Rural generalists recognised as medical specialists

Australia’s rural generalists are being officially recognised as a new speciality field within general practice.
 
The Albanese Government welcomes the recognition following a Commonwealth funded joint application by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to apply to the Medical Board of Australia for this speciality recognition.
 
Following the Medical Board of Australia’s recommendation, all health ministers have now approved rural generalist medicine as a new field of speciality practice within the specialty of general practice.
 
This comes as more than 1,800 doctors have commenced government-funded training to become a GP in 2025, in what will be the largest cohort of future GPs in Australian history.
 
At least a quarter of these future GPs are training in the new general practice specialty of Rural Generalism, bringing more specialist rural GPs to rural and regional Australia.
 
Rural Generalists are rural GPs that provide vital primary and emergency care to rural and regional communities, and often have additional training in areas such as obstetrics, mental health, anaesthetics and culturally responsive care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
 
Recognition of rural generalist medicine establishes a national standard to the specialty encouraging more doctors to choose a rural generalist career.
 
There are currently more than 5,000 future GPs in the training program funded by the Albanese Government, with at least half of this training occurring in rural or regional Australia.
 
From 2026, an additional 200 fully funded commencing training places will be delivered, increasing to 400 additional places per year from 2028 onward.
 
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
 
“The Albanese Government is continuing to invest in better healthcare for the bush with more bulk billing, more doctors and more nurses, all part of our work to strengthen Medicare.
 
“Rural generalist GPs will make a real difference to regional and rural communities right across Australia, providing vital primary and emergency care they need.
 
“This recognition of rural generalism is a significant milestone resulting from the joint work of the Albanese Government and general practice colleges, the RACGP and ACRRM.
 
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister McBride:
 
“Recognition of rural generalist medicine builds on the work our government is doing to encourage more doctors to choose a rural career.
 
“We know that the best way to grow the rural generalist workforce is training future doctors in the bush, and that’s why we’re working with universities to expand CSPs and opening new training schools in rural communities.”
 
Quotes attributable to Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine President, Dr Rod Martin:
 
“This is a historic milestone for ACRRM and all Rural Generalists who are now formally recognised as specialists, reflecting their unique skills and the vital care they deliver to rural, remote, and First Nations communities.
 
“Recognition sends a powerful message: a career as a Rural Generalist is visible, valued, and vital for Australia’s health system.
 
“Most importantly, recognition strengthens access to high-quality, locally delivered healthcare for rural, remote, and First Nations communities.
 
“ACRRM has recognised the clear differences in the attitudes and skills of Rural Generalist doctors since it began as a college in the 1990s – we always have. "It is a great achievement that recognition can now be shared across all of the country.”
 
Quotes attributable to Royal Australian College of General Practitioners President, Dr Michael Wright:

“This is a positive step forward in making the rural generalism career pathway more visible and ensuring that RGs are always appropriately remunerated for the vital work they do in rural and remote communities across Australia.
 
“The RACGP is dedicated to boosting rural general practice care so that all patients, regardless of their postcode, can access high-quality care.
 
“RGs are so highly valued by their communities, and we must keep pushing forward to make sure we have the right funding incentives in place that allow them to take on additional training and additional skills, including working in local hospitals, and much more.
 
‘RGs are the bedrock of towns nation-wide, and it’s only fair that their profession is now distinctly recognised as a vital part of our healthcare system.”
 
Quotes attributable to Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency CEO, Justin Untersteiner:
 
"This is welcome news for Australians living in rural and remote communities, and another step towards building a health workforce that gives people access to high quality healthcare, regardless of where they live. 
 
"For patients and practitioners alike, our work on standards, registration and accreditation not only provides important safeguards but helps make workforce solutions more effective and sustainable."