I had the pleasure of attending the National Single Employer Model (SEM) forum in Emerald this month. We had the opportunity to discuss critical issues shaping the future of general practice including the national roll out of various SEM models. The forum, led by the QLD Office of Rural and Remote Health, brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from: national colleges, health services, registrars, and policymakers, to explore the future of the SEM and its role in supporting rural GP sustainability.

The forum included insightful discussions on jurisdictional and service perspectives, with a detailed analysis on industrial, contractual and financial mechanisms across the different regions where the SEM was implemented. A particular highlight was the panel with registrars, who shared their firsthand experiences with the SEM and it is worth noting one of the key components for the SEM to work is the ability for early and easy exit from the model, especially , if the trainee recognises traditional engagement with the general practice is more beneficial to them It was also noted that the bipartisan commitment this election to registrar pay equivalence and parental leave is likely to influence the attractiveness of government SEM models in the future. 
 
Many of you may have seen the recent changes to the MMM and DPA classifications that was announced by the federal government earlier this month. Whilst we do welcome the changes to the MMM classification system, as it will mean more Medicare support and incentives for those towns, we are concerned about the impact some of the DPA reclassifications may have on struggling rural and remote communities. For example, the idea that Surfers Paradise and the Sunshine Coast are needful of priority to access overseas doctors is mystifying, when we know that this will certainly drag doctors from nearby rural communities. We have written to the minister raising our concerns over the negative impact of these changes on nearby rural workforces. We note that the opposition has also called out the government for how the policy is favouring specific electorates.
 
As the elections get closer can I please remind you all how important it is that you reach out to and engage with your federal members and candidates. Share your rural stories and concerns, your challenges and your suggestions for opportunities as this is a key time of the political cycle to ensure the GP voice is acted on. Your voice matters to your community.



A/Prof Michael Clements
Chair, RACGP Rural

Congratulations to our Rural Generalist New Fellows!

Congratulations to our new Rural Generalist Fellows who completed FRACGP-RG in February 2025.

Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme

From May 2025, the Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme (CWCS) will cover the cost of wound consumable products for older people aged 65 and over, or First Nations people aged 50 and over, who have diabetes and a chronic wound.
 
About the CWCS
The CWCS will help eligible patients manage their chronic wounds. It will cover the full cost of products they need to heal, such as bandages, dressings and adhesives. 
We will consult with wound care experts to develop the full list of products the scheme will cover.
 
How it will work
A patient with a chronic wound will go to an eligible health professional. The health professional will assess the wound and order the required wound care products for their patient through an online portal. 
 
The health professional will be able to choose from various wound care products listed on the online portal. We are developing the list of eligible products. The wound care products will be delivered to a patient’s home or health professional's office, at no cost for the patient. 
 
More information
Join our Rural Health Webinar Series special edition on Chronic wound management in rural communities. Presented by Australia's first wound nurse practitioner, this webinar will provide valuable insights into the practical management and best practice for treating high-risk groups. Attendees will also gain a deeper understanding on the essential elements of the Chronic Wound Consumable Scheme.
 
Date: Thursday 1 May 2025
Time: 7.30pm – 8.30pm AEST
Location: Online via Zoom
 
Register here

Introduction to Point-of-care Ultrasound - Newcastle

RACGP Rural invites you to attend an Introduction to Point-of-care Ultrasound workshop in Melbourne.
 
Date: Saturday 3 May 2025
Time: 8.30am – 4.30pm
Venue: Mercure Newcastle, 12 Steel Street, Newcastle West NSW
Cost: $995 for RACGP members, $695 for RACGP registrars

About the course:
This full-day workshop will help increase 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 rural primary care. You will be introduced to basic techniques using advanced, high-end mobile ultrasound equipment provided by our sponsor GE Healthcare.
 
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.

This workshop is sponsored by our partner GE HealthCare.

AGPT Rural and Rural Generalist Training

Connection into rural communities is important and is a key part of the work of the rural training team. This month the WA team travelled to the Midwest and this included a regional small group learning session in Geraldton. This was a valuable opportunity to promote rural generalism to registrars and strengthen stakeholder relationships.
 
The NT team hosted the Rural Generalist Skills and Networking Evening in Alice Springs. Alex Kaethner, Director of Strong Hearts, led an interactive session on Rheumatic Heart Disease & Point-of-Care Echo for rural and remote settings. Dr. Kate Lloyd, RACGP GP Supervisor Liaison Officer, shared her inspiring journey as a rural GP in Alice Springs, offering practical advice and key insights into the path to becoming a Rural Generalist.
 
