Guide

Leading the way in rural and remote medicine.

Choosing ACRRM Fellowship means choosing a career as a Rural Generalist (RG). From day one you can deepen your knowledge in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, anaesthetics, emergency medicine, mental health, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, surgery, palliative care and more.

We give you the skills to make a difference in the rural and remote communities in which you live and work.

Leading the w

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How Do You Want to Learn?Support begins with understanding there are more ways than one to make this work. Self-directed or structured learning; Government subsidised or self-funded; on-the-ground training and research options. An ACRRM Fellowship is designed to work for you.

Each method of training is aligned to the ACRRM curriculum and contextual to rural and remote practices, from day one. Regardless of how you train, you will be part of a rich, vibrant community of doctors supported by an inspired team of mentors, training specialists, medical educators and supervisors.

Supporting Your Future.At ACRRM, we recognise your Fellowship journey is yours to create – and we’re here to help you make the most of it. We support you to acquire the skills and knowledge to competently and confidently deliver services across primary, secondary and community care settings.

If you are ready to broaden your knowledge, experience and sense of adventure, our supportive team of experts is here to help you be your best.

Lead the way. We’ve got your back.

Become a Rural GeneralistRural Generalists know no geographic boundary to illness, disease, emergencies, catastrophes and preventative care that people experience throughout their lives. You are committed to going above and beyond and providing human-centred health care.

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Look at the facts

Fellowship generally takes four years and includes a minimum of 12 months training – living and working in a rural

and remote setting.

You are entitled to 100 per cent A1 Medicare billing throughout

your training.

On completion, Fellows receive vocational recognition with Medicare Australia and specialist

registration as a General Practitioner.

4 years 100% A1 Medicare billing

Vocational Recognition

Exciting. Dynamic. Stimulating. For a Rural Generalist, no two days are the same.

Dr Rob DicksonACRRM Fellow

ACRRM Fellowship

Applications

Express interest today

Once specialist registered, Fellows are required to maintain Continuous

Professional Development (CPD). The ACRRM Professional Development

Program includes access to the ACRRM CPD Portfolio, where activities can be logged for

reporting purposes.

Find out more at acrrm.org.au/pdp

Professional Development

The Independent Pathway has been developed by rural practitioners for rural practitioners. This 3GA approved program gives you access to 100 per cent A1 Medicare rebates on the road to Fellowship. As a self-funded trainee, you have the flexibility to manage your learning and training posts based on your current skills and knowledge to reach your career goals.

The education component of the program is delivered directly through ACRRM facilitated workshops and self-guided online modules.

y A dedicated training officer for individual pathway management.

y Personal Medical Educator guidance. y Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). y An established education and training program. y Modality-specific assessment support programs.

Eligibility

Citizenship

y Residency/Citizenship y Australian citizens or y Permanent residents or y Temporary visa residents (skilled migration or business

visa only, no student visas).

Medical Registration

y General registration or y Specialist registration or y Provisional registration or y Limited registration for an area of need.

Non-VR Fellowship Support Program

The Commonwealth requires non-vocationally registered (Non-VR) medical practitioners to participate in an approved Fellowship training program to maintain 100% Medicare billing. Medical practitioners have until 30 June 2023 to either achieve Fellowship or be undertaking Fellowship training, or their Medicare billing will be reduced to 80%. The Non-Vocationally Registered Fellowship Support Program (Non-VR FSP) offers up to $15,000* of Commonwealth support to achieve Fellowship on the Independent Pathway.

Applications

There are generally four intakes per year. The application process consists of an online application including written submission, referee reports and Multiple Mini Interviews. Visit acrrm.org.au/ip for more information or to apply.

acrrm.org.au/non-vr

More about the Non-VR Fellowship Support Program:

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The Rural Generalist Training Scheme (RGTS) is a government-funded scheme which provides a borderless training experience, supported by highly skilled local supervisors, medical educators and training officers. ACRRM’s reputation as a world leader in what we do is why we were chosen by the Australian Government to deliver this Australian-first program.

The RGTS is underpinned by ACRRM’s successful and unique rurally oriented curriculum which is focused on producing doctors who have an expansive RG skill set and are committed to working in rural and remote communities.

Eligibility

Citizenship

y Hold Australian permanent residency, or citizenship of Australia or New Zealand. Applicants who were born overseas and obtained their primary medical degree in Australia or New Zealand may be eligible to apply with Australian temporary residency.

Primary Medical Qualification

y Obtained primary medical qualification in Australia or New Zealand

y Successful AMC graduate with certification received by specific date in line with intakes

Medical Registration

y Have general medical registration without conditions or undertakings by the commencement of training

Further details on eligiblity can be found on our RGTS eligibility guide at acrrm.org.au/rgts.

