Syphilis emergency demands urgent action for rural and First Nations communities
Last week's declaration of syphilis as a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance (CDINS) is a sobering reminder of the health inequities facing rural, remote, and First Nations communities.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd AO made the declaration following record notifications of infectious syphilis and a growing number of preventable congenital syphilis cases resulting in infant deaths.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says the crisis reflects long-standing gaps in access to timely testing, treatment, and antenatal care, despite syphilis being entirely preventable and treatable.
To help support Rural Generalists in delivering high-quality sexual health care, ACRRM has launched a new STI and HIV Care online course to give doctors the skills and confidence to conduct evidence-based STI and HIV consultations, assess risk, and manage follow-up care, with content applicable to practice nationwide.
ACRRM congratulates the Hon Bridget Archer MP on her appointment as Tasmania’s Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Minister for Ageing.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says Minister Archer’s diverse portfolio touches on some of the most pressing issues for the state’s rural, remote, and First Nations communities, and the College is ready to work alongside her to strengthen Rural Generalist (RG) Medicine across Tasmania.
Printed copies should be replaced to ensure the latest versions are in use. For practical tips on adoption, refer to the QCG Implementation Checklist.
All guidelines are endorsed by the Statewide Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Network. Detailed publication histories are available online at the QCG Guideline History page.
Sponsored: Download the user-friendly LEO Library - Differential Diagnoses A4 cards for diagnosing Scalp and Body Psoriasis.
Psoriasis affects 3-4% of the Caucasian population worldwide, with a prevalence of 2.6% in the Australian Caucasian population.1
The most common type is chronic plaque psoriasis, accounting for 80-90% of cases.2
These cards provide essential information and visual aids for accurate diagnosis. You can access it by clicking the download buttons. We believe this resource will enhance your diagnostic toolkit and improve patient care.
References: 1. Cimmino MA. Epidemiology of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Reumatismo. 2007;59 Suppl 1:19-24. 2. Foley P. How to treat: Psoriasis. Australian Doctor. 19 February 2010. Available at: http://www.australiandoctor.com.au. Accessed 10 May 2011.
Voting open for your College Council representative
Voting for the South Australian elected representative on the College Council is now open.
This is your chance to have a say on who you think will best represent your interests.
You must be a Ordinary Financial Member residing in South Australia to vote in this election.
On Monday 4 August, eligible members received information on candidates and how to vote directly from the Australian Election Company, an independent expert group that will conduct the online election on behalf of the College.
If you did not receive the how-to-vote email or have difficulties in voting, please contact help@austelect.com or call 1800 224 420.
Voting closes at 5.00pm AEST on Friday 29 August.
Voting open for your College Council representative
Voting for the Western Australian elected representative on the College Council is now open.
This is your chance to have a say on who you think will best represent your interests.
You must be a Ordinary Financial Member residing in Western Australia to vote in this election.
On Monday 4 August, eligible members received information on candidates and how to vote directly from the Australian Election Company, an independent expert group that will conduct the online election on behalf of the College.
If you did not receive the how-to-vote email or have difficulties in voting, please contact help@austelect.com or call 1800 224 420.
Voting closes at 5.00pm AEST on Friday 29 August.
NT Member Networking Event
We’re heading to Darwin for the Northern Territory ACRRM Member Networking Event on
Saturday 13 September (as part of the NT Rural and Remote Medicine Conference).
Whether you're attending the conference, or just in town, join us for an evening of connection and conversation - included as part of your ACRRM membership!
Connect with ACRRM staff and rural health professionals over drinks and a light dinner after the conference program finishes for the day. Don’t miss this chance to catch up, share experiences, and expand your network in a relaxed setting.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, 13 September 2025
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Venue: The Precinct Tavern, 7 Kitchener Drive, Darwin City NT 0800
Please RSVP by Friday 5 September for catering purposes.
ACRRM played an active role in the development of this report by contributing to the public consultation process. The TGA will now undertake further work in response to the key findings in the report.
Applications are now open for board chairs and members positions across all Queensland Hospital and Health Boards following new legislation requiring each board to include at least one clinician who is currently working in their local hospital. This change aims to ensure that decisions made at the Board level receive input from those directly delivering care.
This is a valuable opportunity for clinicians to influence policy, funding priorities, and service delivery in their own communities.
Applications close: 7 September 2025
Appointments commence: April 2026
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) is seeking feedback from health providers on its enhanced website. This test site features a new AI-enabled search tool that allows users to ask questions in plain language and receive clear, summarised responses from publicly available information, with privacy and security in mind.
Health providers are invited to explore this new capability and provide feedback until Friday, 22 August.
Your assistance will help DVA shape a better website for healthcare providers, veterans, and the broader community. If you have any questions, please contact the DVA via website.enhancement.project@dva.gov.au
Last chance to apply – ACRRM Territory Trekker Bursary closes tomorrow!
Are you, or do you know a junior doctor with a passion for rural, remote, and First Nations healthcare in the Northern Territory?
This is your final opportunity to apply for the ACRRM Territory Trekker Bursary, designed to support the next generation of Rural Generalists to attend the 2025 NT Rural and Remote Medicine Conference, hosted by the RDA NT Chapter in Garramilla (Darwin) from Friday 12 – Sunday 14 September 2025.
What does the bursary include?
Successful applicants will receive:
1 x full registration to attend the 2025 NT Rural and Remote Medicine Conference
A $1,000 bursary to support expenses such as:
Accommodation
Travel (airfares and transport)
Meals or incidental expenses
Who’s eligible?
To apply, you must:
Be a current financial ACRRM Resident or Intern Member
Be currently practising in the NT, or demonstrate a clear intent to work in the NT
Telehealth Clinical Skills Program - last chance to register for 2025.
The ACRRM Telehealth Clinical Skills Program is designed to help doctors gain confidence in performing telehealth consultations optimally and safely, while also expanding your capabilities.
By completing the program, you will receive practical tips for consultation setup, detailed physical assessment demonstrations, legal considerations, and clinical reasoning processes.
Registrations are now open for the last session of 2025, with the workshop held on Tuesday 23 September. This will be the final workshop for 2025 – don’t miss your opportunity to participate!
Tele-Derm users are invited to join dermatologist Dr Jim Muir at 7pm on the 28 August for a practical session on diagnosing and managing cutaneous infections—a common but often complex challenge in primary care.
Topics include:
Learn to differentiate bacterial, viral, and fungal infections
The inaugural ACRRM Supervisor Summit kicked off today in Sydney, bringing together almost 200 supervisors for two packed days of networking, education, and collaboration.
Vic Primary Care Workshop
Registrars from across Victoria gathered this week for the Vic Primary Care workshop. The agenda started with a cultural education session, followed by presentations from MEs that covered prescribing, communication, and assessment.
ACRRM Jobs Board
Check out the latest vacancies for RGs and Rural GPs across the country on the ACRRM Jobs Board:
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.
_3130411.jpg)
_3118158.jpg)
_2533779.png)