Rural Medicine Australia 24 (RMA24), Australia’s biggest rural doctor conference, will deliver a top program in the Top End, working to ‘build up’ delegates with clinical knowledge, the latest research and new skills to keep their practise at peak performance.

Co-hosted by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA), RMA24 will welcome up to 1000 rural doctors, trainees, medical students and others at the Darwin Convention Centre from 23-26 October 2024.

ACRRM President, Dr Dan Halliday, said that RMA24 is focussing on building clinical knowledge and skills for rural doctors.

“The conference theme is tied to the Top End ‘Build Up’, which RMA24 will be experiencing this year, with a key focus on upskilling clinical knowledge so our delegates return to their practise armed with the latest techniques and research across topics ranging from women’s and men’s health, paediatric health, population health and more,” Dr Halliday said.

“With our Top End location, we will have a focus on tropical diseases, their causes and their cures, so we are very excited to have confirmed Professor Bart Currie from Royal Darwin Hospital to deliver a keynote address

“Prof Currie is an infectious diseases and public health physician, and Professor in Medicine at the Northern Territory Medical Program and leads the Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases team at Menzies School of Health Research.

“Prof Currie is an expert in tropical disease. His extensive clinical experience and research on Rheumatic Heart Disease will be fascinating for our rural doctor delegates. He has also conducted a 30 year study of Melioidosis, a serious disease caused by bacteria that live in soil found in tropical areas, and in 1989 instigated the Darwin Prospective Snakebite Study, which measures rates of definite snakebite, the clinical features of bites and how the venom acts on the body.”

RDAA President, Dr RT Lewandowski, said that RMA24 program is really delivering on developing skills, knowledge and competencies for rural medical practice.

“RMA24 is focussed on ensuring our delegates go home enriched with presentations and encounters designed to share the best clinical evidence, the latest innovations, research and opportunities, and to update and improve clinical skills,” Dr Lewandowski said.

“With outstanding pre and post conference workshops which include Rural Emergency Obstetrics, Rural Anaesthetic Crisis Management, Advanced Life Support, Rural Emergency Skills, Pre-Hospital Emergency Care, and Cultural Safety. With an additional 10 Educational Activity and 2 Performance Review CPD Hours for attending RMA24 is a rural doctor’s best opportunity to get their training done all in one hit.

“The conference program is jam-packed with more than 100 educational sessions, keynote speakers, social events and practical workshops directly relevant to rural doctors providing the best possible care to their patients and communities, and to equip them with the skills to ensure all members of the healthcare team are supported to provide care to the full range of their scope.”

The RMA24 Conference themes are:

• Build Up Clinical Knowledge: the key stream of RMA24, presenters will be delivering important clinical skills and knowledge updates across all areas of practice suitable for rural and remote settings.
• Build Up Cultural Competence: This stream will work to strengthen rural healthcare through inclusive practices and a greater understanding of cultural diversity.
• Build Up Effective Communication: targeting maximising scope of practice and collaboration in rural healthcare teams this stream will explore strategies to optimise healthcare delivery in rural settings.
• Build Up Health Ecologies: Rural areas face unique challenges as a result of climate change and this stream will provide a dynamic forum for examining environmental sustainability, public health, and rural healthcare delivery.
• Build Up Resilience: Strategies for building thriving rural communities through showcasing successful strategies and best practices for promoting holistic community well-being.
• Build Up Innovation: this stream will shine a spotlight on rural and remote research projects working to improve health equity, access, and outcomes for rural communities across Australia.

“The RMA24 experience will be maximised with excellent networking opportunities enabling colleagues who sometimes feel professionally or geographically isolated to connect, and some Top End experiences for both delegates and their families to enjoy,” Dr Lewandowski said.

“We think this is our best conference yet, and we are looking forward to hosting this amazing event in Darwin again!”