Rural Generalist Anaesthesia Update - Qualification Name Change

In 2023 the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Authority (TEQSA) notified medical specialty colleges that the use of the term "Diploma" is protected and that it was no longer to be used after 31 December 2023. ANZCA investigated several options including legislative change and possible accreditation with TEQSA all of which have proven to not be viable. As a result, the Tripartite Committee of Rural Generalist Anaesthesia has recommended that the program be known as the Advanced Certificate in Rural Generalist Anaesthesia with post nominals of RGA.

Rural generalist practitioners with training in anaesthesia play vital roles in providing life-saving services to patients in many rural and remote communities across Australia.

Launched in 2023, the Rural Generalist Anaesthesia Training Program is a joint initiative of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). It delivers the education, training, and assessment of rural general practitioners and rural generalists providing anaesthesia services in rural locations.

The new Rural Generalist Anaesthesia Training Program meets the requirements of ACRRM’s Advanced Specialised Training in anaesthetics.

For 27 years, ACRRM was member of the Joint Consultative Committee on Anaesthesia (JCCA), working with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), to provide rural General Practitioners with Advanced Skills Training in anaesthesia. 

The three colleges have collaborated to develop a more contemporary education model which formally recognises the scope of training and assessment that is attained through the program. The result is the roll out of a new Rural Generalist Anaesthesia Training Program which aims to enhance anaesthesia services available to rural and remote communities.

ACRRM has played a significant role in the development of the new course, through consultation and feedback.

For more information, visit https://www.anzca.edu.au/education-training/rural-generalist-anaesthesia

FAQs

Our FACRRM RGAs, appointed to represent our membership, have ensured it is a fit-for-purpose, AMC accreditable nationally standardised qualification, but importantly is specifically representative of contextual anaesthetic practice in rural and remote health systems. This relevance to the work that RGA's do was critical to our support of the Rural Generalist Anaesthesia Training Program.

The new Rural Generalist Anaesthesia Training Program meets the requirements of ACRRM’s Advanced Specialised Training in anaesthetics.

ACRRM registrars who are starting an AST in anaesthetics from 2023, will start the new program. 

JCCA training and certification will continue to be recognised after the introduction of the new program and existing rural general anaesthetists will be allowed to practice with in-scope anaesthesia procedures subject to their usual local clinical privileging arrangements.

There is an opportunity to be grandparented to RGA if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Regardless of JCCA qualifications, existing rural general anaesthetists will be allowed to practice with in-scope anaesthesia procedures subject to their usual local clinical privileging arrangements.