Australia has a vast area covering rural and remote regions. The government of Australia has taken the required steps to ensure that these regions have access to a comfortable lifestyle with all essential amenities. A major factor that the government pays attention to is the healthcare centre in remote and rural Australia.

There is high demand for healthcare workers in rural regions of the country. There are also many benefits to working in a rural healthcare as a locum General Practitioner (GP) in Australia. Read on to find out all about working in rural healthcare in Australia.

Rural work as a locum GP in Australia

A rural GP plays a significant role within the healthcare sector in Australia. With the majority of doctors opting to work in cities, you get to provide quality healthcare services to the rural community out of which 20% do not have access to a GP and 60% are unable to see a Specialist.

Rural work is also not limited to a specified area in general practice. You may have to conduct procedures and healthcare services which you would not be doing when working in a healthcare practice in the city.

Reasons to work in rural healthcare as a locum GP in Australia

There are many reasons why a locum GP in Australia would select to work in rural healthcare. Following are the reasons for it:

·        You have the chance to work in a diversified work setting.

·        You have access to a broad scope of practice.

·        You can earn more than a typical locum doctor working in the city.

·        You can practice anywhere you wish to. You have the chance to work across a range of healthcare practice centres that offers great flexibility.

·        You can opt to work in urban locations anytime you want.

·        You have the opportunity to evolve your skill set and expand you CV.

·        You have access to a unique lifestyle with exposure to different cultural experience.

·        You help bridge the health inequity gap in the country.

·        You are more appreciated and valued by the local communities in rural areas.

·        You have the satisfaction of being able to contribute towards the healthcare of rural communities.

·        You get to work amidst beautiful landscape and scenic natural locations.

How to become a rural doctor

There is a specific method of becoming a rural doctor in Australia. The Generalist Pathway provides the foundation training which takes you up to becoming a rural GP. This program recognises the special skills that rural doctors require in order to work in a remote healthcare setting. ACRRM (Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine) is the professional body which is in charge of Rural Generalist Medicine. This professional body is responsible for awarding the Fellowship of Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM), which defines the standards to provide excellent healthcare services in Rural Generalist practice.

Both the ACRRM and RACGP (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners) offer FARGP, which is the Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice.

Read the articles on Rural Generalist Training Scheme (RGTS) Pathway to Fellowship with ACRRM and Become a Specialist GP with ACRRM’s Independent Pathway Program for more information.

Rural doctors pay rates

One of the main benefits you get working as a rural GP in Australia is that you have the chance of earning more than you would if you were in the city. The average annual salary of a rural doctor in Australia is $209,559. The hourly rate averages to $107.

Entry level GPs can earn an average of $103, 309 per year while working in regional, rural, or remote areas. A highly experienced GP can earn up to $227,473 a year.

Does the role of a rural locum GP suit you?

Working as a rural locum GP may not be everyone’s cup of tea. If you like the idea of working in a place with a friendly regional community and lots of beautiful natural landscapes, then this is the ideal role for you.

A rural locum GP role is also ideal if you want exposure to different areas in medical practice. This way you can expand your skillset and be ready to face challenges in this field once you move on to a different practice area. You can work across a wide range of primary care and sub-specialities. From hospitals to medical centres and clinics, working as a rural GP gives you exposure to all of these work settings.

The role of a rural GP also suits if you like to have flexibility in work and maintain good work-life balance. It will also draw you if you have a genuine care to reach out to the rural and remote communities out there. The self-satisfaction you get by uplifting their lives through healthcare services is a feeling that is incomparable.

Working as a rural GP is an enriching experience at a professional and personal level.

Life as a rural GP in Australia

As a rural GP in Australia, you will find yourself working in a tight-knit community where you may get more insight into their personal lifestyles. It opens your eyes and makes you appreciate for what you have back in the city.

As a rural doctor, you may be involved in your usual general practice one minute and the next minute you may have to provide anaesthetics. This diversity in medical practice gives you confidence to face any new challenge you get to face in your medical career.

A rural GP in Australia have access to good living conditions. You will be working amidst beautiful scenery and be able to live a spacious accommodation. Great work-life balance is evident as a rural GP, where you may be just five minutes away from the beach. You can hop onto your beach shorts or put on your hiking boots, depending on where you are providing your services.

Government support

The Australian government puts significant investment towards uplifting the rural healthcare sector in the country. In 2014, the government introduced a plan to implement a National Rural Generalist Pathway. As a starting point, it appointed the National Rural Health Commissioner to carry out this task.

As a result of this plan, in 2019 $62 million was put aside for the task of supporting the Rural Generalist pathway. The ACRRM began in 1997 and a result of the effort and dedication put towards this purpose by the Australian government.

Conclusion

Working in rural healthcare as a locum GP is an experience by itself. Nothing can compare to the exposure, flexibility, and work-life balance you get working in regional, remote, and rural areas of Australia.

At Medfuture, we constantly work towards uplifting the rural healthcare sector in Australia by connecting qualified and experienced GPs with healthcare facilities. As a result, we have a range of GP vacancies across all states and suburbs in Australia.

Visit our website to view the list of current GP jobs in remote, regional, and rural locations in Australia.

Here are a few related articles to read:

Introduction to Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS)

5 Reasons to Work as a Locum Doctor

How to Become a Locum Doctor in Australia