These state-based awards are given to medical students who deserve to be recognised for their dedication to their community or to the advancement of rural health. 

Eligibility

Nominations are open to all medical students who are:  

• Members of ACRRM  
• Currently studying at an Australian university  
• A member of their university Rural Health Club  
• Progressing the objectives of ACRRM, which focus on having the right doctors with the right skills in the right places

Criteria

Can be self-nominated or nominated.

In both circumstances, submissions must indicate why the nominee should receive the award, by giving examples of their record of achievement in rural healthcare against some or all of the following:  

• Exceptional community participation/engagement in rural health activities (e.g. significant Rural Health Club or other rural health stakeholder group involvement, and/or other rural health work or rural health career promotion work) – 35% 
• Exceptional advocacy activities (e.g. communications/contributions to increase awareness of rural and remote health) – 25% 
• Exceptional commitment to building clinical and other skills, demonstrating a clear intent to develop a rural medical career (e.g. previous clinical placements or work experience in rural and remote areas) – 35% 
• Other – 5%

Award recipients:

• 2024 - Rochelle Cabry (Inaugural) 

From the state-based registrar of the year awards, a national winner is chosen who deserves to be recognised for their dedication to their community or to the advancement of rural health. The award carries a plaque, citation- and of course, national recognition of peers and senior practitioners.

Award recipients:

ACRRM Rural Registrar of the Year

• 2024 - Dr Marian Dover
• 2023 - Dr Jarrad Lenegan

ACRRM & RDAA Rural Registrar of the Year Award (The Rural Registrar of the Year Award became a sole award of ACRRM in 2023)

• 2022 - Dr Regina Waterhouse and Dr Salma Hanif
• 2021 - Dr James Padley
• 2020 - Dr Aaron Hawkins
• 2019 - Dr Allison Hempenstall
• 2018 - Dr Bryce Nicol
• 2017 - Dr Michelle Hannan and Dr Teena Downton
• 2016 - Dr Kate Kloza
• 2015 - Dr Sarah Farlow and Dr Sarah Koffmann
• 2014 - Dr Sally Singleton
• 2013 - Dr Crystal Pidgeon
• 2012 - Dr Tonia Marquardt
• 2011 - Dr Adele van der Merwe
• 2010 - Dr Sarah McEwan
• 2009 - Dr Kylie Sterry
• 2008 - Dr Oscar Whitehead 

These state-based awards are given to Fellows of the College who deserve to be recognised for their dedication to their community or to the advancement of rural health. 

Eligibility

Must be a FACRRM

Criteria

Submissions must indicate why the applicant should receive the award, by giving details and examples of your record of achievement in rural healthcare against all of the following: 

• improving access to quality healthcare for their community – 15% 
• improving the viability of their local hospital or medical service – 15% 
• improving access to quality healthcare for a First Nations community – 15% 
• improving opportunities for education and training in rural health – 15% 
• improving the recruitment and retention of GPs and specialists, and/or GP/specialist services, in their area – 15% 
• promoting and helping achieve sustainable multidisciplinary team approaches to care – 15% 
• contributed in any other way that is considered ‘above and beyond’ the call of duty in responding to their community’s health needs; ensuring a strong future for the rural medical workforce and/or rural medical services; or ensuring or improving access to quality medical care in a rural setting – 10%

Award recipients:

• 2024 - Dr Angela Stratton (Inaugural) 

These state-based awards are given to individuals who deserve to be recognised for their commitment and dedication to the education, supervision and support of ACRRM registrars. 

Eligibility

Must have had ACRRM registrars in their training post for last 2 consecutive years 

Criteria

Can be self-nominated or nominated. Submissions must indicate why the nominee should receive the award, by giving examples of their record of achievement in rural healthcare against some or all of the following:  

• commitment to the education, supervision and support of ACRRM registrars – 50% 
• commitment to patient outcomes – 10% 
• commitment to community health needs and outcomes – 40%

Award recipients:

• 2024 - Ms Dianne Loubey (Inaugural) 

These state-based awards recognise FACRRM who have demonstrated outstanding dedication and leadership in medical education, specifically in the training and development of ACRRM registrars.

