Your College update: September 2025
A win for physicians and patients: MBS telephone items restored
MBS physician telephone items are being restored thanks to your voices and our sustained advocacy. As of 1 November 2025, you will have greater flexibility in the use of telephone consultations and your patients will have improved and more equitable access to the services they rely on.
This change means greater flexibility for you in delivering care, and more equitable access for patients, whether through short check-ins or longer, complex follow-ups. It’s a powerful outcome of our collective advocacy, ensuring telehealth remains a practical, reliable option alongside video and face-to-face consultations.
Key takeaways include:
- three new telephone items for consultant physicians and specialists which are telephone equivalents to items 116, 133 and 143
- these allow for longer, more complex follow-up consultations by phone
- continuity with existing short, minor attendance items, ensuring a full suite of options across phone, video and face-to-face.
We would like to thank all members who contributed to this advocacy with our Policy & Advocacy team. Your efforts have ensured the restoration of vital telehealth access for the patients who need it most. Reminders will be shared ahead of the phase-in when more information is available on MBS Online.
The Australian Government has recently introduced the Improved Medicare Integrity legislation, strengthening oversight of Medicare services to ensure appropriate and clinically justified use.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released guidance to support physicians in understanding their obligations and avoiding practices that could be considered inappropriate.
Key points for physicians:
- Maintain comprehensive records: Documentation should clearly demonstrate clinical reasoning, patient need, and alignment with the service billed.
- Bill according to clinical need, not convenience: Ensure that item numbers reflect the care provided and are consistent with professional standards.
- Be aware of monitoring processes: The Department uses data analytics and clinical review to identify potential inappropriate practice.
- Seek advice early: If unsure, seek clarification from Medicare or professional resources to reduce compliance risks.
These changes aim to strengthen trust in the Medicare system, protect patients, and ensure that public funds are used effectively.
Access the Department’s full guidance:
The RACP welcomes the Australian Government's legislation to establish an independent Australian Centre for Disease Control (ACDC), operational from 1 January 2026.
This permanent agency will:
- unite expertise and data to protect against diseases and public health threats
- enable healthcare professionals to better protect from and respond to health threats
- build national preparedness for inevitable future infectious disease outbreaks
- address environmental health threats and non-communicable diseases.
For RACP members, this is a milestone that reflects years of sustained advocacy. Many of you have contributed expertise to shape the design of the ACDC, and your voices will continue to guide its work.
This is a significant step forward in ensuring Australia’s healthcare system is prepared, resilient, and responsive to the challenges ahead.
Find out more
The Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill proposes significant changes to how the health system will operate in Aotearoa New Zealand. For physicians, this could affect the way you deliver care and advocate for your patients.
The Bill’s focus on improving timely access to quality care and strengthening healthcare planning is welcome. But without stronger commitments to long-term workforce planning, the system risks becoming further stretched — directly impacting your ability to meet growing patient needs.
We have been engaging with the Parliamentary Health Select Committee who is considering the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill. We support the focus on timely access to quality care and healthcare planning, identifying more longer-term workforce planning is needed.
However, we raised concerns about:
- the risks of legislating health targets
- potential restrictions on physicians’ ability to raise concerns about the health system
- possible adverse impacts on health equity for Māori and community public health.
We look forward to contributing further to the important discussions at the Select Committee hearing and advocating for a health system that supports both physicians and patients.
On 25 August, leaders from across Australia’s medical colleges, specialty societies and ADHD organisations met for a landmark Roundtable on ADHD hosted by the RACP.
Held over three hours, this important conversation debated key issues, models of safe shared care, and how best we can support timely and equitable ADHD care for children and adolescents
Key outcomes include:
- support for ongoing collaboration between the Medical Colleges on a standardised nationally consistent approach to ADHD assessment, diagnosis and management
- need for consistent training and CPD pathways for GPs, paediatricians and psychiatrists
- continued engagement with federal and state/territory governments to strengthen ADHD care.
It is time for a nationally consistent approach to ADHD care in Australia
To support our recent Roundtable, we issued a media release calling for urgent national action to address the challenges faced by thousands of Australians living with ADHD. This was supported at a Health Ministers Meeting, held on 12 September. You can find out more the meeting's communiqué.
Read media release
Attendees
We thank all members and partner organisations for attending our roundtable and for your contributions to this important work.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
- The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
- The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
- Australasian Society for Developmental Paediatrics
- Australian Paediatric Society
- Australasian ADHD Professionals Association
- ADHD Australia
- Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists
The Paediatrics and Child Health Division (PCHD) stands with children and young people affected by conflict, reaffirming our commitment to their care, protection, and future.
We have released a statement ‘Supporting Children and Young People’s Health and Wellbeing in Conflict Zones'. It highlights our ongoing advocacy for the rights, dignity, health, and wellbeing of those impacted.
Read the statement
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we deliver care. To help you keep updated with what AI has to offer, RACP Evolve is launching a new three-part webinar series, hosted by Professor Ian Scott.
