SUPPORT FOR RURAL AND REMOTE WOMEN DOCTORS

The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), in partnership with the Australian Federation of Medical Women (AFMW) undertook a multi-tiered project to develop a range of resources to provide assistance and support to rural and remote women doctors. The particular focuses of this project were the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) preferences and learning styles of this group of doctors, and the factors and issues associated with their ability and opportunities to access CPD.

The project achieved six major outcomes. These are outlined below:

CPD Preferences and Learning Styles of Rural and Remote Doctors research report

This research report identified the CPD preferences and learning styles of rural and remote female doctors as well as the factors that impacted on the ability of female doctors to participate in CPD activity. The factors impacting on the ability of education providers to develop and deliver CPD activity, both in general and specifically to female doctors, was also examined. These results were contrasted against each other to provide some key areas for consideration in the provision of CPD for female doctors. This report will be available shortly.

Provision of Appropriate CPD for Rural and Remote Women Doctors: Guidelines for design and delivery

As an extension of the research report, these key areas were summarised and developed into a set of guidelines for use by education providers to inform about the development and delivery of CPD for rural and remote women doctors. These guidelines will be available shortly.

Guidelines for the Mentoring of Women Doctors

Building upon work from a previous project, a set of mentoring guidelines for women doctors were produced to assist individuals and / or organisations wanting to implement a mentoring program. These guidelines will be available shortly.

Online Female Locum Register

A list of government-funded and private locum services, that could potentially provide female locum coverage to rural and remote areas, was developed and published on the ACRRM website.

Secure Online Discussion Forum

A secure, online discussion forum was made available on the ACRRM website to allow all female doctors, medical students and other key stakeholders to network and communicate with each other.

Online Register of Appropriate CPD Activity

Access to a searchable inventory of CPD activity accredited by ACRRM that female doctors could search for activity appropriate to their needs, was promoted on the ACRRM website.

For further information relating to this project, please visit the Women in Rural Practice (WIRP) are of the ACRRM website (www.acrrm.org.au) or contact Yolanda Schweizer by email y.schweizer@acrrm.org.au or by phone on 02 9313 5955.