I would like to start out by congratulating the four recipients of the 2025 RACGP Rural awards, which honour achievement in rural general practice:
Rural Registrar of the Year Award – Dr Stephanie Moore
Rural Generalist of the Year Award – Dr James McLeod
Rural Medical Student Bursary Award – Aleesha Scarffe
Community Project of the Year Award – Dr Tim Robinson
Thank you for going above and beyond to care for your patients and your dedication to your rural and remote communities.
November has been an energising month for RACGP Rural, highlighted by the success of GP25 and an outstanding rural-themed day. Our ‘Beyond the Announcement: Building the future of Rural Generalism’ panel prompted thoughtful discussion about the future of RG training, workforce development and service sustainability. Alongside this, the ‘Empowering Women in Rural General Practice’ pre-conference workshop, held by our very own Doctors for Women in Rural Medicine Committee, was a huge success. The day provided a powerful and well-received program, combining practical leadership, advocacy, and mentoring skill development – with inspiring insights from an all-star panel.
Rural Day itself was a standout success, centred around the RACGP booth and creating a lively hub for connection throughout the conference. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and distinctly rural, with staff and Council members in rural hats to keep the team visible and inject a little extra personality into the event. Rural Day also served as the platform for several key announcements, including the launch of the RACGP and RDAA conjoint #DestinationRural medical student bursary program and the RACGP’s newly ARC accredited GP ALS2 course. During the conference, I also had the opportunity to meet with the registrars that were sponsored by RACGP Rural to attend GP25. Their enthusiasm for rural careers and reflections underscored the importance of early-career support, mentorship and opportunities to connect with the wider rural community. They were attending from a variety of rural locations across the country including Tumby Bay, Wallerawang, Kalgoorlie, and Cunnamulla.
A/Prof Michael Clements Chair, RACGP Rural
(L) Dr Ken Wanguhu, Dr Mike Beckoff, Dr Charlotte Lovejoy, Dr Mike Hurley, Dr Karin Jodlowski-Tan and A/Prof Michael Clements (C) A/Prof Michael Clements & Dr Karin Jodlowski-Tan with rural registrars (R) Dr Christie Rodda, Dr Sarah Cook, Dr Kaylene Girgenti
Rural news
2025 Rural Award Winners
L - R Dr Stephanie Moore, Dr James McLeod, Dr Tim Robinson, Aleesha Scarffe
A huge congratulations to our 2025 RACGP Rural Award winners:
Rural Registrar of the Year Award – Dr Stephanie Moore, Queensland
Rural Generalist of the Year Award – Dr James McLeod, South Australia
Student Bursary Award – Aleesha Scarffe, Tasmania
Rural Community Project of the Year Award – Dr Tim Robinson, Queensland
Dr Moore, Dr McLeod and Dr Robinson were presented with their awards at the National Awards Ceremony at GP25, and Aleesha was celebrated at the Tasmanian Awards Ceremony.
Thank you for your contributions to rural general practice!
GP ALS2
When: 20–21 February, 8.30am – 4.30pm Where: Greenslopes Clinical School, Greenslopes QLD 4120
Cost: $1850 for RACGP members
Tailored for rural and remote general practice, our ARC-accredited course provides you with clinical emergency medicine training.
Join the two-day Advanced Life Support Level 2 (ALS2) course to learn essential emergency medicine skills with rurally contextualised simulations and skills training. Meet your health service ALS2 requirement and gain 26 CPD hours. This course is also approved for the emergency medicine and anaesthetic categories of the Rural Procedural Grants Program.
With only 18 spots and an exceptional 1:3 instructor-to-participant ratio, you’ll receive personalised, hands-on training from experienced GP instructors.
RACGP Queensland is offering limited, heavily discounted places for Queensland GPs in Modified Monash Model (MMM) 2-7 regions to complete GP ALS2 in Brisbane. Each scholarship will reduce registration to $100 (full value $1850) to complete the course with RACGP. You will be required to register and pay the full amount. Once the workshop has been completed and you receive your certificate of completion, you will be refunded $1750. This program is funded by the generosity of the Dr Bruce Roberts’ bequest, donated to RACGP Queensland to develop and support ongoing education initiatives for GPs living and working in regional, rural, and remote Queensland communities. Submit your expression of interest on our website.
