‘Boosting registrar numbers in the bush’

From Dubbo to Condobolin, the RACGP’s latest ‘Rural Roundup’ road trip has delivered hands-on education to general practice registrars across Western New South Wales.
 
The two-day road trip provided local registrars in their first and second term a ‘unique and immersive’ opportunity to experience the realities of delivering healthcare across diverse rural and remote settings.
 
Delivered across 28 and 29 October in Dubbo, Wellington, Parkes, Forbes, and Condobolin, registrars experienced firsthand how healthcare providers are supported through innovative remote service models, including in some of the most isolated regions.
 
Along the way, the GPs in training took part in a session with the Dubbo Royal Flying Doctor Service, a clinic tour of the Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service, and networking events and small group learning activities.
 
The tour aims to foster cultural awareness, clinical adaptability, a strong sense of connection to the community, and to demonstrate how access to health services can vary with geographic location.
 
It also supports registrars to build professional networks and gain insights into the strengths and complexities of rural health systems.
 
Associate Professor Kerrie Stewart, RACGP Regional Director of Training for Western NSW and the ACT, said the tour was an opportunity to showcase the ‘incredible’ support that practices, communities and the broader rural health services provide to GPs in training.
 
‘Registrars saw firsthand how, outside of major cities, healthcare providers are supported both personally and professionally,’ she said.
  
‘[The college] provides immersive educational experiences across regional, rural and remote settings that allow registrars to explore how they can live, work and learn, while at the same time delivering valuable healthcare within the region. 
 
‘This reflects the RACGP’s commitment to strengthening rural and remote general practice care and supporting the next generation of GPs to provide high-quality care across Australia’s many diverse communities, including in Western NSW.’


 
Associate Professor Stewart said the trip was a vital part of the RACGP’s ongoing work to boost the rural GP workforce, with registrars ‘the future of rural and remote general practice care’. 
 
‘If we can boost registrar numbers in the bush, they’re more likely to stay here as long-term GPs and care for these communities for many years to come,’ she said. 
 
‘We’re making inroads, but government can do more to ensure that no patients miss out on the care they need, when they need it.
 
‘The college continues to urge state and local governments to collaborate and offer key incentives to attract GPs to rural and remote communities, including in Western NSW.’
 
The RACGP has helped to increase registrar numbers across Australia through its general practice placement incentives for identified communities of workforce need, with around 80–90 registrars expected to seek training placements in the Western NSW region next year.  
 
In addition to 26 registrars in the Fellowship Support Program training pathway, and another eight in the Practice Experience Program – Specialist, the college is supporting 60 Australian General Practice Training registrars in the region.
 
Associate Professor Stewart extended thanks to all involved in the event, including representatives from the Joint College Training Services  joined the tour to help answer registrar questions.
 
‘It was incredibly valuable from both a registrar education and learning perspective,’ she said.
 
‘But also as a networking, collaboration and relationship building activity.’
 
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Aboriginal medical services GP workforce GPs in training remote general practice rural general practice