Rural Generalist model brings birthing back to Cooktown
ACRRM celebrates the return of birthing services to Cooktown, enabling more women and families to have their babies safely, closer to home.
The College particularly welcomes the Rural Generalist-led model established in Cooktown, which draws on the successful restoration of birthing services in Weipa in 2024.
College Board Director and Medical Director of Maternity Services for Cape York Dr John Hall helped lead the restoration of birthing services in both communities.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says the experience in Weipa demonstrates what can be achieved when Rural Generalists and multidisciplinary healthcare teams work together to provide safe, sustainable maternity care. Read more
Colleges call for stronger clinical capability at Biloela
ACRRM and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) acknowledge the return of planned birthing services to Biloela but are concerned Rural Generalist and General Practitioner obstetricians and anaesthetists are not embedded in the service’s current model.
Birthing returned to Biloela Hospital this week as a Level 2 service for eligible women with uncomplicated pregnancies, following the suspension of local birthing in 2022.
Women requiring more complex maternity care, an epidural, or operative delivery will need to be transferred to a higher-level service. The closest higher-level maternity service is Gladstone Hospital, approximately 120km away, creating potentially grave risks for mothers and babies requiring urgent care during an obstetric emergency.
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin recognises the commitment of the Biloela maternity team and community. Read more.
Don't miss tonight's ACRRM Constitution webinar
Thursday 17 September at 8:00pm AEST
Don't forget to register for tonight's ACRRM Constitution webinar with President Dr Rod Martin and Company Secretary Nikki Parker.
ACRRM is proposing changes to its Constitution, which was last updated in 2014. This webinar is an opportunity for members to gain a greater understanding of the proposed changes and to ask any questions you may have.
Guidance for practitioners prescribing off-label unapproved or compounded medicines
Ahpra and the National Boards have published guidance for prescribing off-label, unapproved or compounded medicines.
The guidance serves to remind health practitioners of their existing professional obligations as they navigate emerging healthcare models and trends, such as the recent surge in unapproved peptide use. It calls out the extra care practitioners must take when prescribing these types of medicines, especially when establishing a therapeutic need, getting informed consent and documenting the process.
These expectations are not new and are a translation of the obligations set out within the National Boards’ Codes of conduct. The guidance aims to support practitioners to practise safely and confidently meet their professional obligations when prescribing off-label, unapproved or compounded medicines.
Supervisors' Compass podcast episode 14: Fostering clinical courage in registrars
What does clinical courage look like in Rural Generalist practice, and how can supervisors foster it in registrars?
In this episode of the ACRRM RG podcast Supervisors’ Compass, Dr James Best and Professor Richard Hays are joined by Professor Lucie Walters and Dr Emily Moody to explore the concept of clinical courage and its importance in rural and remote medicine.
The discussion explores how clinical courage goes beyond simply taking risks or acting bravely. It involves understanding contemporary best practice, recognising the realities and constraints of the local context, and adapting care in partnership with patients to meet their needs safely and appropriately.
Lucie and Emily discuss how supervisors can make this often implicit part of Rural Generalist practice more visible to registrars by talking through their decision-making, role-modelling clinical courage and supporting registrars to take responsibility without taking over.
Attend a face-to-face clinical training course around RMA26
Heading to Adelaide this October? Add a course to your schedule and make the most of your time in the city!
Whether you’re heading to RMA26 or working locally, ACRRM’s face-to-face clinical training courses give you the opportunity to refresh essential skills, build confidence and expand your scope of practice.
With courses running before and after RMA, there are plenty of opportunities to fit some hands-on learning into your Adelaide plans.
Eye presentations are common in general practice, but recognising red flags and knowing when to escalate is especially important in rural and remote settings.
ACRRM’s brand-new Essential Eye Care for Rural General Practice course provides practical, clinically focused guidance on assessing and managing common and acute eye presentations, with a focus on simple examination techniques, first-line treatment and timely referral.
You’ll build confidence in:
Performing a structured eye assessment
Recognising common presentations and vision-threatening red flags
We invite you to share with us your experience of access and referral pathways to medical specialists, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Do you have ideas for improvements? Please send your input to policy@acrrm.org.au.
Review of the National Boards’ Codes of conduct – scoping survey
Ahpra and the National Boards have commenced a review of the Codes of conduct. The review covers:
the shared Code of conduct used by 12 professions, and
the profession specific Codes of conduct for the medical, nursing and midwifery professions.
An early scoping survey has been developed to help inform this review. The survey is open from 17 September to 15 October 2026. You can take part in the survey or learn more about the review on the Ahpra website.
ACRRM in Action
Student events in WA and QLD
ACRRM attended two student engagement events, connecting with future medical professionals and promoting Rural Generalism. At the GPSN Curtin University Future Pathways Night, representatives participated in discussions on specialty career options, where attendees heard from ACRRM registrar Dr Jasmine Davis.
ACRRM also attended the JCU Careers Fair in Townsville, where Dr Catherine Duddy took part in the Specialties Speed Dating session, sharing her experience as a registrar and providing insights into Rural Generalist training and working in rural and remote communities.
Get Involved
Join the GPRA Board - applications closing soon
Are you a Rural Generalist registrar or a recently Fellowed RG who wants to help shape the future of rural generalism?
Applications are now open for an eligible RG to serve a three-year term on the General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) Board.
GPRA is the national independent voice for future GPs and RGs in Australia, with over 22,000 members nationwide.
If you are a highly motivated, well-organised and self-driven RG registrar or New Fellow (within five years of Fellowship), with experience or an interest in advocacy and/or peer representation, GPRA wants to hear from you.
AGPAL is the leading accreditation provider for General Practice in Australia, and is the holding company for the AGPAL Group of Companies which includes AGPAL, QIP, CFEP Surveys, Care Opinion and QIPC.
The successful ACRRM nominee, after consideration by the AGPAL Nominations Committee, will be appointed to the AGPAL Board at the 2026 AGPAL AGM, scheduled to be held on 27 November 2026.
To be eligible for this position, the candidate must be an ACRRM Fellow and a Medical Practitioner in Practice as defined by Ahpra.
Interested Fellows are requested to provide their CV, the completed Skills Matrix Response Checklist, details of their Directors ID No., and a brief background statement to policy@acrrm.org.au by 18 September 2026.
Call for nominations: AMC Inaugural Nominations Committee
The Australian Medical Council (AMC) is seeking expressions of interest for four independent positions, including the Committee Chair, on its inaugural Nominations Committee.
This important committee will help shape the AMC’s future governance by overseeing Board recruitment, succession planning and capability development, supporting a contemporary governance model that values diversity, cultural safety and shared decision-making with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and Māori Peoples.
The AMC welcomes applications from individuals with experience in board governance, recruitment, executive search, health and medical education, cultural safety and anti-racism, regulatory or not-for-profit governance, and probity and decision-making.
These are remunerated appointments. Expressions of Interest closes at 5.00 pm AEST, Wednesday 23 September 2026.
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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