New funding announcement a key step for ACRRM Rural Generalist pathway
ACRRM welcomes yesterday's Coalition announcement of an additional 200 rural Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs), targeted at growing the Rural Generalist workforce.
Announced by National Party Leader David Littleproud and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Anne Ruston, the extra medical school places bring the Coalition’s commitment to 350 funded training places in 2028.
The announcement is part of a commitment for a new Rural, Regional, and Remote Health Strategy overseen by the National Rural Health Commissioner Professor Jenny May.
"Our life expectancy, health outcomes and quality of life shouldn’t depend on our postcode."
By Gus Whyte, Chair of the ACRRM Community Reference Group
As the federal election nears, Gus Whyte is calling for real investment in rural and remote healthcare - tailored solutions, cultural respect, and better support for Rural Generalists.
“We need country solutions to country problems. Empowering communities to help themselves, not a modified urban solution. When it comes to healthcare, don’t just paint the front fence. Make sure the back fence is secure as well.”
Rural Medicine Australia 2025: Share your expertise!
Abstract submissions close Friday 9 May
Calling all rural healthcare champions! The RMA25 Abstract Review Panel invites you to submit an abstract for your chance to share your expertise at this year's premier rural healthcare conference!
Share your expertise through:
Academic or Non-academic Verbal presentations (time to shine!)
Academic or Non-academic Poster presentations (visual storytelling at its best)
Panel discussions (bring your perspective to the table)
Practical workshops (hands-on and interactive learning for all)
See this year's hot topics and submit your abstract today!
New Life Hacks podcast episode #17 now live! – CBD Assessment
How do Case-Based Discussions (CBD) help registrars sharpen clinical reasoning and prep for Fellowship?
Dr Emily Moody chats with Dr James Fraser, ACRRM’s Director of Assessment, to unpack the purpose, process, and prep tips behind this crucial assessment. With 25 years’ experience in emergency medicine and a strong background in medical education, James brings valuable insights from both the ED and the classroom.
Learn:
How CBD uses real cases to assess decision-making
Tips for selecting and de-identifying cases
How CBD links to STAMPS, mini-CEX & feedback
Whether you're getting ready for your CBD or just curious, this episode is packed with insights to support your journey.
Listen now – and take your clinical reasoning to the next level.
Qld Ambulance Service: Extended Practice Authority – Registered Nurse (EPA-RN)
Effective from 7 April 2025, changes have taken effect to the Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Regulation 2021 and subordinate Extended Practice Authority - Registered Nurses (EPA-RN) to authorise registered nurses (RNs) to administer or give a treatment dose of certain first-responder medicines when providing Hospital-Based Ambulance (HBA) services.
More information on this change can be found via this factsheet.
2025 GPPTSP applications are now open
The General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program (GPPTSP) aims to improve access to maternity services for women living in rural and remote communities by supporting GPs and RGs to attain procedural skills in obstetrics or anaesthetics.
GPPTSP provides up to $40,000 of Commonwealth funding to complete the RANZCOG Associate Advanced Procedural Training Pathway (APTP) or the ANZCA Rural Generalist Anaesthesia (RGA) training program.
The Anaesthetics component is managed by ACRRM and the Obstetrics component of the program is managed by RANZCOG.
Applications for the obstetrics component are now open via the RANZGOG website and will close on Thursday 10 July 2025.
Applications for the anaesthetics component are now open and will close Monday 30 June 2025.
We understand having access to PBS-subsidised medicines can be critical to patient care. That's why Services Australia is continuing to increase the number of PBS medicines that can be requested and approved using the Online PBS Authorities system (the system). Currently for written Complex Authority Required programs (Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Severe Chronic Psoriasis, Crohn's Disease), Services Australia collects information about your patient's history and their individual targets for demonstrating a response.
What's changing As the remaining written Complex Authority Required programs become available using the system, you may need to provide previously supplied information in your application to demonstrate patient eligibility for change, recommencement and continuing treatment. For example, you may need to re-state the baseline value/s that were provided in the initial application to demonstrate your patient's eligibility for continuing treatment.
What you need to do In preparation for these changes, PBS recommends you start documenting your patient's baseline values and previous treatment failures in their medical records now.
For further information on these changes contact Services Australia on 1800 700 270. For more information about the Online PBS Authorities system, click here.
Services Australia has a broad range of educational resources on the Health Professional Education Resources website. This includes simulations, podcast and an infographic on the Online PBS Authorities system. Click here for more information.
Sharpen your paediatric emergency skills – tailored for rural generalists
ACRRM’s new Paediatric Emergencies for Rural Generalists course is heading to Wodonga, Sydney, and Brisbane in 2025. Designed specifically for rural and remote doctors, this immersive two-day workshop focuses on the early management of seriously ill or injured children in resource-limited settings.
You’ll gain hands-on experience through realistic scenarios that cover critical paediatric presentations – from trauma and sepsis to neonatal resuscitation. Led by expert rural clinicians, this course will boost your confidence and competence in handling high-stakes situations when every second counts.
AMSA Rural Health Summit and capturing RG stories in TAS
The ACRRM member engagement and WA team were in Boorloo last week for the AMSA Rural Health Summit! The College was the platinum partner of the event and presented a "myth-busting session" for those students considering a career in rural generalism.
The ACRRM marketing team were in the Deloraine (TAS) last week for a two-day photoshoot. These snaps will help the College tell the incredible stories of ACRRM Fellows and registrars from the Apple Isle. Keep an eye out on your socials for the final versions!
ruralEM: Case 115 is now live – "Just Another Shift"
It’s late in your rural ED when a stranger arrives with a police escort. No ID, picked up from the local pub for erratic behaviour, and brought in for a mental health assessment. He’s calm—until you ask his name. Suddenly, the situation escalates, and a police officer is injured.
Describe your approach to such a situation.
Share your insights in the Case 115 discussion before it closes on 4 May.
ACRRM Webinar: Gambling and its links to mental health and other addictions
Wednesday 7 May 2025 at 7:00pm AEST
Registration is now open to all ACRRM members and non-members.
Join us for a powerful and practical webinar exploring the intersection between gambling harm and health. Featuring lived experience stories from the Three Sides of the Coin project, the session will offer fresh insights for GPs and health professionals looking to support patients impacted by gambling.
ACRRM Webinar (Members Only) – My Health Record: How to Get Started
Tuesday 29 April 2025 | 7:00 PM AEST | 60 minutes | Online via Zoom
Hosted by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and presented by Zac Woodalba from the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA), this webinar is designed to equip healthcare providers with essential knowledge and practical strategies for integrating My Health Record into daily clinical workflows.
With most GPs, pharmacists, hospitals, and specialists now connected to the system, this session will help you:
Recognise what My Health Record is and its core features
Understand how to access the system and your participation obligations
Use key documents in My Health Record to support clinical decision making
Open to ACRRM members – register now and enhance your digital health knowledge!
ACRRM acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the custodians of the lands and waters where our members and staff work and live across Australia. We pay respect to their elders, lores, customs and Dreaming. We recognise these lands and waters have always been a place of teaching, learning, and healing.
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