Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)

The Fellowship of ACRRM (FACRRM) is a four-year program which can be undertaken by enrolling in one of three key pathways:

• Australian General Practice Training (AGPT)
• Independent Pathway (IP)
• Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS)

All pathways lead to vocational recognition with Medicare Australia, specialist registration as a General Practitioner through the Australian Medical Council (AMC), and are recognised in reciprocal arrangements with other medical colleges.

Training is undertaken predominantly or entirely in rural and remote areas and can be based in a diverse range of workplace settings including in general practice clinics, Aboriginal Medical Services, retrieval services, hospitals and community health services.

Full information on program requirements for each pathway.

The three training pathways to Fellowship have different eligibility criteria.  These are all based on candidate’s:

• Residency/citizenship status
• Primary medical qualifications
• Medical experience

AGPT:

Check your eligibility by referring to the AGPT Program Eligibility Guidelines.

Independent Pathway:

Check your eligibility by referring to the Independent Pathway website.

RVTS:

RVTS has two streams of trainees:

• The Remote Stream for doctors working in rural & remote Australia
• The AMS Stream, providing training for doctors working in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services

Eligibility criteria for each stream.

Indigenous Entry Pathways Description

Not applicable.

Key Dates

For AGPT places – generally two intakes per year, with dates currently determined by the Department of Health.

For RVTS places.

For ACRRM Independent Pathway places – Applications for the Independent Pathway are open all year, with intakes occurring in December, March, June and September. These are advertised on the College website.

Placement Requirements

For information on training placements visit the website.

To be eligible for Fellowship of ACRRM (FACRRM) you will need to have attained the following:

Successful completion of four years full-time training or equivalent part-time training consisting of:

• 12 months Core Clinical Training (CCT) in accredited hospitals
• 24 months Primary Rural and Remote Training (PRRT) consisting of:
• at least six months experience in community primary care
• at least six months experience in hospital and emergency care
• at least 12 months experience living and practising in a rural / remote environment; and
• 12 months Advanced Specialised Training (AST) in a range of settings, depending on the discipline, or 24 months if completing AST in Rural Generalist Surgery.

 Successful completion of these education activities:

• an education program provided by ACRRM or a training organisation and in an accredited teaching post
• at least four ACRRM online courses approved for training; and
• the required emergency courses

Successful completion of these assessments:

• Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (miniCEX) – satisfactory completion
• Multi-Source Feedback (MSF) – satisfactory completion
• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) – pass grade
• Case Based Discussion (CBD) – pass grade
• Structured Assessment using Multiple Patient Scenarios (StAMPS) – pass grade
• Procedural Logbook – satisfactory completion
• AST assessments specific to each AST discipline

For further information visit the website.

• AGPT is a government funded training program.
• ACRRM Independent Pathway is privately funded, with some government support potentially available through the Non-VR Fellowship Training Support Scheme.
• RVTS is government funded.

Typically, around five to seven of the successful applicants for places in the ACRRM training program each year identify as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin.  Demonstrated capacity in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare and for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are identified competencies that are positively weighted in the selection process.   Also demonstrated capacity for work in remote communities.

Visit the ACRRM website for further information, or contact the college at acrrm@acrrm.org.au, or 1800 223 226.

Indigenous Mentoring Programs, networks, support programs etc

The College has an active Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Members Group which is open to all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander members.  The group meets regularly and provides peer support and networking as well as providing advice to the College on issues of importance to Indigenous people.

The ACRRM Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members group provides an informal mentoring program for its members.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members may also join the College’s broader Mentorship Program which is open to all ACRRM members.

The College is also committed to a Reconciliation Action Plan.

College Scholarships

The College offers opportunities to apply for the President’s Prize, to be awarded conference tickets, travel and accommodation to the annual Rural Medicine Australia (RMA) conference, hosted by ACRRM and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia with at least one prize per year awarded to an Indigenous medical student.

Students can also volunteer at RMA, which rewards them with free day delegate tickets.

Financial Assistance

It is a College strategic commitment to ensure its registrars that are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are well-supported through to Fellowship. Individual registrar needs are supported on a case-by-case basis.