Achievements

The association has been very active in the past 12 months and has accomplished much for rural doctors. Outlined some of the many activities that the Committee of Management and representatives have been undertaking, and the many achievements the association has been making, on members behalf.

1. Rural Doctors Reference Group

RDASA representatives, Peter Rischbieth, Peter Joyner and Chairman of the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency, Richard McKinnon, have continued to provide valued input to this important group to improve working conditions for ruraldoctors. Some of the outcomes of this groups work include:

• supports for locums
• increasing CME allowances
• introducing measures for international medical graduates
• undertaking a major review of the SAMSOF process ready for release later this year
• increases in oncall payments for doctors providing emergency medicine, obstetric and anaesthetic services in hospitals in rural South Australia.
• RDASA members have also provided input with regards to clarification of the SAMSOF emergency item numbers, and has given advice to this group into new definitions and the structure of funding for those doctors providing services to inpatients in country hospitals.
• RDASA looks forward to working with the 5 practicing rural doctors who have been appointed as the Chief Consultants in Anaesthetics, Surgery, Obstetrics, Quality and Safety and Accident & Emergency.
• RDASA welcomes the formation of the Rural Specialists Group to assist Specialists working in rural SA in providing essential services for rural patients.

2. Workforce

RDASA representatives have participated in many critical workforce forums with the South Australian Government and its Workforce Planning Group as well as with the AMA. It has also held numerous high-level discussions with the executives of SA Country Health and the SA Minister of Health, John Hill MP regarding the crucial need for ongoing supports for rural doctors.

RDASA representatives have actively lobbied at a number of levels, including in representations to the Federal Minister of Health, Tony Abbott MP, regarding recognition of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine as a specialty College. RDASA has also supported the case for ACRRM’s recognition through media releases and the distribution of information to medical students and registrars.

RDASA supports a rural register allowing country doctors access to Medicare rebates after a rural based training pathway.  The FACRRM is the academic qualifications that allows patients and government to be assured that the doctors with this training will have the necessary knowledge and skills to practise safely in rural and remote Australia. RDASA has strongly lobbied the AMA to reconsider its negative stance regarding ACRRM’s application to the Australian Medical Council.

The association was also active at the South Australian Government/AMA Workforce Expo held in May 2006.

3. Medical Student Issues

RDASA has been very active with Medical Student issues with the following outcomes:

• lobbied strongly in the media and with written and personal representations to the Premier of SA and the Minister of Health to increase medical student numbers and the number of rural-origin students entering our medical schools.
• entered into discussions with the Dean of Adelaide University in regards to increasing the quota of rural medical students at the University, and has also made representations to Flinders University regarding its medical student intake.
• lobbied the Federal Minister of Education with regards to increasing the number of medical students in South Australia’s universities.
• increased its medical student members considerably in the past six months, and has been looking to engage more registrars and international medical graduates to join in the organisation’s work.
• representatives have participated in seminars to both the Flinders University and Adelaide University Rural Health Clubs and participated in training weekends for students at Quorn and the lower Flinders Ranges.
• representatives have been active on the selection panel for John Flynn Scholarships for medical students wishing to undertake these valuable scholarships in rural and remote Australia.

4. Financial Support for Doctors without State Government Hospitals

RDASA has lobbied actively for better supports for doctors providing essential medical services in rural communities that do not have a public hospital, and has urged that these doctors should be recognised for the important work they do and be included in the new after-hours SAMSOF award.

5. Rural Doctors Workforce Agency

A number of rural doctor representatives are active on the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency. RDASA continues to have a strong relationship with the Agency and plans to again hold its annual combined conference with the Agency on 5th and 6th November 2006.  At last years conference over 80 doctors and their families attended the 2 day program discussing many of the common issues facing rural doctors and their families.