Dr Jacob Cappelletto talks about his experience as a rural generalist trainee
Rural Medical Expo 2026
On April 11, 2026 we were excited to welcome dozens of students, junior doctors and regional health experts to the 2026 RGPSA Rural Medical Expo.
Held over breakfast and lunch at the stunning surrounds of the McCracken Golf Course in Victor Harbor, it was a chance for people to connect, ask questions, share information and begin mapping out career plans for rural pathways.
The day started with a moving Welcome to Country by Cedric Varcoe, Ramindjeri-Ngarrindjeri and Narungga man, who greeted attendees with a smoking ceremony before discussing the Traditional Owners’ connection to the area, and the Dreaming stories that guide how they still interact with Country.
This was followed by a period of networking over breakfast whilst everyone found a table, and then the fun of the conference began – an introduction by RGPSA Acting Manager, Andrew Dean, and a presentation by local doctor Jacob Cappelletto, detailing the personal side of working rurally.
Next came the panels, starting with RGPSA Clinical Lead Advisor Mike Beckoff running the two colleges through their paces: Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, represented by Lisa White and Rohan Watts, and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, with Jane Longmire and Dr Simon Hay. There were a number of questions to come from the audience that the colleges were happy to answer – and for those of you unable to attend on the day, the full recording of each panel session will soon be available online.
The keynote panel of the morning was that of the regional Local Health Networks, each represented by their Director of Clinical Training. This saw Andrew ask the DCTs (Dr Peter Stuart (BHF), Dr Ali Lydeamore (EFN), Dr Louise Williams (FUN), Dr Preggie Nair (LC), Dr Hamish Eske (RMC), and Dr Ellie Daniel (YN)*) to sell their region to the students and junior doctors in attendance, with a raft of attractions from across the state quickly following. The next hour was full of information of what positions are available in different networks, how each region supports their junior workforce, and what can be expected day to day.
Breaking for lunch, the conference then made way for the expo part of the day, where students, educators and everyone in between brought an energy to proceedings that enabled high-value networking and created more in depth information sharing to follow on from the panel sessions.
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to such a positive, engaging day – particularly those of you who braved the early Saturday morning to catch the shuttle bus down to the event! The enthusiasm and collaboration on display made it a real success, and we look forward to continuing these important connections into the future.
Keep your ears to the ground, and your eyes open, as we begin planning the Rural Medical Expo 2027.
*Local Health Network acronyms as follows: BHF – Barossa Hills Fleurieu; EFN -Eyre and Far North; FUN – Flinders and Upper North; LC – Limestone Coast; RMC – Riverland Mallee Coorong; YN – Yorke and Northern.
Welcome to Country by Cedric Varcoe, Ramindjeri-Ngarrindjeri and Narungga man
Welcome to Country by Cedric Varcoe, Ramindjeri-Ngarrindjeri and Narungga man.
College Panel Discussion: Jane Longmire, Dr Simon Hays from RACGP and Dr Lisa White and Rohan Watts from ACRRM
College Panel Discussion: Jane Longmire, Dr Simon Hays from RACGP and Dr Lisa White and Rohan Watts from ACRRM
Dr Lisa White from ACRRM talks to interested medical students at the expo.
Dr Lisa White from ACRRM talks to interested medical students at the expo.
Medical Education Officer Kirsteen Knevitt from YNLHN
Rural Generalists of SA
June 2025 – Kirsteen Knevitt, Medical Education Officer at YNLHN
This month, we take a slightly different angle and present Kirsteen Knevitt from YNLHN. Kirsteen tells us about her role in the Medical Education Unit and supporting doctors in training.
Past Profiles
Medical student Lauren Whitington attending Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors’ Congress (PRIDoC 2024) in Adelaide.
Conference Sponsorship awarded to rural medical student
As part of our commitment to ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rural medical students and trainees are nurtured and grown, the Rural Generalist Program South Australia (RGPSA) was proud to support a medical student Lauren Whitington from regional South Australia to attend the Pacific Region Indigenous Doctors’ Congress (PRIDoC 2024) in Adelaide.
