Specialty overview
Rural Generalists are trained to deliver comprehensive primary care, inpatient and emergency care, and advanced care in disciplines such as obstetrics and mental health, in rural and remote communities. Rural generalism is a route to a diverse career, with deep community connection, whole of patient care, adventure, and a true sense of purpose.
Clinical practice
Rural Generalists work in public, private and community settings and coordinate and provide care across a broad scope of practice. They manage undifferentiated presentations, provide longitudinal, comprehensive patient care, respond to emergencies, manage deteriorating patients and undertake population level health intervention. Rural Generalists provide generalist paediatric, obstetric, mental health, emergency and anaesthetic care, in addition to expert generalist-focussed extended care in a procedural or cognitive advanced skill discipline.
Rural Generalists can work in general practices, Aboriginal Medical Services, retrieval services, hospitals, and expedition and international aid settings. They work collaboratively with nurses, GPs, midwives, non-GP specialists and allied health professionals to manage patients at an individual and population level.
Top five reasons to choose Rural Generalism
Training Information
College
Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
The Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway also supports trainees prior to, during, and beyond college training.
Length of training
Minimum four years full time.
Method of allocation
College-selected trainees may be allocated to a training post by:
- College
- Queensland Health pathway/network (centrally coordinated)
- Queensland Health facility (accredited for training)
Program overview
The Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway (QRGP) provides medical graduates with a supported training pathway to a career in rural and remote medicine. You can join the Pathway from final year medical school, or as a postgraduate entrant. The QRGP supports you before, during and after your fellowship training.
Rural Generalist fellowship training is delivered by:
- The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)
- The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
- The Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS)
Fellowship training can commence any time after completion of internship.
Training locations
ACRRM Training
ACRRM’s fellowship (FACRRM) is a comprehensive four-year training program designed to equip doctors with the skills and knowledge necessary for rural and remote medical practice.
ACRRM Training requirements | Details |
|---|---|
Core Generalist Training (CGT) CGT is individual and based on experience. It is made up of: | Three years full time equivalent (FTE) undertaken in regional, rural, remote general practices, rural hospitals, Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS), retrieval services or other health facilities accredited by ACRRM. |
| 10 weeks or more FTE paediatrics placement* |
| 10 weeks or more FTE O&G placement* |
| 10 weeks or more FTE anaesthetics placement* |
| 6 months FTE primary care training (postgraduate year 2 or above) |
| 3 months FTE secondary care hospital training (postgraduate year 2 or above) |
| 3 months FTE emergency care training (postgraduate year 2 or above) |
| 12 months FTE undertaking rural and remote practice training, living and working in a rural and remote community (postgraduate year 2 or above) |
Minimum 12 months FTE in an accredited training post in an ACRRM recognised discipline | |
Education Program | All registrars must actively participate in the ACRRM Fellowship Education Program |
Eligibility
Eligibility for College training is determined by citizenship status, medical qualification and medical registration. All applicants must have Australian Medical Council recognised medical qualifications to be eligible for training. Applicants should seek current eligibility criteria from the relevant college or RVTS.
Flexibility
ACRRM allows part time training options.
The college delivers four-year training programs. Registrars can apply for additional training time and/or leave where necessary.
Applicants should seek further advice directly from ACRMM.
RACGP Training
RACGP’s Rural Generalist Fellowship (FRACGP-RG) is awarded in addition to the vocational Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP). It recognises the uniquely diverse set of skills and knowledge required to work in rural general practice, and is a comprehensive four-year FTE training program designed to equip doctors with the skills and knowledge necessary for rural and remote medical practice.
RACGP Training requirements | Details |
|---|---|
Hospital term | 12 months full time equivalent (FTE) hospital term (can be postgraduate year 2 or above) |
Rural GP terms | 18 months FTE community-based general practice (including a minimum of 12 months FTE in rural MMM3-7 location) |
12 months FTE of skills training in an accredited training post with the Rural Generalist Fellowship curriculums. | |
Emergency medicine | Core-emergency medicine training including 6 months FTE of training in an accredited emergency medicine facility with appropriate supervision. |
Learning plan and reflection | Online skills self-assessment, reflection and learning activities. |
Community project | Optional activity unless required by ARST curriculum (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health). |
Eligibility
Eligibility for College training is determined by citizenship status, medical qualification and medical registration. All applicants must have Australian Medical Council recognised medical qualifications to be eligible for training. Applicants should seek current eligibility criteria from the relevant college or RVTS.