In this webinar series, we'll explore which AI applications are ready for adoption and how you can use it to enhance patient-centred care. You'll also find out about how AI can support your professional wellbeing and the sustainability of our healthcare systems. We may extend this series with additional webinars in 2026.
Upcoming webinars
Attend the series, or the webinars you can.
- Wednesday, 17 September 2025: What is AI in healthcare?
- Wednesday, 26 November 2025: How to use AI scribes and assistants effectively
- Wednesday, 18 February 2026: How to use AI to predict and prevent care-related harm
About the speaker
Professor Ian Scott is a physician and AI clinical consultant leading AI initiatives across Metro South Health, UQ, and the Queensland Digital Health Centre. He brings extensive experience in clinical informatics, evidence-based medicine, and AI in healthcare.
Register now
You’re on the path to building your career. Life as a trainee is fast-paced and frenetic. You’re juggling studies, exams and training rotations as you head towards Fellowship. Then life happens, and you need to hit pause. What happens when you need to interrupt your physician training?
In this article we explore the medical board guidelines when stepping away from your training pathway and requirements for undertaking CPD (or not). If you're looking to hit pause on your physician training, this article is for you.
Read LinkedIn article
The next generation of physicians were celebrated, as RACP Foundation hosted its annual Trainee Research Awards Symposium. Held on 8 August, trainees and new Fellows from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand shared their research in the historic 145 Macquarie Street, Sydney office.
Thirteen trainees and new Fellows presented their innovative research before College leaders, including the College Dean, Associate Professor Kudzai Kanhutu, CEO Steffen Faurby, and members of the College Research Grants Committee (CRGC).
Each presenter, selected through jurisdictional events last year, delivered concise presentations, followed by open discussion.
We congratulate the two winning presenters, which you can watch below:
- Dr Katherine Colman (VIC) – Paediatric Medicine: BH3 mimetics highly effective in relapsed or refractory paediatric acute leukaemia – real world experience from the largest Australian centre.
- Dr Joanne Nixon (NT) – Adult Medicine: VITAFOOT: A double-blind, randomised controlled pilot trial of micronutrient supplementation in people with non-healing diabetes-related foot ulcers.
A keynote from Dr Janani Thillainadesan added further inspiration, exploring how curiosity-driven research can improve care for older adults.
Applications for next year’s round have now closed, and the jurisdictional competitions will be held between October and December this year. The next RACP Symposium will be held in July 2026.
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Make your daily commute more enjoyable by tuning into Pomegranate Health podcasts. Listen to fascinating conversations on a range of topics such as clinical decision-making, ethics, and the future of medicine.
Whether you're heading to work or winding down, you can now access 10 years of Pomegranate Health podcasts on YouTube.
Bookmark the playlist to keep updated on YouTube.
Access now
Pomegranate Health has been streaming since June 2015, so we’re going to share a few more classic episodes from the last 10 years. First up, presenter Mic Cavazzini digs deep to find the origins of the pomegranate, featured not just on this podcast but on the crest of the RACP. The journey starts 500 years ago at an unlikely place, the marriage of Henry VIII and the first of his six wives. You’ll find much of the pageantry reproduced at the webpage.
Listen to podcast
We then hear from the wonderful staff at Marrabinya, a support service in western NSW that helps connect Aboriginal patients to specialist consultations. As heard in episode 53, and a handful of others, health equity for First Nations people is a value embedded in the mission of the RACP. At Pomegranate Health, we also try to support physician wellbeing and career development. One podcast towards that end was episode 55: Starting out in Private Practice. We hear a pep talk from veteran rheumatologist, Louis McGuigan, about when and how to back yourself in such a business venture.
Another episode with a practical theme was episode 56, Billing in Byzantium, where we heard how it is that a few billion dollars are inappropriately leaked from Medicare every year. Finally, in a sample from episode 69, we hear about some of the structural bias in the health system that results in a gendered understanding of drug effects.
Subscribe, claim CPD and get the transcript
To be among the first to find out about the latest Pomegranate Health podcasts, subscribe to new episode email alerts. All our podcasts are now available on YouTube. You can also search for ‘Pomegranate Health’ in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castbox, or any podcasting app. Did you know you can record listening and reading as a prefilled learning activity by logging on to MyCPD? For a transcript and supporting references of our podcast, please visit the Pomegranate Health webpage.
If you’re an RACP trainee or Overseas Trained Physician (OTP) currently undertaking supervised practice in Australia, now's your chance to have a real impact on the future of physician training. The Medical Training Survey (MTS) is your platform to speak up about your training experiences and help identify what needs to change.
The MTS is open until Wednesday, 8 October 2025. You can access it through a survey link, which will be provided to you once you renew your registration with Ahpra.
Why should you take part?
- Your feedback will drive real improvement. Results from the survey are used to shape how training is delivered – from the quality of supervision to workplace culture.
- It’s your chance to have your say. This is your unique opportunity to highlight issues, acknowledge excellence, and ensure that your training experiences guide change.
- It’s quick, confidential, and powerful. Your individual responses remain anonymous, but collectively, they will tell a powerful story about the realities of physician training.
