Rural Health
RANZCOG leads Commonwealth Government funded programs that support rural, regional and remote training and skills maintenance opportunities. The programs also support rural, regional, remote and private services. Contact Us
Rural Health initiatives
Obstetrics and Gynaecology Education and Training (OGET) Project
RANZCOG has been successful in obtaining funding from the Australian government to develop and deliver the OGET project in Australia. The OGET project helps train and maintain the skills of multi-disciplinary rural and remote health professionals with confirmed funding from February 2025 to February 2026.
The OGET project addresses the essential need for equitable delivery of health services in Australia. Data collected highlights a significant maldistribution of the workforce with a shortage of maternity and maternity-related services in country towns, and a need for upskilling and training opportunities in rural, regional, and remote areas.
The OGET project helps train and maintain the skills of multi-disciplinary rural and remote health professionals with confirmed funding from February 2025 to February 2026.
Rural Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialist Advanced Training Pathway
The FATES-funded Rural Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialist Advanced Training Pathway is designed to encourage and support trainees to undertake their advanced training in rural, regional, and remote (RRR) locations, with the long-term goal of retaining these specialists in RRR areas as consultants.
The funding supported both the development of a dedicated curriculum and financial incentives of $100,000 per trainee for four trainees. The first two trainees commenced at rural sites in 2025. Funding time has been extended to support two trainee placements in 2026. While only four financial incentive packages were originally available, demand for the program has been significant, highlighting the need for additional funding to expand this significant initiative.
Specialist Training Program (STP)
The Commonwealth Government funded STP maintains a focus on supporting rural and private health settings. This support benefits O&G Specialist Training Placement and Support posts, Integrated Rural Training Pipeline posts, Tasmanian training posts and Tasmanian Project supervisory positions.
O&G Map
RANZCOG developed the O&G Map with funding from the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care as a tool for exploring O&G health services.
General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program (GPPTSP)
The College ensures that rural GPs have access to grants to gain procedural skills in obstetrics.
This support contributes to the program’s aim of improving maternity services across rural and remote Australian.
Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Health Strategy
The aim is to provide a framework that will inform specific and measurable strategic priority areas that RANZCOG will implement to help address the health inequalities that rural, regional and remote women face when accessing women’s health services.
Rural Health news
OGET Far North Queensland Delivers High-Impact Obstetric Training in Torres Strait
Far North Queensland OGET Hub has made a powerful entrance, delivering a dynamic week of hands-on training, clinical discussion, and engagement.
RANZCOG Welcomes the Beasley Report
The College welcomes the release of the Report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding.
Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Health Strategy
The College has launched its Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Health Strategy at the RANZCOG 2024 Regional Symposium