Doctors are being offered packages of $400k salary, plus a house and a car, to work in rural areas in Australia whilst some doctors have been able to negotiate packages up to $500k salary, plus holidays and payment of utilities, as well as a house and car. However, those currently working in rural and regional areas say it is love of the work, not financial incentives, which encourage them to stay.
Working in rural and remote areas is not without challenges. Distance is often a factor, particularly in terms of accessing services and goods, but those who work in the country say the reward is life experience and the ability to create treasured memories. Furthermore, they feel it is not only they who reap the benefits, but also that their children learn life skills and resilience, which sets them up for adulthood.
The majority of doctors working in rural and regional areas say despite lack of resources they feel equipped to deal with any health challenges that they might have to face because they ensure to undertake adequate training before taking on a rural GP role.
This may involve additional training in obstetrics, anaesthetics and skin cancer. Specialist rural GPs have the opportunity to work as contractors and share their time between clinics, hospitals and other health facilities such as aged care.
Onsite training is available for fully qualified GPs to learn about farm-related and rural related injuries, such as injuries caused by machinery, livestock or by bushfires which they would not see in city practice. Doctors who undertake the training say it is invaluable as they would not get to experience it first-hand otherwise. They also feel that the training helps them better understand the pressures farmers face and the impact drought, financial worries, and isolation can have on mental health.
There is less access to specialists, so rural GPs understand their importance in treating patients without being able to easily refer to specialists due to waiting lists and distance. Getting a better understanding of the types of patients they will be treating gives GPs greater confidence. Doctors working in rural areas say they feel privileged to get to know the people in the towns and communities they work in and the unique lifestyle of rural and regional people.
If you are a health professional interested in working in rural or regional Australia, get in touch with us today and we will do our best to help you find a role that fits your skills and experience.