Dan’s the Man! Exceptional rural doctor recognised for huge impact on healthcare, both at home and in the Pacific
A Rural Generalist doctor who has served the Queensland community of Stanthorpe for over 30 years – while also training countless future doctors both in Queensland and the Pacific Islands – has received the ACRRM-RDAA Peter Graham ‘Cohuna’ Award for 2026.
Dr Dan Manahan received the Award at a special dinner in Brisbane this week, as he is unable to attend the official ACRRM and RDAA awards dinner at the Rural Medicine Australia conference in Adelaide later this month.
The Award is the highest conferred by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA).
Notice is given that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) is being held at 8:30am ACDT, on Friday 23 October 2026 at the Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, Tarndanya (Adelaide).
To attend the AGM, you must be a financial member. Members can appoint a proxy for the meeting and may specify the matter in which the proxy is to vote on a particular resolution.
If you require assistance about the AGM or accessing documents, please contact membership@acrrm.org.au or call 1800 223 226.
Don't miss the Constitution Q&A session
Online session | Wednesday 7 October at 7:00pm AEST
Join ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin and Company Secretary Nikki Parker at this Q&A session about the proposed changes to the ACRRM Constitution.
This event is your opportunity to ask questions in an informal drop-in setting about the upcoming vote on changes to the ACRRM Constitution and how these changes impact you and the College.
Members can read more about what’s being proposed on our website.
The College congratulates Dr Jarred Lenegan (Western Australia), Dr Brendan Carrigan (Queensland) and Dr Brian Treanor (Tasmania) on their re-election to the College Council.
The College values the contributions of Dr Rachael Gray and Dr Sally Street (QLD), Dr Thomas Drake-Brockman (WA) and Dr Sabiena van Es (TAS) who stood for Council positions, and will continue to engage with them so their voices and expertise help shape the College’s work.
The College also welcomes Dr Ella Johnson to the College Board who was elected as the Registrar Director.
The College Council has re-appointed Dr Alice Fitzgerald as a Council Appointed Director to the College Board.
Our newly elected representatives look forward to hearing from members and representing your views. If you have feedback, ideas or something you’d like to share, email council@acrrm.org.au.
New RG Life Hacks podcast episode – Global health, local skills
What can Rural Generalist skills teach us about working in global health?
In the latest episode of RG Life Hacks, Dr Emily Moody speaks with Dr Lachlan McIver, Rural Generalist, public health physician, tropical medicine specialist and global health advocate, about how Rural Generalist skills can translate into global health. “There should be more of us involved in global health.”
From rural and remote practice to roles with the World Health Organization and Médecins Sans Frontières, Lachlan shares how adaptability, clinical courage and a willingness to figure things out have shaped his career across some very different settings.
An essential listen for registrars interested in global health and the possibilities of a Rural Generalist career.
When men don't say they're struggling: what GPs can look for
Sponsored Content
Men do show up. 8 in 10 Australian men saw a GP last year. Staying engaged is the harder part. 67% have left a practitioner, or wanted to, because they didn't feel a personal connection. Meanwhile men account for 75% of suicide deaths.
GPs see it: late presentations, downplayed symptoms, no follow-up. 78% recognise gender-based barriers, but only 36% know gender-responsive care as an approach.
Men in Mind for Primary Care closes that gap. A 2.5-hour, self-paced eLearning course from the Movember Institute, ACRRM accredited.
Evaluation showed sustained gains in confidence and knowledge, with 86% able to apply strengths-based communication with men.
For Women’s health, we are seeking member comment on:
Women’s experiences in pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period – physical, psychological and emotional
Best practice pregnancy and postpartum care models
The accessibility of reproductive, antenatal and postpartum care
For Specialists, we are seeking member comment on:
Your experience of access and referral pathways to medical specialists, particularly in rural and remote areas
The impact for patients when not able to access medical specialists
Challenges and opportunities to recruit, retain and support specialists in rural areas
Please send your input on any of these matters to policy@acrrm.org.au by Monday 5 October.
Thriving Kids - A new Australian Government program
The Australian Government launched Thriving Kids on 30 September. Thriving Kids is an improved approach to early intervention being delivered by the government to support children aged 8 and under who need extra support with their development. Thriving Kids will give families information, early development checks, additional programs and goal-oriented support. For more information, please explore this factsheet.
Medicare Healthy Kids Check
ACRRM would also like to make our members aware that from 1 November, a new MBS health assessment service called Medicare Healthy Kids Check will be introduced for 3-year-old children using tiered health assessment items (701-707 and 224 - 227).
The purpose of this service is to help identify children who may require additional support, including monitoring and interventions in primary care settings, referral to appropriate support (including Thriving Kids support) or further assessment when required. For more information, please explore this Fact Sheet and RACGP - AJGP (Australian Journal of General Practice).
ACRRM Online Learning
Expand your breast cancer knowledge with flexible online learning
With more than 20,000 people diagnosed each year in Australia according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, breast cancer is an important area of knowledge for rural and remote health professionals.
The ACRRM breast cancer online learning modules are part of the “Supporting women in rural areas diagnosed with breast cancer” program, funded by the Australian Government and delivered by Cancer Australia in partnership with ACRRM.
ACRRM at NT Rural and Remote Medicine Conference 2026
ACRRM was proud to support the NT Rural and Remote Medicine Conference 2026 in Alice Springs as a Gold Sponsor, joining rural and remote healthcare professionals from across the Northern Territory for a weekend of learning, collaboration and connection.
A highlight was the ACRRM Member Networking Breakfast, where members gathered to discuss training, workforce development and engagement opportunities. The event reinforced the value of building strong professional relationships and maintaining connections across the College and broader healthcare community.
Digital Health
ACRRM Dermatology Webinar: Integrating dermoscopy into everyday rural general practice
Thursday 5 November at 6:30pm AEST/ 7:30pm AEDT
Join Dr Jim Muir, Dermatologist, for a practical webinar designed for ACRRM Tele-Derm users, exploring how dermoscopy can support the assessment and management of skin lesions in rural general practice.
Using clinical cases, Dr Muir will cover a systematic approach to dermoscopy, common benign and suspicious features, and how findings can guide decisions about monitoring, biopsy, excision and referral.
For rural and remote Australians, specialist allergy advice can mean hours on the road, time away from work or school, and travel and accommodation costs.
This spring, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) is highlighting how allergy assist® helps Rural Generalists deliver allergy care in their communities.
The free national service connects Rural Generalists with clinical immunology and allergy specialists. With patient permission, doctors can submit clinical cases online and receive advice within 48 hours.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says this support can help doctors manage patients locally and decide when further testing or referral is needed.
ACRRM acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the custodians of the lands and waters where our members and staff work and live across Australia. We pay respect to their elders, lores, customs and Dreaming. We recognise these lands and waters have always been a place of teaching, learning, and healing.
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