P.O.Box 433
Nedlands
Western Australia 6909
10 Stirling Highway
Nedlands
Western Australia 6009
Orientation
Orientation Program
A formal orientation program is part of the service Rural Health West provides to all medical practitioners commencing work in rural Western Australia.
The Australian Medical Council (AMC) guidelines for content of an orientation program state that it should include but not be limited to the following:
• Orientation to the Australian healthcare system
• Communication and Cultural Safety
• Orientation to the local jurisdiction; health services and facilities
• Legislation and professional practice.
An orientation program is particularly important for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) going to work in rural and remote areas.
There are three main objectives of an orientation program for IMGs:
1. To enhance the IMGs understanding of the Australian healthcare system;
2. To enhance the IMGs understanding of relevant communication and cultural issues; and
3. To assist the IMGs transition to clinical practice via the provision of information about the local jurisdiction, health services and facilities, and the legislative and professional practice environment.
Types of Orientation
Rural Health West has three types of orientations which are outlined below:
Half Day Orientation:
The half day orientation is available for all doctors new to Western Australia who have a rural or remote Western Australian placement. It is a free three to four hour session aimed to provide clinical, cultural and family information which relates specifically to living and working in rural general practice in Western Australia.
The orientation is held at Rural Health West in Nedlands and includes information on the following:· Our support services, including:
o The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities provided by Rural Health West
such as Conferences and Workshops
o The Family Support Program
o The 5 year OTD Scheme and Rural Locum Relief Program
· Cultural Awareness with an emphasis on Aboriginal Health
· Clinical discussion with an experienced Medical Advisor
· Information on the Australian Healthcare system, professional practice and legislative requirements based on
the AMC guidelines
· Regional and local information based on the town the doctor will be working in
For more information on Rural Health West’s half day orientation email Orientation or contact Rural Health West on +61 08 6389-4500. You can also download a Request Form.
Doctors recruited to work in Western Australia by Rural Health West will be offered two additional orientation programs.
Administration Week:
An administrative schedule will be organised for the doctor in the first week after arrival in Western Australia to assist in the completion of all paperwork and registration processes necessary. The schedule may include appointments such as:
• The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) – previously the Medical Board of WA
• Rural Health West half day orientation
• Financial advice – information on the Australian taxation system
• Health Screening
• Medical Indemnity
• Private health insurance
• Orientation to the Royal Flying Doctor Service
• General practice familiarisation
Rural Orientation and Appraisal Practice (ROAP):
Orientation and appraisal participation is a requirement for all new IMGs recruited through Rural Health West. The Rural Orientation and Appraisal Practice (ROAP) program has been established to provide orientation and appraisal of IMGs commencing work in rural Western Australia.
The doctor is placed in the ROAP practice for five days to provide familiarisation to the Australian general practice environment in a busy, well organised practice. Whilst there the doctor will participate in a minimum of six sessions (session = half day).
Phase 1 (min 5 sessions)
Period as an observer with experienced General Practitioner (GP) to observe and understand:
• Doctor-patient interactions
• Communication techniques used in GP consultations in Australia
• Australian patient expectations of the GP
• Idiosyncrasies of Australian general practice
• Methods of accessing support and information
Participate in
• Supervised GP sessions (at discretion of Supervising GP)
Phase 2 (min 1 session) - Non patient contact time with GP or Practice Manager
for familiarisation with:
• Medical computer systems
• Knowledge of pathology, radiology services etc
• Mechanism of billing (Medicare Benefit Schedule Item numbers etc) and other financial issues
• Practice management advice
• Cultural awareness
It is important to note that the ROAP program is an appraisal not an assessment program with the main aim being familiarisation to the Australian general practice environment and ascertaining areas where the doctor may require extra support.
