For mothers and families in regional, rural, and remote Australia, accessing local birthing services can be stressful. With many rural maternity services in crisis��and workforce shortages impacting service delivery on the ground,��expectant mothers and families are often forced to travel hundreds of kilometres to access essential care. To prevent rural and remote communities from falling further behind, strategies that address both workforce recruitment and retention are urgently needed.

The General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program (GPPTSP) is one such strategy, designed to strengthen maternity services for women living in these areas. General practitioners (GPs) play a critical role in Australia’s vast regions. In smaller communities, they often provide a broader scope of services than their metropolitan counterparts. However, financial and logistical barriers can make the additional training required to expand scope unattainable for some clinicians.

To gain qualifications such as the ����TV Associate (Advanced Procedural) credential in obstetrics, GPs must take time away from their regular practice, often temporarily relocate, and accept a GP registrar’s reduced income whilst training. For those with mortgages, families, or other financial responsibilities, this pathway is simply not always feasible.

Funded by the Australian Government, GPPTSP provides eligible GPs or rural generalists with grants of up to $40,000 per year for two years to support training in obstetrics or anaesthetics. We spoke to three former participants, Dr Claire Walter, Dr Lillian Barrymore, and Dr Madeleine Brenner to better understand how GPPTSP is helping to build GP obstetric workforce capacity.

In what ways did the GPPTSP grant assist you in undertaking the RANZCOG Associate (Advanced Procedural) (APTP) certification?

Claire: I had a fantastic year of training at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane. The General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program assisted with relocation from my home in rural Stanthorpe to Brisbane, as well as supporting training and childcare costs, essential to my ability to complete the program.

Lillian: The GPPTSP offered a crucial financial incentive to pursue further training in obstetrics. Without this support, clinicians often face a significant financial burden which can be difficult to manage. To access the RANZCOG Associate (Advanced Procedural) Training Program, I relocated 700 km from home, and the grant was essential in helping cover both the move and the costs associated with completing my training.

Madeleine: Moving from a tertiary hospital with a state-employee salary to working as a GP registrar while also undertaking obstetrics training came with significant financial pressures. I was managing a heavy clinical workload without the guaranteed income I’d previously had in a tertiary setting. Once I became a GP Fellow, the GPPTSP grant made up for this as it allowed me to focus primarily on building my obstetric skills and experience without worrying as much about billing or income.

The funding also meant I could take time away from clinic consulting to attend upskilling opportunities. These days were supernumerary and unpaid, but they were crucial in consolidating my knowledge and gaining the practical experience needed to complete the RANZCOG APTP. In addition, the grant supported my attendance at key workshops, such as the Basic Obstetric Skills Workshop and the OASI course, which were held interstate. Without GPPTSP, accessing this level of training and experience would have been extremely difficult.

In your opinion, how has obtaining the APTP credential impacted workforce shortages and access to maternity services in your community?

Claire: I now have dual training in anaesthetics and obstetrics, which has enabled for more flexibility in our medical roster. I’m able to support multiple areas of care, which is particularly important in a rural setting with a limited workforce. It has also helped future-proof our service as several clinicians approach retirement over the coming years.

I also was fortunate to forge lifelong connections with supervisors, consultants and registrar peers at the Mater who have continued to support me even after completing training and moving home. The relationships I’ve built have strengthened access and I have even called upon Mater consultants for help via the flying obstetric, and gynaecology service. I’m grateful to have expanded my network and can access advice and support when needed which is so important in reducing isolation and retaining the rural workforce.

Lillian: We are experiencing significant workforce shortages in my community which have evolved over the last few years. Five years ago, we had six GP obstetricians (GPOs) on the obstetric roster, but as of 2025 there are only two local GPOs regularly on the obstetric roster with one available for on call assistance – the remainder of the roster is covered by locums.

It wouldn’t have been feasible for me to continue working in obstetrics with only basic Associate Procedural skills, given the limited number of colleagues able to provide surgical support. Completing Associate (Advanced Procedural) training has strengthened local maternity services by increasing access to care and ensuring there is an additional obstetrician with procedural capability available in emergencies – something I believe is essential to the long-term sustainability of the service.

The APTP has also improved patients’ access to additional choice when seeking antenatal care providers.

