6.7 Training general specialists rurally: what works
Tracks
Botanical 3 room
| Thursday, October 23, 2025 |
| 2:20 PM - 2:50 PM |
| Botanical 3 room |
Details
Format: Panel discussion (60-minute)
Speaker
Dr Mathew Coleman
Great Southern Specialist Center
Training general specialists rurally: what works
2:20 PM - 3:25 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
Assoc Prof Mat Coleman is a rural psychiatrist with qualifications in addiction psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry. He is the clinical director of the Midwest Mental Health and Community Alcohol and Drug Service, and is a clinical academic in rural and remote mental health practice with the Rural Clinical School of WA. He chairs the Section of Rural Psychiatry for the RANZCP and sits on the boards of North Metropolitan Health Service and Rural Health West. He is also the Co-Chair for the National Medical Workforce Alliance Collaborative. He farmed sheep in the Porongurup for 10 years and learnt that he is much better off now farming trees.
Adam Tooby
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 Bronwyn Peirce
Associate Professor
UWA
Co-presenter
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.
Caroline Murphy
Western Australia Country Health Service (WACHS)
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.
Steven Blefari
Rural Psychiatry Training WA
Co-presenter
Biography
Dr Steven Blefari is a Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the leading founder of Rural Psychiatry Training WA (RPTWA) for Western Australia Country Health Services (WACHS), located in the South West.
Steve completed his Fellowship in NSW and commenced working as a CAMHS Consultant with WACHS in 2020. Having a strong passion for enabling junior doctors to train in a rural setting, Steve led the establishment of RPTWA as RANZCPs first dedicated rural psychiatry training program. As the RPTWA DOT, Steve provides support and guidance to trainees, supervisors, and Assistant DOTs to ensure the program continues to attract, train, and retain psychiatrists in country WA. Steve is a member of the WA Branch Training Committee and is involved in a number of RANZCP committees and working groups.
Vinod Pushpalingam
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 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 Kristen Lindsay
Deputy Chair
RACP Advanced Training Committee
Co-presenter
Biography
Dr Kristen Lindsay is a Consultant Paediatrician and mum in the Kimberley Region of WA. She is the Deputy Chair of the RACP Advanced Training Committee for General Paediatrics and continues to play an integral role in the development of the new curriculum. She is also currently working on her thesis for her Master of Health Professions Education through UWA which is exploring the learning experience of paediatric trainees during their required rural rotation in General Paediatrics.
Lee Fairhead
Co-presenter
Biography
Dr Lee Fairhead MBBS (Hons) BA DCH DTMH MPHTM FRACP, is a dual-trained specialist physician in Infectious Diseases and General and Acute Care Medicine, and a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP). She is deeply committed to advancing medical education and improving healthcare access in rural and remote communities across Australia. Dr Fairhead is an Infectious Diseases Consultant and outgoing Network Director of Physician Education for the WA Rural Physician Training Pathway, hosted by the WA Country Health Service. She brings a wealth of clinical expertise and educational leadership to her roles, with a focus on developing sustainable training models that support and strengthen the rural medical workforce.
