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Rural Nannies supporting family Koala-ty time at Rural GPs Refresher Conference!
11th April 2025
RDN likes to go the extra mile to make families and partners feel welcome at our annual conferences, whether it’s the Rural GPs Refresher Conference, which took place recently at Port Macquarie, or the events of Rural Health Month each November.
This year at Port Macquarie, it was a delight to partner with Rural Nannies to support a fun-filled children’s program. More than a babysitting agency, Rural Nannies calls itself a "support system" for families in regional New South Wales.
Founded and run by teacher and mother of three Sarah Murray, Rural Nannies was born out of the recognition that families in the bush often face gaps when seeking childcare. Their mission is to bridge that gap by connecting rural families with professional and quality nannies from the bush.
“Supporting RDN events and their children’s programs aligns perfectly with our values. Like RDN, we believe in strengthening regional communities by supporting the people who live and work in them,” Sarah says.
“By providing safe, reliable care for children during professional events like the GP Refresher Conference, we’re not just babysitting — we’re enabling parents to fully engage in professional development, knowing their children are being well cared for."
“Plus, our carers often come from rural backgrounds themselves, so there’s a strong understanding of the challenges and the community spirit that defines life in the regions,” Sarah said.
The kids also enjoyed a two-hour paint party with the Seed Art School, a movie night and games amongst other activities.
Port Macquarie is koala country and as part of the fully supervised children’s program, the group visited Billabong Zoo Koala & Wildlife Park, where the kids enjoyed a roaring time with the wildlife. RDN’s Joanne Harrison was also on hand to help out and came away just as excited by the events of the day as the littlies!
“Undeterred by the wet and windy Saturday, the children had a fantastic time at the Billabong Zoo feeding the kangaroos in the flooding gardens and even had the opportunity to stroke a dingo and a huge boa constrictor!” she said.
“Sarah Murray and her colleague Laura were instrumental in the success of our children’s program this year. Their expertise, care, and thoughtful planning brought everything together seamlessly, creating a wonderfully organised and fun-filled experience for the kids."
“We have received some amazing reviews from parents delighted with the opportunity to attend a conference like this with the added support to their families."
“You know it’s been a successful weekend when the children don’t want to leave!”
The children’s program, offered both at the Refresher and Rural Health Month conferences each year, is integral to enabling rural professional health delegates to make the most of their time away from work, creating an accessible environment for families to relax.
The success of the program is a particular point of pride for RDN Conferences and Events Manager Lindsey Eifler.
"Refresher has grown steadily year on year, which I think is a testament to its relaxed feel and great family-friendly environment," said Lindsey. "In addition to our rural-focused education program we had lots of opportunities for delegates to unwind and we didn’t forget about their families either with our fantastic kids program supported by Rural Nannies.”
According to Sarah Murray and Rural Nannies, this family friendly approach to professional development is invaluable. “We see firsthand how a lack of childcare can be a barrier to accessing healthcare, whether it’s attending an appointment, working a shift, or participating in professional development,” she says.
“Supporting initiatives like RDN’s children’s program helps remove those barriers and ensures rural families can access the care they need, when they need it— which is something we’re really proud to be part of.”
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Visit Rural Nannies here
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Find out more about the Rural GPs Refresher Conference
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Read more about Rural Health Month
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