Rural Doctors' Association of NSW

11/03/2026

Ever wondered who is representing rural doctors in NSW on the RDA NSW Committee?

Over the coming weeks we will be introducing each of the 2025/2026 NSW Committee members.

🌟 This week, it is time to meet: Dr Rachel Christmas, RDA NSW President, one of our long-standing champions of rural healthcare!

👩‍⚕️ How long have you been in the role?
This is my 3rd year as president but I have been part of the committee since joining up with RDA in 2015, including as VP for a few years prior to becoming president.

🏥 Where do you work?
I’m a GP VMO Obstetrician working across the Temora Medical Complex, Temora Hospital, and the Temora Nursing Home.

🩺 Why did you join RDA NSW?
I’ve been a member since 2015, but I got actively involved in 2017 when Temora’s operative obstetric services were on the brink of closure. I reached out to RDA NSW for support, and together—with fast action and some high-level conversations—we were able to reverse the decision. Because of that collaboration, babies are still being safely delivered in Temora today. If we hadn’t raised the alarm when we did, the outcome would have been very different.

🏆 Highlights in the role?
Securing fairer remuneration for VMOs (including long-fought-for new item numbers!) and helping doctors get backpayment for item numbers that were unfairly rejected. I also love meeting others who are just as passionate about ensuring rural communities have access to high-quality care close to home.

🚴‍♀️ What do you do when you’re not working?
I like to stay active—jogging and cycling are my go-tos. I also enjoy cooking, gardening, travelling, and playing the trombone, although I have to say that the trombone has become more decorative of late.

🌍 Favourite place you’ve visited?
My happy place in Australia is Mount Buffalo and Porepunkah/Bright region (lots of great things to do there). I have had some lovely holidays overseas and loved Provence in France and also Japan. Nepal provided opportunity for a challenging and awe-inspiring hike which involved some pretty hairy 4WD trips!

🍜 Favourite food?
What is not to like?! I love trying new food and find it really hard to choose a favourite type.... a good cheese, a perfect peach, a rich chocolate gelato, a good old fashioned sponge cake with fresh cream....

🤔 If you weren’t a doctor, you’d be…
I'd probably get into architecture or urban design. We all thrive in the right environment!

Keep an eye out to find out more about the rest of the RDA NSW Committee members!

08/03/2026

At Rural Practice Owners Conference - celebrating the amazing female leaders in rural medicine RDAA President Dr Sarah Chalmers and RDANSW President Dr Rachel Christmas.

04/03/2026

🤝Rural GP Connect event- next Thursday, 12 March 2026, 5:30pm in Wagga Wagga.

RACGP, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network invite GPs, RGs, Registrars, Supervisors, JMOs and med students in the Murrumbidgee area to this relaxed networking event to foster connections within the GP community.

👇Check out the flyer below and register to attend today!

Riverina Regional Training Hub University of Notre Dame UNSW Rural Clinical Campuses Regional Training Hub Rural Health Pro

25/02/2026

Interested in a career in rural or regional medicine?

Come along to the Charles Sturt University online medicine information night and discover everything you need to know about their Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine)/Doctor of Medicine.

• Learn about the five-year combined undergraduate and postgraduate medicine degree.
• Get clarity on entry requirements and how to apply.
• Discover how you’ll gain practical experience in your field from day one.
• Find out about campus life in Orange, facilities, rural clinical schools, scholarships and more.

You’ll meet the team, hear from current students about their experiences studying medicine and have all your questions answered.

Whether you’re in high school, looking for a career change or ready to take the next step in your health career, this information night is for you.

📆 Wednesday, 1 April 2026, 6.00–7.30pm via Zoom
👉 Register now at study.csu.edu.au/med-info-night


Charles Sturt University TEQSA PRV12018 (Australian University) CRICOS 00005F

23/02/2026

📢 Closing this week- Applications for the Dr Andrew Egan Rural Medical Scholarship 2026

If you are a 2nd year medical student from rural NSW, check out the T&Cs to see if you are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

👇More details below....

The Dr Andrew Egan Rural Medical Scholarship was established in 2021 with the Egan family to honour the memory of Dr Andrew Egan — a dedicated procedural GP VMO in Cooma for over 30 years, former President of the Rural Doctors’ Association NSW (RDA NSW), and a highly respected colleague, friend, father, and husband to Anne.

Who can apply?
Medical students from rural NSW, including those who have relocated from rural NSW to a metro area in NSW or the ACT to study, who are entering their 2nd year of medical school in 2026.
The scholarship will be awarded to two students.

💰 Scholarship details
- $7,500 (inc. GST) per recipient
- Paid in two instalments
- Designed to assist with the costs of living away from home to study
- Includes ongoing advice and support throughout your degree from experienced rural doctors in NSW

⏰ Applications close:
5:00pm, Friday 27 February 2026

👉Find out more & apply:
Visit: www.rdansw.com.au
Call: 1800 350 732
Email: admin@rdansw.com.au

Please refer to the RDA NSW website for full Terms and Conditions.

23/02/2026

🤩Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Rural GPs Refresher Conference next month! Just over 4 weeks away!

