Nominations for key positions on ACRRM's Board of Directors and College Council, including College President, opened on Monday.
The ACRRM Board and Council are pivotal in guiding the College's strategic direction, overseeing governance and ensuring that the voices of rural, remote and First Nations communities are heard and addressed.
Nominations are now open for:
President
Two Directors of the Board
Councillors representing Tasmania, New South Wales, and Victoria.
ACRRM President Dr Dan Halliday, who completes his term at the College’s Annual General Meeting in October, says this is an exceptional opportunity for ACRRM members and community representatives to have a significant impact on the direction of the College and the future of rural generalism.
Fellowship applications for Semester 1, 2025 close Monday
With less than a week until Semester 1, 2025 ACRRM Fellowship applications close, we’re dispelling some application and training myths, to support your decision on choosing RG!
Do I need to be located in a regional/rural location before I can apply for the ACRRM Fellowship Program?
A: No - to apply for training you can be located anywhere in Australia, however the selection criteria is looking for a demonstrated commitment to rural and remote practice, as well as a connection with rural communities. It is important to note this is a rural and remote training program, please refer to the Fellowship Training Handbook for further information on training requirements.
Do I need to submit recognised prior learning (RPL) evidence during the application process?
A: No - once successfully selected onto the program, you will have the opportunity to apply for RPL during your orientation. Criteria such as currency of experience, alignment with the ACRRM curriculum and your individual training plan are all considerations discussed with you by your Medical Educator and Training Officer. All ACRRM members have access to an online clinical logbook to record procedures prior to commencing the program. Want to get started now? Join here!
Who selects my training post, the College or me?
A: Your Training Officer and Medical Educator will work with you to find a suitable ACRRM accredited training post aligned to your training plan.
Do I need to submit an application to access the suitability assessment questions?
A: Yes – you will need to submit your application for ACRRM Fellowship before you can complete your suitability assessment. Be thoughtful and thorough with your responses as the suitability assessment is used to shortlist for the Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs)! Find out more.
Keen to start training in Semester 1, 2025? This is the last opportunity to join this cohort! Apply before 11:59pm on Monday 1 July 2024.
Applying for Medicare Provider Numbers (MPN) online
Medical Practitioners can now apply for their initial MPN online, through the Health Professional Online Services (HPOS). These applications will be processed by Services Australia staff.
How to apply To apply for an initial MPN online, Medical Practitioners will need to:
1. Register for Provider Digital Access (PRODA) - You can apply for PRODA online if you have sufficient Australian Identity documents 2. Link their PRODA account to the Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) 3. Then apply for an initial Medicare Provider Number online through HPOS.
Apply for a MDA National and RDAA Destination Rural Bursary
The MDA National and RDAA Destination Rural Bursary is provided to seven junior doctors annually, with each receiving $1500 to undertake a clinical placement in a rural or remote community, attend a rural health conference, or attend a skills workshop in a rural town.
ACRRM members are enrouraged to apply! More information and how to apply can be found below.
ACRRM welcomes the announcement from the Queensland Premier Steven Miles to further incentivise doctors to train as General Practitioners (GPs) in the state.
The Premier, alongside Minister for Health the Hon Shannon Fentiman, announced Queensland GP registrars commencing training in 2025 and 2026 will be eligible to receive an incentive payment of $40,000.
The payments are part of the Queensland Government’s $20 million workforce attraction incentive scheme.
Supporting health providers to meet DVA’s requirements
The Austrlaina Department of Veterans' Affairs has published resources to assist health providers in meeting requirements when treating Veteran Card holders.
Check the resources avaiable on the DVA webiste here.
ACRRM in Canberra to consult on Scope of Practice Review
ACRRM CEO Marita Cowie is in Canberra this week, meeting with government and industry stakeholders to consult on a number of items, including the Scope of Practice Review, Issues Paper 2.
The Review focuses on health professionals who provide primary care and the associated evidence about benefits, risks, barriers and enablers to support them to work to their full scope of practice.
ACRRM has provided comprehensive feedback via formal submissions and participating in a series of workshops. The College has expressed its disappointment that the Issues Paper 2 fails to include the Consensus Statement and the Rural Generalist approach to healthcare.
The College’s recent submission highlights the need for the review team to consider the inclusion of a rural and remote focus, including the acknowledgement that all Australians should have access to care provided by a Rural Generalist who has the advanced skills and knowledge required to work in rural, remote and First Nations communities.
Emerency Week Brisbane
This week, over 120 attendees took part in emergency week in Brisbane.
Emergency week gives participants the opportunity to attend multiple courses over a one week period in one location, making it easier for RGs to upskill and fulfill CPD requirements while taking limited time away from their communities.
Join Dr Minh Le Cong for the latest ruralEM case. You are working an evening shift at a rural ED.
It’s a busy Saturday night with just you as EDM SMO and one junior resident on the ward. You were about to give adenosine to cardiovert 30-year-old woman with first onset SVT who is otherwise stable but receive a call from a panicked junior resident. The junior resident expressed that Mr Burns, who was admitted an hour ago, is choking and going blue. Mr Burns, a 68-year-old man was admitted with exacerbation of his chronic COPD.
ACRRM acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the custodians of the lands and waters where our members and staff work and live across Australia. We pay respect to their elders, lores, customs and Dreaming. We recognise these lands and waters have always been a place of teaching, learning, and healing.