Eligibility

FACRRM who is an educator and supervisor of ACRRM registrars or those involved in the development and delivery of education of College registrars.

Criteria

Can be self-nominated or nominated. Submissions must indicate why the applicant should receive the award, by giving details and examples of your record of achievement in rural healthcare against all of the following:  

• has had a significant local or national impact on medical education, above and beyond one’s own requirements. This may be a broad impact across the medical education continuum or an in-depth impact in a particular area – 50% 
• has a strong record of medical education participation including teaching, mentoring, research or publishing – 30% 
• demonstrates standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity – 20%

Award recipients:

• 2024 - Dr Rael Codron (Inaugural) 

Eligibility

ACRRM registrar or Fellow

Criteria

Can be self-nominated or nominated. In both circumstances, submissions must indicate why the nominee should receive the award, by giving examples of their record of achievement in rural healthcare against some or all of the following:  

• demonstrated commitment to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health practice - 20%
• demonstrated commitment to learning and developing relevant clinical and cultural skills - 20% 
• evidence of service to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander patients – 20% 
• evidence of commitment and service to the practice in which they work – 20% 
• evidence of service to the community in which they practice or have practised - 20%

Award recipients:

• 2024 - Dr Rob James (Inaugural) 

This new award honours an individual whose medical research advances our understanding of the unique health challenges faced by rural and remote communities and translates that understanding into improved healthcare delivery, access, and outcomes.

Eligibility

Open to all academics, researchers, Fellows and Registrars who submit a research abstract for presentation at the RMA conference.  

Criteria

• development of novel and significant areas of knowledge; or 
• new knowledge in a creative manner and with independent insight; or 
• new knowledge to expand the understanding of rural and/or remote medicine and/or extended the application of knowledge to rural and/or remote practice/education/assessment; or
• essential contributions in team research endeavours.

Award recipients:

• 2024 - Prof Kay Brumpton (Inaugural) 

Life Fellowship is the highest and most prestigious ACRRM award. It is reserved for Fellows who have rendered outstanding and meritorious service to the College and made a contribution of international significance to rural and remote medicine. Life Fellowship is limited to ten Fellows at any one time, and no more than two Fellows may be admitted in any one financial year (1 July to 30 June).

Recipients will have ongoing membership subscriptions to the College waived and maintain full voting rights.

Eligibility

This Award can only be granted to a Fellow of ACRRM. 

Criteria

The ACRRM Board may award Honorary Life Fellowship to a College Fellow in recognition of outstanding or significant contribution to the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and/or significant contribution to the broader rural community. 

Award recipients:

• 2024 - A/Prof Ruth Stewart
• 2021 - Dr Louis Peachey
• 2017 - Dr Mark Craig
• 2010 - Dr Colin Owen
• 2009 - Dr Tom Doolan
• 2007 - Dr Ian Wronski
• 2006 - Dr Roger Strasser
• 2003 - Dr John Shepherd 

Honorary Fellowships may be awarded to medical practitioners or, in special circumstances, non-medical persons, who have provided a significant contribution to ACRRM and education, research or general service in the field of rural generalism. 

It is limited to 20 persons at any one time, and no more than two people may be admitted in any one year (1 July to 30 June).

Recipients who are not members of the College will receive honorary membership status without voting rights. Recipients who are already members will have ongoing membership subscriptions waived and maintain full voting rights. 

Eligibility

Honorary Fellowship can be granted to a person with a recognised medical qualification and is open to both College members and non-members. 

