MEDICAL COLLEGES REFORM TO ADDRESS ACCESSIBILITY, AFFORDABILITY AND RURAL CHALLENGES Priority given to new trainee candidates who come from rural backgrounds and have relevant experience
With
Jodie Long, CEO
Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC)
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH JOURNAL SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne | September 2025
The Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) is the peak body for Australia’s specialist medical colleges. CPMC provides a voice in the areas such as workforce issues, quality of healthcare and patient safety, and the education and training of specialist doctors.
Australia’s specialist medical colleges are introducing significant changes to their training selection processes to tackle the ongoing shortage of specialist doctors in rural and remote areas. The Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC), in collaboration with the National Rural Health Commissioner, has unveiled new guidelines that prioritise candidates with rural backgrounds and experience during trainee selection.
Associate Professor Sanjay Jeganathan, Chair of CPMC, stated, “Too many rural Australians are waiting too long for specialist care or having to travel vast distances.” Research shows that doctors from rural areas are more likely to return and practice in those communities. The new framework systematically rewards candidates with relevant rural experience, including those who spent their childhood in rural settings, medical students who completed over 12 months of rural placements, and junior doctors who worked in rural hospitals.
The initiative reflects unprecedented collaboration among Australia’s specialist medical colleges, moving from good intentions to systematic change. “Every college will now use consistent definitions and transparent processes,” added A/Prof Jeganathan.
In tandem with these changes, CPMC is reforming its governance structure to better address workforce shortages and access challenges. This revised structure includes a Representative College Council and a separate Board of Directors, promoting agile decision-making and clearer communication with stakeholders. Dr. Jeganathan emphasised the importance of creating a unified voice for specialist doctors to respond effectively to urgent healthcare reforms, enhancing the organisation’s accountability and responsiveness.
Australian Health Journal spoke to CPMC CEO Jodie Long about some of the findings and challenges in the workforce within regional and rural settings and how the new governance structure will support representation of the 16 colleges to Government bodies.
Source: Adapted from CPMC media releases
-
Misinformation impacts routine vaccines
More significant changes in recent years have been health-related misinformation eroding trust in healthcare professionals, leading to people seeking alternative treatments or avoiding medical advice altogether. This can make it more difficult for healthcare professionals to provide effective treatment and care.
Recent vaccines delivered as part of the COVID-19 response, are having a consequential impact on the uptake of routine vaccines.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Dr Paul Griffin, an Infectious Diseases Physician and Microbiologist at Mater Health, and who has been involved in over 150 clinical trials in the field of infectious disease.
Paul talks about the importance of having reputable sources of information that can used to encourage people to understand what is involved in clinical trials and the roles of vaccines.
-
HEALTH CARE BRIEF: Postpartum haemorrhage
Postpartum haemorrhage- Incidence rates, symptoms, risks, research & innovation
-
Imperatives for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer
Professor Clare Scott, a pioneering clinician scientist at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, also serves as a medical oncologist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and the Royal Women’s Hospital.
Her comprehensive training in medical oncology has fuelled her specialisation in gynaecological cancer, combining rigorous research with clinical trials to improve patient outcomes. With over a decade of involvement in ANZGOG, Australia’s foremost gynaecologic cancer research organisation, she is deeply committed to advancing research and saving lives.
