Rural Generalist Medicine

Rural Generalist Medicine is the provision of a broad scope of medical care by a doctor in the rural context. Their practice encompasses primary care for individuals and family, hospital in-patient care, emergency care, public health care and extended services for their local community.

Minimum Time to Completion: 5 years from graduation

Details

How to Apply

Eligibility Requirements

Same eligibility as the AGPT (General Practice) Program (Both ACRRM and RACGP pathway)

Prospective trainees must have:

Australian or New Zealand citizenship or an Australian permanent residency or on an accepted temporary visa with an active Australian permanent residency application.
A qualification to practise medicine in Australia or New Zealand

Application Process

The Rural General Fellowship can be obtained through two colleges, the ACRRM or RACGP.

ACRRM Pathways

1. Australian General Practice Training

Government-funded fellowship training program
Application process consists of an online application, referee reports and interview.

2. Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS)

Government-funded training program for medical practitioners in remote and isolated communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Application process consists of an online application on the RVTS website, situational judgement test and interview.

3. Rural Generalist Training Scheme (RGTS)

Government-funded Rural Generalist education program led by ACRRM. It provides flexible options to meet the program requirements and individualised training support.
Application process consists of an online application, referee reports and interview.

4. Independent Pathway

Self-funded, self-directed and flexible pathway delivered and supported by the ACRRM.
Application process consists of an online application, referee reports and interview.
Multiple intakes per year.

RACGP-RG Pathway

For new applicants

Indicate your interest in the AGPT Rural Generalist Training during the AGPT selection process by completing this online form.

For those already enrolled with RACGP

Opt in to Rural Generalist Training though the AGPT Program by completing the online application form.

Program Structure

The program structure is dependent on pathway.

In general, the ACRRM program consists of:

Core Generalist Training (CGT) for 3 years:

6 months of primary care
3 months of ‘secondary care’ ie inpatient / hospital care
3 months of emergency
12 months of rural/remote practice
10 weeks each of paediatrics, anaesthetics, obstetrics

Advanced Specialist Training (AST) for 1 year in one of the following clinical areas:

ATSI health, Academic Practice, Adult Internal Medicine, Anaesthetics, Emergency Medicine, Mental Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Palliative Care, Population Health, Remote Medicine, Surgery (24 month training)

RACGP trainees undergo:

12 months hospital training time
A minimum 18 months of your training will be spent under supervision in a general practice.
6 months in an extended skills term which can be in a hospital, community GP or community non-GP setting.
An extra year of additional rural skills training to obtain the RACGP’s Rural Generalist Fellowship

Trainees are required to undergo a minimum of six months of core-emergency medicine training in an accredited emergency medicine facility with appropriate supervision. This could be undertaken as their extended skills term.

For further information, refer to the RACGP Pathway to Fellowship website.

In Victoria, the government has initiated the Victorian Rural Generalist Program to enable future Rural Generalists to start their junior medical career and complete their specialist training in rural and remote regions. VRGP can be accessed as early as internship with pathways to enter in later years. Here is a brief outline of the program:-

Internship – Rural Generalist Year 1
- Interns are offered a unique opportunity to rotate in large regional centres and smaller, community-based practices whilst meeting the requirements to complete medical internship.
PGY 2 – Rural Generalist Year 2
- Further opportunity to live in regional Victoria and rotate in larger hospitals and general practices.
PGY 3 to 5 – GP and Rural Generalist Training

Fees

Annual Fee:

ACRRM annual membership fee: AUD $430.00

RACGP annual membership fee: AUD $985.00 – $1643.00

Exam Fee:

ACRRM Exam Fees

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ): AUD $1795.00
Case Base Discussion (CBD): AUD $2,125.00
Structured Assessment using Multiple Patient Scenarios (StAMPS) : AUD $3,595.00
Projects: AUD $3,310.00

RACGP Exam Fees

Please refer to General Practice

Application Fee:

AUD $700.00

Assessment Preparation Activities

StAMPS Mock Exam: AUD $1,295

StAMPS Study Group: AUD $1,075.00

Useful Resources / Courses / Conferences

Key Information

PGY Intake Year (earliest)

PGY2

Training Duration (minimum)

4 years FTE

General Progression

Note that this represents one of the quickest routes to specialty training, and may not reflect additional HMO or unaccredited years of training.

Year 1

Internship

Year 2

Commence Rural Generalist Medicine Training

Part Time Option: Yes

Last Updated: December 4, 2024

The information found in this portal has been painstakingly collated by JMOs for JMOs, and is intended as a career progression guide for every aspiring JMO. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and currency of the information presented on this website, but recent changes made by Specialist Medical Colleges may not be reflected in real time; please consult with the respective Specialist Medical College websites for the latest information. PMCV and JMO Victoria accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. Please feel free to contact our team with suggestions or comments via the feedback form.