Rural Doctors Network (RDN) is the charity for health access. Our vision is for improved health service access for all Australians - no matter where they live.
RDN is a registered charity that supports the multidisciplinary rural health workforce and exists to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in remote, rural, regional, Aboriginal & disadvantaged communities.
21/01/2026
📆Have you "Saved the Date" for RDN's 2026 Conferences and Events?
As 2026 begins, we are excited to share our list of events scheduled for this year so that you can “Save the Date”.
RDN supports a range of professional development conferences and events for rural doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, practice managers, health service managers, pharmacists and students throughout the year.
“For over 15 years now I have been spending over a quarter of the year in the NSW outback, seeing the same communities so regularly that they now consider me family,” said Kyriacos (Kyri) Mavrolefteros, a long-term Outreach optometrist. “The reality is, for many of the most vulnerable people in these more remote areas, even travelling 100km to Bourke to attend a clinic is too far."
Recently, RDN's Health Access Services Manager, Amanda Masset, had the privilege of attending the 50-year celebration of the Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS) in Canberra — a milestone that marks half a century of dedicated Outreach eye care across Australia.
First established in 1975, VOS is a federally funded Outreach Program, which supports optometrists to deliver Outreach optometric services to remote Australia, and other communities with an identified need, including metropolitan areas. A portion of VOS funding is earmarked specifically to provide improved services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Federal Government’s Outreach Programs are delivered by an approved organisation known as a “fundholder” in each jurisdiction, and are contracted by the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Fundholders are required to commit to “shared decision-making with First Nations people" and “engage with local communities to ensure coordination of services”. RDN is the fundholder in NSW and the ACT.
Breakfast with Gary - 28 January 2026, 8-9am on Rural Health Pro 🌞
Take your practice management skills to the next level! Join renowned expert and practice management "guru" Gary Smith AM at this quarterly webinar on 28 January, hosted on Rural Health Pro.
Designed specifically for practice managers in rural and regional areas (MM3-7), this is your chance to stay on top of industry trends, get your questions answered and network with fellow professionals.
On 22 October, RDN’s Health Access Services Manager, Amanda Masset, Senior Project Officer, Jessica Dunworth, and Program Support Officer, Tori Towney, were honoured to attend the The Fred Hollows Foundation's inaugural “Friends of Fred” event at Bangarra Dance Theatre in Sydney. This landmark gathering brought together the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye-health sector, uniting community-controlled health organisations, national representatives, sector partners, and supporters.
The program featured powerful cultural performances, a smoking ceremony and insightful panel discussions exploring what strong partnerships look like across the sector — from universities and students to fundholders and service providers, doctors and patients, and visiting clinicians working alongside local services. A key theme throughout the day was the importance of listening, learning and being led by community to deliver culturally responsive eye health care.
NSW Outback Division of General Practice (ODGP) is seeking to appoint a Diabetes Educator to a full-time position based in Cobar, with outreach to Nyngan.
ODGP provides primary health care services across the outback shires of Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke, and Cobar, with a strong focus on early intervention, chronic disease prevention and management, and health promotion.
About the role:
👉Provide evidence-based diabetes education and self-management support to people aged 15 years and over
👉Deliver individual education sessions in general practice
👉Work closely with GPs and multidisciplinary teams to support coordinated, client-centred care
👉Support clients with blood glucose monitoring, medications (including insulin), lifestyle modification and complication prevention
👀Applications are opening soon for RDN's first student road trip for 2026!
Over four days, Go Rural takes university students out to rural and remote areas of NSW to visit medical facilities and hear from guest speakers, as well as participate in community and cultural events such as farm visits and Aboriginal culture tours. Go Rural is open to first- and second-year students, and ANY YEAR , , and students.
Stay tuned for more updates on the first road trip set to head out 5-8 March! 🚌
💌To keep up-to-date on all things student health news, including application opening dates, subscribe to RDN's Student Opportunities Update email here: https://loom.ly/Yq8zp7s
15/01/2026
NSW Outback Division of General Practice (ODGP) is seeking to appoint a Registered Nurse to as a Clinical Care Co-ordinator, based flexibly across the ODGP footprint, with travel to general practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) as required.
About the role:
👉Clinical support of general practices and ACCHOs to implement an effective chronic disease management and prevention model of care and strengthen care coordination processes.
👉Provide guidance to practice teams on care planning workflows, referral pathways, and follow-up processes.
