It’s hard to believe that we’re halfway through the year already. There’s been lots of activity within the College recently, with a key recent event being Crazy Socks 4 Docs Day, held on 7 June. This is an important day in our calendar, with the movement launched by Dr Geoff Toogood back in 2017 to create awareness and break down the stigma faced by doctors who experience mental health issues.

At the RACGP we also use this day to highlight the need for changes to mandatory reporting laws which require treating practitioners to report colleagues where they believe their health condition places the public at risk. All GPs have the right to care and support without the fear of repercussions for seeking help. If you, or someone you know needs assistance, the College has a range of mental health resources that are accessible to members, as well as a free support program that provides telephone counselling.  I also encourage you to check in on your colleagues, near and far, to see how they’re doing. Working rurally brings about unique challenges that can contribute to increased risk of burnout, so it’s important that we look after ourselves and our rural colleagues.

In some positive news, the recent Queensland budget saw a commitment to provide up to 500 GPs in training with $40,000 incentive payments. This is a great result for our Queensland colleagues and will hopefully see more GP trainees working rurally. However, we need to continue to advocate for change across all levels of government across the country. I touched on this last month but would like to take the opportunity to again encourage you all to get involved with our GP Advocate Network and make your voices heard within your electorate. We need our rural and remote members more than ever to cover off on the diverse electorates we work and live in. Training will be provided by the College for advocates so that you can most effectively make your voices heard.

This month our Rural team hosted an Introduction to Point-of-Care Ultrasound workshop at the Rydges Hotel in Brisbane, which was held as a pre-RDAQ Conference workshop. These workshops are a great opportunity to gain experience and comfort in using point-of-care ultrasound in the diagnostic process, with the June workshop providing participants with hands-on experience in a variety of different contexts including deep venous thrombosis, heart and lung ultrasound, intravenous line placement and first trimester transabdominal obstetric ultrasound (just to name a few!). The next workshop will be held in Darwin on 20 July 2024, and for those located in the region, I encourage you to find the time to attend.

Coming up in the calendar, we also have a member meet-up planned for Friday 12 July as part of the Emergency Medicine for Rural GPs Face-to-Face workshop in Lismore, NSW.  These meet-ups are great events for networking with other rural colleagues, as well as the opportunity to connect with your Faculty Council representatives. If you’re looking to attend, more information and a registration link has been provided further down in the newsletter.


A/Prof Michael Clements
Chair, RACGP Rural

Deputy Chairs Report

Dr Rod Omond

Since last month’s newsletter, I have represented the Rural Council at the Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania-organised Tasmanian Rural Health Conference. The conference emphasised Registrar training along with innovative models of Primary Care structures, from private practice to cooperation with local area health services. This was alongside clinical topics and practice management workshops. The themes were along the lines of the Victorian Rural Health Conference I summarised last month. The pressing issue alongside clinical ones for rural GPs is workforce. The two conferences both presented options that doctors have developed to address the problem in the local setting, and allowed some speculation on where we could go next.

There is encouragement in Tasmania from the government with, for instance, a Single Employer Model trial underway. Like all such steps, it is a single puzzle piece in a complex system. However, I spoke to Tasmania’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Dinesh Arya, who attended the conference to gather information on options to support rural primary care.  Cooperation between rural GPs and government-based structures are critical in allowing appropriate innovation in the rural sector, particularly in encouraging new GPs into rural practice, by training options or with the relocation of Fellows.

On a different topic, council elections are coming up, with the QLD, VIC and NSW/ACT Rural Council representative positions open for election.  Also, there are positions in each of the state-based councils. I joined the Rural Council in 2010 as the NT representative. There was no NT rep at the time, and I felt that no change would occur unless the perspectives of rural members, including in the NT, were expressed. While discussions at councils (State or Rural) certainly create no instant results, persistent advocacy by the College really originates at this level. A big part of this is the background work our hard-working staff do in researching and reporting on issues for each council. Advocating for effective change requires understanding the issues adequately. So, consider nominating for a council position in order to assist with this process.

Dr Vicki Mattiazzo

I have been looking into ways to facilitate movement between urban and rural practice. Various models exist around the country which aim to facilitate movement between urban and rural as life circumstances and interests change. Queensland has the Virtual Integrated Practice (VIP) Program and the RACGP had begun developing a Practice-to-Practice program which unfortunately lost traction during COVID.  I am keen to see how these programs can help support workforce issues in our rural communities.

Rod has mentioned Council elections. I became involved with RACGP rural out of frustration from not feeling heard as a rural GP. Since becoming involved I have learned a lot about the advocacy done by the College. I encourage anyone who is interested in helping to make change, big or small, to become involved.

Boost your skills with the Rural Procedural Grants Program

The Rural Procedural Grants Program (RPGP) is a Department of Health program administered by the RACGP. It provides financial assistance to GPs who provide procedural and/or emergency medicine services in unsupervised settings in rural and remote areas MMM3-7. 
 
This funding enables access to relevant educational activities aimed at maintaining or updating procedural and/or emergency medicine skills.

New program guidelines that reflect revised activity eligibility arrangements, including overseas activities and the continuation of online activity eligibility, were released in May 2024 and are available for viewing on our website as well as the Department of Health and Aged Care Rural Procedural Grants Program website.
 
Please visit our website for more information and details on how to register.

Doctors for Women in Rural Medicine Committee

The Doctors for Women in Rural Medicine Committee continues to capture the voices of and issues affecting RACGP members to provide clear recommendations to the RACGP Rural Council, RACGP Board and Federal Government to support women in rural and remote medicine. We do this by listening to your concerns, collaborating with other groups with similar objectives and contributing to consultations and College policy.
 