At the National Single Employer Model Forum in Emerald Queensland, we connected with rural stakeholders on funding models that support rural training and had the opportunity to learn about some of the innovative models of care and strategies to grow your own rural workforce in the Central Highlands.

2026 Education Research Grant program

Expressions of interest opening Monday 7 April
 
Expressions of interest for the 2026 Education Research Grant program (ERG) will be opening on 7 April, 2025. Our 2026 Application guide has detailed information on the application process, key dates and structure of the ERG program. Prospective applicants can also attend an information webinar on Tuesday, 15 April.
 
Grants of up to $150,000 are available for eligible projects. The research priority areas for 2026 are listed below, however we encourage candidates to apply even if their area of research falls outside of these.
 

1. Supervision: Recruitment, selection, support and retention of high-quality general practice supervisors
2. Artificial Intelligence technologies in general practice: Exploring the implications and impact of emerging artificial intelligence technologies in GP training
3. Education and Assessment: Educational and assessment strategies in GP training: effectiveness, implementation, quality improvement and innovation
4. Career pathways: Career paths and types of practice of recent fellows, and implications for GP training
5. Training environments: Enabling and building positive training experiences in evolving training environments
6. Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, knowledge, practice and worldview: Exploring best practice approaches to how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, ways of knowing, being and doing, and a holistic worldview of health, healing and cultural safety are embedded across GP training, education and assessment
7. Rural general practice training: Supporting quantity, quality and attractiveness across rural GP training
8. Research capacity: Developing research skills and culture in general practice training environments
9. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander general practitioners: Pathways to success for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander GP trainees and GPs.

 
To learn more about the 2026 Education Research Grant program please visit our website or reach out to our education research team at gpedresearch@racgp.org.au

The Rural Procedural Grants Program (RPGP) helps cover the cost of professional development for GPs who provide procedural and/or emergency medicine services in unsupervised settings in rural and remote areas.

Not in the program?
Join the RPGP. It’s a great opportunity to access financial assistance, maintain or update your procedural and or emergency medicine skills so you can continue to provide vital services to your rural or remote community. You may be eligible for more than $20,000 in funding per financial year, this depends on the services you are credentialed to provide.

If you have any questions about the RPGP, or your eligibility, we’re here to help. The dedicated RPGP team can support you throughout the application or claims process and assist with any queries. Please visit our website,  email the team or give us a call on 1800 636 764 for more information. 

Doctors for Women in Rural Medicine Committee

DWRM celebrated International Women’s Day in March in an online member meet-up with an inspiring presentation from Associate Professor Louise Stone, a passionate advocate for gender equality and general practice. The recording of the session is accessible on the DWRM webpage along with a library of nine other DWRM member meet-up recordings - check them out!
 
It has been heartening to see the recent government announcement of $573 million package for women’shealth. It includes: PBS funding for contraceptive pills and menopausal hormone therapy, increased Medicare rebates for LARC insertion, new rebates for menopause item numbers and training of health professionals in menopause assessment as well as funding for new pelvic pain clinics.
 
DWRM have also welcomed both the Labor government and Liberal opposition election commitments of increased funding for general practice workforce and training, including paid parental leave. However, knowing that female GPs are more likely to engage in longer consults and mental health care, DWRM will continue to advocate both within the College and externally as we push for increased funding for these item numbers to ensure we work towards eliminating the gender pay gap, whilst we continue to provide the best quality comprehensive care to our communities.
 
DWRM have also been advocating within the College and with the Council of Medical Deans regarding application requirements for entry into medical studies that requires applicants to complete 12 months FTE post-graduate tertiary study if their undergraduate degree was greater than 10 years prior. We recognise the disadvantage this may create for parents (primarily women) who have taken periods of leave due to family duties and/or those living in rural areas with barriers to accessing tertiary study.

Invitation for women GPs to participate in a research study

Associate Professor Louise Stone invites Australian women GPs who are either retiring or reducing their clinical GP load by at least 50% within the last or next 5 years to participate in a research study. This involves completing a survey and then participating in an interview.
 
The purpose is to identify the reasons why general practice has become so challenging for women and the factors that influenced the decision to retire or reduce clinical load. The study is sponsored by an RACGP Wellbeing Grant and is being undertaken with the University of Adelaide.
 
You can find out more about the project, and complete the survey here.

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 10 July 2025. Visit the RANZCOG website to apply.
Anaesthetics – visit the ACRRM website for more information and to apply.

Online Focussed Psychological Strategies Skills Training (FPS ST)

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.