Rural Doctors Association Australia

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Rural Doctors Association Australia RDAA supports rural doctors and promotes improved health services in rural communities through advocacy, policy development, and information dissemination.

RDAA is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Digby Hoyal on 23 September, aged 86.A rural doctor, missionary and past Pr...
02/10/2026

RDAA is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Digby Hoyal on 23 September, aged 86.

A rural doctor, missionary and past President of both RDAQ and RDAA, Digby helped lay the foundations of the rural doctors’ movement. His dedication extended to the essential work behind the scenes, helping establish the organisations that continue to represent rural doctors and their communities today.

Digby cared for communities in Cloncurry and Malanda before spending three years running a small hospital in Nepal. He and his wife Anne later established a charity supporting healthcare and children’s wellbeing in Nepal.

Anne was also central to Digby’s service to rural medicine, supporting his work and helping establish the Queensland Rural Medical Families Network alongside other rural medical spouses.

Many will remember Digby and Anne’s continued presence at RDAQ conferences, offering pastoral care, friendship and an enthusiastic presence on the dance floor.

Our heartfelt condolences go to Anne, their family and all who knew and loved Digby. His legacy lives on in the communities he served and the rural doctors’ movement he helped build.

Digby’s funeral will be held in Atherton this coming Friday, 9 October.

Please see the accompanying notice for details.

Digby's service will also be available to view via the following link:
https://rapidspintv.com.au/funerals/guilfoyles-funeral-home

Huge congratulations to Dr Dan Manahan, the recipient of this year's ACRRM-RDAA Peter Graham 'Cohuna' Award! 🤩In a wide-...
01/10/2026

Huge congratulations to Dr Dan Manahan, the recipient of this year's ACRRM-RDAA Peter Graham 'Cohuna' Award! 🤩

In a wide-ranging rural medical career, Dan has:

➡ served the Queensland community of Stanthorpe (and wider Darling Downs region) as an enormously dedicated Rural Generalist for more than 30 years

➡ trained and supervised countless medical students and junior doctors

➡ held senior clinical leadership roles within Darling Downs Health

➡ made a significant contribution to the work of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), other medical colleges and university medical schools

➡ served as Foundational Medical Advisor for the Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway

➡ greatly contributed to the provision of medical training in the Pacific Islands through the Rocket+Ship not-for-profit.

Plus much more!

Together with ACRRM, we were honoured to hand Dan his Award at a dinner in Brisbane this week - with his family in attendance - as he is unable to attend this year's Rural Medicine Australia - RMA conference to receive it there.

Congratulations from us all Dan on this highly deserved recognition! 👏

Read all about Dan in our joint media release:
www.rdaa.com.au/Aus/News/2026-Articles/Exceptional-rural-doctor-recognised-for-huge-impact-on-healthcare--both-at-home-and-in-the-Pacific.aspx

Rural Doctors Association of Queensland - RDAQ Darling Downs & West Moreton PHN Queensland Health RACGP UQ Rural Clinical School JCU: College of Medicine and Dentistry Griffith University

Leaving a lasting legacy beyond RMA26 🌿RMA26 is proud to partner with the Adelaide Convention Centre to support Backpack...
30/09/2026

Leaving a lasting legacy beyond RMA26 🌿

RMA26 is proud to partner with the Adelaide Convention Centre to support Backpacks 4 SA Kids, providing resources that support the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people experiencing displacement from home and routine care.

At the conclusion of RMA26, excess items such as stationery will be collected from exhibitors and donated to Backpacks 4 SA Kids, giving useful materials a second life, supporting children and young people in South Australia and helping divert stock from landfill. 💚

Prof Jill Klein kicks off our second morning at NT Rural & Remote Medical Conference 2026. If you’re a medical student, ...
27/09/2026

Prof Jill Klein kicks off our second morning at NT Rural & Remote Medical Conference 2026. If you’re a medical student, jnr doctor, registrar or supervisor, if you get the opportunity to hear Jill talk in the future - do it!!!!

We started yesterday at NT Rural & Remote Medical Conference with Dr Angus Baumann, cardiologist from Alice Springs goin...
27/09/2026

We started yesterday at NT Rural & Remote Medical Conference with Dr Angus Baumann, cardiologist from Alice Springs going thru his Lessons Learnt - all physicians would benefit from hearing this perspective. Dr Baumann with RDAA President Prof Sarah Chalmers

It’s time for rural Australians to talk about dementia.If you have noticed changes in your own memory, thinking or behav...
22/09/2026

It’s time for rural Australians to talk about dementia.

If you have noticed changes in your own memory, thinking or behaviour, or in someone close to you, starting a conversation can be the first step towards getting answers and support.

RDAA President Professor Sarah Chalmers said rural GPs are an important first point of contact.

“They know you, your health history and often your family and community. They can assess what is happening, investigate other possible causes and help coordinate referrals and ongoing care.”

This Dementia Action Week, let’s make it easier to speak openly about dementia. Nobody should have to face it alone.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4yUVmYa

For information and support, call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm.

Shout out to doctors in the NT - 1 week to go. Register and join us for a great weekend of clinical updates, supervisio...
18/09/2026

Shout out to doctors in the NT - 1 week to go. Register and join us for a great weekend of clinical updates, supervision skill development, training advice, networking with friends & colleagues https://bit.ly/NTRRMC26
Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) RACGP Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Northern Territory PHN

Thursday 17 September is World Patient Safety Day!Staying actively involved in your care, sharing concerns about your he...
16/09/2026

Thursday 17 September is World Patient Safety Day!

Staying actively involved in your care, sharing concerns about your health or care with your healthcare team, and letting them know when something doesn’t seem right can make a huge difference in your care journey and health outcomes. Open communication between all members of the healthcare team is just as crucial.

Truly connected care also critically relies on having a seamless national digital health network to enable patient health data to be shared in real time between hospitals, general practices and other health settings. We urge the federal and state governments to give the implementation of a national digital health system a much higher place on the ‘to do’ list of health reform.

Read our media release:
https://www.rdaa.com.au/Aus/News/2026-Articles/Let-s-talk--Open--and-connected--communication-builds-great-healthcare.aspx

World Health Organization (WHO)

“Recognition alone won’t put another doctor in a rural hospital, keep a maternity service open or make it easier for a r...
16/09/2026

“Recognition alone won’t put another doctor in a rural hospital, keep a maternity service open or make it easier for a rural patient to get the care they need close to home.”

Rural Generalist Medicine has entered a new era, with eligible Rural Generalists now able to apply for specialist registration for the first time.

But what comes next?

At , the future of the Rural Generalist workforce will be firmly on the agenda, including how we attract more doctors to rural medicine, train and support them to work to their full scope, and build rewarding careers that keep them in rural and remote communities.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4dyWyI7

Only 2 weeks until kick off our 2nd NT Rural & Remote Medical Conference in Alice Springs 25-27 Sept 2026, starting with...
11/09/2026

Only 2 weeks until kick off our 2nd NT Rural & Remote Medical Conference in Alice Springs 25-27 Sept 2026, starting with Welcome Reception, then 2 days of clinical & policy updates, networking with colleagues & leaders in rural medicine plus an amazing cultural experience dinner evening of 26/9. Join Us - register now https://bit.ly/NTRRMC26

Thank you to our event partners:
Gold Partner: Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) & Networking breakfast Sunday 27 September 2026
Welcome Reception Partner: RACGP
Student & Junior Doctor Partner: NT Rural Generalist Pathway
Plenary Partner: Northern Territory PHN
Cultural Experience Dinner: Joint College Training Services (JCTS)

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PO Box 3636
Canberra, ACT
2603

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