New approaches to integrated rural training
The Final Report for the RACGP Rural led-project, ‘New approaches to integrated rural training for medical practitioners’, was submitted to the Department of Health on 31 January 2014.
The Department funded the RACGP to facilitate policy discussion with the general practice profession and undertake advanced skills training research from August 2013 to January 2014.
The report examined four key areas:
- shaping and implementation of a national rural training pathway
- coordination of training across the full training continuum
- examination of the training requirements for new entrants
- training and support needs of the existing general practice workforce.
The project was approached in two parts:
- Policy component – which included four consultations across four states (the ‘investing in rural skills series’)
- Research component – which comprised of a review of the literature on the definition of advanced rural skills, and a cross-sectional online survey targeted at rural GPs exploring the extent of advanced skills in rural general practice.
Extensive policy input was undertaken over the six month project period, both through the policy consultation and research component involving the direct participation of some 2400 rural members, which represents a quarter of the full NRF membership.
The policy advice was structured against six key themes which formed the basis of the consultation discussions to identify the key issues, enablers and barriers to establishing streamlined medical education and training in rural and remote areas. Formal research, undertaken through survey, explored the advanced skills (both procedural and non-procedural) used in rural general practice and identified the barriers and enablers impacting the acquisition, use and retention of these skills.
The Final Report for the RACGP Rural led-project, ‘New approaches to integrated rural training for medical practitioners’, was submitted to the Department of Health on 31 January 2014.
For the full report “New approaches to integrated rural training for medical practitioners” or the Project Abstract: Key Findings paper, please see the links below.