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Support Scheme for Rural Specialists

The Support Scheme for Rural Specialists (SSRS) was inaugurated in July 2002 by the Federal Government to provide professional support for specialists living and practising in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia. Please visit www.ruralspecialist.org.au for further information.

The objectives of the SSRS are to:

1. Provide professional support to medical specialists practising in rural and remote areas of Australia, including through continuing professional development and peer support. 
2. Identify future training and capacity building practices for rural specialist services in rural and remote areas of Australia.

  The SSRS is a joint initiative of the Department of Health and Ageing and the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges, and involves 12 specialist Medical Colleges:

• Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA)
• The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM)
• The Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA)
• The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
• Australasian College of Dermatology (ACD)
• The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)
• The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO)
• The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA)
• The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)
• The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP)
• The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)
• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

In late 2005, the Department of Health and Ageing and the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges committed to continued funding for the SSRS, in order to ensure the ongoing availability of Continuing Professional Development activity for isolated procedural specialists.

The initial focus has been on on-site support for rural specialists, several series on clinical and practice management topics and supporting audit and peer review processes in rural and remote practices.

Since 2003 the College received funding from the Dept of Health and Ageing for each of the sixteen projects listed below. The four new Round 7 Projects will be implemented from Sept 3 2007 to Aug 29 2008. 

Round 8, 2009-10

Neurotrauma Workshops

This full day workshop is facilitated by two neurosurgeons and aims to equip rural surgeons and trainees with the skills to deal with acute neurotrauma cases that demand rapid surgically-applied relief of pressure on the brain. You will learn how to use equipment typically found in smaller rural hospitals, primarily the Hudson Brace. Case studies will be used to focus on the decision-making process that rural surgeons maybe faced with in trauma situations and the clinical procedures that can be performed with equipment on-hand. You will have the opportunity to practise these procedures on human cadaveric material.

Management of 'High Risk' Diabetic Foot

Project Overview

Want to be able to more effectively recognise, assess and treat diabetic patients with ‘high risk’ foot complications? Guided by experienced orthopaedic and vascular specialists, Management of 'High Risk' Diabetic Foot is a one day workshop that combines theoretical with practical clinical skill demonstrations. Rural case studies will be used to explore the effective management of ‘high risk’ diabetic foot including indications for surgical intervention. Associated topics, such as the promotion of healthy foot, identification of high risk clients, foot care education, prevention of foot pathology as well as prevention and reduction of amputations, will also be included. Three workshops will be offered in rural locations with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).
Proudly funded by Support Scheme for Rural Specialists (Dept. of Health and Ageing)

Emergency Management of Severe Burns

Project Overview

The Emergency Management of Severe Burns Course is facilitated by members of the Australian and New Zealand Burns Assoc. (ANZBA). You will learn how to recognise, assess, stabilise and transfer the severely burnt patient. Theoretical and practical clinical skill demonstrations will combine to enhance learning opportunities for rural medical specialists. Life-like case simulations using rural scenarios will then be used to consolidate and integrate the course material. Three workshops will be offered in rural locations. This project is in partnership with the Royal Australian College of Physicians (RACP) and Australian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM).

Australian Indigenous Health Program

Project Overview

The Australian Indigenous Health Program is an online program focusing on educating rural Fellows on the issues encountered when treating Indigenous patients. You will explore issues such as Indigenous patients taking their own leave from hospital and not showing up for appointments. Strategies for better communicating with Indigenous people will also be provided. The eight modules use reading material, case studies and a discussion forum to increase the interaction and support network of specialists who care for Indigenous people in rural and remote locations. This project is in partnership with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM).

Northern Australian Surgeons Network (NASN)

Project Overview

The Northern Australia Surgeons Network (NASN) is a network of general surgeons and trainees working across public and private practice in sites such as Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Mount Isa, Darwin, Alice Springs and Broome. This is a unique collegial experience for rural surgeons to develop educational activities and share collective wisdom. Monthly peer presentations are presented via videolink and include case discussions and literature reviews. Fellows and Trainees from public and private sectors are invited to address these challenging and topical issues in an informal, welcoming setting.

Rural Craft Group Audit

Project Overview

In some rural hospitals there may be little support for meaningful surgical audit and peer review. This project assists rural Fellows to collate audit data on five procedures; colorectal cancer, cholecystectomy, breast cancer, adult inguinal herniorraphy and thyriodectomy. Fellows who contribute data receive individualised feedback about their surgical outcomes compared to established benchmarks for rural surgeons.

Rural activities are proudly funded by Support Scheme for Rural Specialists (Dept. of Health and Ageing)

As the dates and locations of the Rural Professional Development workshops are yet to be confirmed, please register your interest in any of these activities by contacting the Professional Development Department on +61 3 9249 1106 or PDactivities@surgeons.org

** To view previous SSRS Activities click here.

This project is a joint initiative of the Committee of Presidents of Medical Colleges & Department of Health and Ageing and is funded by the Australian Government. Please note that the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons is solely responsible for the content of, and views expressed in any material associated with this project, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Commonwealth.