Rural Procedural Grants Program end-of-year claim dates
The RPGP team would like to wish all of our members a joyful festive season.
The last day to submit claims for 2025 is 9 December. Any claims received after this date will be processed in early January 2026.
The RPGP 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. 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
South Australia
RACGP Rural Generalist (RG) AGPT trainee Dr Verity Lang has featured in local press in the Yorke and Northern Region of South Australia. The region has welcomed Verity, who is completing the second semester of her Additional Rural Skills Training (ARST) in Palliative Care, which commenced at Wirringka Palliative Care unit Modbury in February. Verity will then be based in Clare but will work across sites in Port Pirie and Wallaroo on the Yorke Peninsula.
Verity began her RG training journey as an intern in Mount Gambier and has worked far and wide across South Australia, including a term as a registrar at Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service. She exemplifies all the qualities and capabilities of an RG registrar.
The position is one of two in South Australia funded by a Commonwealth program specifically for RG trainees completing an additional rural skills post (or ARST).
Western Australia
We’re pleased to announce the accreditation of a new ARST post in Adult Internal Medicine at Hedland Health Campus, Port Hedland, WA. This initiative will strengthen rural healthcare by equipping RG registrars with the advanced clinical skills their communities need. Established under the Commonwealth-funded ARST pilot program, in partnership with RACGP, this achievement reflects the outstanding collaboration and dedication of the local RACGP training team. Their expertise and support were instrumental in securing the post’s accreditation.
A committed RG registrar is preparing to relocate to Port Hedland to commence ARST via the AGPT Rural Generalist pathway, with plans to continue GP training in the region – a promising step towards long-term workforce sustainability. This milestone not only addresses critical healthcare gaps in remote WA, but also highlights the power of local leadership and commitment in delivering high-quality rural training.
‘I’m excited to begin my ARST in Port Hedland. This opportunity allows me to deepen my skills in internal medicine while contributing meaningfully to rural healthcare. I’m grateful for the support of the RACGP team and look forward to continuing my journey in general practice here in the Pilbara.’ – WA RG Registrar.
New South Wales
The NSW rural training team were proud to host a two-day Rural Round-Up in Western NSW, offering registrars a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the realities of delivering healthcare across diverse rural and remote settings.
Registrars got to see firsthand how, even in some of the most isolated regions, healthcare providers are supported through innovative remote-service models such as VCARE. These systems ensure that specialist advice is accessible and that no doctor is left working in isolation. Throughout the trip, registrars engaged with local communities, experienced the unique model of health care delivered at an Aboriginal Medical Service, built professional networks, and gained valuable insights into the strengths and complexities of rural health systems. This experience is designed to foster cultural awareness, clinical adaptability, and a strong sense of connection to the communities they serve.
(L) Rural registrars at the NSW Rural Round-up (C) Dr Tom Ryan, Dr Verity Lang, Dr Lawrie Palmer (R) Port Hedland Health Service
2025 Rural and Remote Health Awards presented by Rural Health Pro and supported by RDN
Congratulations to the 2025 Rural and Remote Health Award recipients:
This webinar will raise awareness of the benefits of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), including their effectiveness and suitability across life stages, while addressing common barriers to their use in rural settings. Through a practical case study, you’ll gain insights into patient counselling, clinical decision-making, and management approaches. The session will also outline pathways for upskilling through the AUSLARC scholarship program, which offers fully funded education and travel support to help rural and remote GPs access accredited LARC training.
Learning outcomes:
Describe the mechanism of action, efficacy and benefits of LARCs.
Apply clinical decision-making skills to assess patient suitability for different LARC methods.
Identify pathways and available supports through AUSLARC scholarship program to enhance rural and remote GP participation in accredited LARC training.
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 $800 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.
Primary Care at the Frontline: Tackling Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease in NSW
Join us for an essential webinar on acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in NSW.
Learn how to identify early signs, manage long-term care, and support high-risk patients—especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Māori and Pasifika young people and pregnant people. This session is designed to empower GPs with practical tools and insights to improve outcomes and prevent disease progression.
Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your clinical impact.
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.
