Recruitment for Advanced Skills Training opportunities will commence in July 2024.  Click here for further information and how to apply.

To receive notification of upcoming campaigns, please direct your expression of interest to HETI RuralGeneralist@health.nsw.gov.au

I’m not sure about being an RG? Can I try it out first?

Yes! The John Flynn rotation allows Doctors in training to experience the work and life of a Rural Generalist

The John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program funded by the Commonwealth provides PGY1-5 Doctors in training with the opportunity to experience the work and lifestyle of a rural generalist. This opportunity gives you true continuity of care from primary health care to emergency medicine, inpatient services, and discharge back to primary care within the community.

A 10–13 week rotation is the ultimate opportunity to live and work in a rural community and develop rewarding skills in primary care settings and local hospital environments.

The commonwealth government developed this program to strengthen rural training pathways, improve rural training capacity and provide rurally- based prevocational doctors with a positive experience during their training period in rural primary care settings and procedural hospitals.

Previous John Flynn trainees have shared the following highlights from their rotation.

• Access to a wide variety of clinical presentations
• Insight into the versatility of the rural health workforce
• Increase clinical experience, skills, and responsibilities

Our 2023 John Flynn Trainees are working and training at the following accredited rural NSW hospitals with supportive NSW Health supervisors. Please note that locations can vary from year to year.

COWRA – PARKES – MILTON – MUDGEE – KYOGLE – DENILIQUIN – COOLAMON – COOTAMUNDRA – FINLEY – BOURKE – GRAFTON – BONALBO – MACLEAN – GLOUSTER – SCONE  - MOREE – TAMWORTH – MACKSVILLE – BELLINGIN – NAMBUCCA – KEMPSEY – LITHGOW – COOMA – BEGA

Eligibility Criteria

• PGY1-5
• 1-2 rotations per year
• Rotations available to trainees currently in MM2-7 hospitals

How to participate?

Contact your JMO Manager at your Local Health District (LHD)

The NSW Rural Generalist Medical Training Program (RGTP) provides a supported training pathway for junior doctors wishing to pursue a career as a rural general practitioner with an advanced skill who provides primary care in a community general practice setting as well as advanced services and/or procedural skills within a rural hospital.

The program is up to four years depending on the year of entry and entry point. The program consists of a year of hospital practice or general practice, a year of advanced skills training and two years of support to consolidate advanced skills while training in community general practice or other approved training posts. There is flexibility to enter later in general practice training if eligible trainees are identified and positions are available.

All trainees on the NSW Rural Generalist Medical Training Program are required to be concurrently enrolled in and working toward meeting the requirements of either the FRACGP/FARGP and/or the FACRRM.

Over the four year program Rural Generalist trainees follow the appropriate college curriculum for their designated pathway and undertake one year of advanced skills training (AST).

It is recommended trainees seek advice from their respective general practice college regarding the relevant curriculum and training for their proposed Fellowship.

RGTP entry points include Foundation Year and Advanced Skills Training (lateral entry).

Why join the NSW Rural Generalist Foundations Year?

The Foundations Year is the first step in a supported pathway to becoming a Rural Generalist and offers support and education to assist doctors prepare for their future career. Foundations Year gives access to mentor support, workshops, structured education sessions, career, and training advice. All trainees in Foundations Year remain on their existing contract until ready to apply for an Advanced Skills Training post within a NSW LHD.

As a Foundations trainee how do I progress into Advanced Skills Training?

Following successful completion of Foundations, Doctors in Training may progress to an Advanced Skills Training year. The program offers flexibility to progress to Advanced Skills Training, transfer into community general practice training or continue with Foundations and defer Advanced skills training for another year.

How to apply

Entry to the Foundations Year opens in November each year for commencement the following clinical year. For more information about what Foundation Year offers and how to apply, click here

Lateral Entry into the RGTP and an Advanced Skills Training post is suitable for trainees that are already enrolled on their GP training pathway and wish to undergo their AST in the following clinical year.

Opportunities for AST positions are advertised for Lateral Entry as part of the annual NSW Health Junior Medical Officer Recruitment Campaign.

AST is currently available in:

• Anaesthetics
• Obstetrics
• Emergency Medicine
• Mental Health
• Palliative Care
• Paediatrics

Eligibility

You must be PGY3 year or beyond upon the commencement of the clinical year. To be eligible to apply to the NSW Rural Generalist Medical Training Program, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

1. Be eligible for general registration with the Medical Board of Australia
2. Demonstrate a commitment to rural practice and rural communities including an intention to provide advanced or procedural skills services in a rural community
3. Enrolled with RACGP or ACRRM

How to apply

There are two entry points into the Rural Generalist (Medical) Training Program. Doctors in training can apply for;

• The NSW Rural Generalist Foundations Year
• 12 Months Advanced Skills Training via Lateral entry

Vacancies for Advanced Skills Training positions via direct entry will be advertised on the ROB Junior Medical Officer website from July each year for commencement the following clinical year.

Where are our 2023 AST Trainees?

Our 2023 Trainees are working and training at the following accredited rural NSW hospitals with supportive NSW Health supervisors. Please note availability of specialties and locations may vary from year to year.

TWEED HEADS – COFFS HARBOUR – TAREE – PORT MACQUARIE - MAITLAND – BATHURST – ORANGE – DUBBO- WAGGA WAGGA