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RACGP celebrates latest boost to GP workforce
New Fellows and Rural Generalists were recently welcomed by the college in separate ceremonies across the country.
New Fellows and Rural Generalists were welcomed at the recent RACGP WA ceremony.
From Western Australia to the Northern Territory, the RACGP has once again celebrated the latest additions to Australia’s general practice workforce.
In Perth, on Whadjuk Nyoongar Country, 84 New Fellows and three Rural Generalist (RG) Fellows were welcomed at one of two of the college’s latest Fellowship ceremonies on 19 September.
More than 350 attendees joined to celebrate Western Australia’s newest GPs, alongside RACGP WA Chair and Vice President Dr Ramya Raman and other WA faculty members, as well as Associate Professor in the Division of General Practice at the UWA School of Medicine, Nahal Mavaddat, and WA Primary Health Alliance CEO, Bernie Kenny.
Dr Raman acknowledged the essential role in Australia’s healthcare system that all the newly honoured doctors play.
‘New Fellows have put in years of study, endured the rigours of exams, and hands-on experience with the guidance and support of invaluable GP supervisors and medical educators, who perform such a vital role,’ she said.
‘The college is determined to boost rural and remote general practice care across Australia, including Western Australia, and many of today’s New Fellows have a strong track record and passion for helping patients in rural communities.’
The three RGs will undertake additional rural skills training in fields critical to rural communities, such as emergency medicine and obstetrics. It comes as rural generalism was this week formally recognised as a specialist medical field after years of advocacy from the RACGP and Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.
Twenty of the New Fellows awarded are from rural areas of WA, with Dr Raman saying they have ‘inspiring stories to tell’.
‘People across our state rely on specialist GPs, and the college is stepping up so that all patients can access high-quality care from a GP who knows them, and their history,’ she said.
‘No other specialty offers that kind of connection, and long-term relationship building.
‘Congratulations to our new RACGP Fellows. I can’t wait to see how you’ll help your communities across WA and shape the future of general practice care.’
New Fellows and Rural Generalists at the recent RACGP NT ceremony.
Across the Kimberley region to Darwin’s Parliament House, on Larrakia Country, the RACGP welcomed 13 New Fellows, two of whom also received RG Fellowship, and a further four GPs who received their RG qualification.
RACGP NT Deputy Chair Professor Neil Spike welcomed the Territory’s newest GPs who will ‘make a vital difference’ to health outcomes in Darwin, Alice Springs and remote parts of the Territory where there is a shortage of specialist health services.
‘They represent the skill and commitment that define general practice in the NT,’ Professor Spike said.
‘Congratulations … your achievements reflect dedication to service and the mission of general practice as the front line of healthcare.’
The addition to the Territory’s general practice workforce helps answer calls to boost the workforce, build training capacity and RG recognition.
Also honoured at the ceremony were the RACGP NT Awards winners, all of whom are finalists in the RACGP national awards to be announced at GP25 in November.
Professor Spike also presented the NT faculty’s Outstanding New Fellow Award, which recognises both exam performance and contributions to the NT community, as well as acknowledging two of the NT faculty’s newest Life Members in recognition of their long-standing dedication.
The NT faculty exam awards were also presented to the top candidates in the Fellowship exams – the Applied Knowledge Test, Key Feature Problem and Clinical Competency Exam.
RACGP NT Provost, Associate Professor Emma Kennedy, joined in congratulating the New Fellows.
‘We are so fortunate to have such talented and committed GPs and RGs in the NT,’ she said.
‘We are grateful for their service and engagement with the community and wish them all the very best for the future as members of our profession.’
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Fellowship of the RACGP New Fellows Northern Territory Rural Generalist Western Australia
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