The Australia College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) is accredited by the Australia Medical Council (AMC) for setting the standards required for professional training, certifications, and continuing professional development (CPD) in general practice. ACRRM is the only college in Australia with such an initiative toward rural and remote medicine. The college supports many budding doctors and medical students in following a career in remote medicine.

ACRRM is dedicated to delivering high-quality medical care to rural and remote communities by providing the following:

High-quality education programs

Continuous support

Strong representation for doctors serving in rural and remote areas

Rural Generalist Medicine

ACRRM is the home of Rural Generalist Medicine followed by the ACRRM Fellowship (FACRRM) which defines the professional standards in Rural Generalist Medicine. The specialist doctors are expected to bring advanced skills and experience towards serving the rural and remote communities in Australia.

Rural Generalist Medicine focuses on providing a broad scope of medical care in a rural context, as follows:

Quality primary care for individual patients, families, and entire communities

Emergency medical care

In-patient in hospitals or medical care in institutions, homes, or another medical setting

A population health approach related to the rural community

Benefits of ACRRM Membership

An ACRRM membership provides you with many benefits categorized as below.

Professional development

ACRRM supports students and professionals in their careers. You could be a registrar developing your specialist rural skills or a FACRRM dedicates towards achieving CPDS, and ACRRM will support you throughout the process. Here is what you get with regard to your professional development:

Access to ACRRM CPD program

Offers on online courses

Incentives for training completion

Grants to maintain and extend your educational qualifications

Free access dermatology resources for rural doctors

Access to ACRRM online member platform that provides you with the opportunity to better communicate and connect with rural generalists across the country

Advocacy

ACRRM membership gives you the opportunity to contribute to college committee in the following ways:

Providing input to ACRRM submissions

By joining a ACRRM committee in a specific subject of interest

Helping inform policy and amendments

Represent your areas of interest and concerns

Addressing with regard to promoting regional health programs

Access to resources

As an ACRRM member you get access to a lot of useful resources that help support your career, including the following:

Access to Australian Rural Health Journal

Free RG Clinical App that can be downloaded via App-store or Play Store

Access to RG Foundation Skills modules

A chance to subscribe to the college weekly newsletter

Access to the college logbook

A chance of advertising on the job board

Networking

ACRRM gives its members a chance to connect, share knowledge, and engage with each other. It allows professionals to share their experience and career advice through networking. Here are the many ways ACRRM allows its members to engage:

The Connect@ACRRM is a member’s only online portal that allows members to network and share their knowledge

Providing offers to attend various courses and conferences including the annual RMA conference.

Access to Mentor Match, which is the ACRRM Mentoring Program

A chance of meeting the Council and Board at various networking and knowledge-sharing programs

Membership types

Joining ACRRM as a student member is a vital step towards a career as a Rural Generalist medical practitioner. You get to be a part of a great network of professionals who are committed towards providing quality medical care for all communities in Australia.

There are several types of ACRRM memberships that you can choose from.

Ordinary Membership

Associate membership

Pathways to Fellowship

There are several different pathways to follow in order to attain Fellowship (FACRRM). It all should go through the AMC as a Specialist in Generalist Practice. Below are the different pathways to choose in this regard.

Independent Pathway (IP)

IP is a self-directed training pathway that suits doctors who prefer flexible and supported learning procedures. Eligibility requirements include having general or limited medical registration and a temporary Australian residency. It can be self-funded or partially funded by Non-Vocationally Registered Fellowship Support Program. The program is supervised in rural, regional, and remote facilities. Applications are open throughout the year. Training commences in March, July, October, and January.

Rural Generalist Training Scheme (RGTS)

RGTS is a four-year training pathway that is an entirely funded scheme of the ACRRM IP that leads to Fellowship (FACRRM). It is suitable for those who prefer flexible and supported learning methods. Eligibility requirements include having general medical registration and Australian permanent residency or citizenship. The program is fully-funded by the Australian government and is conducted on-site at rural and remote facilities. 2024 Semester 1 intake 1 is open until 17 April 2023. Training commences based on key hospital terms.

Australian General Practice Training (AGPT)

AGPT is ideally for doctors who prefer a structured method of learning with face-to-face delivery. To be eligible for the training, they need to have general medical registration and be an Australian permanent resident or citizen. This government-funded training program is supervised on-site in regional, rural, and remote facilities. Applications are open until April every year and training commences in January/ February.

Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS)

RVTS is a specialized vocational training scheme for medical practitioners in remote and rural communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia. These doctors may have general or limited medical registration and temporary Australian residency. It is a fully government-funded training scheme that is conducted off-site. Doctors can live in their remote or rural community and continue to work there. Applications are open in June and August every year. Training commences in February.

Other avenues to fellowship

Rural Experienced Entry to Fellowship (REEF)

REEF is specifically for doctors who hold specialist registration in General Practice. The program recognizing the skills that the doctors have and recommends an accelerated pathway to achieve Fellowship or FACRRM.

You need to hold Specialist registration with the Medical Board of Australia (MBA). You also need to have the following medical experience to be eligible for REEF:

At least five years of rural experience following Specialist registration

Proof of practice with regard to your community needs

Compliance with an AMC-accredited CPD

Specialist Pathway

The Specialist Pathway is for IMGs that hold accredits overseas general practice qualifications. The pathway leads a specialist registration with the MBA and FACRRM. One of the primary advantages is that you get access to specialist rates of remuneration under the Australia national health insurance scheme, Medicare. To be eligible, you need to hold a specialist qualification on ACRRM’s Codified List. You also need to meet the required standards for being able to serve the rural community as a Rural Generalist Medical Practitioner.

At Medfuture, we constantly strive to give opportunities for qualifies and skilled doctors who are able to give back to the community. Through this, we aim at providing quality healthcare access to the rural and remote communities in Australia.

Visit our job board to find the latest doctor jobs across all states and suburbs in Australia.

Here are a few related article to read:

Australian General Practice Training Program (AGPT)

Introduction to Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS)