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.

 

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.

 

If you require additional assistance or have any queries, please email authority.comms.change@servicesaustralia.gov.au.

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.

23.5 CDP hours | Member: $3,160 | Non-member: $3,480

Places are limited – secure your spot today and be better prepared for the unexpected.

 

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! 

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.

Share your insights in the Case 115 discussion before it closes on 4 May. 

Free for ACRRM members: Join now

 

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.

Watch the video trailer here: 3SOC Recovery Gamble stories