Journalists wanting to speak to an ACRRM spokesperson are invited to contact Petrina Smith on 0414 820 847 or email.

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) reaffirms its commitment to the national effort to Close the Gap. The college is a Close the Gap Steering Committee member and on this10th Closing the Gap Day.

ACRRM acknowledges that the gap in health outcomes between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians persists. A lot of work still needs to be done to Close the Gap.

A/Prof Ruth Stewart, ACRRM President, said that on the 10th Anniversary of Closing the Gap, it is obvious that if targets are to be met and equality of health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples achieved, we must do more.

"Health inequality hasn't gone away; in fact it has worsened in the ten years since the Close the Gap Strategy was produced," she said

"The mortality and life expectancy gap is widening rather than improving.

"ACRRM takes this opportunity to renew our commitment to work for better health and well-being for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

"The ACRRM board has initiated programs and targeted initiatives to support efforts of our registrars, Fellows, members, stakeholders and collaborators towards Closing the Gap.

"The College has an important role to play. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprise a significant proportion of the population in many rural and remote communities, and our members serve some of the nation's most disadvantaged communities. ACRRM leadership can and will make a difference for the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

"ACRRM's key contribution is in ensuring access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in rural and remote communities to well-trained, caring and culturally-competent doctors.

"Our College aims to recruit registrars motivated to care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients; to ensure they are trained to effectively care for these people in their communities; and, importantly to recruit, train and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors to serve rural and remote communities."

Some important recent College developments include:

  • ACRRM's unique AGPT selection process implemented in 2017 with specific design to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants, and to recognise aptitude for Indigenous healthcare (record number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander AGPT registrar enrolments in 2017)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members group established
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellows delivering College training, curriculum development, assessment and policy development
  • College Reconciliation Action Plan established
  • Program of ACRRM training workshops at the Australian Indigenous Doctor's Association (AIDA) annual conference
  • College Framework for advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health

Today we celebrate our outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellows and registrars and junior doctors and the contributions of our dedicated doctors working in rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

ACRRM is proud of the exceptional work of its members in serving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and sees great promise for the future in both the passion and the capacity of the junior doctors that it continues to attract.