetrics – applications are open on the RANZCOG website until 31 July.
Anaesthetics – visit the ACRRM website for more information and to apply.
Webinar: Mandatory reporting
The RACGP is running a webinar with Avant on mandatory reporting on Tuesday 21 April at 7.00 pm AEST.
The webinar will cover:
Ahpra’s role in enforcing mandatory reporting laws
the obligations of treating and non-treating doctors
arrangements in WA where doctors are exempt from mandatory reporting obligations
information, resources, and services to support GP wellbeing.
Calling GP’s interested in mental health education
Are you a registered GP provider of Focussed Psychological Strategies (FPS) with a passion for teaching and supporting peers? RACGP Rural is currently seeking expressions of interest from experienced and suitably qualified GPs to facilitate small‑group, case‑based discussion sessions as part of the online FPS Skills Training and FPS CPD case-based discussion courses.
As an FPS facilitator, you will:
guide learning by providing expert advice during each group session
support GP participants to deepen their understanding of psychological interventions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, interpersonal therapy, and psychoeducation.
Hosted by RACGP Rural Chair Associate Professor Michael Clements and RACGP Tasmania Chair Dr Toby Gardner, network with colleagues over coffee and breakfast. We’ll share some of the RACGP’s key achievements and update Tasmanian members and stakeholders.
Date: Saturday 30 May
Time: 7.00–8.30 am
Venue: Paranaple Convention Centre, 137 Rooke St, Devonport TAS 7310
Cost: Free
Expressions of interest are now open to become an accredited training site for the 2026.2 semester.
Interest in the RACGP’s GP training program is at an all-time high, with more doctors than ever choosing general practice as their career pathway.
To ensure the RACGP can provide high-quality training experiences for this growing cohort, we are expanding our network of accredited training sites. Expressions of interest are now open for practices and supervisors in identified priority workforce areas located in MMM 2–7 and selected MMM 1 regions.
As an accredited training site, you’ll also gain access to RACGP support and resources, along with financial incentives for supervision and teaching to support registrar training.
Date: Saturday 18 April
Time: 8.30 am – 4.30 pm
Venue: Rydges North Sydney, 54 McLaren Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060
Cost: $1,095 for RACGP members, $765 for RACGP registrars
About the course
This full-day workshop will increase your understanding of the applications of point-of-care ultrasound in the diagnostic process. Experts will guide you through its diverse applications in rural primary care. You’ll be introduced to basic techniques using advanced, high-end mobile ultrasound equipment provided by our sponsor Sonosite.
The workshop is capped at 30 participants to allow increased hands-on experience.
Participants will rotate through six ultrasound skills stations:
eFast
deep venous thrombosis
heart and lung ultrasound
intravenous line placement and foreign object retrieval
musculoskeletal soft tissue
first trimester transabdominal obstetric ultrasound
CPD and grants
This workshop is an RACGP CPD accredited activity, eligible for 10 CPD hours (5 EA hours and 5 RP hours) and is approved for all categories of the Rural Procedural Grants Program.
Disclaimer: The RACGP does not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage that may result from reliance on, or the use of, any information contained in this newsletter.
The RACGP acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land and sea in which we live and work. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and culture and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.