Madeleine: Obtaining the APTP credential has taken a load off our existing workforce, as I’m now able to participate on our on-call roster unsupervised. My colleagues have had to carry a significant on-call load while I’ve completed the APTP. I feel proud and grateful that I can now repay the favour in a way and allow them some reprieve from our busy obstetric roster.

Now that you have completed the APTP, how do you plan to use your skills?

Claire: I will continue providing safe, supportive and non-judgemental women’s health services in our community, caring for our local women during their pregnancy, birth and postnatal period. It has been an enjoyable time of learning for me, and has added value to my skills, insights into the healthcare system and how best I can improve access and improve health inequities in rural Australia.

Lillian: I plan to continue to offer antenatal and obstetric services in rural towns throughout the remainder of my career. In addition, I hope to be able to undertake upskilling with our visiting gynaecology consultants to offer more gynaecology procedures for women locally.

Madeleine: I plan to continue working at Murray Bridge as a rural generalist obstetrician. I have developed a great love of our community and feel strongly about continuing our maternity service here for years to come. I also look forward to participating in the supervision and teaching of registrars as they pass through our town during their training and think it a great privilege to be able to share such knowledge and skills with others.

Applications for the 2026 round of grants through the General Practitioner Procedural Training Support Program are currently open.

The GPPTSP is open to rural and remote GP Fellows, including those already undertaking the APTP. Check your eligibility and submit an online application by Friday 31 July 2026.

Following the Tasmanian OGET Hub’s successful first workshop in the North region earlier in 2025, the NorthWest Sub Hub has now delivered its own inaugural session, held on 10 December 2025 on beautiful King Island.

This marks the first opportunity for the NorthWest team to bring local clinicians together for hands‑on, scenario‑based emergency training.

The workshop was led by Prof. Boon Lim, Clinical Director, and Kelly Cooper, Clinical Midwifery Educator, who guided participants through a series of high‑value clinical modules, including:

• Management of unexpected preterm birth
• Response and escalation for postpartum haemorrhage
• Practical neonatal resuscitation, featuring the Neopuff infant resuscitator and CPR practice on preterm and infant manikins

A total of nine participants attended, representing a mix of GPs, nurses, students and educators. The multidisciplinary nature of the group created a rich learning environment, with participants collaborating closely to navigate emergency scenarios and refine their clinical decision‑making.

Feedback from the day echoed the strong enthusiasm seen across the Tasmanian Hub since its launch. Participants highlighted the program’s value in strengthening confidence, enhancing teamwork, and providing meaningful professional development in maternity care.

What’s next

With momentum building, the NorthWest Sub Hub has scheduled additional workshops for 2026, with sessions planned in Smithton, Queenstown, Mersey and Burnie. These upcoming events will continue to support clinicians across the region with accessible, high‑quality obstetric and gynaecology emergency training.

The Tasmanian OGET Hub remains committed to empowering clinicians statewide and fostering safer, more connected maternity care for women and families across Tasmania.

����TV is delighted to announce the launch of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Education and Training��(OGET) project in Tasmania.

In August 2025, OGET proudly established its newest hub in Tasmania, operating through two sub‑hubs: Launceston (North), led by Dr Frank Clark FRANZCOG, and Burnie (Northwest), led by Professor Boon Lim FRANZCOG. Together, they provide strong clinical leadership and guidance to ensure the hub delivers meaningful training and support across the state.

This initiative has been warmly welcomed by the rural multi-disciplinary health community, who have expressed strong support for the training opportunities it provides in obstetric care across regional townships.

Education will be delivered to communities in King Island, Flinders Island, St Helens, St Mary’s, Scottsdale, Campbelltown, Queenstown, Smithton, LaTrobe (Mersey), and Burnie, ensuring that rural clinicians have access to practical, hands‑on education tailored to their unique needs.

St Helens Hospital hosts first OGET workshop

The first workshop was held in November at St Helens Hospital, led by Dr Jessica Phillips and Midwife Chelsea Rose. The sessions focused on two critical topics:

• Preterm labour in a rural location
• Postpartum haemorrhage

The event drew an outstanding turnout, and encouraged open communication between GPs, paramedics, locums, and nursing staff, fostering stronger pathways for effective response during medical emergencies.

