I was fortunate to attend another year of our GPs at Parliament event in Canberra alongside other GP representatives and College staff. This year in particular was very important for continued strong advocacy given the upcoming federal election.
Our focus was on advocating for more affordable and accessible health care for all Australians. During the week our discussions also focused on funding longer consultations and the benefits this would have for rural and remote communities including further meaningful discussions surrounding rural programs and incentives outside of our key asks.
I was encouraged by the keenness of all the politicians on both sides eager to discuss rural and remote healthcare, it’s challenges, as well as solutions towards helping bridge the postcode gap in health equality. From our discussions, it seems health will be a key part of the election campaigns. Whilst in Canberra we also were able to catch up with RDAA, ACRRM and AMA representatives. We also attended the RDAA annual function and it was a pleasure to share the halls of parliament with them as well as see alignment with many of our advocacy asks and messaging.
In other advocacy endeavours we approached the Department of Health and Aged Care about making the Workforce Incentives Program payments more accessible for remote healthcare, particularly for work surrounding Duty Medical Officer shifts within the Northern Territory. Hopefully this feedback will be taken on board and changes will be made to the program to make it more accessible. We are also in the final stages of the Rural Generalist specialist recognition process and will start to make plans about what this actually means for members once it is approved.
We encourage GPs with Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP) or RACGP Fellows (FRACGP) with rural and remote experience to apply for the RACGP’s Rural Generalist (RG) Fellowship.
If Rural Generalist Medicine (RGM), is recognised as a new field of specialty practice, earning the RG Fellowship means you’ll be formally recognised as an RG and remunerated for the additional skills you use to support the needs of your rural or remote community.
We also acknowledge that many competent and hardworking rural doctors do not wish to work with the extended scope of an RG. While RG is an important part of the rural workforce solution, it is not the only solution, and the RACGP is committed to recruiting, training and advocating for rural GPs, regardless of their chosen scope of practice.
RACGP Rural is looking to gather feedback surrounding rural GPs working within the aged care sector. This feedback will be utilised to inform and update our position statement on GP-led rural aged care and the barriers surrounding service provision. This survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes. We appreciate any feedback given and thank you for your time.
Introduction to Point-of-care Ultrasound - Melbourne
RACGP Rural invites you to attend an Introduction to Point-of-care Ultrasound workshop in Melbourne.
Date: Saturday 15 March 2025 Time: 8.30am – 4.30pm Venue: RACGP Office, 100 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002 Cost: $995 for RACGP members and $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.
CPD and grants
This workshop is an RACGP CPD Accredited Activity eligible for 10 CPD hours (5 hours Education Activity and 5 hours Reviewing Performance) and is approved for all categories of the Rural Procedural Grants Program.
The benefits of undertaking rural placements regardless of chosen training pathway are being spruiked to registrars at orientation sessions and other events right across the country – highlighting the educational, lifestyle and financial rewards that come with rural practice. This includes a rural showcase to 200 registrars in Sydney who met with rural practices, supervisors, practice managers and other key rural stakeholders.
Towns like Inverell, Warialda, Moree, Forbes, Wellington, Broken Hill and Dareton were represented and the conversations were plentiful. The ‘Taste the NT’ table offered a flavourful introduction to the Territory while sparking engaging discussions about training, financial support, and enriching cultural and educational medical experiences as part of training in the NT.
(L) Inverell Medical Centre Dr Davida Shirky talking to interested registrars (C) Peter Thomsen, JCTS NT Regional Manager, Dr Alida Lewis, Vic/NT Composite Registrar, Janelle Scholz, RACGP NT Rural & Workforce Coordinator, Sophie Hedges, RACGP NT Workforce Planning & Rural Manager
offer a taste of the NT (R) Rural Showcase delegates
The Society of Rural Physicians of Canada's 32nd Annual Rural and Remote Medicine Conference
Receive discounted rates through your RACGP Membership
Register for the 32nd Annual Rural and Remote Medicine Conference, taking place from April 24 to 26, 2025, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The event will bring together over 1,000 participants, 100+ exhibitors, and 150+ breakout sessions.
RACGP members are eligible for the same discounted rates as Society of Rural Physicians of Canada members.
Click below to learn more about the conference and to secure your attendance
Boost your skills with the Rural Procedural Grants Program
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?
Joining the RPGP is a great opportunity to access financial assistance to 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 depending 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.
Invitation to participate in a study to co-design an International Medical Graduates support framework
General Practice Supervision Australia (GPSA) invites you to participate in a study involving the co-design of a framework for collective action in supporting the satisfaction and progression of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) on rural GP training pathways.
Why is this project being done? IMGs are doctors who completed their medical training in a country outside of Australia. They play an important role in our rural GP workforce. However, they need relevant support along rural training pathways (including the pre-vocational and vocational periods). The AMC and others are increasing their support for IMGs, however, general practice needs to lead the sector in formulating practical responses.
What is involved? Participation in a co-design interview or focus group to inform solutions (which will mostly occur between March - May 2025). Participation is voluntary and this project has ethical approval from Monash University #44808.
To read the study information and express your interest, visit the GPSA website.
Child Wellbeing in Focus
Join the Victoria Faculty on Friday May 16 from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm (AEDT) at, Huon Hill, 48 Reid Street, Wodonga for an essential pre-conference workshop on child wellbeing at the Victorian Rural Health Conference.
This event will explore the latest best practices in child health, early intervention techniques and collaborative care models, all aimed at supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of young people.
Spread the word - encourage the next generation of GPs – 2026 applications open soon
Australia needs a strong general practice workforce. With your support, we can encourage the next generation to become a GP.
If you know someone that would make a great GP or Rural Generalist, encourage them to express their interest today.
Applications for the 2025 AGPT Program open on Monday 3 March 2025. Useful resources can be found on our website.
Helping us spread the word about the possibilities of a career in general practice is Dr Rachel Van Zetten. Rachel is a Rural Generalist Registrar specialising in emergency, in Esperance. Originally from rural Victoria, Rachel was surprised by the breadth of skills and resources available in such a remote area of WA. She shares more about her connection to community and passion for continuity of care in this video. WATCH NOW.
The year has already started with a bang – the Become a GP Team has attended more than 61 hospital orientations across Australia with more GP training info session planned for the coming months. If you’re interested in getting involved, contact us a becomeagp@racgp.org.au.
We’re excited to help the next generation of doctors join the profession and are here to help. Please encourage your colleagues to contact us on becomeagp@racgp.org.au or 1800 472 247 if they require any assistance.
Event in the spotlight
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.
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.
