THE unique skills and challenges faced by General Practitioners practising in rural and remote areas have been formally recognised. Rural Generalists (RGs) are now being formally recognised as a specialist medical field within general practice in the Australian healthcare system, following an announcement by Federal Health minister Mark Butler. It sets the standards for general practice, facilitate lifelong learning for GPs, connect the general practice community, and advocate for better health and wellbeing for all Australians. Rural Generalists are encouraged to select disciplines that match both their interests and local needs, and can apply to train in multiple disciplines. “The RACGP is dedicated to boosting rural general practice care so that all patients, regardless of their postcode, can access high-quality care,” he said.