RACGP Moves Forward on Rural Generalist Fellowship Accreditation
27 Jan 2026
The application follows the recognition of rural generalism as a sub-specialty of general practice in September and seeks AMC accreditation for the RACGP’s Rural Generalist Fellowship training program.
RACGP Rural Chair Associate Professor Michael Clements described the development as the result of years of work. Speaking to newsGP, he said the college has been working closely with the AMC to demonstrate that the FRACGP–RG meets the newly recognised standards for rural generalism.
The submission outlines how the program aligns with AMC accreditation standards, which provide independent assurance of medical education quality. It also highlights the RACGP’s flexible, locally delivered and supportive approach to RG training.
The RG Fellowship was launched in 2022 after sustained advocacy by the RACGP and a joint application with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) to formally recognise rural generalism within general practice. The program replaced the Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (FARGP).
Designed to support rural and remote communities, the RG Fellowship includes enhanced emergency medicine training, a dedicated emergency medicine curriculum, and updated additional rural skills training across disciplines. GPs who currently hold FARGP are able to apply for recognition of prior learning to obtain FRACGP–RG.
Associate Professor Clements said the accreditation process involves several stages, including recognition of the training pathway and pathways for existing Fellows to be listed on the specialist register.
Formal recognition last year confirmed rural generalism as a specialist field of general practice under national law, allowing doctors with an approved RG Fellowship to apply for specialist registration.
The RACGP is continuing to work alongside ACRRM, with both colleges submitting independent accreditation applications while collaborating on the future development and recognition of rural generalist skills.
The AMC will now assess the RACGP’s submission, with a further update expected by mid-2026. Current training, enrolment and Fellowship arrangements remain unchanged during the process.
Further details on the RG Fellowship are available on the RACGP website.
(Source: newsGP)