The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has reinforced its commitment to regional healthcare in Western Australia, with RACGP Vice President and WA Chair Dr Ramya Raman visiting Karratha in the Pilbara yesterday.
During the visit, Dr Raman delivered an in-person education session, Perimenopause & Menopause: Clinical Management & Culturally Responsible Care, through a partnership between RACGP WA and Rural Health West's Health Professionals Network (HPN).
Established in October 2025, the partnership aims to strengthen professional development opportunities for healthcare professionals across regional WA.
It will deliver annual in-person education events in each of the state's seven regions, helping local GPs and allied health professionals access high-quality continuing professional development closer to home.
Dr Raman said the initiative reflects the RACGP's commitment to supporting regional health professionals and improving health outcomes across WA.
"GPs are the cornerstone of healthcare in rural and remote communities, providing comprehensive, continuous care close to where people live," she said.
"Women deserve access to high-quality menopause and perimenopause care no matter where they live, and it's important that healthcare professionals have the latest evidence and practical tools to support them."
The Karratha session examined both the clinical and lived experiences of perimenopause and menopause, providing practical strategies to identify common and atypical presentations, navigate hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options, and deliver culturally responsive care.
Dr Raman said culturally responsible care was a key focus of the session.
"Women's experiences of menopause can vary significantly across cultures and communities," she said. "By building clinicians' confidence in culturally responsive communication and care, we can help improve health outcomes and experiences for all women."
The presentation explored considerations when caring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, helping ensure care is respectful, person-centred and tailored to individual needs.
Dr Raman said partnerships such as the RACGP's collaboration with Rural Health West play an important role in supporting the rural health workforce. "They foster professional connections and help ensure health professionals in regional areas have access to the same high-quality educational opportunities as their metropolitan colleagues," she said.
As part of her visit, Dr Raman met with local general practice teams and healthcare providers, including Panaceum Karratha and Sonic HealthPlus Karratha, to discuss healthcare priorities, workforce challenges and opportunities to further strengthen primary care services in the region.
The education event was held at Karratha International Hotel and available both in-person and online to health professionals across the Pilbara.
~
