Conference Name: Rural Medicine Australia 2024 Conference (RMA24)
NT location: Darwin, Northern Territory (NT), Australia
Conference venue: Darwin Convention Centre
Number of delegates: 859 delegates
Bringing together Australia's rural health professionals in the tropics
The Rural Medicine Australia (RMA) Conference is the nation's leading medical education event for rural and remote doctors, co-hosted by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA).
In 2024, the national conference was held in Darwin, with the welcome event, conference awards dinner and education sessions delivered at the award-winning Darwin Convention Centre, providing a scenic and convenient location for more than 859 delegates, including 88 speakers and 81 exhibitors to gather. Conference attendees included medical students, junior doctors, rural generalists, rural consultant specialists, educators and academics working towards the shared vision of delivering safe, culturally appropriate and consistent healthcare to rural, remote and First Nations communities.
Guided by the theme Welcome to the buildup: strong foundations for better health, RMA24 featured a comprehensive program across six key topics: clinical knowledge, cultural competence, effective communication, health ecologies, resilience, and innovation.
Dr Dan Halliday, President of ACRRM, said the Rural Medicine Australia conference focuses on improving the clinical skills of rural doctors each year, with the 2024 theme leveraging the tropical location of Darwin.
“The theme for RMA24 was tied to the Top End’s ‘build up’ season with a key focus on upskilling clinical knowledge,” Halliday said. “We were thrilled to have so many registrars in attendance, soaking in the workshops, keynote speakers and networking opportunities.”
Working with local and First Nations suppliers, the conference team facilitated the successful delivery of more than 100 educational sessions at the convention centre. These built participants’ clinical skills and were complemented by five social networking events, a gala dinner and touring activities including a Darwin Harbour Cruise and group trip to Litchfield National Park.
Darwin: a key ingredient to building an impactful conference
Connecting rural doctors from around Australia was central to delivering RMA24, with the Darwin Convention Centre selected as the host venue due to its state-of-the-art facilities, flexible meeting and exhibition spaces, and stunning waterfront views.
High-calibre venues were activated throughout the Darwin CBD to host networking events, and small group adventure activities offered delegate opportunities to deepen connections while exploring at the city’s doorstep, all contributing to a successful program.
Professor Bart Currie from Royal Darwin Hospital and the Darwin-based Menzies School of Health Research delivered a keynote address covering the topic of tropical diseases, their causes and their cures. Professor Currie leads the Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases team at the Menzies School of Health Research, one of Australia’s leading medical research institutes
Guest speakers and delegates travelled from around the country and world to attend the conference with direct flights from all capital cities and major regional centres. Many delegates brought their families to the event and extended their stay in the NT.
Collaborating on Country in the Northern Territory
Since 2021, the Rural Medicine Australia conference team has collaborated with local First Nations artists on Country to create artwork that embodies the spirit of reconciliation to encourage cultural education and awareness for those attending the conference destination.
In Darwin, the artwork created for RMA24 was designed by Larrakia artist Trent Bundirrik Lee, a skilled muralist, traditional carver, healer, didgeridoo player, mentor, and cross-cultural facilitator. As a Traditional Owner and custodian, Lee also facilitated a Saltwater Ceremony, as attendees gathered on the sands and in the saltwater of the waterfront lagoon next to the Darwin Convention Centre.
RDAA President Dr RT Lewandowski said the opening event set the scene for participants to extend their knowledge about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture, and explore how attitudes and values can influence perceptions, assumptions and behaviours in a doctor’s practise.
“A full-day pre-conference Cultural Safety course was also presented for the first time, facilitated by the Australian Indigenous Doctor’s Association (AIDA) who travelled to Darwin to deliver the sessions,” Dr RT Lewandowski said. “This course complemented the clinical, research, and education sessions held in the Darwin Convention Centre’s well-equipped meeting spaces, while collaborating with a team of specialised educators and facilitators.”
Discovering new connections in a different destination
A venue with a Territory twist, located in Darwin’s CBD, Crocosaurus Cove played host to more than 200 attendees at 'Let's Croc and Roll', a networking opportunity for practicing and future rural doctors and medical students to meet while getting a glimpse into the unique wildlife found in northern parts of Australia.
Adding to the local program, an off-site networking dinner was held at Wharf One Food & Wine in the Darwin Waterfront Precinct, featuring a seasonal sit-down menu paired with wines with stunning views overlooking the harbour. Families were also included in the activities with the RMA24 Networking Event held at the Mindil Beach Sunset Market, inviting attendees to explore open-air stalls and enjoy dinner while taking in the iconic sunset.
Numbers filled quickly for the gin-blending classes where delegates created their own bespoke NT gin using locally sourced native botanicals at Charlie’s of Darwin and enjoyed a private Paspaley Boutique Heritage Showcase, which shared the pearling history of Northern Australia.
The Darwin Harbour Sunset Cruise was also a popular highlight, and the Litchfield National Park tour provided the opportunity to see more of the region, travelling 90 minutes from the city to plunge into the freshwater rock pools and swim under waterfalls.
Seeking NT Business Events support?
Business events, such as the Rural Medicine Australia Conference, are recognised by the NT Government as vital contributors to knowledge sharing and networking within the local community.
NT Government support is on offer via the NT Business Events Support Fund, which is administered by Northern Territory Business Events as a government business unit. Support is allocated to business events that align with the Northern Territory’s economic and social strengths, one of which is the health sector.
In their words
From a member of the Rural Medicine Australia organising team:
“The NT Business Events funding was instrumental in helping us deliver a truly unique and memorable experience for aspiring and practising rural and remote doctors, and the stakeholders who support them and their communities.
“The financial support enabled us to create an event that was not only professionally enriching but also deeply connected to the culture and landscape of the Northern Territory.
“The NT team went above and beyond, taking the time to understand our audience and our goals. Their genuine interest, flexibility, and local knowledge made all the difference.
“We’re so grateful for their support in helping us bring people together in such a meaningful way. It was an unforgettable experience.”
Ms Rachel Killorn
ACRRM Member Engagement Manager
(RMA24 Conference Manager)
Larrakia artist Trent Bundirrik Lee holding a Saltwater Ceremony at the Darwin Waterfront Precinct – Copyright ACRRM / RDAA