Candidates with rural backgrounds and experience will be prioritised by Australia’s specialist medical colleges as part of new training selection processes aimed at addressing the chronic shortage of specialist doctors in rural and remote communities.
The ‘groundbreaking’ changes in training selection procedures are the result of new guidelines, released by the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC), working in conjunction with the National Rural Health Commissioner.
“Too many rural Australians are waiting too long for specialist care, or having to travel hundreds of kilometres to access it,” said Associate Professor Sanjay Jeganathan, Chair of CPMC.
“We know that doctors who come from rural areas or have trained in rural settings are far more likely to return and practice in these communities.”
Under the new framework, medical colleges will systematically recognise and reward rural experience when selecting new specialist trainees.
The initiative establishes standardised criteria recognising candidates who spent significant childhood years in rural areas, medical students who completed 12+ months of rural placements, and junior doctors who gained experience in rural hospitals.
“The initiative from the Colleges to apply practical strategies to improve medical workforce distribution to rural and remote communities by recognising the predictors of rural practice in selection processes – being rural origin and positive rural experience prior to training – is welcome,” said Professor Jenny May, National Rural Health Commissioner.
We’re moving beyond good intentions to systematic change
Unprecedented Coordination
The new approach represents unprecedented coordination across Australia’s specialist medical colleges.
“We’re moving beyond good intentions to systematic change,” said Assoc Prof Jeganathan. “Every college will now use consistent definitions and transparent processes that recognise the value of rural medical experience.”
The initiative aligns with the National Medical Workforce Strategy and will be implemented progressively across all specialist medical colleges.
“This is about ensuring every Australian, regardless of their postcode, can access high-quality specialist medical care in their own community,” said Assoc Prof Jeganathan.
The Grattan Institute recently released a report, Special treatment: Improving Australians’ access to specialist care, revealing that chronic shortages and high fees are forcing patients to delay or skip essential health services, including ophthalmology. However, the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists has warned Grattan Institute findings present a “one-sided picture” that misses the real issues driving the crisis. Read more about the Grattan Institute report and the ASO’s response.
