Victorian Rural Generalist Program (VRGP)
Live and work in one of the most beautiful regions of Australia.
The Victorian Rural Generalist Program is a state-wide end-to-end rural generalist training program that allows the future rural generalist workforce to train, work and live in regional Victoria.
In addition to providing a diverse and rewarding training experience, the long-term objective of the VRGP is to increase the employment of rural generalists in regional health services and communities across Victoria.
“A Rural Generalist is a medical practitioner who is trained to meet the specific current and future healthcare needs of Australian rural and remote communities, in a sustainable and cost-effective way, by providing both comprehensive general practice and emergency care and required components of other medical specialist care in hospital and community settings as part of a rural healthcare team.”
(The Collingrove Agreement, January 2018)
The VRGP offers trainees a defined and supported training pathway from intern to Fellowship, in the region of their choice.
The VRGP has five Regional Coordinators located in rural Victoria.
The Regional Coordinators assist trainees to navigate their training pathway and provide career support throughout their training journey and into employment as a Rural Generalist.
Rural Generalist Year 1 (RG1) Program
In 2025, all Gippsland RG1s will complete core rotations of General Surgery, General Medicine and Emergency at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service.
They also complete a 20-week extended community-based rotation at one of our highly regarded GP clinics: Macleod Street Medical Centre, Bairnsdale, and Cunninghame Arm Medical Centre, Lakes Entrance.
The 20-week extended rotation allows our RG1s to become familiar with the interface between primary and secondary care and gain a better understanding of the life of a Rural Generalist.
The program offers an extended education program at a clinic, hospital and RG program level. RG1s are also funded to attend the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine Rural Emergency Skills Training (REST) course.
The RG1 program provides a great introduction to a Rural Generalist career by providing training in both a health service and primary care setting while working alongside and with mentorship from rural Generalists.
RG1s at Bairnsdale work with 5 BRHS ‘mainstream’ interns and 5 (per term) Eastern Health interns. We also work closely with Monash University students on placement and find this extended cohort works well as an inclusive, supportive and friendly learning environment.
Applications
Applications for rural generalist Year 1 positions for the 2025 training year are through the PMCV Victorian Intern Match, which opens 6 May 2024.
All five Gippsland rural generalist year 1 positions will be offered through the Victorian Rural Preferential Allocation (VRPA) round.
More information about the match – including information about the VRPA round – is available here.
If you are interested in joining our program in 2025, please make contact before the match. We offer a bespoke program and pride ourselves on the quality of intern experiences at BRHS.
We invite you to phone us on (03) 5150 3448 or email us. We will be happy to answer your questions and organise a tour for you. We can also introduce you to our current interns so you can hear firsthand what your time in the program would be like.
To apply for RG1 positions, RG1 trainees should:
- demonstrate an understanding and commitment to a career as a rural generalist
- identify why you aspire to become a Rural Generalist
- outline your understanding of Rural Generalist training requirements, and
- provide an outline of your Rural Generalist career pathway.
The Gippsland Rural Generalist
About the Region
The Gippsland region boasts a stunning natural environment, mild climate and easy lifestyle. It’s a region endowed with lazy rivers, brisk high country, wild beaches and of course the Gippsland Lakes.
Cafes, galleries, theatres, fine wine, fabulous food, indigenous art, wild walks and weekend markets are many. You can find them lakeside, beachside, off the beaten track or in the relative hubbub of town.
For those who enjoy an adventure, Gippsland has much to offer with rail trails, cycling, kayaking, sailing, hiking, paddle boarding, fishing, skiing and snowboarding all at your doorstep.
You will become part of the community, meet friends and experience new passions that will change what you value most.
The joy of rural life and generalist medicine – where you can make your own adventure!
- VRGP
- samantha.scott@brhs.com.au
- 03 5150 3448
- 122 Day St, Bairnsdale VIC 3875, Australia
Applications
Applications for rural generalist Year 1 positions for the 2025 training year are through the PMCV Victorian Intern Match, which opens 6 May 2024.