Participants also engaged in hands‑on practice using an obstetric model, including:

• Baby delivery simulation
• Placenta delivery
• Fundal massage techniques

This practical component was praised for its relevance to rural practice, where resources can be limited and collaboration is essential.
Special thanks go out to Janine Stubbs, the Nurse Unit Manager of St Helens Hospital, and Jessica Quin, Practice Manager at Ochre Health, for their invaluable contributions to the success of these workshops.

Feedback from attendees

Overall feedback from participants was extremely positive, highlighting the value of the project:

I really enjoyed the session…The preterm session was very applicable to us and very informative. Having an open floor discussion was great…The practical application of treatment was very reassuring as we work with limited resources.

– Paramedic, St Helens

The workshop was excellent. The delivery was engaging, the topics relevant to our environment, and it was a great opportunity for collaboration amongst nurses, doctors, and paramedics.

– Registered Nurse, St Helens Hospital

I have had some terrific feedback about your team and the delivery of the content. All feedback was positive and appropriate to all the health care team. Thank you so much to you and your team.

– Nurse Unit Manager, St Helens Hospital

Looking ahead

The debut of the Tasmania OGET hub represents an important step in strengthening rural healthcare education. RANZCOG looks forward to supporting future workshops that continue to empower rural clinicians and enhance obstetric emergency care across Tasmania.

Building on this momentum, workshops have continued across the state, with sessions held in St. Helens on 3 December, and in King Island and Scottsdale on 10 December. Together, these initiatives reflect a growing commitment to empower rural clinicians and enhance obstetric emergency care throughout Tasmania.

The FRANZCOG Selection process is a rigorous application process which determines which doctors get accepted to the FRANZCOG training program to become a specialist obstetrician gynaecologist. The Selection process aims to recruit the most suitable trainees into the program to ensure the workforce meets the needs of women and families across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.����

Over the next three years (2026-2028), RANZCOG will be implementing several changes to the Selection process, including changes to eligibility. This article explains everything prospective applicants might need to know about what’s changing.������

The process will remain as a National Selection Process and applications for Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand will be processed as two separate pools.��

What exactly is changing?

A full summary of all changes to FRANZCOG selection which will be implemented between 2026-2028 can be found on the FRANZCOG Selection page.

There are changes to both how the selection process works, and to the eligibility criteria (who can apply). These changes are summarised below.��

Be sure to check the full eligibility criteria/process information on the FRANZCOG Selection page as this table details only what’s new in each year of implementation.����

Table 1

Implementation timeline

Table 2

The table below details how the components of selection will evolve over the next three years:

Frequently asked questions

������’s a few FAQs around what these changes actually mean:����

Contact us

If you are a prospective trainee and have any questions about these changes or the Selection process more broadly, RANZCOG welcomes you to contact the team via: trainee_selection@ranzcog.edu.au

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG, the College) has partnered with Birth Trauma Australia (BTA) to launch the Birth Trauma Education Project. The project is a response to the recommendations from the NSW Parliament’s Select Committee’s on Birth Trauma Inquiry, and ongoing collaboration with the Australian Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

The inquiries made it undeniably clear that, despite efforts to prevent it, birth trauma remains a persistent challenge faced by birthing people and those involved in providing maternity care. RANZCOG and BTA seek to make a meaningful difference to address the core causes of birth trauma through the creation of much-needed multidisciplinary training resources with a focus on trauma-informed care.

Funded by the Commonwealth Government, RANZCOG and BTA have developed the Birth Trauma Education Project, combining online learning modules with in-person multidisciplinary workshops. The pilot training program is being delivered virtually via webinar on 1, 4, and 5 December 2025.

Onsite training will also be delivered in Wonthaggi Hospital Bass Coast Health (Vic), King Edward Memorial Hospital (WA), and Wagga Wagga Base Hospital (NSW) in November and December 2025.

The virtual program is available and free to attend for all healthcare professionals in Australia who are involved in maternity care. Members of RANZCOG’s CPD Home who complete the training will be eligible to claim CPD hours. Learn more about the Project, and register for one of the upcoming webinars here.

