Dr Sarah Saunders is currently undertaking her Rural Generalist training with ACRRM, with Advanced Skills Training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. This pathway leads to a career as a Rural Generalist Obstetrician (also known as a GP-Obstetrician or GPO). This role differs from an Obstetrician who has trained with RANZCOG, which is explained in more detail below. Here, Sarah shares her personal experience and what helped shape her decision to train with ACRRM.

 

“What’s the difference between an Obstetrician and an RG Obstetrician?” 

When my medical student recently asked me this question, I realised it was one I’d once wrestled with too. 

She was considering a career in women’s health and wanted to understand how I chose my path. It made me reflect on how I ended up in this career I now love, and what I would tell someone who’s just starting out. 

Here’s what I shared with her, and now, with you.

 

Start with what you love 

This might sound simple, but it’s where every meaningful career decision should begin. Write it down. Brainstorm it. Ask yourself: What is it about women’s health that draws you in? 

For me, it was obstetrics - being in the birth room, supporting women through one of the most powerful and transformative moments of their lives. I also enjoy gynaecology, particularly outpatient care like contraception and menopause management, but I realised the surgical side didn’t spark long-term interest for me. 

When I found a role as a Rural Generalist, that was 90% obstetrics, it was a perfect fit.

 

Think about the kind of births you want to be part of 

This is a big one. Are you drawn to managing complex cases, multiple pregnancies, or high-risk maternal health issues? If so, RANZCOG training - which prepares specialists for tertiary-level obstetric and gynaecological care - might be your path. 

But for me, what mattered most was continuity - caring for women through their entire pregnancy journey, being there for their births (sometimes more than once), and getting to know them and their stories. That kind of deep connection is harder to achieve in larger hospital systems, where patient volume is high and continuity is limited.

 

Picture your future 

I knew early on that I wanted to work in low-resource settings after my ACRRM Fellowship. The GP Obstetrician (GPO) pathway gave me the broad practical skills I’d need: I can put in a spinal, perform a caesarean and resuscitate a baby. I don’t do all of those things every day - I'm lucky to work in a great team - but I could, if I needed to. That matters in settings where there’s no neonatologist or theatre team on standby. 

 

So… what’s it really like being a GPO? 

I love my job. I love the flexibility, the variety, the hands-on skills and the collaborative relationship I share with our FRANZCOG colleagues at the tertiary centre. Together, we support women and babies in our region - each of us bringing different, but equally valuable, expertise to the table. 

Both the ACRRM and RANZCOG pathways offer incredible opportunities to contribute to women’s health. My advice? Know yourself - your strengths, your passions, and the kind of work that keeps you energised. And if the path you’re on doesn’t feel quite right, don’t be afraid to explore other options. 

Before I moved to Australia, I had never even heard of the GPO pathway. Eight years later, I’ve built a career that fits my skills and supports the work–life balance I value and I believe you can too. 

 
The ACRRM AST in Obstetrics and Gynaecology is managed by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RANZCOG) and is called the Associate Training Program (Advanced Procedural). It is part of the ACRRM Rural Generalist Fellowship and takes 12 months full-time to complete.