Express Interest

The Rural Generalist Consolidation (RGC) program enables rural medical practitioners who have completed procedural advanced skills training with opportunities to maintain, refresh or update their advanced skills to transition to becoming independent Rural Generalists. This program was previously known as Consolidation of Skills (CoS).

In recognition of the important role of Rural Generalists to Victoria’s public health system, the Victorian Department of Health funds the RGC program to contribute to development and retention of an adequately skilled Rural Generalist workforce in rural and regional Victoria.

Rural health services and rural General Practices are provided funding to be allocated towards salary support and resource needs for prospective medical practitioners to consolidate their advanced skills. This includes supervised practice in advanced skills in procedural disciplines (such as Anaesthetics, Obstetrics and Emergency Medicine) and non-procedural disciplines such as Mental Health, Adult Internal Medicine and Palliative Care. Allocation will be based on identified need for advanced skills in rural health services.

Eligibility

All trainees who have successfully completed an RGA are eligible to apply for a RGC-funded position. Regional Coordinators, Clinical Leads and GP College can assist in identifying RGC training opportunities.

Requirements

RGC applicants will be required to identify the broad training and support that they will require to develop independent practice in their advanced skill and how the RGC funding will be used to provide this support. This includes identifying the community in which the applicant intends to practice their skill (primary location).

It is anticipated that the majority of support needed for the applicant will be learning to use their skill independently in the small health service context (primary location) and, therefore, the distribution of funds should reflect this. Where further training or skill development is not able to be obtained in the smaller health service, then it is appropriate for trainees to return to their initial site of training or regional health service for ongoing training (secondary location).

Fellowed GPs and RGs

Support is available for rural and regional health services and General Practices to provide opportunities for Victorian Fellowed GPs and Rural Generalists who have undertaken (or are near completion) of advanced skills training and are looking to consolidate their skills with the intention to:

  • Meet an identified community and workforce need (details specified upon application)
  • Provide quality care and safe practice
  • Support succession planning; and
  • Maintain advanced skills

Applications

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VRGP Pathway