👉Provide support to practice teams to clean and maintain chronic disease data, ensure accurate disease coding, and use data to inform quality improvement and drive better patient outcomes.
👉Assist practices to identify system gaps, barriers to care continuity, and opportunities for improved coordination.
For many women, being able to seek out, and have access to, a ‘female’ General Practitioner for their health and wellbeing, or to discuss gender-specific health issues, is highly valued and can play a significant part in a patient’s willingness to seek medical or preventative care.
However, despite this need, for many women living in rural and remote towns, having access to a permanent female GP working in the region can be difficult or simply isn’t an option. This potentially leads to a reduction or refusal of preventative screening, diagnoses not taking place at all, or treatment options not being followed through.
RDN has, for the last ten years, secured funding under the Rural Health Outreach Fund to contract the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia for the delivery of a female GP outreach service. The service is delivered in identified communities where there is limited access to a female GP or women's health service delivered by a female nurse/practitioner.
For many women, being able to seek out, and have access to, a ‘female’ General Practitioner for their health and wellbeing, or to discuss gender-specific health issues, is highly valued and can play a significant part in a patient’s willingness to seek medical or preventative care....
12/01/2026
📣Calling all rural practice managers! Take your skills to the next level with Rural Doctors Network - RDN's free webinar, Breakfast with Gary.
Designed specifically for practice managers in rural and regional areas (MM3-7), join Gary Smith AM on Rural Health Pro from 8-9 am, 28 January, for industry insights, a Q&A and to network with your peers. Register now 👉 https://loom.ly/9vKSNb4
12/01/2026
We are excited to share our list of events scheduled for 2026 so you can “Save the Date”.
RDN supports a range of professional development conferences and events for rural doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, practice managers, health service managers, pharmacists and students throughout the year.
Holiday listening! 🎧 Rural Health Pro is pleased to announce the release of two special episodes of their podcast, A Healthy Exchange, recorded live during Rural Health Month 2025 🎉Listen now: https://loom.ly/VdAMEHc ✔️
✨In the first episode, 'Leading with Heart – A Conversation with Dr Peter O'Mara', features a thought-provoking discussion between Dr O'Mara, a proud Wiradjuri man and Dr Pip Kensit, on the importance of cultural safety and connection in medicine, recorded at the 2025 National Rural and Remote Health Awards in Canberra.
✨The second episode, 'Thriving in Remote and Rural Nursing', features a panel of diverse rural and remote nurses. The panel share their extensive insights and expertise on building rewarding careers, maintaining motivation and prioritising wellbeing in rural healthcare. This episode is a recording of a live webinar, presented by Rural Health Pro in partnership with Nurse and Midwife Support
09/01/2026
The Central West Aboriginal Mental Health and Wellbeing Program (CWAMH) was established in 2023 through a strong partnership between the NSW Health's Centre for Aboriginal Health, Western NSW Local Health District, and Central West Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), including Condobolin Aboriginal Health Service, Orange Aboriginal Medical Service, Weigelli Centre Aboriginal Corporation, and Yoorana Gunya Family Healing Centre Aboriginal Corporation.
The program was designed to support ACCHOs in delivering culturally safe, holistic, and community-led mental health and wellbeing services that respond to the unique needs of their communities. At its core, CWAMH represents a genuine co-designed and Aboriginal-led model of care for Central West NSW.
The Central West Aboriginal Mental Health and Wellbeing Program (CWAMH) was established in 2023 through a strong partnership between the NSW Ministry of Health’s Centre for Aboriginal Health, Western NSW Local Health District, and Central West Aboriginal Community Controlled Health...
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NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN) is a not-for-profit, non-government charitable organisation and is the Australian Government’s designated Rural Workforce Agency (RWA) for health in NSW.
Our vision is for improved health service access for all Australians – no matter where they live.
We seek to support better health and wellbeing for people living in remote, rural and regional and disadvantaged communities, particularly those in NSW and the ACT.
To achieve this vision, we seek to grow and strengthen a capable primary health workforce, support communities in tailored health workforce solutions, support the capacity of health service organisations, contribute to policy and ensure RDN’s continued effectiveness.
RDN receives program funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and the NSW Ministry of Health. Local governments, community and health sector organisations also contribute funding for RDN activities.
In 2018, RDN proudly celebrated 30 years of operations.
Our head office is in Newcastle and we have a second office in Sydney. Visit our website to find out more.
