Timeline of key events

Vision: equitable access to high quality locally delivered healthcare for all Australians.

Role: work with regional, rural and remote communities, the health sector, universities, specialist training colleges and government to improve rural health policies, champion the cause of rural practice, and to build a National Rural Generalist Pathway that creates a sustainable locally trained medical workforce to meet the needs of regional, rural and remote communities across Australia.

RACGP and ACRRM representatives meet with the National Rural Health Commissioner at Collingrove Homestead in the Barossa Valley, South Australia and agree to work together to lead the development of a national framework for Rural Generalism.

Their agreed definition of ‘rural generalist’ is: ‘Medical practitioner who is trained to meet the specific current and future healthcare needs of Australian rural and remote communities, in a sustainable and cost-effective way, by providing both comprehensive general practice and emergency care, and required components of other medical specialist care in hospital and community settings as part of a rural healthcare team.’

The Pathway is intended to create a nationally consistent training framework that will provide trainees with the medical skills needed to meet specific needs of rural and remote communities.

The Taskforce is established to guide the development of the pathway and harness the broad-based expertise of the rural health sector. It’s comprised of representatives from a wide range of stakeholders, including the RACGP.

Read the full advice here.

Key elements:

• Recognition and definition of the rural generalist term
• Nationally supported, dedicated rural generalist training from prevocational years through to Fellowship
• Professional recognition to be aligned to training
• Protected title for rural generalists within the specialty of General Practice and consistent with the agreed definition
• Options for supporting and remunerating rural generalist practitioners – any extra money attached to skills, not title
• An evaluation framework within the Pathway to provide accountability on whether it is properly delivering the required training and services

Following consultation with rural members and general practice training organisations, the RACGP announced the development of a Rural Generalist Fellowship (FRACGP-RG).

The new qualification will improve support for rural health in Australia.

In March, the Australian Government announced a $62.2 million 2019–20 Budget investment over four years to fast track the National Rural Generalist Pathway program.

The Rural Generalist Recognition Taskforce was formed in September 2019 to oversee the application to the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) for recognition of Rural Generalist Medicine as a specialist field within general practice. It was chaired by Foundation National Rural Health Commissioner (Commissioner), Prof Paul Worley and included representatives of both general practice colleges. A secretariat was established to support this work.

The application process involves a Stage 1 (initial) assessment, and if successful progresses to a Stage 2 (detailed) assessment and may also include a Regulation Impact Assessment conducted by the Officer of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR). The Stage 1 joint-application was submitted to the MBA in December 2019. The application’s assessment was conducted by the Australian Medical Council (AMC).

The MBA sent advice in August 2020. This did not specify an assessment outcome but requested that further information be provided. From this advice, there was uncertainty regarding the actions and advice that would be regarded as sufficient to enable proceeding to Stage 2.

The new Commissioner, A/Prof Ruth Stewart was appointed in September 2020. The Taskforce was reconstituted and reaffirmed its commitment to continue to progress the application.

A meeting was convened of the Taskforce with AMC representatives on 20 January 2021. This provided opportunity for the Taskforce to seek clarity regarding the AMC decision process and expectations. Based on the AMC advice, the key areas of action required were, (1) to undertake a further national consultation, (2) to provide further evidence of RG specialist title’s impact on workforce outcomes, and (3) to provide more detailed analysis of the alternative mechanisms to achieve workforce outcomes without RG specialist title.

The additional advice report was submitted on 5 July 2021. If the MBA supports progress to Stage 2 (detailed assessment of the proposal) it is estimated to take a further 12-18 months. The level, type and timing of consultation is to be determined by the AMC and possibly also by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR).