Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)

Looking to strengthen your emergency medicine skills and confidence in high-pressure situations? Our Rural Emergency Skills Training (REST) course equips doctors with a structured approach to managing emergency presentations, while providing hands-on opportunities to develop procedural skills and strengthen team leadership. But don't just take our word for it...

Whether you're working in a rural hospital, remote clinic or emergency setting, REST is designed to help you deliver safe, effective care when it matters most.

Explore upcoming REST course dates here: https://bit.ly/4aCQRaM

ACRRM has raised serious concerns about proposals to expand pharmacist prescribing, warning the changes could fragment care and compromise patient safety in rural, remote and First Nations communities.

In its submission to the Pharmacy Board of Australia on the draft Endorsement for scheduled medicines for pharmacists, ACRRM argues that while pharmacists play an important role in medication dispensing, safety and patient counselling, prescribing requires broader clinical training, diagnostic expertise and the ability to manage complex health conditions over time.

ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin says Australians benefit from a healthcare system built around comprehensive, whole-person care delivered by Rural Generalists and General Practitioners (GPs).

"Patients are more than a single symptom or a prescription," Dr Martin says.

"Rural Generalists and GPs are specifically trained to assess, diagnose, prescribe, monitor and coordinate care across a patient's entire health journey. A health lens rather than an illness lens is what keeps communities and the country healthy.

“That is fundamentally different from treating a condition in isolation."

Read more: https://bit.ly/3Q6gABC

Discover the rural advantage at RMA26.

Join us in Adelaide as we celebrate The Rural Advantage – Generalist Medicine in the Spotlight. Our preliminary program is now live, offering a first look at the speakers, sessions and ideas that will shape this year's conference. Whether you're a student, registrar or experienced Rural Generalist, RMA26 is your opportunity to learn, connect and be inspired.

View the program: https://rma.acrrm.org.au/program/

Early Bird registration closes 30 June. Register now: https://rma.acrrm.org.au/registration/

Missed out on our Obstetrics AST Conference? Then check out these upcoming Rural Doctors Network procedural conferences in June and Oct👇

The Obstetrics Procedural Conference is a long-standing, trusted Rural Doctors Network program designed specifically for rural GP obstetricians and registrars working towards qualifications in the field.

📆26-27 June
📍Royal North Shore Hospital & Rural Doctors Network office
👉 Register now: https://loom.ly/-gF4laU

The program is delivered across two venues - the Sydney Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre at Royal North Shore Hospital and the Rural Doctors Network office - both located in St Leonards, supporting a mix of simulation and interactive learning.

To support busy clinical schedules and maintain small, interactive learning groups, the conference is being offered across two dates: 26-27 June and 9-10 October. You can register for June now or join the waitlist for October at the registration link above.

Congratulations to ACRRM registrar Dr Claire Griffiths on her appointment as President of the Rural Doctors Association of Tasmania (RDAT).

A proud palawa woman from Tasmania's north-west coast, Claire has dedicated her career to rural medicine and is currently undertaking ACRRM Rural Generalist training, with advanced specialised training in emergency medicine. Many will recognise Claire as one of the faces of our Rural Generalist Fellowship Program campaign this year, sharing her journey into rural generalism and inspiring future doctors.

As RDAT President, Claire will continue advocating for rural doctors, Rural Generalist training and access to high-quality healthcare for rural and regional Tasmanians.

We also thank outgoing RDAT President and ACRRM Fellow Dr Ben Dodds for his leadership and advocacy for Tasmania's rural medical workforce over the past four years.

Congratulations Claire – we look forward to seeing the impact of your leadership.

What a week! 🚑🩺

Last week, ACRRM hosted “Emergency Week” in Brisbane, bringing together rural and remote doctors from across Australia for an action-packed program of hands-on courses, practical simulations and expert-led learning. From Paediatric Emergencies for Rural Generalists, Rural Emergency Skills Training (REST), Advanced Life Support Level 2 (ALS2) and Rural Anaesthetics Crisis Management (RACM), to Advanced Airway Skills, Point of Care Ultrasound for Rural Generalists (POCUS-RG), Rural Emergency Obstetric Training (REOT), Advanced Neonatal Resuscitation (ANR) and Pre-Hospital Emergency Care (PHEC), participants worked through real-world scenarios, refined critical decision-making, and built confidence in high-pressure emergency settings, all while earning valuable CPD hours.

A huge thank you to our incredible facilitators who made the week such a success: Dr Deborah Simmons, Dr Tim Leeuwenburg, Dr Anmol Tandon, Dr Antony Wong, Dr Callum Weeks, Dr Sarah Lim, Dr Kambiz Bahaadinbeigy, Dr Robyn Cooke, Dr Steve Parker-Hill, Dr Siew Goh, Dr Erin Murphy, Dr Teena Downton, Dr Elise Ly, Dr Maggie Robin, Dr Bryce Nicol, Dr Dan Harris and Dr Prashan Kuruppu. Your expertise, dedication and passion for education helped create an engaging and supportive learning environment for every participant.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to another outstanding delivery of ACRRM's Clinical Training courses.

Explore upcoming courses here: https://bit.ly/4evAUVb

This Men’s Health Week (15–21 June), we're encouraging blokes to not delay booking an appointment with their GP/RG.

It is also a timely reminder to consider the unique health challenges facing men in rural and remote communities. From barriers to accessing care to the social, emotional and cultural factors that influence health outcomes, understanding these challenges can help us provide more effective, person-centred care.

ACRRM’s Clinical Bytes – Men’s Health online course explores key issues affecting rural men, including preventive health, screening opportunities and the leading causes of illness and death.

Free for ACRRM members and available online, the course can be completed at your own pace.

👉Enrol in the Men’s Health online course: https://bit.ly/4xMfdJl

👉More on Men's Health Week: https://bit.ly/4fG4M3g

ACRRM extends its congratulations to former President A/Prof. Dan Halliday who has received the AMA Queensland Rural Health Medal for 2026.

An RG Obstetrician, Dr Halliday has spent more than a decade as Medical Superintendent of Stanthorpe Hospital, delivering vital obstetric services and strengthening care for local and First Nations communities.

"I'm honoured and humbled to receive with thanks the AMAQ Rural Health Medal. The significance of this achievement reflects a journey in representation, advocacy and collegiate support that began over 20 years ago through my involvement on the AMAQ Council of Residents and Registrars," Dr Halliday said.

"To receive this recognition, to reflect on all I've achieved, the roles I've held, and to be acknowledged in the presence of esteemed colleagues with my wife Cathy close by in support, like she has been all my career, was very special and a moment I will cherish for a long time."

A passionate educator and supervisor, he has shaped the next generation of Rural Generalists, while his leadership roles have influenced rural health policy across the state and the country.