Working in rural Australia is an exciting career choice and one which opens up all manner of professional possibilities.
Sturt Fleurieu actively supports rural practice and encourages the development of skills relevant to successful rural general practice. As a registrar you can choose to take either the FACRRM or FRACGP/FARGP pathways to achieve your rural skills and accreditation for rural general practice.
The advantages of rural life have been documented endlessly and include things such as a strong sense of community, the ability to play important roles both professionally and outside medicine in your own community, being held in high regard by the community, safe environments in which to raise families and, of course, the opportunity to practice what many still regard as “real medicine”.
If you have an interest in procedural medicine, rural general practice is the place to be. Develop your surgical, anaesthetic, emergency and obstetric skills through you training years and put them into action in your rural practice with access to your own hospital to admit your patients and offer them comprehensive care. This is a truly satisfying professional opportunity.
The clichéd term “cradle to grave medicine” is a truism in rural practice and what a wonderful privilege this has been for those of us who have worked and lived in rural Australia.
But rural medicine is not restricted to the proceduralist. The long term sustainability of rural practice is very much dependent on the recruitment and retention of non proceduralists who will practice good, solid general practice often, but not always, choosing to access their local hospitals to practice ongoing in-patient care.
The opportunities to develop extended skills in areas of community need or personal interest are almost limitless with common special interests in palliative care, occupational health, women’s health, population health and many others.
The very definition of general practice is embodied in rural practice: Continuous, comprehensive, holistic care of individuals and communities with emphasis on prevention.
So give it a go but be careful – you may become addicted!