Rural Doctors Network - RDN

09/12/2025

On Friday evening, two RDN staff members, Leah Pascoe and Jessica Dunworth, received an Australasian College of Health Service Management - ACHSM 2025 NSW Branch award for their leadership in advocacy in their area of impact.

Travelling from their hometowns of to Sydney to receive their awards in person, Leah was honoured for the impact and role she is making in the area of diabetes and Jessica in Aboriginal eye health.

Both women were recognised for demonstrating advocacy both as a personal attribute, and as an ability they apply in their daily management and leadership practices during 2025.

🗞️Read more about Jess and Leah's work: https://loom.ly/8grNGwo

08/12/2025

Recently, GPs gathered as part of Rural Health Month for a masterclass titled Preparing for ADHD Reforms. Developed by RDN in response to the ADHD prescribing reforms in NSW, the masterclass has been designed to help rural and remote GPs address these changes with confidence. As one of 4 ADHD masterclasses created by RDN in response to these reforms, the event offered rural and remote GPs a valuable opportunity to collaborate and foster peer support.

"With recent reforms expanding the role of GPs in ADHD care, it's critical that rural practitioners have access to practical, high-quality training," said Mike Edwards, COO at RDN. "Our masterclasses are designed to equip GPs with the skills and confidence to manage ADHD across the lifespan, while navigating the evolving clinical and regulatory landscape."

📰Read more at RDN: https://loom.ly/ZBUf3Y8

07/12/2025

“ALS is not something you can learn out of a book. We absolutely need the practice and experience. The course is all hands-on experience; we each had a go and took turns at doing the simulations,” said Dr Dinushi Warnasuriya, a GP from who participated in the Advanced Life Support training workshops held as part of last week.

Two accredited Advanced Life Support (ALS) workshops were delivered, equipping rural clinicians with critical skills to manage life-threatening emergencies. Held at the Wesley Convention Centre in Sydney ahead of the Rural GPs Conference, the ALS 1 and ALS 2 courses attracted doctors committed to improving emergency care in rural communities.

The workshops offered hands-on, face-to-face learning—an approach highly valued by rural practitioners for its practical focus and opportunities for peer networking.

🔍Read more at RDN: https://loom.ly/Y4gBOFo

06/12/2025

RDN hosted its largest ever ‘New GP Orientation Workshop’ at Hilton Sydney on Wednesday and Thursday last week, with the event attracting 30 General Practitioners (GPs) who are new to rural New South Wales (NSW) practice, including Overseas Trained Doctors (OTDs).

The two-day introduction to rural general practice is considered valuable preparation for transition into rural NSW medical practice and is designed to set up, and support GPs, to succeed in their new role and deliver high-quality medical services to rural NSW.

Dr Shazia Afzal from Pakistan, who’s been working at Kookora Surgery Griffth this year under the Pre-Fellowship Program (PFP), attended the New GP Orientation Workshop and said it was “amazing”.

“NGPO covered everything and every topic that every new IMG [International Medical Graduate] will require to understand to work as a GP in Australia,” Dr Afzal said.

🗞️Read more at RDN: https://loom.ly/7TxH4co

05/12/2025

05/12/2025

Learn. Lead. Advocate.

That was the takeaway for over 170 future doctors who gathered in Sydney on Saturday 29 November for the 2025 Medical Student Rural Inspiration Conference. This one-of-a-kind event is designed specifically for with an interest in rural medicine.

“We’re here this week to inspire the next generation of medical students,” Chris Russell, RDN’s Future Workforce Manager, told Win News. “The goal for the Conference is for them to be inspired to meet with and hear from all the great rural GPs and rural doctors all across the state and to learn about the pathways that are available to them for when they graduate from medical school.”

The Conference did just that for Kate Crawford, a Rural Resident Medical Officer from The University of Notre Dame Australia. “I’m a Cadet, so it’s a really good opportunity to come down and meet other likeminded students and a really good opportunity to talk to clinicians with the RDN and ruralist programs, and just to get an idea of what it’s like ahead for us.”

Dr Louis Peachey, a Girrimay and Djirribal man from the Djirriibaligan language group, welcomed students in his narrative-rich keynote address, which touched on his journey to and through medicine. Dr Peachey recalled that when he graduated in medicine, the total number of Indigenous doctors throughout Australia totalled four. Now the figure is approaching 1000.

