Rural Doctors Association Australia

25/03/2026

📣 ATTENTION - JUNIOR / PREVOCATIONAL DOCTORS! 🤩

This is your friendly reminder to get your application in for our popular MDA National and RDAA bursaries for 2026!

The bursaries provide up to 5 junior / prevoc docs with $1500 each to assist them in attending one of our awesome state RDA conferences, the super awesome Rural Medicine Australia - RMA conference (in Adelaide this October), or another rural medical course or event.

🎉 GREAT NEWS - we have streamlined the application process and brought it online, so it's quick and easy to apply!

⚠️ Applications close at midnight next Tuesday, 31 March.

Thanks as always to MDA National for their incredible support as RDAA's Platinum Partner and, through that, their support of rural doctors and rural communities everywhere.

Click below (or scan the QR code) for more info and to apply:
https://bit.ly/3MXzyZq

Australian Medical Association Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) RACGP National Rural Health Student Network Australian Medical Students' Association - AMSA General Practice Registrars Australia

25/03/2026

RDAA President, Dr Sarah Chalmers, featured in a story on ABC Radio's "AM" program yesterday regarding the impact of the fuel crisis on rural and remote patients and their ability to access the healthcare they need.

Listen here:
https://bit.ly/3NZSAPh

ABC listen

24/03/2026

RDAA President, Dr Sarah Chalmers, featured on SBS World News last night, speaking about the potential impact of the current fuel crisis on remote NT communities and their healthcare services, on top of the already challenging cyclone and flooding events that many of those communities have been experiencing.

Watch it here:
https://bit.ly/3NKKqKC

SBS News

24/03/2026

It has been a full and productive day at Parliament House for RDAA, very ably led by RDAA President Dr Sarah Chalmers.

We greatly appreciated the attendance of both sides of politics at our annual RDAA Breakfast Briefing for Federal Politicians this morning, and were pleased to have in attendance:

▪️the Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, Emma McBride MP

▪️the Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston

▪️the newly appointed Shadow Minister for Regional Health, Anne Webster MP.

We followed the Breakfast Briefing with a media doorstop, a number of TV interviews, and a meeting with Minister McBride.

We are looking forward to meeting with Senator Ruston and Dr Webster tomorrow to discuss current and future policy opportunities - and we have a few extra meetings locked in too (stay tuned for more family snaps!)

The RDAA Board has prioritised updating and releasing our medical workforce plan within the next 6 months - so we look forward to continuing our discussions with both the Government and Opposition going forward, focused on solutions and reform to improve access to medical services for our rural and remote communities.

24/03/2026

It's been a busy day for us at Parliament House following our annual RDAA Breakfast Briefing for Federal Politicians - including meeting with the Federal Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, Emma McBride MP, to outline key items in RDAA’s submission for the forthcoming Federal Budget.

Mark Butler MP

23/03/2026

RDAA President, Dr Sarah Chalmers, held a media doorstop at Parliament House this morning, following our Breakfast Briefing for Federal Politicians - she talked about the impact of current global events and extreme weather events (including recent flooding and cyclones) on remote and rural health services and patients, but also the exciting opportunity that the formal recognition of Rural Generalist Medicine presents.

23/03/2026

The Federal Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, Emma McBride MP, addressed attendees at our annual RDAA Breakfast Briefing for Federal Politicians at Parliament House in Canberra today - acknowledging the advocacy for Rural Generalist recognition and Government investment to support rural medical training.

23/03/2026

⚠️ RDAA President to speak at Parliament House (Canberra) briefing tomorrow (Tuesday) - media doorstop to follow at 10am AEDT (details in media release via link below). ⚠️

Providing healthcare in a remote community is extremely rewarding, but it comes with unique challenges – and this needs to be better recognised through more targeted health policy and remote health workforce measures – RDAA President, Dr Sarah Chalmers, will tell federal politicians at an RDAA breakfast briefing at Parliament House in Canberra tomorrow (Tuesday).

RDAA’s briefing is an annual event, bringing together remote and rural doctors from across Australia, federal politicians and other stakeholders to discuss key issues impacting the remote and rural health sector.

Dr Chalmers will also warn that the impact of current global events on remote and rural general practices and patients could be hugely significant if left unchecked, and in some cases may reduce access to care.

This includes the current situation in the Middle East (particularly its impact on domestic fuel costs), as well as ongoing extreme weather events, interest rate hikes and cost of living pressures.

Read our media release:
https://bit.ly/483F7g6

Providing healthcare in a remote community is extremely rewarding, but it comes with unique challenges – and this needs to be better recognised through more targeted health policy and remote health workforce measures – RDAA President, Dr Sarah Chalmers, will tell federal politicians at an RDAA b...

23/03/2026

In an uncertain world, there’s one thing you can have control over — your healthcare decisions.

This National Advance Care Planning Week (16–22 March), the Rural Doctors Association of Australia is encouraging all Australians to have a conversation with their doctor and loved ones about their future care.

Advance Care Plans help ensure your wishes are known if you’re ever unable to speak for yourself — whether due to illness, accident or unexpected events. And it’s not just for older Australians — it’s something everyone should consider.

As RDAA President Dr Sarah Chalmers says, none of us can predict what’s ahead — but we can take steps now to ensure our preferences are respected.

Start the conversation this week — with your family, and with your GP.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3NV6hz1

19/03/2026

If you feel uncomfortable, not valued or not heard as a patient in a healthcare setting, it isn't rocket science that you are less likely to want to return there for future care!

Sadly, that's still the reality for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

It is crucial we do everything we can to stamp out racism (both blatant and unintended) in the health sector, and genuinely listen to and involve First Nations people in their care journey.

The health sector, governments and health policy-makers also need to engage much more with First Nations communities on the healthcare models that work for them.

There are some great success stories happening in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare across Australia - now is the time to build on them and roll them out more widely!

Doing so will go a long way to helping in health outcomes for First Nations people.

Read our media release:
https://bit.ly/4rG4z2m

Close the Gap Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association NACCHO Aboriginal Health Australia

 RDAA says improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people means genuinely listening to First Nations communities on the healthcare models that work for them, and doing everything possible to stamp out racism in the health system. Speaking on National Close the Gap Day (T...

12/03/2026

Running a rural practice is complex. Recruiting, retaining and supporting your team shouldn’t be. RDAA Group Practice Membership gives your entire practice access to professional support, advocacy and savings, all for a single annual fee.

What your practice gets:
- Membership for all medical practitioners and non-medical staff
- Recruitment and retention benefits through conference discounts, bursaries and awards
- Wellbeing and leadership support, including a free confidential Members Assistance Program
- Free Jobs Board advertising for medical and non-medical roles
- Advocacy and assistance with local hospital engagement and negotiations

One invoice. One decision. Whole-of-practice value.

Join through your State RDA and unlock it all.

More info here: https://bit.ly/4bFLXL1

10/03/2026

More medical student places are welcome — but will they end up where they’re needed most?

As the 2026 cohort of rural Registrar doctors settle in to their new communities and even more Australian medical students on the way, we need the Government to commit to investments that will secure the future of these doctors in rural and remote communities.

If we want doctors to stay in the bush, we need to invest in the full rural workforce pipeline.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4lhs9AK

The announcement by Health Minister Mark Butler of 50 new Commonwealth-supported medical student places from 2028 is a positive step, but the key question remains: how do we ensure those doctors end up practising in rural and remote communities or general practice, anywhere?