Discussions are also underway in Aotearoa New Zealand to build on this project – the College is working collaboratively with Birth Trauma Aotearoa, the New Zealand College of Midwives, and other key stakeholders to research experiences of birth trauma in Aotearoa which will inform the development of an education program specific to Aotearoa New Zealand. RANZCOG continues to advocate for prevention of birth trauma through education, assessment, and access to physiotherapy treatment, especially during pregnancy.

Contact us
For more information, contact the Birth Trauma Education Project team.
Email: elearningsupport@ranzcog.edu.au

Media enquiries

Bec McPhee
Head of Advocacy & Communications
bmcphee@ranzcog.edu.au
+61 413 258 166

����TV has issued a formal apology to Māori trainees and Fellows who have experienced culturally unsafe, racist, and inequitable conditions during their training.

This follows the findings of RANZCOG and Allen+Clarke’s Māori Trainee Recruitment and Retention Research, which highlighted the systemic barriers, racism, and isolation faced by Māori trainees.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, this apology marks an important part of Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations and RANZCOG’s responsibility to support Māori trainees and Fellows in safe and respectful training environments.

Discussions are also underway about conducting similar research into the experiences of First Nations trainees in Australia, which may be alongside other medical colleges. While still in development, this work represents a broader commitment to equity and cultural safety across the College.

Tēnā koutou katoa,

To all Māori trainees and Fellows who have trained or are currently training in obstetrics and gynaecology, and to Māori whānau and communities. We acknowledge and deeply regret that Māori trainees and Fellows have experienced culturally unsafe, racist, and inequitable environments within the FRANZCOG training programme.

Research commissioned by RANZCOG and conducted by Allen + Clarke, into the experiences of Māori in the FRANZCOG training programme, confirmed what Māori have voiced for years:

• That systemic racism, stereotyping, and cultural dismissal have caused harm
• That unsafe training environments have isolated and undermined Māori trainees
• That RANZCOG has failed to provide consistent cultural safety and support
• And, that this harm has extended beyond individuals to whānau, hapū, iwi, and Māori communities

We acknowledge the findings of this research and on behalf of RANZCOG, we take responsibility for these failures.

We recognise that they reflect not only individual behaviours but also the structures, policies, and cultures of the College and hospitals where training is delivered.To Māori trainees, Fellows, and whānau, we apologise unreservedly for the hurt, loss of trust, and additional cultural burden you have carried.

This apology is part of our ongoing commitment to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to upholding our vision of excellence and equity in women’s health.

But words alone are not enough. The goal of the research was to identify ways to improve the recruitment and retention of Māori in the FRANZCOG training programme. And the research provided clear evidence of where we need to improve.

This apology is underpinned by clear commitment to action outlined in RANZCOG’s Te Rautaki Māori me te Ara Whakamua (Māori Strategy and Action Plan). Actions include:

• Develop recommendations on providing a culturally safe environment in hospital placements for Māori trainees, that can be incorporated into hospital accreditation standards and used as a guide for placing trainees
• Review the RANZCOG complaints process to identify and recommend improvements for responding to those relating to cultural safety, racism, and discrimination
• Consider developing a proposal for a kaiāwhina role to provide dedicated support for Māori trainees and assist them with navigating the challenges of cultural loading and culturally unsafe workplace environments
• Continue to work on alleviating cultural load for Māori Fellows and trainees, including considering insights from Te ORA research in this area
• Investigate ways to provide greater flexibility in training, including flexibility in training timing to support parenting, whānau and iwi commitments, or those who wish to study te reo Māori or tikanga Māori

With the stewardship of He Hono Wāhine, RANZCOG continues to monitor closely progress against Te Rautaki Māori me Te Ara Whakamua and will be providing updates at hui-ā-tau. In addition to the actions in Te Rautaki Māori me te Ara Whakamua, we plan to take a hard look at our own organisation. Te Kāhui Oranga ō Nuku has agreed to explore a racism audit.

We know that we cannot undo the harm caused, but we are committed to learning, listening, and transforming the College so that current and future Māori trainees are safe, supported, and valued.

If you are currently experiencing racism, an unsafe environment, or the research and this apology have raised past experiences that are troubling you, we encourage you to reach out now.

����TV firmly believes that growing the Māori O&G workforce is vital to better meeting the needs of the wāhine and whānau of Aotearoa.

