Rural Doctors Network (RDN)

Registrations are now open for the 2026 Rural GPs Refresher Conference! 👉 loom.ly/nHIfzRs 📆27–29 March 📍Rydges, Port Macquarie The Rural GPs Refresher Conference offers a tailored mix of clinical and non-clinical sessions, hands-on workshops, and an engaging expo, designed specifically for rural GPs. The conference will be CPD/PDP-accredited with @the_racgp and @the_acrrm and also includes a supervised Children’s Program and a vibrant social program, featuring a Welcome Event and Conference Dinner. Optional pre-conference Advanced Life Support workshops (ALS 1 and ALS 2), an ADHD Masterclass and New GP Orientation workshops allow delegates to make the most of their time away from the office. Register now! @ruralhealth_pro #refresherconference #ruralgp #ruralmedicine #ruralhealth #ngpo #adhd #advancedlifesupport #alstraining #ruralhealthcare

Cobar gets a good report from visiting Go Rural medical and allied health students: cobarweekly.com.au/cobar-gets-a-g…

Last Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered the latest Closing the Gap report on the 18th anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations. The National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the National Agreement) was developed in genuine partnership between Australian Governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak organisations (represented by the Coalition of Peaks). It sets out Closing the Gap Priority Reforms and ambitious targets that are changing the way governments work to improve life outcomes experienced by Indigenous Australians. The National Indigenous Times (@nit_times) reports that only four of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track and four are moving backwards, with just five years remaining under the current agreement. Read the Commonwealth Closing the Gap 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Implementation Plan: loom.ly/r1RXyvI

📣1 week left to apply for #GoRural! Apply now 👉loom.ly/p_1WxsY From 5-8 March, Go Rural will be taking students on a tour through the beautiful Western Plains region of NSW, visiting the towns of #Orange, #Parkes, #Trundle, #Nyngan, #Cobar, #Narromine, #PeakHill and #Dubbo 🚌 This trip is open to first- and second-year #medical students, and ANY YEAR #nursing, #midwifery, #paramedicine and #alliedhealth students. Don’t miss this PACKED itinerary featuring inspiring speakers, amazing facilities and plenty of opportunities to connect with local communities and potential future colleagues! 🤠 Go Rural is funded by @healthgovau and administered by RDN.

Registrations are now open for the 2026 Rural GPs Refresher Conference! 👉 loom.ly/nHIfzRs 📆 27–29 March 📍 Rydges, Port Macquarie The Rural GPs Refresher Conference offers a tailored mix of clinical and non-clinical sessions, hands-on workshops, and an engaging expo, designed specifically for rural GPs. The conference will be CPD/PDP-accredited with @RACGP and @ACRRM and also includes a supervised Children’s Program and a vibrant social program, featuring a Welcome Event and Conference Dinner. Optional pre-conference Advanced Life Support workshops (ALS 1 and ALS 2), an ADHD Masterclass and New GP Orientation workshops allow delegates to make the most of their time away from the office. Register now! #refresherconference #ruralgp #ruralmedicine #ruralhealth #ruralhealthcare @ruralhealth_pro @RDANSW @MurrumbidgeePHN @wnswphn @nbmphn @HealthyNC @hneccphn

See this Instagram photo by @illawarrashoalhavenlhd instagram.com/p/DUPH5eJjD3j/…

RDN's Monday Message news email is back next week! 📨Monday Message is RDN's weekly masthead news email, featuring NSW remote, rural and regional health sector news, plus information on RDN activities, events, funding and training opportunities. 👩‍💻Want to stay up-to-date? Subscribe now: loom.ly/DzzJ7pc #mondaymessage #ruralhealthnews #ruralnews #ruralhealth #ruralhealthcare

Applications are NOW OPEN for RDN’s first #GoRural student road trip for 2026! Apply now 👉 loom.ly/p_1WxsY From 5-8 March, Go Rural will be taking students on a tour through the beautiful Western Plains region of NSW, visiting the towns of #Orange, #Parkes, #Trundle, #Nyngan, #Cobar, #Narromine, #PeakHill and #Dubbo 🚌 This trip is open to first- and second-year #medical students, and ANY YEAR #nursing, #midwifery, #paramedicine and #alliedhealth students. With a PACKED itinerary featuring inspiring speakers, amazing facilities and plenty of opportunities to connect with local communities and potential future colleagues, this is a trip not to be missed! 🤠 Go Rural is funded by @healthgovau and administered by RDN.

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. Join us in 2026 for our conferences and events! 📆 Read more at RDN: loom.ly/BomVvCM

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. 📆 Read more at RDN: loom.ly/BomVvCM

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. See the full list of events at RDN: loom.ly/BomVvCM

📆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. See the full list of events at RDN: loom.ly/BomVvCM

“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. 🗞️Read the full story at RDN: loom.ly/kx6CSXU

Breakfast with Gary - 28 January 2026, 8-9am on @ruralhealth_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. ✔️Register for free today: loom.ly/RA4DjSQ

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 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. 🔍Read more about the event at RDN: loom.ly/smxm_iY

👀Applications are opening soon for RDN's first #GoRural 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 #medical students, and ANY YEAR #nursing, #midwifery, #paramedicine and #alliedhealth 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: loom.ly/Yq8zp7s

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 For more information and to apply: loom.ly/0q3FiZo

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 (RHOF) to contract the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) 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. 🗞️Read more: loom.ly/FxwUnsU #womenshealth #ruralhealth #ruralhealthcare #ruralgp

Holiday listening! 🎧 @ruralhealth_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: 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 @pipkensit, 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 @nmsupportau.