ACRRM has recently updated a number of policies related to training on the ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program.  

Our training policies are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure they continue to support safe, high-quality training and reflect changes in accreditation requirements, regulations and the broader training environment.  

These updates are designed to provide clarity and consistency for registrars, supervisors and training posts. Below is a summary of recent changes and their relevant policy. 

Eligibility for Training Policy 

  • Replacement of Fellowship Program title to ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program 
  • Inclusion of link to Commonwealth funding in scope 
  • Deleted reference to NVR FSP and Specialist registration applicants
  • Inclusion of application to registrars continuing on the ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program 
  • Inclusion of previous participation in a 3GA training program as an eligibility exclusion 
  • Inclusion of Ahpra provisional medical registration being potentially eligible to train
  • Removal of not being on any other specialist College training program as an exclusion of being eligible to train 
  • Inclusion of a 2 week period for registrars to advise the College of changes that would impact their eligibility to train 
  • Inclusion of the requirement to maintain financial status for membership fees for all registrars 
  • Inclusion of the requirement to maintain financial status for training support fee for Independent Pathway registrars 
  • Removal of reference to selection processes
  • Removal of visa subclasses and replaced with reference to the ACRRM Fellowship Eligibility and Application Guide 

Access to Training Policy 

  • Inclusion of impairment as well as disability  
  • Replacement of Fellowship program with ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program  
  • Removal of Unjustifiable Hardship definition  
  • Removal of College responsibility to determine, organise and fund a functional assessment  
  • Removal of College responsibility in relation to workplace reasonable adjustments and flexible working arrangements  
  • Inclusion of a College responsibility to prevent registrar victimisation and harassment due to a disability and having complaint mechanisms in place  

Leave From Training Policy 

  • Change of Fellowship Program title to ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program
  • Delineates that this policy refers to leave from training and not to leave from employment  
  • Details 6 weeks of statutory leave which does not require an application to the College and does not contribute to the 104 weeks maximum leave limit  
  • Failure to apply for leave prospectively will be managed through the Performance and Progression policy  
  • Inclusion on when leave may be declined  
  • Removal of reference to fees  
  • Reference all time periods as weeks  
  • Addition of College review, approval and recording responsibilities as well as notification when leave is declined  
  • Removal of definitions of:
    • Training Post  
    • Education program  
    • Additional leave

Withdrawal From Training Policy 

  • Redefine the purpose  
  • Replacement of ‘doctors in training’ with ‘registrars’  
  • Removal of application to those progressing through the RVTS, REEF AST outside of training or Specialist Pathway programs  
  • Removal of reference to remediation, only including additional support terminology  
    Replacement of 12 weeks fee payment period with due date  
  • Include link to Training Time, Leave from training and Assessment Eligibility policies
  • Inclusion of multiple withdrawal reasons  
    Removal of reference to Registrar in Difficulty and RVTS Withdrawal policies  
  • Inclusion of involuntary withdrawal as a result of a Registrar Review Panel recommendation  
  • Removal of management process steps  

Academic Posts Policy

  • Removal of reference to RGTS 
  • Inclusion of reference to ACRRM Rural generalist Fellowship Program 
  • Inclusion of the College role in developing a funding agreement with the university / academic institution and the provision of funding 
  • Removal of the College role in negotiating an employment agreement with the university / academic institution 

Training Payments Policy

  • Removal of reference to RGTS
  • Inclusion of ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program
  • Inclusion of adjustments to payments as a result of changes in registrar placement details
  • Inclusion of Study leave and Parental leave incentives
  • Inclusion of definitions of Training year, Primary Carer, Secondary Carer, Primary Care training, Core Generalist Training, FTE
  • Inclusion of reference to registrar transfers from the Independent Pathway 

Training Placements Policy

  •  Removal of reference to RGTS 
  • Replacement of Fellowship Program title to ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program
  • Consolidation with Overseas Training Placements Policy 
  • Aligning with Training Time Policy
  • Inclusion of requirement to obtain prospective placement approval
  • Change of placement changes to be applied for and approved by regional teams from two to six weeks
  • Clarification of policy application and scope provided
  • Clarifying training post accreditation requirements and including Individual Training Placements 

Recognition of Prior Learning Policy

  • Removal of reference to RGTS 
  • Replacement of ACRRM Fellowship Training Program with ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program 

Training Program Requirements Policy 

  • Replacement of ACRRM Fellowship Training Program with ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program  
  • Breakdown of specific time, training, education and assessment requirements
  • Removal of reference to formative and summative assessments 
  • Details the work-base and standardised assessments 
  • Replaces reference to formative and summative assessments with a higher-level term of assessments 
  • Aligns Training Time requirements with Fellowship Training Program Handbook information
  • Clarifies responsibilities 

Training Time Policy 

  • Change of Fellowship Program title to ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program
  • Addition of 10 year maximum training time information 
  • Inclusion of reference to RPL policy 
  • Defining full time training as over 4 weeks instead of 1 month 
  • Removal of duplicated reference to the Fellowship Education Program 
  • Inclusion of reference to National Terms and Conditions for the Employment of Registrars (NTCER)
  • Updating of responsibilities 
  • Restructuring of content to improve user experience 
  • Removal of irrelevant definitions 

Performance and Progression Policy 

  • Changed Fellowship program title to ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program 
    Clarified the scope of the policy 
  • Clarified what registrars must demonstrate to meet performance and progression requirements 
  • Aligning placement requirements with the Training Placement policy 
  • Replaces reference to formative and summative assessments with a higher-level 
  • Aligning assessment completion requirements with the Assessments Eligibility policy 
  • Aligning registrar responsibilities with the Eligibility for Training policy, including consequences of not maintaining membership 
  • Replacing training requirements with program requirements 
  • Including training post responsibilities with supervisor responsibilities 
  • Removal of irrelevant definitions 

Medicare Provider Number Policy 

  • Replacement of ACRRM Fellowship program title with ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship Program 
  • Removal of reference to Specialist Pathway participants 
  • Removal of process in relation to removing a doctor from the Services Australia Register of Approved Placements 

Remediation Policy 


Retired, consolidated with other training policies

Overseas Training Placements Policy 


Retired, consolidated with other training policies

Registrar in Difficulty Policy 


Retired, consolidated with other training policies