Applications

There are generally two intakes per year. The application process consists of an online application including written submission, referee reports and Multiple Mini Interviews. Visit acrrm.org.au/rg for more information or to apply.

I chose ACRRM as it recognises that being a GP in an urban setting is essentially a different career compared to being a rural or remote GP. Each type of GP, whether urban or rural based, faces unique challenges and I felt from the outset that ACRRM is dedicated to a training program that differentiates these challenges and prepares you for those you face in the rural and remote settings.

Dr Alice FitzgeraldACRRM Fellow

The Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program is a fully government-funded program.

ACRRM is excited to be provided the opportunity to directly deliver training to registrars on the AGPT program from 2023. The College is implementing its College-led Training model built on the evidence and success of the AGPT program and blended with experience and success in delivering training through our Independent Pathway and the new Rural Generalist Training Scheme.

The AGPT program provides a dedicated College support team throughout your Fellowship and a diverse number of training locations.

Eligibility

Citizenship

y Hold Australian permanent residency, or citizenship of Australia or New Zealand. Applicants who were born overseas and obtained their primary medical degree in Australia or New Zealand may be eligible to apply with Australian temporary residency. Refer to the AGPT Eligibility Guide for further details.

Primary Medical Qualification

y Obtained primary medical qualification in Australia or New Zealand

y Successful Australian Medical Council graduate with certification received by specific date in line with intakes

Medical Registration

y Have general medical registration without conditions or undertakings by the commencement of training

y Further details on eligiblity can be found on our AGPT eligibility guide at acrrm.org.au/agpt.

Applications

There are generally two intakes per year with training commencing the following year. The application process consists of an online application including written submission, referee reports and Multiple Mini Interviews.

Visit acrrm.org.au/agpt for more information or to apply.

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Remote Vocational Training SchemeThe Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS) is an independent, government-funded program delivered via a distance education model. Supervision is facilitated remotely and delivery is flexible and designed to meet your individual needs. It allows training to be completed without leaving your community (in an accredited post).

Eligibility & Applying

Depending on your chosen stream, you will be located in MMM4 to MMM7 or MMM2 to MMM7 and hold General or Provisional registration and hold Australian citizenship, permanent residency or temporary residency.

For more information on this Fellowship avenue, eligibility or applying, visit acrrm.org.au/rvts

Specialist PathwaySpecialist Pathway is a Fellowship avenue for International Medical Graduates (IMG), who hold recognised overseas General Practice qualifications.

Eligibility & Applying

If you have achieved Fellowship from one of the colleges on our codified list, you may be eligible.

For more information on this Fellowship avenue, eligibility or applying, visit acrrm.org.au/specialist-pathway

Rural Experienced Entry to FellowshipRural Experienced Entry to Fellowship (REEF) is designed for doctors who hold specialist registration in general practice in Australia. REEF recognises your existing skills and experience and provides you with an accelerated option to achieve Fellowship with ACRRM.

Eligibility & Applying

If you hold specialist registration with the Medical Board of Australia in general practice and have gained five years rural experience following specialist registration, you may be eligible.

For more information on this Fellowship avenue, eligibility or applying, visit acrrm.org.au/reef

Reciprocal FellowshipAd eundum gradum is a reciprocal Fellowship pathway for Fellows of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP) and holders of the Certificate in Family Practice from the College of Family Physicians Canada awarded post 1992 (CCFP).

Eligibility & Applying

If you have achieved Fellowship from one of the College’s on our codified list, you may be eligible for Reciprocal Fellowship.

For more information on this Fellowship avenue, eligibility or applying, visit acrrm.org.au/becoming-registered-in-australia/reciprocal-fellowships

Other avenues to Fellowship

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Multiple Choice Questions

Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) assessment is a reliable method to test your applied knowledge, recall and reasoning across the ACRRM Rural Generalist Curriculum content. You are required to complete 12 months of training to be eligible to undertake this assessment, and the standard expectation is that of a GP practicing safely and independently in a rural and remote community.

Multi Source Feedback

The Multi-Source Feedback (MSF) is a well-recognised, valid, and reliable method of assessing interpersonal and professional behaviour, development, and clinical skills. We recommend the MSF is completed early in training, providing an opportunity to learn from feedback provided.

Formative Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (MiniCEX)

The miniCEX is a workplace-based assessment used to evaluate your direct contact with patients. The miniCEX aims to guide your learning and improve clinical performance through structured feedback from an assessor. It can help identify ways to improve practice in areas such as communication, history taking, physical examination and professional practice.

