Push to fix rural doctor crisis

"Too many rural Australians are waiting too long for specialist care, or having to travel hundreds of kilometres to access it," said Associate Professor Sanjay Jeganathan, Chair of CPMC.

"We know that doctors who come from rural areas or have trained in rural settings are far more likely to return and practice in these communities."

Under the new framework, medical colleges will systematically recognise and reward rural experience when selecting new specialist trainees.

The initiative establishes standardised criteria recognising candidates who spent significant childhood years in rural areas, medical students who completed 12+ months of rural placements, and junior doctors who gained experience in rural hospitals