Ensuring the interests of our members are appropriately represented in federal, state and territory consultations and that he distinctive context and conditions of rural and remote practice are recognised is a key focus of the College’s policy and advocacy work.

Over the past month, ACRRM representations have included submissions on the Professional Services Review (PSR) Scheme , pharmacists’ scope of practice in Queensland, and  the national framework for public hospitals pricing.

RG Recognition Update

The final stage assessment of the joint application for specialist recognition of Rural Generalist Medicine is underway and the College is eagerly awaiting advice from the Medical Board of Australia on a commencement date for the national consultation on the application.  The consultation will occur over approximately two months and there will be opportunity for members and other stakeholders to provide feedback that will be considered in the overall assessment of the application.  The College will be providing a series of information events and rolling out a series of resources to assist people that would like to provide feedback to the consultation. For the latest information visit our Rural Generalist Medicine webpage.  

Feedback to NSW Senate Inquiry

ACRRM has provided feedback this month to the NSW Select Committee on Remote, Rural and Regional Inquiry into the progress of recommendations arising from the Portfolio Committee No.2 Report,

The New South Wales Parliamentary Inquiry into Health Outcomes and Access to Health and Hospital Services in Rural, Regional and Remote New South Wales was the first time a parliamentary committee had conducted an exercise in examination and assessment of the health system in New South Wales on this scale, including review of 720 community submissions. The role and contribution of Rural Generalists across rural and remote New South Wales was discussed at length and the Report recognised general stakeholder support for the rural generalist model of care.

The overarching finding was that the state’s rural, regional, and remote residents have poorer health outcomes, inferior access to health and hospital services, and face significant financial challenges in accessing services compared to their metropolitan counterparts.

Of particular relevance and significance to ACRRM, were recommendations relating to:

• implementing the single employer model for General Practice and Rural Generalist trainees across rural, regional, and remote NSW
• §overhauling the Visiting Medical Officer (VMO) model to ensure viability
• expanding rural and remote GP training positions and support and
• reviewing maternity services in order to develop plans for midwifery, GP obstetrics, specialist Obstetrics and newborn services

ACRRM’s feedback to the Inquiry reports that it is disappointed in the progress particularly on the latter three recommendations. The College recommended that employment arrangements for RGs working in small rural and remote health services requires a nationally coordinated review, as well as recommending an urgent review of remote, rural, and regional maternity services in NSW.

Feedback to Queensland Health – Workforce Strategy Horizon 1 Action Plan

The College has provided feedback on Queensland Health’s Workforce Strategy 2032 Horizon 1 Action Plan this week, welcoming the strong focus on meeting the needs of people in rural and remote areas including in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, communities and on the role of Rural Generalists in delivering rural and remote services.

RGs are a key component of the state’s health workforce, especially given their capacity to provide a broad range of services within the communities in which they are located.  They must be adequately remunerated and supported to continue to deliver these services across rural and remote Queensland.  Likewise, if they are to work to a broad scope of practice and meet as many community needs as safely possible, caring for and supporting them to thrive in rural practice at and across all stages of their career is paramount.

Although the structure of the strategy and the resultant action plan are clear and well-structured, the key issue will be how these documents are implemented.  The College’s is aware that problems for our members in serving their communities often arise from the detail and the implementation. The actions must be adequately funded and progress monitored, including through regular stakeholder updates.

Upcoming Submissions and Emerging Issues

The College will be making a detailed submission to the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review which has been announced by the Department of Health and Aged Care.  This Review was flagged in the 2023-24  Federal budget as part of the implementation of recommendations from the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce Report.

The review will identify opportunities to remove the barriers stopping health professionals working to their full scope of practice.  It will also look for examples of multi-disciplinary teams working together at the top of their scope of practice to deliver primary care.  Professor Mark Cormack will lead the review.

We welcome feedback from members to inform ACRRM’s submission.  Please provide this to policy@acrrm.org.au by Monday 16 October.   Members can also make individual written submissions or respond to an online survey.  

Contact the Policy team

The Policy team values all members’ input on policy issues as they arise. Member input allows us to provide submissions and representations which are more powerful and more reflective of the realities of rural and remote practice on the frontline.

Contact Policy@acrrm.org.au  if you would like to provide feedback on a particular issue or consultation.