⏰️Don't miss on attending this conference in beautiful Port Macquarie.

🌞A great opportunity to earn CPD points, network and also squeeze in some time to relax! ⛱️🌊

Registrations are now open for the 2026 Rural GPs Refresher Conference! 👉 https://loom.ly/nHIfzRs

📆 27–29 March
📍 Rydges, Port Macquarie

The Rural GPs Refresher Conference offers a tailored mix of clinical and non-clinical sessions, hands-on workshops, and an engaging expo, designed specifically for rural GPs.

The conference will be CPD/PDP-accredited with The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and also includes a vibrant social program, featuring a Welcome Event and Conference Dinner.

Optional pre-conference Advanced Life Support workshops (ALS 1 and ALS 2), an ADHD Masterclass and New GP Orientation workshops allow delegates to make the most of their time away from the office.

Register now!

Rural Health Pro Rural Doctors' Association of NSW Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network Western NSW PHN Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network COORDINARE

13/02/2026

04/02/2026

Applications for RDN’s first student road trip for 2026 are NOW OPEN 👉 Click here to read more and apply: https://www.ruraldoctors.org/gorural

From 5-8 March, Go Rural will be taking students on a tour through the beautiful Western Plains region of NSW, visiting the towns of , , , , , , and 🚌

This trip is open to first- and second-year students, and ANY YEAR , , and students.

With a PACKED itinerary featuring inspiring speakers, amazing facilities and plenty of opportunities to connect with local communities and potential future colleagues, this is a trip not to be missed! 🤠

Go Rural is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and administered by RDN.

04/02/2026

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Port Macquarie next month! 😊

Registrations are now open for the 2026 Rural GPs Refresher Conference! 👉 https://loom.ly/nHIfzRs

📆27–29 March
📍Rydges, Port Macquarie

The Rural GPs Refresher Conference offers a tailored mix of clinical and non-clinical sessions, hands-on workshops, and an engaging expo, designed specifically for rural GPs.

The conference will be CPD/PDP-accredited with Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and also includes a vibrant social program, featuring a Welcome Event and Conference Dinner.

Optional pre-conference Advanced Life Support workshops (ALS 1 and ALS 2), an ADHD Masterclass and New GP Orientation workshops allow delegates to make the most of their time away from the office.

Register now!

Rural Health Pro

28/01/2026

Are you a rural generalist or did you train as one in NSW?

NSW Health invites you to take part in a short online survey to understand the attractions and barriers to rural generalists working in NSW, and what strategies can help.

Who can take part?
• Rural generalist trainees in NSW.
• Those who participated in rural generalist training in NSW (whether you completed training or not).
• Rural generalists currently working or who previously worked in NSW.

The survey takes 10-20 minutes, can be completed anonymously, and includes an option to indicate interest in a follow up interview to share your experiences in more detail.

Your input will directly inform potential recommendations for better supporting rural generalists and rural communities.

➡️ Click here to start the online survey and for further information https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=v6eHptsC30O8u-eovaYRovuP8JnjPnhKmTj5t6Rg1stUQ0FRMEVXT1NKTDRUMlE0VDM4QVNVMzVZMC4u&route=shorturl

❓Any questions? Contact MOH-RGresearch@health.nsw.gov.au

22/01/2026

📢 Applications Now Open – Dr Andrew Egan Rural Medical Scholarship 2026

The Dr Andrew Egan Rural Medical Scholarship was established in 2021 with the Egan family to honour the memory of Dr Andrew Egan — a dedicated procedural GP VMO in Cooma for over 30 years, former President of the Rural Doctors’ Association NSW (RDA NSW), and a highly respected colleague, friend, father, and husband to Anne.

Who can apply?
Medical students from rural NSW, including those who have relocated from rural NSW to a metro area in NSW or the ACT to study, who are entering their 2nd year of medical school in 2026.
The scholarship will be awarded to two students.

💰 Scholarship details
- $7,500 (inc. GST) per recipient
- Paid in two instalments
- Designed to assist with the costs of living away from home to study
- Includes ongoing advice and support throughout your degree from experienced rural doctors in NSW

⏰ Applications close:
5:00pm, Friday 27 February 2026

👉Find out more & apply:
Visit: www.rdansw.com.au
Call: 1800 350 732
Email: admin@rdansw.com.au

Please refer to the RDA NSW website for full Terms and Conditions.

05/01/2026

“Grab the opportunity.”

That is Professor Jane Bleasel's message to clinicians considering Outreach work.

Professor Bleasel had been working as Head of the Department of Rheumatology at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney when she first saw there was a need for specialist rheumatology services in .

“That piqued my interest,” Professor Bleasel said. “It just seemed like an incredible opportunity to do something different.”

A distinguished rheumatologist and educator, Professor Bleasel is now Head of School and Dean of Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney, and a long-serving Outreach provider delivering specialist care to rural and Aboriginal communities for the past 25 years.

"I worked in a hospital for many years. I added [Outreach work] on to my hospital work and then it replaced my hospital work because of how rewarding it is," she said.

🗞️Read more about Professor Bleasel's incredible work at RDN: https://loom.ly/3z3_I4k

Photo courtesy: The University of Newcastle, Australia