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Australia's leading GP college welcomes new NT specialist GPs and Rural Generalists

Royal Australian College of GPs

Key Facts:

• Thirteen new specialist GP received their papers, including two Rural Generalists, and four NT GPs also received Rural Generalist papers
• Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP) reflects qualification as a specialist GP after around 11 years of education, training and assessment
• Rural Generalists undertake an additional year of training in emergency medicine and other essential rural healthcare disciplines
• RACGP award recipients also received recognition

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has welcomed new Fellows as specialist GPs at a ceremony in Darwin on Friday evening.

The ceremony saw 13 new Fellows of the RACGP receive their papers reflecting qualification as specialist GPs, two of whom also received Rural Generalist fellowship. A further four fellowed GPs also received their Rural Generalist papers in recognition of additional training.

Fellowship of the RACGP (FRACGP) reflects a doctor’s qualification and expertise as a specialist GP, following around 11 years of education, training, rigorous assessment and experience in primary care.

Rural Generalists, or RGs, are GPs with extended scope via a year of additional training in emergency medicine and a selection of disciplines needed in rural communities such as child health, mental health, surgery, and obstetrics, who provide access to essential healthcare to their communities.

Rural generalism was formally recognised as a specialist medical field within general practice over the weekend.

RACGP Vice President Dr Ramya Raman said NT’s need for more GPs means the College has a more crucial role to play than ever before.

“General practice is the solution to our health system’s challenges, and we will continue to advocate for the profession at every level of government,” she said.

“The RACGP provides education, sets standards, and advocates for policies that give all Australians access to high-quality, affordable GP care. We thank the Honourable Steven Edgington, Northern Territory Minister for Health, and the Honourable Chansey Paech as member for Gwoja, and guests from NT Health, universities, and our partners in the Aboriginal medical services for attending to support the next generation of NT GPs.”

RACGP NT Deputy Chair Professor Neil Spike AM officiated the ceremony and said Fellowship is “an outstanding achievement and the result of years of constant effort, long hours of study, and extensive patient care leading to admission to the specialty of general practice”.

“These new GPs will make a vital difference to health outcomes in Darwin, Alice Springs and remote parts of the Territory where specialist services are scarce,” he said.

“They represent the skill and commitment that define general practice in the Northern Territory. Congratulations to our new Fellows of the RACGP, Rural Generalists, our new life member, and award winners – your achievements reflect dedication to service and the mission of general practice as the front line of healthcare.”

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the RACGP NT Awards winners, who will be NT finalists in the RACGP national awards.

Dr Simone Raye was recognised as the NT GP of the Year, Dr Laura Wood as GP Supervisor of the Year, and Dr Arullan Naidoo as GP in Training of the Year. It was a very proud night for Charlie Gunaburra, Chair of the Mala’la Aboriginal Health Corporation, when their Manayingkarirra Primary Healthcare Service in Maningrida was recognised as NT General Practice of the Year. 

Professor Spike presented the NT Faculty exam awards, congratulating Dr Tammy McKeith as the top candidate in both the Applied Knowledge Test and Clinical Competency Exam and Dr Kuang Myat Thu as the top performer in the Key Feature Problem exam. He also presented the NT Faculty’s Outstanding New Fellow Award, which recognises both exam performance and contributions to the Northern Territory community, to Dr Asim Razi.

Professor Spike also acknowledged the one of the NT Faculty’s newest Life Members at the ceremony, Dr Justine Mayer. A Life Member is a GP who has been an RACGP member for more than 35 consecutive years; the NT Faculty presented Dr Mayer with a framed certificate and a lifetime RACGP membership in recognition of her long-standing dedication.

A second life member, Dr Jennifer Davis, will be recognised at a future event.

Associate Professor Emma Kennedy AM, as RACGP NT Faculty Provost representing RACGP President Dr Michael Wright extended her congratulations to Mala’la and the other award winners. 

“We are so fortunate to have such talented and committed GPs and Rural Generalists in the Northern Territory. We are grateful for their service and engagement with the community and wish them all the very best for the future as members of our profession.”

~ENDS

About us:

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is the peak representative organisation for general practice, the backbone of Australia’s health system. We set the standards for general practice, facilitate lifelong learning for GPs, connect the general practice community, and advocate for better health and wellbeing for all Australians.

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