The Minns Labor Government is continuing to boost the medical workforce in regional, rural and remote communities, with applications open for the Rural Generalist Single Employer Pathway program.
Rural generalists are General Practitioners (GPs) who have an extended skill in a specialty area such as anaesthetics, obstetrics, paediatrics, emergency medicine, mental health or palliative care.
The program is an employment pathway for doctors seeking a career as a rural generalist who work across both primary care and hospital settings.
The program offers a length-of-training contract with a Local Health District in regional NSW, including Far West, Western NSW, Southern NSW, Murrumbidgee, Northern NSW, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Hunter New England and Mid North Coast.
These highly trained doctors help broaden the range of locally available medical services in regional NSW, helping communities to continue to receive safe high-quality care as close to home as possible.
Rural generalist trainees retain and use their NSW Health Award entitlements during training and receive the same pay and conditions as their hospital-trained counterparts.
As NSW Health employees, rural generalist trainees also retain, and continue to accrue, award entitlements such as sick leave, study, annual, parental and long-service leave.
The Minns Labor Government is rebuilding essential services by recruiting more health workers, delivering a historic pay increase; rolling out nurse safe staffing levels and recruiting 500 additional paramedics for the bush, as part of the most significant workforce reforms in the history of our health system.
For more information and to apply for the Rural Generalist Single Employer Pathway program 2027 clinical year visit: health.nsw.gov.au/RGSEP. Applications will close on 4 August 2026.
GP practices or Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations who are interested in participating in the Rural Generalist Single Employer Pathway program can also register their interest on the NSW Health website.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:
"We have already seen 74 doctors take up the opportunity to train as rural generalists since the Rural Generalist Single Employer Pathway program expanded in 2024.
"This is good for patients and good for clinicians, ensuring regional, rural, and remote communities in NSW have access to care when they need it while supporting doctors to expand their skills.
"I'm proud that this program supports our rural generalist trainees to work closely with their patients, helping to really make a difference in their healthcare journey where it matters most close to home.
"This is part of our commitment to improve the access, quality and sustainability of health care in regional, rural and remote NSW by ensuring we have the staff to deliver the care people need."
Quotes attributable to Rural Generalist Trainee at Nowra, Dr Myron Raveendran:
"I've seen the effects rural doctors can have. You become a pillar for whole families, managing all their medical conditions.
"When I finish my training, I want to be the doctor people see in the clinic and the hospital. Someone they know and trust.
"The biggest role of a GP is prevention and making sure people don't have to go to hospital. You start seeing real improvements when you manage patients well."
Quotes attributable to Rural Generalist Trainee at Port Macquarie, Dr Annabelle Stephenson:
"I'm very committed to closing the gap and the Rural Generalist Single Employer Pathway program team helped organise a placement at Werin Aboriginal Corporation for me, which was just great.
"You just need to follow your passion. If you're thinking about the Rural Generalist Single Employer Pathway, I'd certainly be recommending it."
