‘Generalism, equity, place’ key drivers for rural health leader

From championing healthcare reforms, to advancing rural generalism, striving for equity and addressing workforce needs, Australia’s Rural Health Commissioner has undertaken a range of actions over the last two years.
 
Since taking on the role in September 2024, Professor Jenny May continues to lead vital work to improve rural health policies and ensure a strong focus remains on the health needs of rural and remote communities.
 
‘It’s fair to say that it did take me a little while to first understand the role and the opportunity,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘And that’s because it is a very triangular role – to listen to the sector, and to provide advice to both the Federal Department of Health and the Health Minister.
 
‘There’s a lot to get across, but I have a statement of expectations that I work towards, and to summarise, it is that I’m interested in generalism, I’m interested in equity, and I’m interested in place.’
 
Having practised as a GP for more than three decades, Professor May remains passionate about improving rural health outcomes and driving policy change.
 
When reflecting on achievements and opportunities as Rural Health Commissioner, she says a standout has been the recognition of rural generalism.
 
‘I was fortunate to be in this role when that recognition came through. It has been a hugely long road, and we owe it to the RACGP and Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine [ACRRM], to the two previous Commissioners, and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia in particular, for work over many years,’ Professor May said.
 
‘But the work is not done. The work now is to embed rural generalism into the rural health landscape.’
 
With the recent establishment of the Joint Consultative Committee on Rural Generalist Medicine, of which Professor May has been appointed Chair, she said this is an integral part of progressing rural generalism.
 
‘We will work to understand and support both colleges to have alignment about what the standards and accreditation of the sub-specialty of rural generalism is, and should be,’ she said.
 
This week the RACGP and ACRRM welcomed the Medical Board of Australia’s accreditation of their respective Rural Generalist (RG) training programs, marking an important step in implementing RG specialist recognition. Accreditation approves each college’s RG qualification and establishes the pathway for eligible RGs to apply to AHPRA for specialist recognition.  
 
The Medical Board’s endorsement has also enshrined ‘Rural Generalist’ as a protected title, with provisions to enforce it in place from 2027.
 
While pointing to the achievements of her office in the RG space, Professor May says this work is part of the bigger conversation, ensuring that health ministers and policy makers have ‘a better understanding of rural remote and regional contexts’.
 
The launch of the National Consensus Framework for Rural Maternity Services is another highlight Professor May describes as a ‘collaborative document’ about what is needed in rural, which differs from urban needs, to have a viable maternity service. As well, ongoing work with the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) on selection and training that pertains to rural.
 
‘This has been a really important liaison with CPMC as it guides the specialist colleges to work with a vision for rural training,’ she said.
 
But alongside achievements are some challenges, mainly relating to the breadth of rural health need and how to focus efforts for best impact.
 
‘It’s a small team of two Deputy Commissioners, one with a focus on allied health and nursing, and the total team is 10,’ she said.
 
‘We just recently had a legislative review of the office, which was at the five-year mark since the ongoing legislation for the Rural Health Commissioner’s office was undertaken, and that really affirmed the value and impact.
 
‘But as usual, always, we could do more. We could be across more, and we could collaborate even more deeply, but it is resource constrained.’
 
And despite the inherent satisfaction that comes with being a GP as she continues to practise in Tamworth, in regional New South Wales, balancing this with her other roles can be demanding.
 
‘It is a challenge, obviously, in terms of workload and trying to do what I need to do to represent the sector,’ she said.
 
‘But I continue to do it, and happily so.’
 
The Rural Health Commissioner collaborates with the RACGP via various channels, meeting on a six-weekly basis to share ‘concerns, intel and opportunity’.
 
As part of this ongoing collaboration, Professor May has recently joined the newly formed RACGP Expert Committee – GP Workforce, providing advice on current workforce structures to achieve long-term planning and funding that addresses supply, demand and maldistribution challenges.
 
Meeting with a large number of stakeholders for her collaborative role with the college is ‘a very important connection’, says Professor May.
 
‘We come together in a number of different forums where rural and remote issues are key on the agenda,’ she said.
 
‘I’m really keen to be involved in the connected care reforms and the digitalisation of the health sector. I’m vitally concerned about scope of practice and how it can support rural remote practice, and some of the challenges that we have in all our workforces.
 
‘And a focus on equity, which means working very closely with our First Nations organisations on their approaches and their capacity and capability in rural.’
 
With an extension of a further two years in the role, the National Rural Health Commissioner is looking forward to a bright future.

‘I’m honored to continue,’ Professor May said.
 
‘I’ll give it my best, and the lived experience practising as a GP is important in being able to represent the issues that we face across rural and remote Australia.
 
‘But the absolute highlight of the job is meeting the awesome people and places that make up our rural communities, and just being able to assist with understanding that rural, regional, and remote are three important contexts and look different, basically wherever you are.’
 
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