Background

In June 2023, the Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women the Hon Shannon Fentiman announced a $42 million investment to support birthing in regional, rural, and remote areas of Queensland.

The Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway (QRGP) has received funding under this initiative to support medical officers undertaking RANZCOG Associate Training Program (Advanced Procedural) training in Queensland from 2024. The QRGP has a long history of supporting aspiring rural generalists and we’re excited to extend the support services we offer to assist Advanced Procedural trainees to navigate and successfully complete their training and progress to a fulfilling rural generalist obstetrician role.

Support available

Learn more about the Training Support Program inclusions from practising RGOs Drs Matt Masel and Sarah Gleeson from Goondiwindi.

The key components of our Training Support Program include:

• A dedicated Rural Generalist Consultant, who is currently practising rural obstetrics, to provide practical, contextualised support and mentorship. In most cases, our RG Consultants will meet with trainees monthly onsite at their training facility throughout the year.

• Sponsored attendance at an intensive three-day workshop at the Gold Coast from 7 – 9 August 2024. This workshop is designed to support timely completion of Advanced Procedural training and will be facilitated by practising RGOs and FRANZCOGs. The workshop will include opportunity for high volume ultrasound scanning, sessions on clinical courage, career planning and more.

• Up to $20,000 to support Advanced Procedural training and course costs such as training program and exam fees (while funding allocation permits).

• Short term high acuity, high case load placements to assist trainees to achieve logbook signoff within the training year. Access to these placements will be prioritised according to need. A customised learning plan will be developed to ensure outstanding training requirements are a key focus of the placement.

• Clinical and professional networking and debriefing. Later in the training year trainees will be invited to join the QRGP’s newly developed community of practice, the Queensland Rural Generalist Obstetrics Network. The Network will host education and peer review case discussion opportunities for Rural Generalist Obstetricians in rural practice. The goal of the Network is to build social and professional networks and positively influence Rural Generalist obstetrics training and retention.

Practising GPs providing primary care outside of a Queensland Health setting may also be eligible for an additional $30,000 incentive. GPs already located in MMM3 – 7 may also be eligible to apply to the General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program to access up to $40,000 to undertake the Associate Training Program (Advanced Procedural) training with RANZCOG.

Eligibility

Candidates wishing to participate in the Support Program must:

• Indicate a commitment to work within Modified Monash Model 3-7 birthing service locations in Queensland upon completion.

• Be currently working within Queensland. Candidates who are not currently working in Queensland but who indicate a commitment to do so will be assessed on a case‑by‑case basis.

• Hold an authorised contract of employment for an accredited Advanced Procedural training post. Please contact the team if you are interested in applying for a training position.

Rural Generalist Consultants

The aim of the Rural Generalist Consultant role is to provide practical, contextualised support and mentorship to DRANZCOG Advanced trainees who are planning a career in rural medicine.  These roles will seek to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders at each training location (e.g., Supervisors, FRANZCOG staff specialists, RANZCOG registrars, midwives etc.) and provide education and awareness regarding the capabilities and scope of practice of the RGO workforce.  The intent is to work in partnership with training sites to improve the uptake, completion of training and retention of appropriately skilled RGOs and encourage strong professional networks with their training site or other suitable referral site in their subsequent rural practice location.

The Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway is pleased to introduce our Rural Generalist Consultants who will be providing onsite support and mentorship to DRANZCOG Advanced trainees.

Dr Josephine Pearson 

Josephine is a Rural Generalist Obstetrician working in Warwick and our medical lead for the new support initiatives being introduced.  Josie is a fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and a QRGP alumna.  Josie will provide on-site support and mentorship to trainees undertaking their training at Toowoomba, Ipswich and Mater Hospitals.

Dr Lucinda Anderson

Lucinda is a Rural Generalist Obstetrician based at Innisfail.  Lucinda is a fellow of the Australian College of Rural & Remote Medicine, and a QRGP alumna.  Lucinda will provide on-site support and mentorship to trainees undertaking their training at Mount Isa and Townsville Hospitals.

Dr Cassandra McKay

Cassandra is a Rural Generalist Obstetrician based in Mareeba.  Cassandra is a fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and a QRGP alumna.  Cassandra will provide support and mentorship to trainees undertaking their training at Cairns and Mackay Hospitals.

Dr Clare Walker

Clare is a Rural Generalist Obstetrician based in Longreach.  Clare has dual fellowships with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.  Clare will provide on-site support and mentorship to trainees undertaking their training at Redland, Gympie, and Sunshine Coast Hospitals.

Dr David Barker

David is a Rural Generalist Obstetrician based in Beaudesert.  David is a fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and a QRGP alumnus.  David will provide on-site support and mentorship to trainees undertaking their training at Rockhampton, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Gold Coast and Logan Hospitals.

Rural Generalist Obstetric Network (RGON)

The Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway is excited to have launched the Rural Generalist Obstetric Network (RGON) in April 2024. This state-wide community of practice has been developed to build social and professional networks amongst Queensland’s practising Rural Generalist Obstetric (RGO) workforce.

RGON hosts quarterly educational and peer review case discussion opportunities which attract college CPD points. The case discussions are interesting, challenging, educational, and encourage robust discussion. We welcome contributions from members.

Meetings are chaired by practising Beaudesert RGO Dr David Barker and supported by Dr Adam Bush, FRANZCOG specialist at the Mater Hospital and Director of the Flying O&G service based out of Roma. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for:

Wednesday, 24 July 2024 at 7:30 pm

Please contact the team if you would like to attend or would be interested in presenting a case at a future meeting.

Further information

For any questions in relation to the support initiatives or training, please contact the team via Rural_Generalist@health.qld.gov.au

Advanced Skills Training (AST) position offerings vary year to year and so do the job opportunities available in rural facilities after training.  The QRGP team, in collaboration with other training partners, has collated and mapped advanced skill training positions and rural vacancies to help trainees make informed career decisions.

The information below is updated annually and is historical. For future recruitment opportunities, please refer to the relevant QRGP position list for anaesthetics, O&G, paediatrics, mental health, internal medicine and palliative care; and the RMO Campaign and Colleges for other disciplines.

If you’d like to know whether it’s possible to complete training in a particular discipline, or work in a particular location with that advanced skill, and it doesn’t appear in the resources below, get in touch with the QRGP team for advice and support.

These resources were last updated in July 2024:

AST sites by discipline and location (where you can train)

Employing facilities by advanced skill discipline and location

Downloadable table with training and employment site information 

These key dates relate to the 2025 recruitment campaign being conducted in 2024.

2025 Advanced Skills Training Application Flowchart 

2025 AST applications for anaesthetics, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine, mental health and palliative care have now closed.

2025 AST applications for emergency medicine, Indigenous health and surgery have now closed through the Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Campaign.