All five Gippsland rural generalist year 1 positions will be offered through the Victorian Rural Preferential Allocation (VRPA) round.
More information about the match – including information about the VRPA round – is available here.
If you are interested in joining our program in 2025, please make contact before the match. We offer a bespoke program and pride ourselves on the quality of intern experiences at BRHS.
We invite you to phone us on (03) 5150 3448 or email us. We will be happy to answer your questions and organise a tour for you. We can also introduce you to our current interns so you can hear firsthand what your time in the program would be like.
“The internship in Gippsland has been a wonderful and eye-opening experience for me.“
Dr Joyce Shuang Xiao (that’s her on the left…)
“I was able to be involved in aspects of a patient’s medical care that you simply miss out on in larger tertiary hospitals.”
Dr Tom Dilks, (that’s him on the right…)
Hear from our trainees
“The RG program in East Gippsland offers an amazing opportunity as a junior doctor to be a part of a thriving and growing team. You aren’t just another number, but a vital member of the medical team both in the hospital and in general practice.
“You’re trusted with so much more and can give so much more to your patients because of the environment, supervision and culture. I have loved my time here so far, especially in the A/E. Each day brings something new to do, see, learn, teach, and experience.”
Dr Luke Auciello, 2023
“I loved my intern year in Gippsland!
“The extra support and opportunities I had access to through the RG program helped me build my confidence as an intern and allowed me to develop extra skills and knowledge in my own areas of interest.
“I feel that having done a GP rotation as an intern makes me a more well-rounded doctor now, with a better understanding of the broader health system, which allows me to help my patients navigate it.
Dr Carine McMahon, 2023
“I loved my time with the RG Gippsland program so much.
“I got to practice real life skills with plenty of individual supervision, all the while knowing administration had my back and would support me through anything that I needed help with.
“I can’t wait to come back post-fellowship and keep working with such an amazing group of people.”
Dr Rose Petrohilos, 2023
“The internship in Gippsland has been a wonderful and eye-opening experience for me.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the plentiful hands-on experiences in a well-supported environment. The program has an impressive education program and I particularly valued the additional ad-hoc tutorials from visiting specialists.
“The opportunities to hone my clinical knowledge and skills in general practice, as well as the fantastic non-clinical support for us all made this year a very positive one. Additionally, you get to experience the beauty that Gippsland has to offer!”
Dr Joyce Shuang Xiao, 2020
“Starting my journey as a junior doctor in rural Gippsland has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I found the environment highly supportive, working in a diverse team of doctors with different backgrounds and skill sets, but all available to support you when needed and always willing to teach.
“As I got more comfortable and confident throughout the year, I was able to be involved in aspects of a patient’s medical care that you simply miss out on in larger tertiary hospitals – whether that’s leading a trauma code in the ED, managing a patient in SVT at a MET call, or having your own regular patients in the GP clinic.
“This program gets you actively involved, feeling like a real doctor, and making a difference to patient’s lives.
“I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to complete terms in a GP clinic as part of the program, and would recommend to anyone who has ever considered a career as a GP (and even those who haven’t!).
“The skills and experience I have gained during this year will be invaluable as a progress through my development as a medical professional, and the connections I have made will mean I will always feel welcome in Gippsland. I could not ask for more out of the first year working as a new doctor! “
Dr Tom Dilks, 2020
Some features of BRHS include:
- 52 Acute Beds
- 19 Sub-Acute Beds
- Modern Theatre Suite
- High Dependency Unit
- Day Procedure Unit
- Oncology/Medical Ambulatory Day Unit
- Dialysis Unit
- Emergency Department + Short Stay Unit
- Palliative Care
- Maternity Services
- Aged Care Facility
- Allied Health Services
- Medical Outpatient Services
- Home-Based Services including Hospital in the Home, Community Health and a CBD campus.
Information for International Candidates
Information about living in East Gippsland
Information about the benefits of working for BRHS
For more information, email people.culture@brhs.com.au.
