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Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice

Background
Who to Contact

Background to the Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice

The Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice is based on the Graduate Diploma in Rural General Practice curriculum and training standards (GradDipRural) and is applicable to both awards. Candidates enrolled prior to 31st October 2008 who complete the curriculum requirements by 31st October 2009 will be eligible to receive the dual awards of Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP) and Graduate Diploma in Rural General Practice as long as vocational training requirements are completed by 1st March 2010.

Candidates enrolled after 31st October 2008 will be eligible to receive the FARGP which replaces the GradDipRural as of 1st May 2008.

The FARGP is offered by the National Rural Faculty on behalf of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners in recognition of the unique additional educational requirements required for general practice in rural communities.

The FARGP is designed for GP registrars enrolled in vocational training and for experienced general practitioners who wish to undertake a recognized educational program to further develop their knowledge and skills in rural general practice.

The FARGP is the only post FRACGP Rural practice-based Fellowship for Australian General Practitioners in rural general practice in Australia which is accredited within the Australian Higher Education Qualifications Framework.

The FARGP provides an educational program to complement and reinforce training or experience in rural general practice. It is closely integrated with the RACGP Curriculum for General Practice and Advanced Rural Skills Training curricula.

The FARGP award is an appropriate qualification to be used for providing incentives to recruit and reward doctors who continue to work in rural general practice. It is also a suitable qualification for recognition by hospitals for the purpose of visiting medical officer rights.

Key Features:

• An established process that identifies learning needs, develops a learning plan and monitors progress.
• Specific curriculum modules directly relevant to rural general practice that are completed to meet the goals of the learning plan
• A wide choice of educational activities are available to candidates
• Candidates demonstrate their progress by maintaining a Learning and Educational Assessment Portfolio (this will include evidence of completion of the College examination for the FRACGP).

Who to Contact

Di Schaefer - National Rural Education Manager
Email: di.schaefer@racgp.org.au Phone: 1800 636 764

Leticia Shields - Rural Education Administration Officer
Email: leticia.shields@racgp.org.au Phone: 1800 636 764

Educational Modules:

Mandatory

• Working in Rural General Practice
• Emergency Medicine

Elective

• Aboriginal health
• Is the Child Seriously ill
• Aged Care
• Critical Thinking

Who can undertake this Fellowship?

To be eligible for the award of the Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice, candidates must have completed specified training or general practice experience. These requirements can be met either as a pre-requisite (prior to entry to this award) or as a co-requisite (completed while enrolled in this award). All candidates must be RACGP financial members.

For Registrars, there is a co-requisite of a minimum of 12 months of their training in accredited rural training posts, award of the FRACGP, plus 12 months in an accredited advanced rural skills training post.

For practising FRACGP GPs, there is a prerequisite or co-requisite of 12 months experience in rural practice and 12 months in a post deemed to be equivalent to an advanced rural skills post. The pre-requisite/co-requisite requirements can be met by a mix of time in training and/or as a practising general practitioner. This mix can be dovetailed into the Quality Assurance and Continuing Professional Development (QA&CPD) program.

Advanced Rural Skills Training

An important pre-requisite or co-requisite for the award of the Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice is the completion of advanced rural skills training or experience in a post equivalent to an ARSP.

Advanced Rural Skills Training must be taken in an accredited Advanced Rural Skills Post (ARSP)
ARSPs are available in:

• Anaesthetics
• Obstetrics
• Surgery
• Aboriginal Health
• Mental Health
• Paediatrics
• Emergency Medicine
• Adult Internal Medicine
• Small Town General Practice
• Individually designed program, e.g. Palliative care, Musculoskeletal/sports medicine. Individual ARSPs must be approved by the National Rural Faculty after consultation with the nominated educational mentor.

Publication Date: 20 November 2008
Authorised By: National Rural Faculty