RGPSA News and Stories
News
‘What is SEM?’ Webinar – learn about the single employer model
On 19 June 2024, the RGPSA hosted a webinar event for trainee doctors to learn about the single employer model.
The Single Employer Model (SEM) is a Commonwealth initiative that enables rural generalist and general practice trainees to be employed by a single employer (in this case, SA Health) for up to four years while they complete their vocational training.
The event features a presentation from the Rural Support Service, detailing how the model will be trialled across the state and Q&A session.
‘What is SEM’ Information webinar for trainees – video recording
Single Employer Model (SEM) Information webinar PowerPoint presentation slides – June 2024
Drs Abby Moore, Jessica Martyn, Lloyd Weir and Harry Gaffney with Kylee Nuss, TMO Manager, Rural Support Service
Australian Medical Students Association Conference 2023
The Rural Generalist Program South Australia gave the Plenary session at the Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA) Careers Conference 2023 in Adelaide on 29th March 2023. Kylee Nuss, Manager of the Trainee Medical Officer Unit, Rural Support Service, SA Health introduced the RGPSA and guest speakers Dr Harry Gaffney, Dr Abby Moore, Dr Jessica Martyn and Dr Lloyd Weir speaking about their experiences training in rural South Australia.
AMSA Plenary Session Video – RGPSA
Dr Hamish Eske
Rural generalist medicine approved as a new specialist field within general practice
Dr Michael Beckoff
RGPSA Clinical Lead and Chair – Rural Generalist Program Steering Committee
MBBS, FACRRM, FAICD, Assoc. Dipl. Agric (Dist)
I am pleased to advise that in August 2025, the Council of Health Ministers approved the proposal for Rural Generalism to be recognised as a new specialist field within general practice. This means Rural Generalists will now have a protected title and the specialty will be formally listed on the national register of medical specialties.
The journey towards national recognition began in 2019, when the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) commenced working with the Office of the Rural Health Commissioner and formed the National Rural Generalist Recognition Taskforce.
The Taskforce worked tirelessly over several years progressing through the various stages of the application process with the Medical Board of Australia (MBA). The MBA, in turn, supported the proposal and recommended the recognition of the specialty to health ministers after a rigorous assessment process.
The change means GPs with an approved Fellowship of the RACGP or ACRRM will be able to apply for specialist registration as a Rural Generalist under a protected title and their skills and qualifications can be incorporated into the National Law that governs registered health professions. Recognition is an important step in the process towards an accredited qualification.
This recognition is also vital to ensure the success of the Rural Generalist Training Pathway programs in each state and territory. Skilled and well-trained Rural Generalists provide valued services to rural and remote communities and with the expansion and success of this program, comes positive health outcomes and a much needed stable workforce.
Now that Rural Generalist Medicine (RGM) has been nationally recognised as a specialist field, the Australian Medical Council (AMC) can now assess training programs in rural generalist medicine for accreditation, ahead of the MBA deciding whether to approve qualifications for the purposes of specialist registration.
Once there is an approved qualification, medical practitioners with the approved qualification can apply for specialist registration in rural generalist medicine. The MBA is now working through transition arrangements for doctors practising in this area, pending the outcome of the AMC qualification accreditation process.
Links for more information:
RACGP: Rural Generalist Recognition
Left to right: Dr Monowar Hossain, Dr Jessica Farrar, & Stewart Woods
Notices
Call for Applications
Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program second intake
The AGPT program offers fully Commonwealth-funded Fellowship training in the speciality of general practice
AGPT through Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) program now open
AGPT through Royal Australian College of General Practice (RACGP) program now open
Rural Procedural Consolidation Term Grants – open
The Rural Generalist Program South Australia (RGPSA) invites applications for Rural Procedural Consolidation Term Grants to support Rural Generalist registrars or Fellowed GPs towards the consolidation of new skills development or require upskilling in an existing skill after significant time away from advanced skills practice.