Dr Brenton Systermans, a Rural Generalist based in the NSW Snowy Mountains, has been selected as one of just 23 doctors nationwide to attend the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) Emerging Leaders Conference, taking place on Wadjemup (Rottnest Island), WA, this October.
Dr Systermans balances multiple high-profile roles: he is the Course Coordinator and Senior Lecturer at the University of Tasmania’s world-leading Healthcare in Remote and Extreme Environments program; the lead GP for the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, supporting elite athletes preparing for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics; and a frontline clinician at Perisher Medical Centre, one of the busiest trauma centres in Australia during the ski season.
During his time as a registrar, he worked as a physician at the Himalayan Rescue Association's Everest ER aid post as well as with the Australian Antarctic Division at Australia's Antarctic Field stations.
“As a Rural Generalist in the Snowy Monaro, I’m passionate about making sure people in our communities have access to quality healthcare, despite the unique geographical and political challenges we face,” Dr Systermans says.
“Living in a high-altitude, cross-border region means patients are often caught in the middle when it comes to access, but as doctors we work together to make sure people can get care locally, close to home.”
In addition to his clinical and academic leadership, Dr Systermans is an advocate for strengthening healthcare systems in regional areas. From supporting local clinics in Jindabyne, Thredbo, and Perisher to campaigning for better resources at Cooma Hospital, he has consistently worked to ensure regional health funds and services remain within the community.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin congratulated Dr Systermans on his selection.
“Brenton is an outstanding example of the breadth and depth of Rural Generalist medicine,” Dr Martin says.
“From teaching the next generation of clinicians to supporting Olympic athletes and leading trauma care in the Snowy Mountains, his leadership is both inspiring and impactful. He will be a strong voice for regional communities at the conference.”
The Emerging Leaders Conference will run from 19–21 October on Wadjemup (Rottnest Island), ahead of the College’s flagship Rural Medicine Australia 2025 conference in Boorloo (Perth) from 22–25 October.