🗞️Read more and view the photo gallery at RDN: https://loom.ly/-rAwC9w

The Conference was co-hosted by RDN and the NSW Regional Training Hub Networks and co-sponsored by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).

04/12/2025

The 2025 Rural Practice Managers Conference, hosted by RDN, took place on 26 and 27 November at Hilton Sydney, as part of Rural Health Pro’s Rural Health Month. The two-day conference this year brought together 87 practice managers and administrative staff.

“We had an amazing two days at the Rural Practice Managers Conference,” said Lucinda Coble, RDN’s Practice Support Lead. “For practice managers, there has been a huge amount of change in the space, especially in the last six months, with the bulk billing changes and Chronic Disease Management changes, so we made sure we were able to discuss these changes over the two days, while also having some other fresh topics too."

🔍Read more and view the photo gallery at RDN: https://loom.ly/LEAXS7Y

The Conference was sponsored by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s The National Lung Cancer Screening Program, Avant Practice Solutions and Avant Law, RACGP, Your It Desk and the NSW Government.

03/12/2025

An important moment of recognition took place during the Rural GPs Conference Dinner on Saturday night when seven GPs who have spent the past 35 years or more caring for remote, rural and regional communities in NSW, were honoured with a NSW Rural Medical Service Award, presented by RDN.

Four of the seven GPS were in attendance to receive their awards in person and to reflect on their years of service with RDN Board Member Dr John Kramer OAM, as they received their certificate to loud applause.

RDN Manager, Conferences and Events, Lindsey Eifler said “RDN believes from experience that few things are valued more highly by country people than the peace of mind that comes with having a “local doctor” as part of the fabric of their community.”

Congratulations and thank you for your service!

🏆Read the full list of award recipients at RDN: https://loom.ly/jsItl4g

02/12/2025

02/12/2025

Hosted by RDN and the Rural Doctors' Association of NSW, with the support of NSW Health, the Rural GPs Conference is one of the most venerable events in the rural health calendar. This year’s conference drew together 180 practitioners, with plenty of time for networking, alongside a packed program of topical lectures and workshops.

Friday brought an address by Rural Health Commissioner, Professor Jenny May AM, who surveyed recent national developments and priorities. The Politicians Forum followed, with Dr Michael Holland MP - Member for Bega and Independent Member for Wagga Wagga, Dr Joe McGirr MP representing Macquarie Street.

"For almost four decades, this conference has brought together the people who form the backbone of rural healthcare: GPs, rural generalists, visiting medical officers and the teams who support them,” Dr Holland told his social media followers. "Their dedication, skill and community leadership are second to none."

The program then presented a series of lectures tailored to rural practice.

“I enjoy the Rural GPs Conference because you get to meet like-minded people and discuss cases - and you feel you’re not the only one alone in the world out in the rural community,” said regular attendee Dr Di Coote, who has served the community of as a GP for more than 35 years.

🗞️Read more at RDN: https://loom.ly/SEkglzY

02/12/2025

We thought it felt a bit chilly for summer! The New South Wales regions always have some magic in store, no matter the season. If these snowy scenes shot yesterday at Charlotte Pass remind you that you're a health care professional who could do with a 'ski change', why not contact the RDN recruitment team to see what jobs might be available in the High Country?

Email the team today: recruit@rdnhealth.org

01/12/2025

All rural health roads led to Sydney last week and over the weekend for a big finish to the sixth annual series of Rural Health Month conferences. 750 practice managers, GPs and medical students enjoyed re-connecting with each other for a series of training and networking events aimed at improving rural health outcomes for the community.

Amongst the distinguished participants at this year’s GP Conference was National Rural Health Commissioner, Professor Jenny May AM, who told WIN News that the series of events represented a great opportunity for rural GPs, together with the support staff that surround general practice and rural medicine. “It’s the collegiality, it’s the networking and it’s the continuing professional development, where people who’ve got really important roles in our rural communities can get together and share stories,” Professor May said.

The packed schedule included an ADHD Masterclass, Advanced Life Support and New GP Orientation workshops, the Rural Practice Managers Conference, Medical Student Rural Inspiration Conference, plus the longest running conference of them all - the Rural GPs Conference.

Read full story: https://loom.ly/Y0hvwEU