Queensland Hosts Milestone Event for Rural Generalists
03 Oct 2025
Rural Generalists (RGs) and leaders gathered in Queensland this week to mark the 20th anniversary of the Roma Agreement, which laid the foundation for the rural generalist movement in Australia. The Queensland Rural Generalist 20-Year Forum was held in Roma, known as the ‘spiritual home of rural generalism’ and the birthplace of the landmark agreement that shaped the growth of RG medicine nationally.
The two-day event was co-hosted by producer and broadcaster Dr Norman Swan, who also attended the original Roma Agreement meeting in 2005 and its 10-year review in 2015.
Associate Professor Michael Clements, RACGP Rural Chair, said the forum reflected on two decades of progress while exploring ways to strengthen the profession in the future.
“It’s the 20-year anniversary of the Roma Agreement, which was held here by a small group of doctors aiming to reverse the decline of rural hospital and community GP services in Queensland,” he said.
“From that meeting, they developed an action plan to encourage government investment and build pathways for rural generalist training. Now, 20 years on, we have a larger audience, more stakeholders, and a national focus on the next phase of advocacy.”
Queensland was the first state to adopt rural generalism, and Associate Professor Clements said it was fitting to hold the forum there following the recent recognition of Rural Generalist medicine as a medical specialty.
The forum highlighted several key areas for the future, including supporting the wellbeing of RGs, addressing fatigue and mental health risks, and providing better support for international medical graduates (IMGs) entering rural medicine.
“Many of our rural doctors are at risk of burnout due to the demands of their work, so supporting their mental health and wellness is crucial,” Associate Professor Clements said.
The forum also discussed challenges around supervision, noting that many experienced RG supervisors are nearing retirement, which could limit training opportunities for new doctors.
The event concluded with the presentation of a draft Roma Rural Generalist Charter, setting a framework for the next phase of rural generalist development in Australia.
Source: newsGP
