Australian Rural Generalists represented at global rural health conference
ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin, CEO Marita Cowie, and College Fellows are in New Zealand this weekend to represent Rural Generalists at the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) conference.
“ACRRM is proud to showcase Australia’s Rural Generalist model, which is recognised as a gold standard for delivering high-quality care in rural, remote and First Nations communities,” Dr Martin says.
“Our presence at WONCA allows us to share our expertise, strengthen international partnerships and advocate for greater recognition of Rural Generalists worldwide.”
This year’s conference theme, Whānau Ora: Integrating Mātauranga Māori, indigenous knowledge with rural health for a thriving future directly aligns with the College's commitment to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
I started working at Mulungu Aboriginal Health Service this year not really knowing what I was in for. It didn’t take me long to appreciate the complexity and unique challenges of Indigenous Health and working within an AMS.
But with these challenges came a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment that I had not experienced in any other area of medicine. To be able to work and learn in this space as a registrar is a unique and rewarding opportunity.
Tell us why you started. Email marketing@acrrm.org.au with your story and any photos that capture your journey.
An invitation to lead: Calling recent Fellows
The ACRRM Emerging Leaders Conference is a by-application opportunity reserved for a select cohort of recent Fellows who show the promise, passion, and commitment to shape the future of healthcare in this country.
Guided by Dr Claire Arundell, Dr Tyson Whitelaw and Dr Georgina Mills, the conference will take participants through intensive leadership workshops, high-level panel discussions, and peer learning that simply cannot be replicated.
This is not a standard professional development event, it is a curated leadership experience designed to accelerate those who are ready to step forward.
The program is intentionally scheduled ahead of RMA26, a natural extension of the leadership conversations begun during the week.
Successful applicants will receive complimentary conference registration, accommodation and catering, along with return transfers between Adelaide city and Mt Lofty Estate.
Travel to Adelaide and any RMA-related costs are not included.
Unlock $40,000 to upskill in anaesthetics or obstetrics
Through the General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program (GPPTSP), GP and RG Fellows can upskill in either anaesthetics or obstetrics in order to bring procedural skills to their community.
A Commonwealth funded initiative that was launched in 2010, the program aims to address the lack of maternity services in rural areas.
If successful, applicants receive grants of $40,000 to complete either the RANZCOG Associate Advanced Procedural (APTP) or the ANZCA Rural Generalist Anaesthesia (RGA) training program.
Applications for the anaesthetics program close on Friday 24 April 2026
Now available through Medicare: Low intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LiCBT)
Free guided low intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LiCBT) is now available nationally through the digital service, Medicare Mental Health Check In.
Guided LiCBT provides people experiencing mild mental health challenges with access to evidence based digital support with a trained practitioner via telehealth.
Medicare Mental Health Check In offers free digital health programs that can help people work on their wellbeing whenever and wherever suits them. The programs use a safe, evidence-based approach to help manage early mental health concerns or symptoms.
Sponsored: The cover gap many doctors don’t know they have
Avant has expanded its practitioner indemnity insurance policy to include public liability cover for eligible members — and if you qualify, you're already covered.
For contractors and visiting doctors, this is meaningful protection. It covers you for up to $20 million if a patient is injured or property is damaged in a non-clinical incident — separate from the healthcare you provide. Think a patient slipping in your consulting space, or accidental damage to their belongings.
Your medical indemnity cover continues to protect you for the care you deliver. This simply fills a gap that many doctors didn't know existed.
End of Life Law for Clinicians (ELLC) is a project designed to help clinicians learn about end-of-life law and the effects this on end-of-life care and palliative care for patients.
ELLC has been accredited in the 2026‑2028 ACRRM PD Program for 9 Educational Activity Hours and 3 Performance Review Hours.
ACRRM representatives including President Dr Rod Martin and CEO Marita Cowie were at WONCA this week to share the ACRRM Rural Generalist model and partner with the WONCA council on the launch of Global Rural Action Collaboration and Excellence (GRACE).GRACE is a framework developed by Rural WONCA to connect organisations around the world that are already delivering strong, practical solutions in rural health, and to bring them into a more coordinated global network. The aim is to build a network that shares proven approaches, supports research and training, and helps scale solutions across countries, while also ensuring that rural voices inform global policy.
ACRRM Online Learning
Approaching public health in rural practice
Strengthen your understanding of public health in rural practice with ACRRM’s free online course, Approach to Care – Public Health.
Designed for Rural Generalists, this course explores the role of general practice in improving community health, with a focus on social determinants, health inequities, and key risk factors affecting rural populations.
Aligned with World Health Day (7 April), it’s an opportunity to deepen your impact beyond individual care and contribute to better health outcomes across your community.
Join Dr Chaitanya Bodapati (Paediatric Allergy/Immunology Specialist, NAC) for a practical session on recognising and managing food allergies in children, including diagnosis, risk assessment, and family advice.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is seeking feedback on its recommendations to inform the regulations of sunscreens in Australia.
The consultation paper outlines the improvements as well as questions posed specifically to invite feedback from health professionals.
The primary objective of the regulation of sunscreens is to ensure their quality, safety and efficacy to protect consumers from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, to reduce the incidence and impact of skin cancer.
Seeking ACRRM representative for developments to the National Medication Chart
The federal government is continuing to invest in the development of the electronic form of the national residential medication chart.
We are seeking an ACRRM member to represent the College on a new working group looking specifically at electronic prescribing from within the electronic chart.
The working group will meet monthly and will identify and track implementation issues, problem solve workflow, integration, regulation and communications.
You will be supported in this role by the ACRRM digital health team.
Please send your Expressions of Interest to the Policy Team on Policy@acrrm.org.au.
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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