RWAV - Rural Workforce Agency Victoria

Inspiring the next generation of rural healthcare professionals 🤩

Over 130 students from across the Hume Region attended the NEVic Health Careers Day in Wangaratta to explore the many pathways available in healthcare.

RWAV Rural Ambassador Dr Georgia Doyle and Recruitment Team Manager Ben Trewan joined the event, sharing real-world insights into careers in rural health. From hands-on workshops to conversations with health professionals, the day sparked curiosity, connection, and future possibilities.

🔗 Lean more about our rural health careers: https://loom.ly/KHuh2BQ

James is improving eye care access in rural Victoria 👏🙌

With support from RWAV funding through the Visiting Optometrist Scheme (VOS), optometrist James Mitchell has been able to deliver regular outreach eye care to Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations across regional Victoria.

Working from his base in Warrnambool, James travels to community health services to provide care in trusted, familiar settings, helping to increase engagement and reduce barriers to accessing eye health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

This outreach model has strengthened continuity of care, built trust within communities, and improved access to essential eye health services closer to home. RWAV funding continues to play a key role in enabling services like this to reach the communities that need them most.

🔗View our Outreach Programs here: https://loom.ly/DsD0ON4

This award recognises a mental health professional who has shown professional and personal commitment to regional and rural communities, and has gone above the expectations of their role to provide services to the community.

🎉 Huge congratulations to all finalists! Your work truly shapes the future of rural health in Victoria.
📅Thursday 25 June 2026 | 6:00pm – 7:15pm
📍 FREE - Online event
🔗Join us: https://bit.ly/4dFHb18

Dr Chris Henry, Albury Wodonga Health, Albury Wodonga
Dr Dian Tirza, Capstone Medical Centre, Bairnsdale
Mr Fredrik Nittsjo, Portland Mental Health Service, South West Healthcare, Warrambool
Mr Jeevan Bhusal, Grampians Health Ballarat, Grampians Health Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, Adult Acute Community MHS- South Sector
Mrs Paula Collins, Rural Mental Health Education Department of Rural Health, Wangaratta
Ms Sarah-Jayne Duryea, Happy Minds Psychology, Drysdale
Mrs Shae Wilson, Head to Health Wellington, Sale

The Rural Primary Care Nurse or Midwife Award recognises an exceptional rural nurse or midwife who has delivered outstanding patient care, positive outcomes and who performs above the expectations of their role.

🎉 Huge congratulations to all finalists! Your work truly shapes the future of rural health in Victoria.
📅Thursday 25 June 2026 | 6:00pm – 7:15pm
📍 FREE - Online event
🔗Join us: https://bit.ly/4dFHb18

Mrs Anne Brewer, Buchan Bush Nursing Centre, Buchan
Mrs Janine Rofe, Kyabram District Health Service, Kyabram
Ms Jo Bennett, Central Gippsland Health, Sale
Mrs Kathy Swift, Ensay Bush Nursing Centre, Ensay
Ms Kylie Graham, Royal Flying Doctors Service Health Group, Robinvale
Ms Rebecca Campbell, Ensay Bush Nursing Centre, Ensay

Funding is still available, don’t miss your chance to apply.

RWAV’s Medical Professional Development (MPD) Program supports doctors in rural and regional Victoria with up to $5,000 per year for professional development. From courses to further training, the program helps you build skills that benefit both your career and your community.

*The MPD program is funded by the Victorian Government

👉 Apply now: https://loom.ly/yvTPk-g

The Mentor or Supervisor Award acknowledges the exceptional efforts and dedication of a mentor or supervisor in providing support, knowledge, skills, inspiration and encouragement to health professionals.

