Rural Doctors' Association of NSW

09/11/2025

Applications for Round 2 of the Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) close on Wednesday 12 November 2025.

Learn more and apply👉 https://loom.ly/6xVbhZ0

An initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, and administered in New South Wales by RDN, HWSP provides scholarships and bursaries to help health professionals in rural and remote Australia retain and enhance their skills, capacity and scope of practice.

The HWSP is available to , , , , and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals providing primary health care in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) sector, non-government organisations and private practice.

Due to the success of HWSP, processes, timings, and guidelines have been reviewed and updated and are now available on RDN’s webpage.

07/11/2025

06/11/2025

❗️The RDA NSW is warning that some LHDs appear to be planning for future health service provision in a handful of their larger regional towns only, with an increased focus on technology to provide virtual access to care (or increased travel to the larger centres for care) for those living in smaller, outlying communities.

🏪 RDA NSW’s concern was sparked by a written message from the Chief Executive of the Western NSW Local Health District (LHD), Mr Mark Spittal, indicating that over the next year, the LHD ‘will put more focus on how the regional services in our larger cities [Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo] and the procedurals (sic) services in our four intermediate communities of Cowra, Forbes, Parkes, and Mudgee work together. That's where 78% of our people will soon live.’

🧐Read more about why the NSW Government should require its Local Health Districts (LHDs) to retain local emergency and other health services for all communities across their districts in their future planning, and to fund LHDs more appropriately to support this.

The Rural Doctors’ Association of NSW (RDANSW) has urged the NSW Government to require its Local Health Districts (LHDs) to retain local emergency and other health services for all communities across their districts in their future planning, and to fund LHDs more appropriately to support this – ...

28/10/2025

Meet Dr James Sterrey, proud RDN Cadet alumnus, and speaker at this year's Medical Student Rural Inspiration Conference.

Dr Sterrey is an Ophthalmologist and proud former RDN Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadet. After training around Australia, Dr Sterrey and his family are settling in , NSW. His interests outside of medicine include camping 🏕️ old cars 🚘 and amateur farming. 🧑‍🌾

At the Conference, Dr Sterrey will be one of the regional specialists involved in the dynamic chat session called 'Ask Me Anything: Real Talk on Regional Speciality Training Pathways'. It will be a space for open, honest conversations about the realities and rewards of specialty training in regional settings.

The chat corner will also include specialists training in ED, Anaesthetics, Surgery, Geriatrics, Palliative Care, Dermatology, Psychiatry and BPT.

Don't miss out on the medical student conference of the year to be held on Saturday 29 November at the Hilton Sydney! Register now 👉 https://loom.ly/quIGNmU

28/10/2025

We're super excited to announce that we have signed an MOU with our good friends across the Pacific Ocean at the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC)! 🇨🇦🇦🇺

The MOU will further underpin SRPC and RDAA knowledge sharing on policies, strategies and solutions for stronger rural health sectors in both our countries, as well as reciprocal benefits for members of both our organisations.

(...And of course we have promised to share our best recipes featuring maple syrup and Vegemite...)

We signed the MOU at last weekend's Rural Medicine Australia - RMA conference in Perth, and it was wonderful to welcome SRPC President Dr Gavin Parker and President-elect Dr Sarah Giles (both on the left in the photo below) to the signing ceremony to represent the SRPC.

Read more about our MOU (and what it means for our members and both our organisations) here - http://bit.ly/4odpCZe

27/10/2025

PARENTING: Training to be a doctor takes many years, long hours and continual study.
Often those years are shared with starting a family, but how do you juggle both?
Join us on Wednesday, October 29 at 7pm for a webinar with AMA (NSW) councillors Dr James Lawler, Dr Alan Pham, Dr Ai-Vee Chua and Dr Amandeep Hansra, who will guide medical students and doctors-in-training through the process.
Topics will include practical strategies and tips for managing clinical duties alongside parenting responsibilities; understanding your parenting entitlements;
dealing with the emotional challenges of juggling roles and advice on self-care and seeking mental health support.
We'll also talk about how AMA (NSW) can support you with any workplace concerns.
To register, please click here: https://www.stickytickets.com.au/cct4s/ama_nsw_webinar_medical_students_and_dits_juggling_parenting_and_internship.aspx

27/10/2025

In too many country towns, mothers are being forced to travel hours — sometimes while in labour — just to give birth.
Local maternity units have closed. Midwives are stretched thin. Families are being left without care when they need it most.
This isn’t just a logistical issue — it’s a question of safety and dignity.

No family should have to spend the most important moment of their lives on the highway.
My Rural Health Action Plan calls for birth closer to home — reopening rural maternity wards, recruiting midwives and GP-obstetricians, and supporting culturally safe models like Birthing on Country.
Because every mother deserves care, close to home.
🔗 Learn more: joemcgirr.com.au/rhap

26/10/2025

🎉Congratulations Dr Cheryl McIntyre- recipient of the 2025 RDAA Rural Doctor of the Year Award!

Congratulations to Dr Cheryl McIntyre from Inverell, NSW - our 2025 RDAA Rural Doctor of the Year!

Cheryl has cared for her community for more than 25 years and continues to inspire the next generation through her work training students and junior doctors.

Read our media release:
http://bit.ly/4oxfIBh

Thank you to the Rural Doctors Foundation for their sponsorship of this Award.

24/10/2025

🎉Congratulations to Dr Jean Littlewood, 2025 RDAA Rural Doctor in Training of the Year!

Congratulations to Dr Jean Littlewood, our 2025 RDAA Rural Doctor in Training of the Year!

Based in Coonabarabran, Jean is completing her final year of Rural Generalist training and has been a powerful voice for fairer treatment of rural junior doctors.

Read our media release:
http://bit.ly/4hseQvD

23/10/2025

At RMA25? Come and snap a photo with Risky and Rita at the Rural Doctors Association Australia booth, post it to your socials and share it to score a free chocolate quokka!

16/10/2025

Q. What do you get when Monopoly and Rural Medicine collide? A. Rural Medicine Australia Monopoly! 🐎🏥💰

Rural Medicine Australia monopoly now available for pre order at the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) merch store. Hours of fun, and team bonding awaits. Which community will you invest in and where will you build general practices and hospitals? Limited numbers so don’t miss out.

Yes we tested it out!!!!

16/10/2025