The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) celebrated the induction of 13 new Fellows as specialist General Practitioners (GPs) during a ceremony held in Darwin on March 15, 2024. Among these new Fellows, two received additional recognition as Rural Generalists, while four existing Fellows also obtained their Rural Generalist qualifications, acknowledging their extensive training in essential areas of primary care.
Fellowship with the RACGP (FRACGP) signifies a GP’s achievement following approximately 11 years of rigorous education, training, and experience in primary care. Rural Generalists, or RGs, have undergone an additional year of training in emergency medicine and other critical disciplines like child health, mental health, surgery, and obstetrics. They play a vital role in providing essential healthcare services to remote communities, where access to specialists is often limited.
Highlighting the Need for More GPs
During the ceremony, RACGP Vice President Dr Ramya Raman emphasized the increasing demand for GPs in the Northern Territory. She stated, “General practice is the solution to our health system’s challenges, and we will continue to advocate for the profession at every level of government.” Dr Raman expressed gratitude to key officials, including the Honourable Steven Edgington, Northern Territory Minister for Health, and the Honourable Chansey Paech, member for Gwoja, for their support in nurturing the next generation of GPs.
RACGP NT Deputy Chair Professor Neil Spike AM officiated the ceremony, highlighting the significance of achieving Fellowship. He remarked, “This is an outstanding achievement and the result of years of constant effort, long hours of study, and extensive patient care leading to admission to the specialty of general practice.” Professor Spike noted that these new GPs will enhance health outcomes in regions like Darwin and Alice Springs, where specialist services are scarce.
A Night of Recognition and Accomplishment
The evening also featured the presentation of the RACGP NT Awards, with winners identified as finalists for the national awards. Dr Simone Raye was honored as NT GP of the Year, Dr Laura Wood received the GP Supervisor of the Year award, and Dr Arullan Naidoo was named GP in Training of the Year.
A particularly proud moment for the Mala’la Aboriginal Health Corporation came when their Manayingkarirra Primary Healthcare Service in Maningrida was recognized as NT General Practice of the Year. In addition, Professor Spike presented awards for outstanding exam performances, recognizing Dr Tammy McKeith as the top candidate in both the Applied Knowledge Test and Clinical Competency Exam, and Dr Kuang Myat Thu for excelling in the Key Feature Problem exam. The NT Faculty’s Outstanding New Fellow Award, which considers both exam performance and contributions to the community, was awarded to Dr Asim Razi.
The ceremony also acknowledged the dedication of long-serving members. Dr Justine Mayer was named one of the NT Faculty’s newest Life Members, receiving a framed certificate and a lifetime RACGP membership for more than 35 consecutive years of service. A second Life Member, Dr Jennifer Davis, will be recognized at a future event.
In her closing remarks, Associate Professor Emma Kennedy AM, representing RACGP President Dr Michael Wright, congratulated all award recipients and acknowledged the invaluable contributions of GPs and Rural Generalists in the Northern Territory. She stated, “We are so fortunate to have such talented and committed GPs and Rural Generalists in the Northern Territory. We are grateful for their service and engagement with the community and wish them all the very best for the future as members of our profession.”