Criteria

The ACRRM Board may award Honorary Fellowship to a medical practitioner in recognition of a significant contribution to: 

• the College
• the discipline of rural and remote medicine
• rural medical education or research 
• the health of rural or remote communities 

Award recipients:

• 2022 - Dr Greg Coates & Dr John Urie
• 2017 - Dr Pat Giddings
• 2016 - Dr Michael Catchpole
• 2014 - Dr Frank Moloney
• 2012 - Dr Nola Maxfield
• 2010 - Dr Rick McLean
• 2008 - Dr Denis Lennox
• 2008 - Dr Bill Nimo
• 2007 - Dr Jack Best
• 2007 - Dr David Mildenhall
• 2007 - Dr Geoff White
• 2007 - Dr Richard Hays
• 2007 - Dr Max Kamien
• 2005 - Dr James Muir
• 2002 - Dr Raymond Kernutt

Honorary Membership recognises exceptional and/or significant service to the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and/or rural and remote medicine. Honorary Membership may be awarded to persons who do not have a registrable medical qualification.

Recipients of this award will receive honorary membership status of the College. They will not pay subscription fees and will not hold voting rights.

Eligibility

Honorary Membership can be granted to a person who is either a medical practitioner who is not a member of the College, or to non-medical person.

Criteria

The ACRRM Board may grant Honorary Membership in recognition of: 

• Exceptional and/or significant service to the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine 
• Outstanding service to rural and remote medicine and to rural and remote communities. 

Award recipients:

• 2020 - Ms Felicity Gemmell-Smith

The Distinguished Service Awards recognise Fellows, members, or non-medical persons who have provided a specific and significant contribution to rural and remote medicine.

Eligibility

A Distinguished Service Award is open to College members who have displayed an ongoing involvement in, and commitment to, the College. 

Criteria

The ACRRM Board may award a Distinguished Service Award in recognition of: 

• Long-term or significant contribution to the College 
• Significant or distinguished service to rural or remote communities 
  
  
  

Award recipients:

• 2024 - Dr Neil Beaton, Dr David Rosenthal, Dr Tom Doolan, Dr Peter Arvier
• 2023 - Rex Pais Prabhu, Dr Marc Heyning, Dr Niroshini Wickramasingh
• 2022 - Dr David Harwood, Dr Greg Ivanoff, Dr Marco Briceno and Dr Natalie Burch
• 2021 - Dr Greer Weaver, Dr Neil McCarthy, Dr Mark Zagorski, Dr Anna Carswell, Dr Michael Livingston
• 2020 - Dr Jim Thurley, Dr Deborah Simmons, Veeraja Uppal
• 2019 - Dr Blair Koppen, Dr Christopher Hegerty, Dr Dale Ford, Dr Michael Eaton

The Peter Graham 'Cohuna' Award recognises members or Fellows who have provided outstanding advocacy and medical service to their community to ensure the maintenance of the highest quality of generalist skills, particularly in procedural practice. This award is offered in honour of the late Dr Peter Graham, AO, who passed away in 2008, aged 80. Peter provided dedicated service as a doctor in Cohuna, in rural Victoria, for nearly 50 years.

Award recipients:

• 2024 - Dr Dennis Pashen
• 2023 - Dr Mark Zagorski
• 2022 - Dr Gerard Quigley
• 2021 - Dr Diana Cross
• 2020 - Dr Jeff Robinson
• 2019 - Dr Peter Barker
• 2018 - Louise Baker
• 2017 - Mike Moynihan
• 2016 - David Senior
• 2015 - Paul Mara
• 2014 - Stephen Morris
• 2013 - John Menzies
• 2012 - Bruce Chater
• 2011 - Les Woollard
• 2010 - Lindsay Sherriff
• 2009 - Peter Rischbieth
• 2008 - Sheilagh Cronin 

ACRRM's President's Prize awards two promising medical students with an all-expenses paid trip to the Rural Medicine Australia (RMA) conference, including flights, accommodation, social events and a meet and greet with the ACRRM President.

Award winners

• 2024 - Shoshanna Scott and Tamyka Bell
• 2023 - Lara Emmett and George Kavalam
• 2022 - Lisa Altmann & Lucinda Colbert
• 2021 - Tia Gordon and Laura Beaumont
• 2020 - Jasmyn Lloyd and Mikaela Borgas
• 2019 - Tionne Seden and Jocelyn Ledger