1f. Critical Crossroads for Rural Practices: When Help Works—and When to Walk Away
Tracks
Stream 6
| Saturday, May 23, 2026 |
| 10:30 - 11:15 |
Details
Rural Generalist Medicine was officially recognised as a subspecialty of General Practice in late 2025. This was a long-awaited milestone that marked a transformative moment for Australian rural healthcare. But what does this mean in practice for GPs, trainees, and the communities they serve? Six(ish) months on, this session goes beyond the headlines to unpack the impact and explore what’s next.
We’ll cover: - AMC Accreditation. The RACGP’s application for accreditation of the Rural Generalist (RG) Fellowship has progressed significantly. This marks an important step in formally embedding RG training within the broader framework of General Practice. - Registration for Existing RG Members. Work is underway to ensure current RG members are formally recognised under the new subspecialty. We’ll outline the process, timelines, and what members need to do to complete registration. - Medicare Items – What’s Next? The RG Taskforce, in collaboration with the Department of Health, has commenced activity to develop a framework enabling Rural Generalists to bill for the additional services they provide. This is a critical step toward sustainable funding and recognition of the expanded scope of RG practice. - Role Credentialing with State and Territory Health Departments. Engagement continues with health departments across jurisdictions to align credentialing processes and ensure consistency in recognising RG roles within public health systems. - RG Numbers in Training.We’ll provide an update on the current landscape of rural training, including enrolment trends, capacity, and future projections for the RG workforce.
We’ll cover: - AMC Accreditation. The RACGP’s application for accreditation of the Rural Generalist (RG) Fellowship has progressed significantly. This marks an important step in formally embedding RG training within the broader framework of General Practice. - Registration for Existing RG Members. Work is underway to ensure current RG members are formally recognised under the new subspecialty. We’ll outline the process, timelines, and what members need to do to complete registration. - Medicare Items – What’s Next? The RG Taskforce, in collaboration with the Department of Health, has commenced activity to develop a framework enabling Rural Generalists to bill for the additional services they provide. This is a critical step toward sustainable funding and recognition of the expanded scope of RG practice. - Role Credentialing with State and Territory Health Departments. Engagement continues with health departments across jurisdictions to align credentialing processes and ensure consistency in recognising RG roles within public health systems. - RG Numbers in Training.We’ll provide an update on the current landscape of rural training, including enrolment trends, capacity, and future projections for the RG workforce.
Speaker
A/Prof Michael Clements
Chair, Rural
RACGP
Chairperson
10:30 - 11:15Biography
A/Prof Michael Clements is an experienced Townsville based General Practitioner and practice owner with a background in health leadership and clinical and corporate governance. A/Prof Clements has accrued a wide variety of skills and special interests in his time with the Royal Australian Air Force and then with QLD Health as Director of Medical Services at Ingham Hospital before opening his private practices in Townsville while concurrently working for the QLD Rural Generalist Training Pathway as an advisor. Having worked in rural, remote and overseas clinical environments during and after his fellowship training Michael now gets his ‘rural fix’ by flying himself and other clinicians to remote towns in the Gulf of Carpentaria delivering GP clinics. Clinical interests include veterans’ health, mental health, chronic disease and palliative care.
A/Prof Michael Clements
Chair, Rural
RACGP
Critical Crossroads for Rural Practices: When Help Works—and When to Walk Away
10:30 - 11:15Biography
A/Prof Michael Clements is an experienced Townsville based General Practitioner and practice owner with a background in health leadership and clinical and corporate governance. A/Prof Clements has accrued a wide variety of skills and special interests in his time with the Royal Australian Air Force and then with QLD Health as Director of Medical Services at Ingham Hospital before opening his private practices in Townsville while concurrently working for the QLD Rural Generalist Training Pathway as an advisor. Having worked in rural, remote and overseas clinical environments during and after his fellowship training Michael now gets his ‘rural fix’ by flying himself and other clinicians to remote towns in the Gulf of Carpentaria delivering GP clinics. Clinical interests include veterans’ health, mental health, chronic disease and palliative care.
Dr Sarah McLay
GP
Clermont Country Practice
Critical Crossroads for Rural Practices: When Help Works—and When to Walk Away
10:30 - 11:15Biography
Prof Brad Murphy, OAM
GP
Ashfield Country Practice
Critical Crossroads for Rural Practices: When Help Works—and When to Walk Away
10:30 - 11:15Biography
Dr. Cameron Todd
Scale My Clinic
Critical Crossroads for Rural Practices: When Help Works—and When to Walk Away
10:30 - 11:15Biography
