16 doctors new to rural practice travel to Newcastle for RDN workshop

Last Thursday and Friday, 16 doctors from all corners of NSW attended RDN’s New GP Orientation (NGPO) Workshop at Novotel Newcastle. The CPD/PDP accredited workshop is designed to support new rural General Practitioners and help set them up for success in their new role by offering a two-day introduction to practising medicine in Australia.

Participants travelled in from locations including the Central Coast, Albury, West Wyalong, Dubbo, Kempsey, Young, Blackheath, Tamworth, Broken Hill, Coonabarabran, Cessnock, Goulburn and Narrabri. Multiple attendees travelled to Newcastle with their families who were able to enjoy the beach and great weather during their stay, while others arrived a day early to complete the Advanced Life Support 1 (ALS) training also offered by RDN on Wednesday.

NGPO covers General Practice in rural NSW, Medico-legal considerations, MBS, PBS & DVA, WorkCover, Pathways to Fellowship, Indigenous health, women's health and patient centred communication to motivate behaviour change. Dr Kathy O’Grady from the Black Dog Institute also spoke to the group about mental health in GP.

RDN Workforce Support Lead, Alannah Keogh said NGPO is a great opportunity to gain valuable insights and resources to ease the transition for new GPs who are about to start, or have recently begun, in rural practice.

“Each NGPO workshop offered by RDN serves as a unique opportunity for GPs new to rural practice, to network with peers, gain essential knowledge, and build the confidence needed to thrive in a rural healthcare setting,” Alannah said.

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Related reading:

• New GP Orientation Workshop unites nationalities new to rural medicine in Australia (2025)
• GPs new to general practice one step ahead thanks to RDN Workshop (2025)
• New GP Orientation Workshops take place at Manly (2024)