Working in remote communities in the Kimberley is varied, challenging and highly rewarding experience.
Hear what others have to say about working in the region.
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Dr Naomi Houston
Dr Michael Khalil
Drs Lydia Scott, Catherine Engelke, Jared Watts & Alice Fitzgerald
Dr James Wong
Dr Naomi Houston worked as a GP Registrar for Yura Yungi Aboriginal Medical Service from 2005 to 2006, returning to work for Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service from 2015-2018. She has also performed regular locums in the Kimberley.
"I first visited the Kimberley as a medical student on placement with the Royal Flying Doctor Service when they were based in Derby. I fell in love with the region and the medicine on offer, and was keen to return as a registrar.
"I was attracted to the region as I was keen to have exposure to both acute and chronic medicine, which is what the role in Halls Creek offers. When I joined the AGPT, I was placed in Halls Creek, under supervision from Professor David Atkinson. I made good use of him as a supervisor.
"Roles in the remote communities in the Kimberley offer true rural generalism and you have an opportunity to do a bit of everything; disease management, acute inpatient care, emergency medicine, Aboriginal health. You are also valued in the community and feel these communities are somewhere you can really make a difference to people's lives.
"The medical community in the region is extremely supportive. They know Halls Creek is remote and isolated, and other people working in health in the larger towns will bend over backwards to support you in any way they can. Help is only a phone call away and I never felt out of my depth. With the Emergency Telehealth Service now available, I think the doctors up there are even better supported.
"The team at Yura Yungi were fantastic. They have a very stable local workforce and truly are the backbone of the health service.
"Halls Creek can have a bad reputation and while it had its issues, I never felt unsafe. The community is usually aware you are a doctor and are very respectful.
"The biggest challenge working in Halls Creek for me was protecting my time to ensure I didn't burn out. At times, you might be the only doctor in the clinic and there will be a waiting room of patients; the community has the same expectation of receiving care whether there is one doctor or a full complement.
"Although I wasn't on the RVTS program, the team in Broome would involve me in their activities, so that I could develop a professional network and access any education or upskilling being offered there.
"I think people considering working in Halls Creek or similar locations need to be pretty self-sufficient and have confidence in their skills and abilities. Those who are interested in working cross-culturally with staff and patients and keen to become part of the community will really thrive."
We would like to know how rural health professionals have made a difference to your community, or if you would like to let us know what you think of these stories, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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"I was sponsored by WA Country Health Service to relocate from Egypt, where I had trained in intensive medicine. I spent several weeks in Kalgoorlie and then Broome, before arriving in Halls Creek."RVTS provided very valuable support for my time in Halls Creek, through my weekly sessions and access to clinical guidelines; this was particularly valuable as someone new to working within the Australian medical system.
"The RVTS biannual workshops were extremely useful and delivered at a very high standard. They were also a valuable opportunity to meet with other RVTS participants and for my wife to meet other medical spouses.
"My RVTS supervisor was Dr Christina Herceg, who was based in Broome. She was familiar with the patients, presentations and challenges I experienced and I found her support to be invaluable.
"Halls Creek is a small town, however I found there were plenty of things to do when I wasn't working or studying. 4WD adventures, running, meditating and gold prospecting were some of my favourite activities. The other professionals in town are very social and the Aboriginal community would often invite my family to participate in events and activities, such as prospecting or hunting.
"I would recommend Halls Creek to someone with a young family or a young couple. It is very peaceful and offers a serenity that is hard to find elsewhere. I felt in control of my time and enjoyed watching the change of seasons; so people really need to give the experience a full year at least.
"My time in the Kimberley will never be forgotten and I owe my medical career and clinical skills to the experience I gained there. I would love to return when time allows, and hope to give back as an RVTS supervisor in the future."
We would like to know how rural health professionals have made a difference to your community, or if you would like to let us know what you think of these stories, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Video features:
- Dr Lydia Scott, physician and General Medical Consultant
- Dr Catherine Engelke, general practitioner and District Medical Officer
- Dr Jared Watts, obstetrics and gynaecology
- Dr Alice Fitzgerald, GP registrar
Produced by The Rural Clinical School of WA, through the WA Regional Training Hubs initiative.
We would like to know how rural health professionals have made a difference to your community, or if you would like to let us know what you think of these stories, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
GP registrar Dr James Wong about his experience in rural general practice in the Kimberley
“You’re the crazy one,” a close friend of mine responds as we debate our specialist choices. He has chosen surgery, while I have chosen rural general practice. We debate this topic often, but like a dog chasing its tail, it is entertaining and utterly pointless.
"Rural general practice is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it has worked out for me. I am writing this as I travel through the Gibb River Road, a hazardous, soulbreaking, tyre-eating, buttock-bruising, outback road trip only for the toughest of adventurers. Okay, I exaggerate. That is how it was in the past; now it is a relaxing outback road trip for part-time adventurers like me,” James said.
“I get asked a lot about working as a GP. I believe the best part is the variety of medicine that walks in the door every day; every day is different and full of surprises. It is a bit like ordering the tasting platter or trying a different dish in your favourite restaurant – how exciting!”
“Rural general practice adds an additional challenge. There is a misconception that rural GPs work in isolation and in difficult workplace environments. My experience has been quite the opposite. I get extensive support from colleagues and specialists who provide on-call advice and regular education. A lot of complex medical cases are co-managed between specialists and GPs, which keeps the job interesting while still being supported. There is always the feeling of working in a team in rural general practice,” he said.
"So, if you are a part-time adventurer, a person who likes ordering the tasting platter and new dishes or someone who likes a challenge, try general practice or rural general practice – it may just be your cup of tea.”
Dr Wong is completing his GP training through the AGPT program, via WAGPET.
We would like to know how rural health professionals have made a difference to your community, or if you would like to let us know what you think of these stories, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.