Alumni News & Information : RVTS

2027 NSW Rural Generalist Advanced Skills Training positions are now OPEN - 14 July to 4 August 2026

2027 NSW Rural Generalist Advanced Skills Training (AST) Positions

Rural Generalism offers a unique chance to practice a wide scope of medicine, build trusted relationships with your community, and develop advanced skills that make a difference where it matters most.

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.

Applications for the NSW Rural Generalist Advanced Skills Training positions open 14 July 2026 and close on the 4 August 2026. Apply HERE

For any AST enquiries please email [email protected] with the subject line: AST Enquiry

Third degree: life on the Remote Vocational Training Scheme

Part 1: Dr Anand Patel has supervised GP registrar Dr Sujeeth Paulgudi Thiyagarajan over the entire course of his training, even though the two live 400km away from each other. Read the full story…

Part 2: Rural generalist registrar Dr Sarah Rodgers says all doctors could benefit from the unique training program. Read the full story…

GPRA futureGP - RVTS Registrars in the Spotlight

From Sri Lanka to Oberon – Dr Ganesan Senthan’s journey into rural General Practice

Embracing rural generalism and the RVTS pathway – Dr Ananda Hagoda Arachchi

Standing at the heart of rural healthcare in Far North Queensland – Dr Ashton Kelly

Procedural Grants

Surgery, Anaesthetics and/or Obstetrics

This program supports procedural rural doctors in MMM 3-7 for skills maintenance and upskilling in anaesthetics, obstetrics and surgery covering both formal (courses) and informal (clinical attachments) delivery modes. It is in the form of a grant of $20,000 per doctor per financial year based on 10 days training at $2,000 per day.

Further details can be found at: health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/work-pr-rpgp

or acrrm.org.au/continuing-development/assistance-and-grants or racgp.org.au/the-racgp/faculties/rural/rural-procedural-grant

Emergency Medicine

Doctors practising emergency medicine in rural and remote areas can access grant payments for upskilling in emergency medicine. The grant payment is calculated on a maximum of $6,000 per GP per financial year for 3 days of upskilling or skills maintenance activities. The total grant payable will be based on a rate of $2,000 per day.

Further details can be found at: racgp.org.au/the-racgp/faculties/rural/rural-procedural-grants or acrrm.org.au/support/grants/rpgp

Other rural workforce training subsidies

SA: Rural Doctors Workforce Agency – 08 8234 8277

VIC: Rural Workforce Agency Victoria – 03 9349 7800

NSW: Rural Doctors Network – 02 4924 8000

WA: Rural Health West – 08 6389 4500

QLD: Health Workforce Queensland – 07 3105 7800

NT: Primary Health Network Northern Territory