Flinders South Australia Regional Training Hub

RDASA Farmageddon 2026 – What a Day!
💉 Student Highlights
Medical Students had an awesome time at RDASA Farmageddon 2026 — a full day of hands‑on rural emergency skills, real‑world scenarios, and plenty of first‑time experiences. From trauma sims to fire truck rides, it was a huge hit.

🎓 Flinders SA Regional Training Hub were proud to sponsor student places again this year, helping make this one‑of‑a‑kind rural medicine experience accessible to more future doctors.

🎙️ Quotes from Attendees:
“A fantastic day learning practical skills with skilled rural generalists.”
“An amazing opportunity to collaborate and hear real rural career stories.”
“Simulating a car accident retrieval on a fire truck was a massive highlight.”
“Farmageddon showed just how diverse and hands‑on rural medicine can be.”

🩺 Farmageddon is RDASA’s annual rural emergency skills day — a chance to get out of the hospital, onto the farm, and learn from rural doctors who do it all.

👀 Don’t Miss the 2027 RDASA Farmageddon Event!

RACE RESEARCH DAY 2026
🔶 Call for Abstracts

www.sahealth.sa.gov.au

Your pathway to RMA26
We are opening the doors for future rural doctors, offering two fantastic opportunities to attend RMA26 with complimentary registration.
RMA26 is more than just a conference program. It is where you will meet mentors who can guide your journey, connect with peers who share your passion, and discover the diverse and rewarding pathways available in rural medicine.
Whether you are looking to expand your network, gain exposure to rural practice, or take the next step toward your future career, RMA26 offers an experience that extends far beyond the sessions.
Two ways to attend RMA26 for FREE:

1. Sponsored Future Rural Generalist Program
For ACRRM and/or RDAA medical students and intern members only.

This sponsorship covers the complete conference experience plus exclusive networking events:
• Complete 3-day conference registration
• Future Rural Doctors Networking Event ticket
• Conference Awards Dinner ticket
• Special meet-and-greet with program sponsors
Key dates:
• Applications close: Friday 10 July 2026
• Applicants advised of outcome: Monday 20 July 2026

2. Student Volunteer Program
Open to all medical students and intern members of ACRRM and/or RDAA.
Join our team and get:
• Full conference access when not volunteering
• Just three half-days of volunteer duties max
• Future Rural Doctors social event ticket
• Valuable conference experience for your resume
Key dates:
• Applications close: Monday 27 July 2026
• Applicants advised of outcome: Monday 10 August 2026

Scholarships & bursaries application - RMA26 | Rural Medicine Australia Annual Conference | ACRRM & RDAA Scholarship applications are now open Attention future rural doctors! Get involved at RMA26! As the future of rural health, we’re excited to see a large group of students and interns at RMA each year. With dedicated social events and in-conference sessions, attending RMA26 offers countless opportu...

RURAL GENERALISTS ARE THE FUTURE - Dr Richie G Madden from the Bridge Clinic in Murray Bridge explains why this recognition is so important.
"Rural Medicine in not simply about filling a workforce gap - it is about building a career that is deeply rewarding, profoundly human and endlessly inspiring"
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DZAERw81Q/

This year, 21% of South Australia’s new GP trainees are opting to become rural generalists, just months after the subspecialty was formally recognised as a specialist field within general practice. Dr Richie G Madden from the Bridge Clinic in Murray Bridge explains why this recognition is so important.

💻 Read more here: https://www.flipsnack.com/BA5C9EB569B/medicsa-autumn-2026/full-view.html?p=30

While NASA's Artemis II astronauts soared over the moon collecting valuable data, back on Earth, Mount Gambier's Dr. Vienna Tran is doing vital work to ensure space travellers remain healthy.

Listen to her talk about space healthcare and the correlation to remote medicine:
ABC SA Regional Drive (skip to 2:21:42) 9th April
https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/sa-regional-drive/drive/106533520

Dr Vienna Tran is an Adelaide‑trained medical doctor whose work bridges rural generalist medicine and space medicine research. She has worked across South Australia, including Mount Gambier Hospital, and has contributed to projects with the Australian Space Agency, focusing on astronaut health and the effects of microgravity. She’s also a writer — her illustrated card deck The Solar System became a bestseller — and she’s known for her interest in preventative health, anaesthetics, and aviation medicine.

Flinders University Rural and Remote Health SA has launched a new podcast series: Rural Health - real conversations. Listen to first-hand experiences from those shaping the future rural health workforce in South Australia & beyond.

Podcast: Rural Health – Real Conversations - Flinders University Hosted by the College of Medicine and Public Health, this podcast shines a spotlight on rural health through candid stories and perspectives from clinicians, educators, and community voices.

On Thursday, 19th March, the Flinders SA Regional Training Hub hosted our annual Medical Career Pathways Information Evening in Mount Gambier — a fun, tongue in cheek, yet incredibly informative event designed to help pre- & final year medical students and prevocational doctors explore the many possibilities ahead of them.
Representatives from 12 specialties took the stage, sharing why they chose their field, what their day to day work looks like, the pros and cons, and why rural practice continues to be such a rewarding career choice. Many brought photos, stories, and personal insights that gave students a genuine glimpse into life in their specialty.
The night wrapped up with a crowd favourite finale: “Memoirs of a Country Doctor” presented by Dr Trevor Burchall — a thoughtful and entertaining reflection on a life in rural medicine.
Attendees also enjoyed a fantastic spread of specialty college info packs and merch, great food, and plenty of lively conversation. A huge thank you to all presenters and participants for making the evening such a success.
To reach out, feel free to contact us on: [email protected]

New Podcast Series Alert!
The Rural & Remote Health College has launched a brand‑new six‑part podcast series sharing real stories from clinicians, educators, and students working across rural and remote South Australia.

Tune in for honest conversations about the realities, rewards, and impact of regional practice — and hear firsthand from the people shaping the future rural health workforce. These episodes, hosted by Elspeth Radford, Community Engagement & Communication Officer, are designed to inform, inspire, and connect anyone passionate about rural health.

🎙️ First up: Dr James Padley - a dedicated rural GP, passionate medical educator, Program Lead for the South Australia Rural Medical Program, bringing deep experience and vision to the future of South Australia’s rural health workforce.
Click the link below to listen.

Podcast: Rural Health – Real Conversations - Flinders University Hosted by the College of Medicine and Public Health, this podcast shines a spotlight on rural health through candid stories and perspectives from clinicians, educators, and community voices.

Day 1️⃣ Week 1️⃣ Year 1️⃣🩺🙌 Welcome to our new 1st year student doctors starting their epic journey in regional SA

All the best to our final year rural medical students as they gear up to graduate 🎓🩺 Thanks to rural generalists Dr Vienna Tran and Dr Carrie McKenzie for chairing our "What I wish I Knew About Internship" session and Medical Director Dr Sue Abhary, Director of Clinical Training Dr Preggie Nair and Medical Education Officer Mary Harvey for valuable insights too 🙏 Follow us on .sa.rth to get the heads up on more events supporting you to be the best rural doctor you can be and more merch giveaways🎁