As Australia faces growing challenges in maintaining a strong rural health workforce, the experience of retired doctors remains an underutilised national asset. Drawing on four decades of rural general practice—including procedural work in obstetrics, anaesthesia, and emergency care—Dr Desley Marshall advocates for a system that allows senior doctors to remain active in meaningful and appropriate ways after retirement.
While rural healthcare has evolved significantly since the 1970s—with more structured training, credentialling, and support now available for new practitioners—the demand for experienced clinicians remains high. Many retired doctors still hold valuable skills and knowledge that could assist in times of crisis, support younger practitioners, or fill critical gaps in rural and remote communities.
This is the vision behind the Australian Senior Active Doctors Association Inc. (ASADA), where Dr Marshall now contributes as a committee member. ASADA champions the development of a “step-down” registration category, enabling senior doctors to maintain current knowledge through appropriate continuing professional development and contribute in a flexible, non-clinical or limited-clinical capacity.
The model proposes creating a national medical reserve—a pool of experienced, qualified doctors who can be mobilised for public health campaigns, natural disasters, or periods of workforce strain, particularly in rural and remote areas. From supporting mass immunisation efforts, to assisting with emergency care, to mentoring early-career rural GPs, the possibilities are wide-reaching.
Dr Marshall’s personal experience underscores the importance of local connection in rural medicine. While her practice days are now behind her, the sense of purpose that came from contributing to her community remains. Through ASADA, she and many other senior doctors are advocating for policy changes that would allow retired health professionals—both GPs and specialists—to continue serving the communities they understand best.
With an ageing medical workforce and ongoing rural health inequities, the question is no longer whether retired doctors can contribute, but whether Australia can afford not to harness their experience.
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What a great idea, Desley! Fully support you all the way. Would be interested to hear more details. I’d be happy for my name to be added to any mailing list you might have created.
Thanks Jocelyn. Here is a link : https://asada.asn.au/ Desley
Hi Desley
I have been lobbying politicians including both Federal and State Health Ministers and members of both major political parties re the issues you raised for over 2 years.The responses vary from its too hard to we would have to change the law which I had already reiterated. Well you are a politician so please change the law and have a category of registration within AHPRA that allows retired Drs to volunteer their services. As you are aware there are about 1600 Drs that retire every year and so an enormous amount of expertise and experience is going down the Shute annually. Locally I organised a councillor to bring up this subject at the Annual Local Government Conference because we can also help at disaster relief which that organisation is involved with.My experience is that no one in authority wants to really listen.I even wrote to the new CEO of AHPRA who sent a letter to all GPS saying he would listen to any concerns.As expected 3 months later and not the courtesy of a response. Regards
Greg Beak PS I am a member of ASADA