Last year our Chair, Dr Christie Rodda, contributed to RANZCOG's 2023 Rural Women's Health Roundtable, which informed their recently released Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Health Strategy.
 
In September we look forward to co-presenting a collaborative workshop at the National Rural Health Alliance conference in Perth with nursing and allied health peak bodies (APNA and AHPA), the RDAA and La Trobe Rural Clinical School. This was an initiative of the DWRM, recognising that we work best in collaboration when we have shared objectives. The workshop will explore the issues impacting rural female health workforce participation, further building on the findings from our workshop at WONCA23 and will help inform our ongoing advocacy work.
 
Our committee members are also currently working with RDAA's Female Doctors Group to see better access to childcare in rural areas. 
 
If you have issues you'd like us to raise or would like to get involved in our work, know that we're a very friendly and inclusive bunch and we're here to hear your thoughts! Please get in touch at rural@racgp.org.au or via our Facebook group.

Do you know an extraordinary GP, GP in training or medical student going above and beyond? Nominate them for an RACGP Rural Award today!

The RACGP Rural Awards recognise outstanding achievements and exceptional individuals for their contribution to rural general practice. This year, we are seeking nominations for the:

• Brian Williams Award – acknowledging a rural GP whose guidance and support to their peers enabled them to safely dedicate themselves to their rural community  
• Rural Registrar of the Year - recognising an exceptional general practice registrar who demonstrates a commitment to improve rural health and wellbeing
• Medical Student Bursary - open to medical students studying at university who are members of a rural health club and have an interest in general practice
• Rural Community Research Project of the Year – recognising innovative research that has contributed to healthcare improvement in rural and remote general practice.

Visit the RACGP website to nominate now.

Good news: we've extended the FRACGP-RG application fee waiver and free conference registration offer until 30 June.
 
We’ve made it easier for FRACGP and FARGPs to be assessed for Rural Generalist Fellowship through our streamlined recognition of prior learning and experience (RPLE) process. Plus, you can apply for free until 30 June 2024.
 
If you’ve already been awarded your FRACGP-RG through a process of RPLE (FRACGP and FARGP holders) and paid an application fee, you are eligible to claim one RACGP conference registration voucher. This offer is being made in recognition of your early support of the Rural Generalist Fellowship. To claim your conference registration voucher email rural@racgp.org.au.
 
Visit out website to find out more.

The General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program (GPPTSP) provides $40,000 for eligible GP Fellows to complete the RANZCOG Associate Training Program (Advanced Procedural) or Advanced Rural Skills Training in Anaesthesia.
 
The GPPTSP aims to improve access to obstetric and anaesthetic services for 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 28 July 2024. Visit the RANZCOG website to apply.

Anaesthetics – applications are open until 31 July 2024. Visit the ACRRM website to apply.

Closing of the Joint Consultative Committee on Anaesthesia (JCCA)

As the Joint Consultative Committee on Anaesthesia (JCCA) is no longer responsible for GP anaesthesia training in Australia the Committee will be closing on 30 June 2024. Up to that date, rural GP anaesthetists who have enquiries of an administrative or historical nature (eg requesting copies of letters of satisfactory completion of training/ statements of equivalence) can email these to jcc@racgp.org.au for response.
 
For enquiries about the Rural Generalist Anaesthesia training program please email rga@anzca.edu.au.

Seeking input from rural and remote GPs on lung cancer screening

Starting in July next year, the National Cancer Screening Register is expanding to include lung cancer screening, and the input of rural and remote GPs is critical to its success.
 
The National Lung Cancer Screening Program aims to detect and prevent lung cancer early.
 
Telstra Health is supporting the Department of Health and Aged Care by engaging with rural and remote GPs to ensure the Register meets the diverse needs of participants and providers. Over the next 12 months, it will conduct several conversations with potential users.
 
Each session will be no longer than 60 minutes, scheduled at your convenience, either in person or via video call. A compensation for your time of $180 (+GST) per session will be provided.
 
The key engagement dates are:

• Initial conversation (now): Understanding current state and high-level needs.
• Design phase (June-July 2024): Gathering feedback to inform design decisions.
• User experience testing (TBC): Validating functionality with end users

Emergency Medicine for Rural GPs Face-to-Face workshop – Lismore, NSW

Designed and facilitated by experienced rural GPs and emergency specialists, the emergency medicine for rural GPs workshop aims to enhance rural emergency medicine skills using case scenarios that reflect the challenges faced when living and working in rural and remote communities.

Date: Saturday 13 July 2024
Time: 8.30 am – 4.30 pm
Location: University Centre for Rural Health, 61 Uralba Street, Lismore NSW 2480
Cost: $995 for RACGP members, $1,295 for non-members

About the course
This workshop involves, six hands-on interactive emergency stations completed in small groups and will explore critical considerations involved in managing rural emergency cases, packaging patients for retrieval, communicating effectively with retrieval teams, debriefing and self-care. All the scenarios will include patient role players and have been written by experienced rural GPs from real-life cases.
 
CPD and grants
This workshop is an RACGP CPD Accredited Activity eligible for 10 CPD hours (5 hours Educational Activities and 5 hours Reviewing Performance) and is approved for all categories of the Rural Procedural Grants Program.
 
Member meet-up
Join your Rural and NSW&ACT Faculties for a free member meet-up. Hosted by NSW&ACT Faculty Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman, come together for drinks, nibbles and networking.
 
We’ll share some of the RACGP's key achievements and provide an update for NSW & ACT members and stakeholders.