Celebrating rural GPs – One Hat at a Time
04 Dec 2025
At recent Fellowship ceremonies in South Australia and Queensland, the RACGP Rural Faculty presented Australian-made, wide-brim hats to new Advanced Rural General Practice and Rural Generalist (RG) Fellows. More than a keepsake, the hats were created to reflect life in rural Australia and to help new Fellows feel part of a close-knit professional community.
RACGP Rural Chair Associate Professor Michael Clements said the idea was born during the GP24 conference in Perth, when the faculty was exploring ways to better acknowledge doctors who complete additional rural training.
Seeing the iconic style of hat sparked inspiration. It represented rural life, work on the land, and the strong identity shared by doctors serving remote and regional communities.
The hats are offered to RG Fellows who attend their official Fellowship ceremonies and can even be worn on stage while receiving their award. According to Associate Professor Clements, the response at recent ceremonies was overwhelmingly positive, with many new Fellows proudly choosing to don their hats during the presentation.
For many, the hat became a visible marker of their rural identity and the extra training they undertook to support underserved communities. Its Australian-made design and practical use only added to its appeal.
Associate Professor Clements hopes the hat serves a dual purpose: something useful outdoors, and a lasting reminder of the commitment these doctors have made to rural healthcare.
He jokes that he now owns two—one for practical use in the bush and while flying to remote communities, and another reserved for formal occasions on stage.
The hats are gifted exclusively to FRACGP-RG and FARGP Fellows who attend their Fellowship ceremony. For others keen to embrace the look, similar rural wallaroo and jillaroo hats are also available for purchase through the RACGP shop.
In the end, the gesture is a simple one—but for rural GPs, it represents belonging, recognition, and pride in serving communities where they are needed most.
News Source: RACGP