Jamestown doctor named ACRRM SA Rural Generalist of the Year

Jamestown’s Dr Rowena Conway has been recognised with the 2025 South Australian Rural Generalist of the Year Award by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM). 

The award celebrates Rural Generalists who demonstrate outstanding commitment to best-practice care in rural, remote, and First Nations communities, and who go above and beyond to ensure their patients receive the highest quality healthcare. 

Dr Conway first came to Goyder’s Line Medical Practice in 1993 as a GP registrar and has continued to serve the region as a Rural Generalist for more than 30 years. Over that time she has provided a broad scope of services — including general practice, emergency after-hours care, obstetrics, and anaesthetics — ensuring rural patients have access to comprehensive, high-quality healthcare close to home. 

Beyond her clinical care, Dr Conway has played a pivotal role in training registrars, prevocational doctors, and medical students. She has been instrumental in developing the collegiate learning culture at Goyder’s Line Medical Practice, where doctors at all stages of training work and learn together. Thanks to this approach, the practice has expanded to provide essential medical services to three communities: Jamestown, Peterborough, and Orroroo. 

ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin congratulates Dr Conway on the recognition. 

“Dr Conway’s career reflects the very best of rural generalism — broad skills, strong leadership, and deep community connection.  

“Her commitment to building a culture of learning has strengthened rural healthcare in South Australia and inspired generations of doctors.” 

The Rural Generalist of the Year Awards recognise doctors who hold expertise across a broad scope of practice, demonstrate strong community connection, and are committed to addressing the workforce and healthcare delivery challenges of rural and remote Australia. 

Each state winner is now in line for the National Rural Generalist of the Year Award, which will be announced at Rural Medicine Australia 2025 (RMA25) in Boorloo (Perth) from 22–25 October.