🎉 Huge congratulations to all finalists! Your work truly shapes the future of rural health in Victoria.
📅Thursday 25 June 2026 | 6:00pm – 7:15pm
📍 FREE - Online event
🔗Join us: https://bit.ly/4dFHb18

Prof Alam Yoosuff, Shepperton Medical Centre, Shepparton
Ms Brooke Shelly, Ontario Medical Clinic, Mildura
Dr Dian Tirza, Eastwood Medical Centre, Eastwood
Dr Dorothy Chua, Albury Wodonga Health, Albury
Dr Evan Schuch, Central Medical Group, Wodonga
Mr Glenn Howell, Glenn Howell Optometrists, Hamillton
Dr Issam Muteir, West Gippsland Health care group, Warragul
Dr Mathew Jacob, Grampians Health, Ballarat
Dr Pieter Pretorius, Medical Student Educator, Rural training supervisor, Ararat Medical Centre, Ararat
Dr Simon Fraser, Latrobe Regional Health, Traralgon
Mrs Tara Case, Rural Clinical School – The University of Melbourne, Wangaratta
Dr Tegan Podubinski, Rural Mental Health, University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health, Shepparton
Ms Vanessa Jacob, Mansfield District Hospital, Mansfield

This award recognises a practice manager who has gone above the expectations of their role; shown professional and personal commitment to regional and rural communities through their leadership, mentoring and innovation.

🎉 Huge congratulations to all finalists! Your work truly shapes the future of rural health in Victoria.
📅Thursday 25 June 2026 | 6:00pm – 7:15pm
📍 FREE - Online event
🔗Join us: https://bit.ly/4dFHb18

Mrs Amelia Burman, Kyabram Regional Clinic, Kyabram
Ms Amy McElgunn, Surf Coast Women’s Health Group, Jan Juc
Dr Issam Muteir, West Gippsland Health care group, Warragul
Mr John Farthing, The Central Clinic, Warragul
Mrs Leah Jones-Davies, Central Medical Group, Wodonga

This award recognises an allied health professional who has shown professional and personal commitment to regional and rural communities, and has gone above the expectations of their role to provide services to the community.

🎉 Huge congratulations to all finalists! Your work truly shapes the future of rural health in Victoria.
📅Thursday 25 June 2026 | 6:00pm – 7:15pm
📍 FREE - Online event
🔗Join us: https://bit.ly/4dFHb18

Mr Mischka Morton, Kieser Bendigo
Mr Parivesh Kumar, Gippsland Lakes Complete Health, Lakes Entrance
Ms Brooke Shelly, Ontario Medical Clinic, Mildura

National Reconciliation Week 2026 | All In 🖤

This week, RWAV joins communities across Australia in recognising National Reconciliation Week, a time to reflect, learn, and commit to meaningful action.

The 2026 theme, All In, calls on all of us to take responsibility for reconciliation, every day. We pause to acknowledge National Sorry Day and reflect on the role we all play in supporting healing.

At RWAV, we are committed to supporting culturally safe healthcare and building respectful, lasting relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across rural and regional Victoria.

Reconciliation is not passive - it requires all of us.

At the recent Victorian Rural Health Conference, RWAV’s Service Delivery team and CEO Lauren Cordwell along with RWAV Board Director and RDAV President Dr. Louise Manning, attended the 2026 Victorian Rural Health Conference, bringing together rural health leaders from across the state to share ideas and explore solutions to key workforce challenges rural doctors, trainees and health stakeholders for a program of clinical updates, policy discussions and networking opportunities aimed at strengthening rural healthcare and workforce outcomes across Victoria.

RWAV was proud to sponsor the conference gala dinner, supporting an important opportunity to connect, reflect, and celebrate the people working across rural and regional health.

Lauren Cordwell also delivered a keynote address at the gala dinner event, highlighting the ongoing housing challenges faced by health professionals in rural Victoria and the impact this has on recruitment, retention, and community access to care.

More information on RWAV’s ‘More Homes, Better Healthcare – The Housing Challenge facing health professionals in rural Victoria’ document can be found here: https://bit.ly/4bH1LMj

A sincere thank you to the Rural Doctors Association of Victoria (RDAV), the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA), and to Chief Executive Officer Peta Rutherford (pictured in second photo), for hosting an insightful and collaborative weekend.