Message from the CEO

Dr Pat Giddings

 

Welcome to the latest edition of our Journeys newsletter!

RVTS extended a warm welcome to a new cohort of 17 registrars who commenced training with us in our July mid-year intake.

Interest in the RVTS program is at an all-time high, with over 50 registrars applying for the 16 positions available to commence training with us in January 2024.

Expressions of interest are now being taken for training to commence in July 2024 – find out more by clicking here.

The Company behind the RVTS program (Remote Vocational Training Scheme Ltd) held its AGM on 21 September, at which Dr Abigail Harwood and Dr Suzanne Harrison were appointed as RACGP and ACRRM nominees respectively. Dr Sanjaya Kapuwatte was reappointed unopposed as a nominee of our registrar and supervisor membership for a further two-year term.

We congratulate Dr Jacki Mein and Dr Sanjaya Kapuwatte, elected respectively as RVTS Chair and Deputy Chair, at the Board meeting following the AGM. You may have read our past profile piece on Jacki from the first issue of Journeys. Jacki has a long history with RVTS, having been a past RVTS registrar, current supervisor, and past Board Chair and Deputy Chair.

The AGM also saw the departure of Dr David Moniz and Dr Rod Omond from the Board. David has served as Chair of the Board for the past 12 months and Rod has been a Board member for six years, having served in a variety of roles including Deputy Chair. I am very grateful for the contribution that David and Rod have made to the organisation and wish them well.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Journeys – and I particularly encourage you to take the time to read the profile piece on one of our Cultural Educators, Glenda Humes, as hers is a truly fascinating story.

Read more

Congratulations to our Registrars who have recently received Fellowship!

Registrars receiving their FRACGP:

  • Dr Valerie Tan
  • Dr Aimen Saif
  • Dr Shasheeka Mudiyanselage
  • Dr Madushani Silva

A number of RVTS registrars are currently awaiting conferral of Fellowship – we look forward to congratulating them in the next issue of Journeys!

Meet our Medical Educators

The RVTS Medical Education team is the engine room of RVTS – educating, supporting and mentoring our registrars as they continue through their journey to Fellowship! In this edition of Journeys, we introduce you to two of our wonderful Medical Educators, Dr Meryl Nicol (left) and Dr Sonia Singh (right). Read more.

Dr Meryl Nicol (left) and Dr Sonia Singh (right)

Glenda Humes – an incredible journey!

At RVTS, we are very proud of our Cultural Education team and all they accomplish in educating and mentoring our registrars about First Nations culture and the best practice provision of culturally-sensitive care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

Last year, we introduced you to RVTS Cultural Educator, Professor Marlene Drysdale (click here to read Marlene’s story).

In this edition of Journeys, we feature another of our wonderful Cultural Educators, Glenda Humes. Read more about Glenda’s fascinating life journey – and her famous father – by clicking here

RVTS training update

Dr Ronda Gurney
RVTS Director of Training

Over the past quarter, our team has been hard at work providing crucial support to registrars and supervisors in some of Australia’s more challenging locations.

From tailoring webinar content to the unique demands of rural, remote and AMS clinical practice; observing registrar consultations and delivering insightful feedback; and crafting workshop sessions that promise to elevate the skills of registrars, our Education team is united by a single goal – to help our registrars become the best GPs or Rural Generalist doctors they can be.

Notably, the RVTS success rate in both RACGP and ACRRM exams continues to match the national average, highlighting our collective dedication.

As part of our commitment to provide enhanced support for RVTS registrars, we were pleased to recently announce the launch of our Standby Supervisor Pilot.

Train with RVTS!

Enquire now to be ready to apply for our July 2024 intake!

Choose RVTS to support you through training to General Practice or Rural Generalist Fellowship.

Recruitment for our July 2024 intake will open soon – express your interest now!

Train with confidence with the support of RVTS – experience counts!

With over 24 years’ experience in General Practice and Rural Generalist Fellowship training, RVTS is well recognised for its remote supervision model, supportive learning environment and high quality training.

Our comprehensive training and support is second to none, there is no application fee to apply, and training is fully funded by the Australian Government.

The RVTS program delivers the three to four year Fellowship training program through structured distance education and supervision. Doctors can complete their RACGP or ACRRM Fellowship while they continue to provide medical services to their remote and/or isolated community.

  • Doctors already working in an eligible MMM location can apply direct to the  Remote Stream or Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) Stream. Check your eligibility and find out more here.
  • Targeted Recruitment Strategy: find out more about our Targeted Recruitment locations here.

Stay connected!

Please don’t forget to keep us updated on your contact details – we also maintain a database of RVTS Alumni to ensure you can remain connected with us and our program. To update your details, please email [email protected].

Join our journey…

We welcome the sharing of our e-newsletter with interested colleagues! If this edition has come to you from someone else, subscribe here and we will add you to our distribution list for the next edition.

About our cover art

“Walking Together” is an artwork created by artist Wendy Rix for RVTS, using our existing corporate colours. “Walking Together” represents the healing journey that RVTS undertakes with patients, doctors, health staff and communities. The artwork was commissioned in line with the RVTS Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and is 30x40cm acrylic on canvas. Wendy is a contemporary Indigenous visual artist living in Queensland, Australia. Her family are from Goodooga, New South Wales, and she is a descendant of the Yuwaalaraay people of that area. Wendy is a trained nurse, but painting is her passion. Read more at www.wendyrix.com.au.