On National Doctor’s Day (30 March), the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) is shining a spotlight on the doctors who don’t just practice medicine—they shape the health and wellbeing of entire communities.
Across Australia’s rural and remote regions, Rural Generalists (RGs) are more than healthcare providers. They are emergency responders, general practitioners, anaesthetists, obstetricians, mental health practitioners, and community leaders.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says these highly skilled doctors are the backbone of rural healthcare, bridging the gap in access and ensuring Australians, no matter where they live, receive high-quality medical care.
“RGs a work in some of the most geographically isolated areas, ensuring Australians in rural and remote regions receive the care they deserve.
“Today, we acknowledge their dedication and thank them for their service.”
While RGs continue to go above and beyond for their communities, ACRRM is calling for greater investment in rural and remote healthcare to support the next generation of doctors.
“We need to ensure that RGs have the resources, training, and support to continue delivering high-quality care,” Dr Martin says.
“That includes expanding training opportunities, addressing workforce shortages, and strengthening rural healthcare infrastructure.”
Dr Sophie Collins, an ACRRM registrar working in Mutitjulu, near Uluru, NT, is one RG making a real difference.
Dr Collins first encountered the community at age 15 during a cultural exchange program, an experience that shaped her passion for rural medicine.
Now, she provides vital healthcare in a remote setting, supporting community-led health initiatives and incorporating innovative approaches such as ultrasound training to improve patient outcomes.
“Working in a remote Aboriginal community has been incredibly rewarding,” Dr Collins says.
“The relationships we build with patients and the ability to provide comprehensive, culturally appropriate care make rural medicine unique and fulfilling.”
Dr Sione Akauola graduated from the ACRRM Fellowship program in 2024.
His journey into rural and remote medicine began in the island kingdom of Tonga, where he was stationed on one of the world's most remote and isolated small islands.
Dr Akauola explains as the sole doctor on the island, he managed a five-bed health centre, serving a population of 1,500 people for an entire year.
Since migrating to Australia and obtaining Fellowship, Dr Akauola says: I have the skills and confidence to provide anaesthesia, emergency care, and general practice services in rural, remote, and First Nations communities.
“Every day brings something different.
“One moment, I might perform a spinal for a caesarean section in the operating theatre; the next, I could be resuscitating a critically ill patient in the emergency department or coordinating a holistic healthcare plan in general practice,” he says.
On National Doctor’s Day, ACRRM encourages all Australians to take a moment to thank the doctors in their lives and recognise the essential role of RGs in keeping rural, remote and First Nations communities healthy.