Why choose an AST in Mental Health?
NSW Rural Generalist Training Program Recruitment
Rural Generalism offers a unique chance to practise a wide scope of medicine, build trusted relationships with your community, and develop advanced skills that make a difference where it matters most.
NSW Health aims to grow a dedicated and sustained Rural Generalist medical workforce to provide primary health care and hospital care services that are accessible and supports the health and wellbeing of rural and remote communities.
Advanced Skills Training is a direct entry pathway into a 12-month advanced skills training (AST) post in either Anaesthetics, Obstetrics, Palliative Care, Paediatrics, Mental Health, Emergency Medicine or Adult Internal Medicine (pilot). Opportunities are available across regional NSW.
For enquiries please email HETI-RuralGeneralist@health.nsw.gov.au and enter AST Enquiry in the subject line
Applications for a 12- month Advanced Skills Training position commencing 2027 will open September 2026 and advertised through the NSW Health Career portal.
| Preparation Checklist | Application | Interview and Offer |
|---|---|---|
| Update CV Confirm RACGP or ACRRM enrolment Secure 2 professional referees Gather evidence of Working with Children Check and vaccine compliance | September 2026 - Complete the application posted in NSW Careers Rank your preferred AST specialty and location Upload supporting documents as requested | November 2026 -Eligible applicants will be invited to attend virtual panel interviews Offers extended for February 2027 start |
The Rural Generalist Single Employer Pathway (RGSEP) is an employment model which provides RG trainees with one contract for the length of their training (up to 4 years depending on stage of training) by the employing rural NSW Local Health District (LHD) while completing training in primary care and hospital settings. Acceptance onto the NSW RGTP is a pre-requisite for the RGSEP. Further information on the RGSEP can be found here
For RGSEP enquiries email MOH-ODS-Regional@health.nsw.gov.au
Why choose an AST in Obstetrics?
Why choose an AST in Emergency Medicine?
Opportunities are both RACGP & ACRRM accredited except where only one college is mentioned in brackets.
Specialties and locations offered may be subject to change during the AMR recruitment period.
AST opportunities on offer for 2027 are listed in the table below. This table will be updated for round 2 applications opening 29 September 2026.
| Specialty | Location |
|---|---|
| Emergency Medicine | Broken Hill - Maitland - Taree - Tamworth - Belmont (RACGP only)- Nowra - Wagga Wagga -Coffs Harbour - Kempsey/Port Macquarie - Lismore - Lismore/Ballina - Tweed Heads - Grafton - Bathurst - Dubbo (ACRRM only) - Orange - Queanbeyan/Cooma/Bega** (ACRRM only) |
| Mental Health | Maitland* -Taree* - Wagga Wagga* - Orange (Bloomfield) - Lismore* |
| Obstetrics | Maitland - Taree - Tamworth - Belmont- Wagga Wagga - Griffith - Coffs Harbour - Kempsey/Port Macquarie - Lismore - Tweed Heads -Bathurst - Dubbo - Orange - Nowra - Queanbeyan |
| Anaesthetics | Maitland - Taree - Tamworth - Nowra - Wagga Wagga - Griffith - Tweed Heads - Bega - Bathurst - Dubbo - Orange |
| Palliative Care | Broken Hill (ACRRM only) - Maitland (RACGP only, accreditation in progress for ACRRM) - Taree (RACGP only) - Tamworth* (RACGP only) - Coffs Harbour (ACRRM only, accreditation in progress for RACGP)- Wauchope/Port Macquarie* - Lismore* - Orange (ACRRM only, accreditation in progress for RACGP) - David Berry Hospital* |
| Paediatrics | Maitland* - Taree (ACRRM only) - Tamworth (ACRRM only) - Armidale - Wagga Wagga* - Nowra* - Port Macquarie -Coffs Harbour* - Lismore - Grafton - Bega - Bathurst* - Orange* |
| Adult Internal Medicine (Commonwealth Funded Pilot) | Armidale * |
* Accreditation in progress
** This is a multipost position across Queanbeyan, Cooma, and Bega at four (4) months per site. ACRRM accredited
How to apply
Applications for a 12- month Advanced Skills Training position commencing 2027 opens 29 September 2026 and advertised through the NSW Health Career portal.
Why choose an AST in Anaesthetics?
A rural generalist journey
What I love about being an RG