Rural patients to benefit from new diploma
We are pleased to announce a significant milestone in our commitment to the safety of our patients in rural Australia through the development of a Diploma of Rural Generalist Anaesthesia (DRGA).
The Diploma is a close collaboration between the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), the Australian College for Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) who recently signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the Diploma.
The three colleges have been working towards the development of the diploma for a number of years and significant work on the curriculum has already been completed by a working group of experts from the three colleges.
Recognising the critical role GPs with advanced training in anaesthesia play in many rural and remote communities where it is not possible to have specialist anaesthetists, the diploma will provide training to produce rural generalist anaesthesia graduates who can deliver safe anaesthesia and perioperative care in rural and remote settings.
The one-year diploma will commence in 2023 and will leverage off our three colleges’ longstanding advanced training program for rural GP anaesthetists overseen by the Joint Consultative Committee on Anaesthesia (JCCA).
A steering committee with representatives from each of our colleges, including a recent graduate and a community representative, will be established to oversee the development of the diploma and to address issues such as recognition of prior learning, supervision, hospital accreditation, and continuing professional development.
For more information please see our frequently asked questions that will be added to over time.
Please monitor your college publications for more information and send any queries to drga@anzca.edu.au.
Dr Vaness Beavis
President, ANZCA
Dr Karen Price
President, RACGP
Dr Sarah Chalmers
President, ACRRM
Download a copy of the Presidents announcement.