We are committed to working to ensure the FRANZCOG training experience supports this by valuing and nourishing Māori trainees.

Dr Gillian Gibson
����TV President
On behalf of the RANZCOG Board

Birth Trauma Awareness Week takes place annually from 14-20 July. The theme for 2025, , invites us to make space for the stories of different birthing journeys.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG, the College) participated actively throughout the NSW Parliament’s Select Committee on Birth Trauma inquiry in 2023 and 2024. The wide-ranging and personal accounts of birth trauma shared in submissions to the Select Committee and through public testimonies were heartbreaking. The evidence is undeniable: despite efforts to prevent it, birth trauma remains a profound and persistent challenge faced by many women, birthing people and those involved in providing maternity care.

In seeking to make a meaningful difference to address the core causes of birth trauma, the College has partnered with Birth Trauma Australia (BTA) to jointly leverage our shared expertise in training and education to develop sorely needed new multidisciplinary birth trauma training resources. A new pilot program will be established through the support of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

The pilot training program will be delivered across three or four sites in rural New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. Online modules will be developed and made available for pre-learning, with in-person workshops to follow. The content will be designed to deliver a truly multidisciplinary maternity perspective. The program will be open to a range of health professionals involved in maternity care, reinforcing the importance of specialists or GP Obstetricians, midwives, and other care providers working together to foster positive experiences for the women in their care. Each pilot workshop will have capacity for 25-30 attendees. Webinars based on the in-person workshop content will be developed and available to wider audiences through the RANZCOG and BTA networks.

The content of the pilot will include both practitioner and patient perspectives, befitting a topic where women’s experiences with birth and birth trauma should be paramount. Workshop facilitators will be drawn from across the maternity care spectrum and the ideal pilot sites will demonstrate an appetite for this type of training, as well as capability to host workshops of this nature.

The College is proud to have partnered with BTA to co-develop this vital training and education program. RANZCOG looks forward to rolling it out in practice, learning from experiences, and using those insights to further improve trauma-informed resources, and most importantly, reduce experiences of birth trauma.

Discussions are also underway in Aotearoa New Zealand to build on this project – the College is working collaboratively with Birth Trauma Aotearoa, the New Zealand College of Midwives, and other key stakeholders to research experiences of birth trauma in Aotearoa which will inform the development of guidance specific to New Zealand. RANZCOG continues to advocate for prevention of birth trauma through education, assessment, and access to physiotherapy treatment, especially during pregnancy.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG, the College) has formally reinstated Gosford Public Hospital’s accreditation as a training site for obstetrics and gynaecology, following a period of suspension and a comprehensive review.

The hospital’s training accreditation was revoked in late 2024 due to concerns about the overall quality of the training environment. Since then, RANZCOG has worked closely with Gosford Hospital, and other key stakeholders to highlight issues and support necessary changes to ensure the site is able to support Fellowship of RANZCOG (FRANZCOG) specialist training effectively.

An accreditation visit was conducted in in early June and the College was pleased to observe substantial improvements in staffing, leadership, training opportunities, workplace culture, and the hospital’s commitment to education and trainee wellbeing.

����TV President, Dr Gillian Gibson, said:

We are pleased to be able to reinstate training at Gosford Hospital, a key facility for maintaining access to timely and high-quality, local care for women and their babies across Australia’s Central Coast.

 

We’d like to acknowledge the commitment of Gosford’s doctors and midwives, who have worked really hard to create a more supportive and sustainable training environment. I’m confident Gosford will continue to build on this positive progress to offer an enriching training experience.

 

I’d also like to thank the RANZCOG accreditation team for their thorough guidance and dedicated work throughout this process – critical in supporting the swift resumption of training and services.

Gosford Hospital will be available for trainee rotations from Semester 1, 2026, although reinstatement of accreditation is immediate should there be a need to accommodate trainees with specific arrangements earlier than this.

The College looks forward to ongoing collaboration with Gosford Hospital to ensure the delivery of high-quality specialist O&G training into the future.

Media enquiries

Jess Bacon
Communications & Marketing Lead
jbacon@ranzcog.edu.au
+61 448 735 749

Bec McPhee
Head of Advocacy & Communications
bmcphee@ranzcog.edu.au
+61 413 258 166