National Rural Faculty: Rural life

The diversity of general practice is often described as one of the most exciting and stimulating aspects of the profession. GPs in any location see varied presentations, but those in rural and remote locations can be the only medical professional available and are often presented with the opportunity to engage in a range of clinical opportunities. Such diversity is often mirrored in the local people, with whom these GPs regularly form a strong and enduring bond.

‘The main draw card to rural health, for me, is the long-lasting relationships you can build with your patients in a country town,’ South Australian rural GP Dr Melanie Clothier told Good Practice.

‘Closely following that is the huge variety of presentations that you deal with.’ With so many varied aspects of life as a rural GP, being part of the RACGP’s National Rural Faculty (NRF), which supports and advocates for GPs working in rural and remote areas all around Australia, can allow these doctors to have a unified voice. When the NRF exceeded 10,000 members in February this year it achieved a major milestone and solidified its role as the largest rural general practice representative body in Australia.

‘The NRF is actively involved in policy, advocacy and education, and is proud to represent such a significant number of dedicated, passionate rural members,’ NRF Chair Dr Kathy Kirkpatrick said. Whether they are a student, registrar, senior GP or a supervisor, every rural GP has a different story, different reasons they do what they do and work where they work.

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NRF: Rural life (pdf 136KB)