Flexibility
RACGP allows part time training options.
The college delivers four-year training programs. Registrars can apply for additional training time and/or leave where necessary.
Applicants should seek further advice directly from RACGP.
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| Northern Queensland Regional Training Hubs (NQRTH) | Northern Queensland Regional Training Hubs is in partnership with private and public hospital and health services, GP clinics and James Cook University, who are all committed to improving the health services of rural and remote communities in the northern Queensland region. |
| University of Queensland Regional Training Hubs | The University of Queensland Regional Training Hubs operating in Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Southern Queensland, complement the existing investment in rural training for university medical students and seeks to strengthen the pipeline to rural practice for both GPs and specialists. |
| Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ) | The Rural Doctors Association of Queensland was formed in 1989 to improve the health of rural and remote Queenslanders and support rural doctors and their families. Health professionals in these communities face unique challenges. RDAQ is a tenacious advocate for improved health outcomes and sustainable workforce for remote and rural Queensland. |
| Health Workforce Queensland | Health Workforce Queensland is a not-for-profit, non-Government Rural Workforce Agency (RWA) for primary health workforce in Queensland, focused on making sure remote, rural, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities have access to highly skilled health professionals when and where they need them, now and into the future. |
| Link | Description |
|---|---|
| Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) | RDAA is the peak professional body representing the interests of rural and remote doctors and the communities they live and work in. They are committed to building and maintaining a workforce of highly skilled and motivated rural medical practitioners which requires adequate training and proper incentives, remuneration and support. |
| John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program | The John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program (JFPDP) is part of the Australian Government’s long-term strategy to attract more doctors to practice in remote and rural Australia and improve the quality of healthcare in these areas. The JFPDP commenced in January 2023 to better streamline and coordinate medical training in regions, and fund new rural primary care rotations to boost training capacity for the next generation of doctors. In Queensland, the JFPDP is coordinated by the Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway. |
| General Practice Registrars Australia | General Practice Registrars Australia is an independent organisation run by GP trainees, for GP trainees. They provide the next general of GPs with free support, advice, and resources. |
What our staff have to say
Dr Talia Trigger
Surat
It is the most rewarding feeling when you can help a person and their family through all the stages of their life – grief, illness, happiness and everything in between. I love being part of their journey, celebrating the good and holding their hand through the bad. To me, that is the most rewarding way to practice medicine and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Dr Helen Fraser
Senior Medical Officer, Ayr Hospital
I enjoy the diversity and creativity that is required with rural generalist medicine. You never know what is going to present and require management. The close-knit relationships within our hospital make our work valuable to the community and enjoyable.
Dr Sarah Fairhall
Yarrabah
My greatest satisfaction at work comes not from helping a patient achieve a normal HbA1c or getting their blood pressure within target (although that’s great), it comes from connection and by establishing trust. From having a mum open up to me about her struggles with the transition to parenthood, or building enough rapport with a teen that on our third, fourth or tenth consult they feel able to share their story with me, to hearing patients call me ‘their doc’ and bringing their family in to see me as well. This is why I do what I do.
Dr Claire Walter
Stanthorpe
There are so many reasons why I have travelled down the Rural Generalist road. You never stop learning in a career in medicine and the close relationships with colleagues, patients, and friends in a rural community, makes for a very special and rewarding work environment. Every day is brand new and brings with it opportunities to challenge yourself and grow.
Dr Alex Dunn
Gympie
For me, there is no other role like rural generalism. You get to practise the full spectrum of medicine where it is really needed, in some of the most spectacular places in the world. It is so rewarding to work where there is a need and try to make a difference.