Case Based Discussion

Case Based Discussion (CBD) is an assessment of clinical reasoning and knowledge application using case notes from your own clinical context.

CBD can be undertaken while you are in a Core Generalist accredited teaching post, providing continuity of care. You are required to have completed 24 months of Core Generalist Training or equivalent Recognition of Prior Learning to complete this assessment.

Structured Assessment using Multiple Patient Scenarios

The Structured Assessment Using Multiple Patient Scenarios (StAMPS) is an assessment which blends the formats of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and a traditional viva vocè examination. StAMPS is designed to test your performance across the Rural Generalist Curriculum with consideration of the eight domains of practice. It assesses that you can practise safely as an independent practitioner in a rural or remote context. You are required to complete 24 months of training to be eligible to undertake this assessment.

Advanced Specialised Training

Advanced Specialised Training (AST) broadens your skills and capacity beyond the standard scope of Rural Generalist training. With these supplementary skills, your expanded professional scope can include clinical privileging in hospitals, access to additional Medical Benefits Scheme item numbers, and contributing to the pool of medical services in your community. AST requires a minimum of 12 months training.

AssessmentThe College’s assessment process ensures you have acquired the right mix of knowledge, skills and attributes to work safely and competently in an unsupervised general practice setting in Australia, especially in more challenging rural and remote contexts.

The application process

Applying for Fellowship of ACRRM is undertaken online via our tailored, user-focused application portal. The application process is summarised into four key milestones.

Referee Reports

Applicants are required to provide names and contact details for two medical practitioner referees to support their application by completing an online survey. Referees must have supervised you for four weeks or more in the past three years and not be related or a close friend. All information provided will be treated confidentially and will not be made available to the applicant under any circumstances.

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Multiple Mini Interviews

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to the Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) stage. The MMIs are a series of six interviews in which you have two minutes to read a scenario and eight minutes to respond. Questions are designed to allow you to display your ability to think logically about a topic and communicate your response and ideas effectively.

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Offers04

01Online Application

The application process is a two-step process: the online application - your personal details; and the suitability assessment - written essay.

ACRRM selects candidates for entry into the Fellowship program based on the following criteria: demonstrated commitment to a career as a specialist general practitioner working in rural or remote Australia demonstrated capacity and motivation to acquire abilities, skills and knowledge in the ACRRM domains of practice; demonstrated connection with rural communities demonstrated commitment to meeting the needs of rural and remote communities through an extended scope of practice; possesses the personal characteristics associated with a successful career in rural or remote practice.

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Post-training professional developmentUpon obtaining Fellowship of the College (FACRRM), the College will continue to support your professional development through a program that sets and upholds high standards that define and govern you as an unsupervised General Practitioner. The College’s framework is designed to meet new Medical Board of Australia recommendations, and will make undertaking professional development easier.

To maintain your professional development, you will need to achieve 150 hours per triennium (50 hours per year) made up of the following:

y 25% from educational activities y 25% from performance review y 25% from outcome measurement y Remaining 25% can be any of the above

Categories and Activities

Educational Activities

This category includes lectures, presentations and meetings as well as distance education and self-directed learning and helps to maintain, update and broaden your medical knowledge.

y Conferences, workshops, scientific meetings, courses and seminars

y Skills/simulator/practical training y Teaching Practice Accreditation y Co-ordinating and moderating clinical forum

discussions y University courses

Performance Review

Reviewing performance includes measures that analyse and reflect on your actual work processes. This often includes feedback from peers, colleagues and patients.

y Multi-source Feedback y Patient Feedback y Peer review y Case studies y Publications y Practice accreditation y Clinical Teaching Visit y Formal workplace performance appraisal y Assessment of Skills/simulator/practical

training activity

Outcome Measurement

Measuring outcomes can involve reviewing practice data and reflecting on your patients’ health outcomes in activities such as clinical audit, morbidity and mortality meetings and practice analytics.

y Clinical audit y Practice accreditation y Review of medical records y Morbidity & Mortality meetings y Significant Event Analysis y Publications y Practice analytics y Other outcome measurement activity

See more. Do more. Be more.

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ACRRM membership connects you with a network of professional, adventurous and visionary Rural Generalists committed to meeting the complex healthcare needs of the communities they serve.

Rural Generalists are our people. Join us by going to acrrm.org.au/register and creating an account. Once logged in, simply complete the membership application form, make payment through our secure payment system and start enjoying the benefits of your membership.

Prefer to talk to someone?

Call our Membership Team on 1800 223 226 or email membership@acrrm.org.au

1800 223 226 acrrm.org.au