8.1 Training general specialists rurally: what works
Tracks
Crown Ballroom 1 & 2
| Thursday, October 23, 2025 |
| 3:55 PM - 4:25 PM |
| Crown Ballroom 1 & 2 |
Details
Format: Panel discussion (60-minute)
Speaker
Dr Bronwyn Peirce
Associate Professor
The University of Western Australia
Training general specialists rurally: what works
3:55 PM - 5:00 PMAbstract Overview
The National Medical Workforce Strategy (2021-2031) recognises the need to build a sustainable generalist medical workforce. In Australia, there has been a relative decrease in generalist specialties including most acutely observed in geographical locations least well supported by sub-specialists, notably rural, remote and outer metropolitan areas.
Courage, creativity and collaboration is required to address these challenges. This panel discussion will include trainees, present innovative approaches taken in rural psychiatry and physician training, as well as proposed changes to training in rural general paediatrics.
This panel discussion will include:
- the courageous voice of trainees, telling us what they want from rural specialist training programs
- the creative success of rural psychiatry training in Western Australia and the new initiative of the RAPTOR (Rural Adult Physician Training, Opportunities and Rotations) program
- collaborations involved in changes to rural general paediatric training and the proposal to remove mandatory rural terms
Takeaways:
Rural areas offer opportunities for excellent training of generalist specialists – but requires courage, creativity and collaboration for successful and sustainable programs.
What needs to happen next for this to occur?
Courage, creativity and collaboration is required to address these challenges. This panel discussion will include trainees, present innovative approaches taken in rural psychiatry and physician training, as well as proposed changes to training in rural general paediatrics.
This panel discussion will include:
- the courageous voice of trainees, telling us what they want from rural specialist training programs
- the creative success of rural psychiatry training in Western Australia and the new initiative of the RAPTOR (Rural Adult Physician Training, Opportunities and Rotations) program
- collaborations involved in changes to rural general paediatric training and the proposal to remove mandatory rural terms
Takeaways:
Rural areas offer opportunities for excellent training of generalist specialists – but requires courage, creativity and collaboration for successful and sustainable programs.
What needs to happen next for this to occur?
Biography
Associate Professor Bronwyn Peirce MBBS; FACEM; Grad Cert RRM is a Rural Academic Emergency Physician who has lived and worked on Wadandi Noongar Boodja in Bunbury, Western Australia for over twenty years, having previously worked in Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory, mostly in rural and regional settings. Bronwyn currently has four jobs with two employers: Co-Clinical Lead for Emergency Medicine and Senior Staff Specialist in Bunbury ED with Western Australian Country Health Service (WACHS) and Academic Lead for the Regional Training Hubs program and Co-deputy director with the Rural Clinical School of WA (RCSWA). She has pursued interests in all aspects of medical education, mentoring and provision of high quality and high value care in Rural and Emergency Medicine while also enjoying rural life through hiking, surfing, eating, singing and yoga.
Mr Adam Tooby
Medical Student
Curtin University
Co-presenter
Biography
Adam Tooby is a third-year medical student at Curtin University, and a swim teacher! He has have participated in volunteer programs TLG and Fair Game, travelling out to rural communities and delivering some support for the kids and youth out there. From this he has grown a strong passion for rural health, in particular paediatrics, having been exposed to the great disparities in health outcomes, particularly easily preventable disease. Looking into the future, Adam hopes for some rural training pathways into paediatrics so that he can help address the gap in health care.
Dr Sue Velovski
Specialist General Surgeon
Northern Rivers Surgical Group
Co-presenter
Biography
Dr Sue Velovski is a Specialist General Surgeon working in the Northern Rivers of NSW. A staunch advocate for all rural doctors in her community and across Australia, Sue’s special interest is in surgical oncology. She is passionate about providing cancer patients the appropriate care for the stage of their disease and is an outspoken advocate for honest, evidence-based decision making in surgery and good ongoing care for patients. She also maintains trauma skills - a great benefit in rural areas. Sue is actively involved in surgery and surgical and non-technical skills education in Australia and overseas. Sue is the current Chair of RDAA’s Rural Specialist Group (RSG), a committee member of RDANSW and the 2022 co-Rural Doctor of the Year. In 2023, she was awarded a NSW Rural Scholarship in Leadership by NSW Health and Future Women, and a Supporting Women’s Health Award by the Resilience Together Association.
Dr Caroline Murphy
WA Country Health Service
Co-presenter
Biography
Dr Caroline Murphy works in Western Australia Country Health Service (WACHS) as the Director of the WA Intensive Care Training Pathway, guiding trainees on their journey to becoming Intensivists. She is an Intensivist and Supervisor of Training at SJOG Midland Hospital in Perth.
Dr Kalliste Black
Consultant Psychiatrist
Great Southern Mental Health Service
Co-presenter
Biography
Kalliste is a Consultant Psychiatrist with an Advanced Training Certificate in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Kalliste’s passion for rural Psychiatry has developed from participating in the rural stream during medical school, to Psychiatry training in rural WA and then working as a Consultant in both Great Southern and Midwest MHS. These experiences, and recognising the importance of high-quality training, have led to her involvement with RPTWA, now acting as the Assistant-DOT for Great Southern and Goldfields, as well as becoming a member of the committee for the RANZCP Section of Rural Psychiatry and Subcommittee for Advanced Training WA.
Dr Vinod Pushpalingam
Director of Rural Generalist Training
WA Country Health Service
Co-presenter
Biography
Dr Vinod (Vin) Pushpalingam is a rural generalist (FRACGP-RG and FACRRM) with advanced skills in anaesthesia and emergency medicine. He has delivered comprehensive care across Western Australia’s private practices, public hospitals, and Aboriginal Medical Services for more than 20 years. Currently, Vin practices at Busselton Health Campus and is the WACHS Director of Rural Generalist Training. Driven by a deep commitment to rural healthcare, Vin champions clear, accessible training pathways for aspiring rural doctors in Western Australia. He works with the Rural Generalist Pathway WA (RGPWA) team to mentor trainees and develop initiatives that will strengthen and sustain the rural medical workforce.
Dr Tim Ford
Director of Postgraduate Medical Education
Perth Children's Hospital
Co-presenter
Biography
Tim is a Paediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist and General Paediatrician working at Perth Children's Hospital (PCH). He is the Director of Postgraduate Medical Education at PCH, and a Senior Lecturer within the Discipline of Paediatrics at the University of Western Australia. Tim has previously worked in the Top End, in both Darwin and Arnhem Land, and is an alumnus of the Rural Clinical School of WA. He is currently the visiting Paediatrician to Wiluna.
Dr George Kavalam
Resident Medical Officer
North Metropolitan Health Service
Co-presenter
Biography
Dr George Kavalam, North Metropolitan Health Service WA is a post-graduate year 2 RMO, currently working at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. He completed all of his medical placements rurally, in Northam, Bunbury and Kalgoorlie. He was awarded the 2023 ACRRM Presidents Prize, and went on to complete his internship across Darwin, Nhulunbuy and Katherine in 2024.
