STEPPING IN AND STEPPING UP EXPANSION OF SPECIALIST TRAINING IN REGIONAL, RURAL, AND REMOTE AREAS Coordinated effort across all medical colleges to address critical shortage of specialists outside major cities
With
Associate Professor Sanjay Jeganathan, Chair
Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC)
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH JOURNAL SEGMENT
Filmed online | April 2025
Australia’s medical colleges are increasing their commitment to regional healthcare by expanding specialist training in regional, rural, and remote areas.
The Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) is Australia’s peak body representing specialist medical colleges.
Associate Professor Sanjay Jeganathan, Chair of the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) states, ”Our rural and regional communities deserve the same access to specialist care as our cities. We’re seeing real results from our colleges’ commitment to rural training.”
A/Prof Jeganathan spoke to Australian Health Journal about progress by Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA).
This expansion reflects a coordinated effort across all medical colleges to address the critical shortage of specialists outside major cities.
The expansion comes as projections show Australia could face a shortage of 5,000 doctors by 2030. While overseas-trained specialists help fill immediate gaps, medical colleges are prioritising sustainable solutions through local training programs.
“We’re building lasting change by training specialists who understand regional communities and are more likely to stay long-term,” said A/Prof Jeganathan.
Source: Written by AUDIENCED from CPMC media release (February 2025)
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Harnessing the skillset and availability of the nation’s Exercise Physiologists and Scientists
Katie Lyndon MBA, BAppSci, ESSAF, FACHSM, CHE, AEP, AES, GAICD, CHIA, is an allied health professional and executive leader with nearly two decades of experience spanning executive leadership, delivery of strategic programs across the health system and clinical care.
As CEO of Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA), Katie brings a unique blend of frontline experience and strategic vision to advance the profession and advocate for evidence-based exercise in preventive health and chronic disease management. Her long-standing commitment to ESSA includes serving as Board Vice President, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Standards Council member and ESSA Fellow.
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Keeping elderly out of hospital
Pioneer in health care, Geriatrician Professor Susan Kurrle, Curran Professor in Health Care of Older People at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney AO spoke after receiving the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association 2022 Sidney Sax medal award.
The Sidney Sax medal is awarded for outstanding contributions to the development and improvement of Australia’s healthcare system.
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Significant funding announced for NSW biomedical researchers
The Snow Medical Research Foundation (Snow Medical) has announced a new $24 million investment in three outstanding Australian biomedical researchers through its prestigious Snow Fellowships.
These Fellows will tackle major global health challenges spanning autoimmune disease, neurological disorders, and genetic disease. Their work addresses conditions that disproportionately affect vulnerable and underserved populations, including First Nations communities, while advancing precision medicine and translational care. Collectively, their research aims to deliver safer vaccines, better diagnostics, and more equitable genomic and neurological healthcare.