Visit the Medical Training Survey website for more details and email MTS if you have questions.
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) is proud to announce two landmark appointments that reflect our commitment to Indigenous leadership, equity, and cultural safety in medicine.
Lee Bradfield – Head of Indigenous Affairs, Australia
Lee brings more than 30 years of clinical experience, including 34 years as a nurse across primary care, government health, and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation sector. A passionate advocate for Indigenous public health and chronic disease, Lee has also championed workforce development as a Director of Studies at an Indigenous Registered Training Organisation, expanding the scope of practice for Aboriginal health workers, practitioners, and nurses.
In this pivotal role, Lee will lead the integration of the Indigenous Strategic Framework and Indigenous curriculum and training across the College. He will work closely with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee and alongside Nicky McCurdy to embed Indigenous values, perspectives, and aspirations into our systems, governance, and education.
Nicky McCurdy – Tumuaki / Head of Māori and Equity
Nicky brings deep expertise in Māori development, equity strategy, and cultural leadership, with a proven track record of fostering culturally safe and inclusive health systems. As Kaitohutohu Ahurea (Cultural Advisor), she has already led significant initiatives to strengthen Māori and Pacific whānau outcomes in postgraduate medical training.
In her new role, Nicky will work alongside Dr Dawn Louise Adair (Lead Fellow Māori Health), the Māori Health Committee, and Lee Bradfield to advance health equity and ensure Māori leadership and perspectives are at the heart of the College.
Together, these appointments mark a milestone in our journey to strengthen Indigenous leadership, uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and ensure equity and cultural safety are embedded across all areas of the College.
Congratulations Associate Professor Mark Boughey FAChPM for being appointed as Victoria’s inaugural Chief Palliative Care Adviser. With more than 30 years’ experience in palliative medicine, Associate Professor Boughey is a leader in shaping compassionate, person-centred care. He’s held senior roles at St Vincent’s Hospital and The University of Melbourne, mentoring the next generation of palliative medicine specialists.
In this new role, Associate Professor Boughey will lead the refresh of Victoria’s End of Life and Palliative Care Framework. His work will ensure that people living with life-limiting illness, their families, and carers continue having access to high-quality, respectful and sustainable care.
This marks an important milestone in recognising the value of palliative care – and the expertise of those who dedicate their careers to supporting people through challenging stages of life.
Associate Professor Boughey’s leadership will help shape the future of palliative and end-of-life care in Victoria. Please join us in congratulating him.
We are pleased to provide you with a progress update on the implementation of recommendations from the Review of the Paediatric Clinical Examination in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Since the release of the Review in January 2025, the College has been actively implementing initiatives to strengthen the quality, fairness, and transparency of the Divisional Clinical Examination (DCE).
2025 implementation updates
A comprehensive evaluation of all activities is underway. Please visit the August implementation update on the RACP website for more information.
Next steps
The College’s Clinical Examination Committees and subcommittees will review pilot program findings and implementation activities in Q3 2025 to guide exam improvements and calibration planning. Ongoing consultation with examiners, trainees and committees will shape coordinated implementation for 2026 across all Divisional, Faculty and Chapter examinations. The Board will consider the 12-month Implementation Report in December, with publication to members in early 2026. Thank you to all members who have contributed for supporting a fair, transparent and high-quality examination process.
Are you a rural specialist looking to enhance your skills and stay connected with your peers?
Support for Rural Specialists in Australia (SRSA) is offering grants of up to $12,000 to help fund CPD activities such as conferences, workshops, clinical attachments, or peer review.
Applications are open until Wednesday, 15 October 2025.
Who can apply?
To apply for an SRSA grant, you must work rurally (Modified Monash Model categories 2-7) as either:
- a (non-GP) specialist
- an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander specialist trainee
- a specialist international medical graduate under assessment.
If you were unsuccessful in a previous round, we encourage you to apply again.
Visit the SRSA website for full eligibility details and to submit your application.
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Looking to contribute to the work of the College and help shape the future of your profession? A range of College committees, working groups and other roles are now open for expressions of interest.
Getting involved is not only a great way to give back – it’s also a chance to expand your knowledge, stay connected to developments in your specialty, and enjoy the personal and professional rewards of meaningful contribution.
Some current opportunities you may be interested in:
More opportunities
As healthcare workers who dedicate our lives to helping others, it’s important to take the time to care for ourselves. We would like to remind everyone that it's okay to not be okay. If you need someone to talk to, you can reach out to the RACP Support Program. It's a free, 24/7 and completely confidential support service that is delivered externally through Converge International.
Whether you have something worrying on your mind, are finding getting out of bed to be a struggle, or just feel like talking to someone for helpful, judgement-free advice, this free support service may be just what you need.
Find out more
Did you know that RACP Benefits gives you exclusive access to a range of discounts and offers from leading brands and retailers in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand? Simply log in to the portal to start shopping and saving today. These special deals are exclusive to the College and made possible by our benefits partner, Member Benefits Australia.