With the NSW and Victorian ski resorts starting to open for the 2020 ski season, rural doctors are warning skiers and snowboarders that they must do everything they can to be COVID safe. Peak rural medical bodies, ACRRM and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA), have warned that includes self-isolating and getting tested - even if you are already partway through your snow holiday.

Read more

With preventable hospitalisations and deaths occurring every day from the misuse of opioids, changes are being made to the way they are prescribed. Rural peak bodies, the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) are supporting the regulation changes in relation to labelling and pack sizes, saying that opioids can hide symptoms that should be checked by your GP.

Read more

With COVID-19 rapidly fading from memories with the relaxing of restrictions, rural doctors are sending a reminder that social distancing needs to be the ‘new normal’. Dr Adam Coltzau, Clinical lead of the COVID-19 Rural and Remote Response said that an increase in presentations of the common cold to doctors’ surgeries is a telling sign.

Read more

ACRRM welcomes today’s announcement to extend the Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner and commends the decision to expand the expertise of the Office by establishing new Deputy Commissioner roles for Indigenous health, nursing and allied health.

Read more

While COVID-19 has brought significant upheaval, it has also shown that Australia’s federal and state governments can work together to make significant healthcare reforms in double-quick time. Peak rural medical bodies, ACRRM and Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA), say this spirit of reform should continue to drive change in the way healthcare is delivered in future years.

Read more

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) welcomes the introduction of a new Bill which will allow it to focus on the important role of providing contextualised contemporary professional development opportunities for its members.

Read more

With National Reconciliation Week 2020 set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of ensuring our First Nations people have access to the healthcare they need and deserve has never been clearer.

Read more

ACRRM supports National Reconciliation Week and continues its commitment to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to advance their health status This week (27 May – 3 June) marks 20 years of Reconciliation Australia influencing Australia’s journey towards a more just, equitable and reconciled nation, and the theme of In this together is particularly pertinent as we experience the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the ACRRM, training and assessment program is operating ‘as usual’ with more than 60 registrars sitting assessments last weekend.

Read more

The critical role general practice plays in the health of the community has been highlighted during the nation-wide response to COVID-19. Rural peak bodies, ACRRM and RDAA are calling for the inclusion of general practice in all disaster response planning.

Read more

On the eve of World Family Doctor Day, ACRRM says it’s a timely opportunity to highlight the role Rural Generalists (RGs) are playing in providing excellent health care to families in rural and remote communities.

Read more

Rural peak bodies have welcomed the additional $48.1 million in funding for mental health supports announced by the Federal Government following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more

With more state governments talking about opening up travel within and between borders, travellers to rural communities are being urged to be super careful in not becoming super spreaders of coronavirus. ACRRM and RDAA said today that while many Australians will want to resume travel to rural towns, taking small steps will be the key to keeping coronavirus contained.

Read more

Today, on International Nurses Day ACRRM gives a shout out to nurses for the integral role they play in health care teams and in providing medical services in outback communities.

Read more

Uncertainty and fear about what lies ahead with COVID-19 is not only impacting rural and remote Australians, but their health practitioners too, ACRRM and RDAA say.

Read more

With social distancing restrictions being wound back in some states, rural Australians could be forgiven for thinking that the COVID-19 crisis is over – but don’t let your guard down yet, ACRRM and RDAA warned today.

Read more

Routine immunisation is the foundation for strong health systems and ACRRM says that World Immunisation Week provides a timely reminder of the importance of vaccination, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more

Peak rural medical bodies, ACRRM and RDAA have said that the Government’s new Contact Tracing App, COVIDSafe, is an important additional tool in the fight against COVID-19.

Read more

ACRRM says the benefits of the government’s new COVIDSafe app in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic far outweigh any perceived risk. The app, which is available to all Australians to voluntarily download from 6.00pm tonight, will help protect lives by alerting people who may have come in contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Read more

With thoughts turning to how Australia might adapt to a post-COVID world, rural doctors say the pandemic response could provide the tools for better access to healthcare in the bush.

Read more