ACRRM students, registrars and Fellows have one thing in common - a desire to See More, Do More and Be More. Whether they are working in central Victoria, on the rugged Western Australian coastline, in the tropics of North Queensland or the farmlands of New South Wales and further afield, they are committed to being the best Rural Generalist they can, supporting rural and remote people with excellent health care. Enjoy their stories here.

Many of our members at ACRRM have gone on to win awards. Check out our awards page here.

If you are an ACRRM Rural Generalist and would like to share your story, contact the membership team at membership@acrrm.org.au.

For one doctor, the journey to ACRRM Fellowship began on a remote island in the Pacific and led to a fulfilling career in rural and remote medicine in Australia. From serving as the sole doctor for an isolated community in Tonga to providing life-saving care in diverse rural settings, this story showcases the resilience, adaptability, and passion that defines an ACRRM Fellow. It’s a testament to how the right training can empower doctors to deliver exceptional care in the communities that need it most.

The following is Dr Sione Akauola's speech from the 2024 ACRRM Fellowship graduation ceremony at Rural Medicine Australia (RMA).

My journey into rural and remote medicine began in the island kingdom of Tonga, where I was stationed on one of the world's most remote and isolated small islands. As the sole doctor on the island, I managed a five-bed health centre, serving a population of 1,500 people for an entire year.

Life on the island came with profound challenges. There were no flights for the duration of my posting, and the only connection to the outside world was a ferry that arrived every three months—a journey that took an entire day to reach the main island's hospital. Electricity was scarce. The health centre relied on a diesel-powered generator, which operated only during business hours or in emergencies. At home, my only source of light was a kerosene lamp in the government-provided accommodation.

When I migrated to Australia to pursue postgraduate medical education, I faced new hurdles as an International Medical Graduate (IMG). Navigating exams and adapting to a new health system was daunting, but it led me to ACRRM Fellowship training—a choice that transformed my career.

Today, as an ACRRM Fellow, 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 cesarean 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.

ACRRM’s approach to training equips the right doctors with the right skills to serve in the right places. My training experience has been both fulfilling and rewarding, constantly reminding me why I chose medicine and why I continue to love my work. At the heart of what we do is a patient-centered model of care that places communities at the core of health planning and initiatives.

I am deeply grateful to ACRRM, my medical educators, and my training officer for their unwavering support throughout my journey. To my family, both here in Australia and back in my village in Tonga, who kept me in their prayers—thank you for your tireless encouragement.

Looking ahead, my aspiration as a new Fellow is to expand ACRRM training and education opportunities to our neighboring Pacific Island communities. I believe in the power of this program to make a transformative impact, just as it has in my life.

To my fellow graduates and their families, congratulations—we’ve done it! Here's to a future filled with opportunity, purpose, and making a difference in the communities we serve.

20241024ACRRMFELLOWSHIPCEREMONY-236 Dr Sione Akauola

You can watch the 2024 ACRRM Fellowship graduation ceremony in full here: