Doctor What? Doctor Where? Stories of Rural Medicine in Victoria

In this episode we're providing an in-depth look at East Grampians Health Service which serves an area of Victoria centred around Ararat, a town of about 10,000 people and one of the gateways to the Grampians. It's a good example of Rural Health in Practice - highlighting the training opportunities and the career possibilities in regional health services all around Victoria. Want to study medicine...

The Great Ocean Road and the coastal towns beyond are major drawcards for the South West. Millions of people each year flock to the region, causing these coastal communities swelling in size over summer. The doctors featured in this episode have all made the sea change to the South West coast, moving from inland rural towns and metropolitan cities to join in the easy lifestyle local...

The years after medical school are filled with formative moments as you learn skills, encounter unexpected joys and challenges while continuing your training. Hear what junior doctors are saying about their journey in medicine as they navigate training in regional Victoria in this episode of Doctor What? Doctor Where? Stories of Rural Medicine. Want to study medicine in western Victoria? Find out...

Dr Fariha Islam made headlines when she moved to Horsham. As the Wimmera's first Neurologist, the community and health service welcomed her with open arms. Together with her partner Dr David Hunchak, they have found a rich lifestyle in Horsham. With the Grampians on their doorstep and a friendly community, the tree change has provided a wonderful environment to raise a family.  Want to study...

Dr Pauline Chapman is the Clinical Director of Emergency at Ballarat Health Services. Her career journey began in the heartland of the Wimmera on a farm filled with sheep. In this episode of Doctor What? Doctor Where? We look at how Dr Chapman went from Hay Bales to a Hectic ED. Want to study medicine in western Victoria? Find out more here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/medicine/facilities/weste...

Have you ever wondered what it's like to start out as a doctor? the highlights, lowlights, challenges and unexpected things along this journey - all the things you'll experience as you're starting your medical career. This episode of Doctor What? Doctor Where? features a group of junior doctors currently training in Bendigo, talking about all the different things they have experienced along their...

General Practice can take can take you anywhere. Whether you're looking at becoming a GP, Rural Generalist or Advanced Skills GP, there's something for everyone within this field.  In regional Victoria you'll find opportunities to practice everywhere from remote towns of 1,000 people or less to the largest regional cities. Find out more about studying at Monash Rural Health here: https://www....

Physician pathways are some of the most varied and diverse of any within the medical field, and the peak of this diversity can be found in the regions. Each of this episode's guests have come from different backgrounds and cultures, and are all working in West Gippsland right now. Find out more about studying at Monash Rural Health here: https://www.monash.edu/medicine/srh The  North West Vic...

In this episode you'll hear from doctors working within the surgical field across Victoria. You can study and train to be a surgeon entirely in regional Victoria, so no matter where you are in your career there's opportunities from medical school to advanced trainee placements and beyond. Find out more about studying at Monash Rural Health here: https://www.monash.edu/medicine/srh The  North...

Sports and exercise medicine is quite a new area of medicine, with limited places to study regionally. There are opportunities in Bendigo, Ballarat and Cairns, with a growing demand for this field. While its name might evoke images of doctors tending to pro athletes during sporting matches, that's just one part of this field which broadens out to musculo-skeletal medicine. Dr James Ooi posts preve...

The importance of local Cardiologists is steadily growing as our population ages. Coronary heart disease is the leading underlying cause of death in Australia with more than 10 per cent of deaths linked to this disease. These specialists delivering acute treatment and preventative medicine is one of the keys to managing cardiac health for the whole population and over the last few decades, th...

North West Victoria encompasses a vast area, reaching from the northern edges of Melbourne, to the semi-arid lands surrounding Mildura. All together there are 19 health services in the region, providing a wide range of healthcare and a rich tapestry of training and career opportunities for doctors across the region. Find out more about studying at Monash Rural Health here: https://www.monash.edu/m...

Rural Obstetrics and Gynaecology brings life to the regions, treating patients at some of the most important times in their lives. For the babies which these specialists deliver, it's the first time of their lives. Hear about the fulfilling career in Obstetrics and Gynaecology that's waiting for you, directly from doctors at the forefront of regional maternal and women's health. Find out more abou...

Ever wondered what opportunities are available in a regional health service? In this episode health service executives across Gippsland unpack the opportunities available across the region. These health services don't just deliver a high standard of care, they work with each other to design training opportunities across each other's sites. The variety of towns and landscapes bring with them unique...

Regional cancer treatment is a growing field across the board. With new appointments, dedicated cancer centres and new resources, it has become easier than ever to treat cancer patients within their own communities. In this episode Oncologists from regional Victoria talk about the role they play in treating their patients close to home. Find out more about studying at Monash Rural Health here: htt...

Training for junior doctors in metropolitan cities is often done through well defined, well traveled pathways with a history that sometimes stretches back decades. Out in the regions, pathways are newer. Some are still being built right now, and all of them are expanding to incorporate more regional rotations and placements. This is where the Regional Training Hubs come in. Their role is to build...

Ever wondered how to get into Medical Administration? Pathways in this space are less defined than some specialisations, but there are no shortage of administrative opportunities out there in regional Australia. Managing a health service is a lot like any large organisation - it takes expertise and committed people to keep everything running as smoothly as possible. Medical Administrators come fro...

Medical research drives healthcare delivery. Today’s research projects become tomorrow’s best practices, which is why research in regional Australia is critical to delivering health outcomes these communities need. Research can also be essential in some career pathways. and there are lots of opportunities in rural areas. Whether you plan to take on a research project alongside practicing, or you'r...

Regional Paediatricians form a vital network of doctors providing local care to kids all around Victoria. When a child in regional Victoria falls ill, the whole family is affected. Parents have to take time off work, other family members might have to take care of siblings, and in more serious cases, a lengthy trip to Melbourne is needed to seek more sub-specialised treatment at the Royal Children...

Intensive Care Units are growing in regional areas and along with them, training and career opportunities. When patients need weeks of inpatient care, providing it close to home is the best scenario.  In this episode you'll hear from doctors in Bendigo's ICU, which has expanded its capabilities alongside the redevelopment of their hospital, turning it into a key service in regional Intensive...

Emergency departments are the first port of call for seriously ill patients. This creates a fast paced, dynamic and varied job for doctors working in the ED. For the most part, these patients will just go to their nearest hospital with an Emergency Department. This means the only differences between an emergency department at a metropolitan hospital and a rural health service are their size and ca...

Anaesthesia is an essential part of patient care and plays a critical role in rural medicine. This specialisation is a crucial part of every health service, big or small. In this episode you'll hear from standalone specialists, consultants and GP anaesthetists who paint a paicture of the rich opportunities anaesthetics offers in regional Australia. Find out more about studying at Monash Rural Heal...

Monash Rural Health is one of the oldest and largest schools of  rural health in Australia, with a history stretching back more than 25 years. Its footprint covers a vast area of Victoria, stretching from Mildura in the North West, all the way to Orbost in East Gippsland. Find out more about studying at Monash Rural Health here: https://www.monash.edu/medicine/srh The  North West Victori...

Psychiatry training used to be the domain of large tertiary hospitals and clinical schools in capital cities, now it is a specialty that can be entirely completed outside metropolitan centres. In this episode you'll hear about the wide range of opportunities for Psychiatry in regional Australia from Psychiatrists practicing in this field. Find out more about studying at Monash Rural Health here: h...

General Medical practise is the cornerstone of medicine in Australia. Advanced Skills GPs, or Rural Generalists, learn an additional sub-specialty on top of general medicine which helps complement their skills in a regional setting where the healthcare needs might not be great enough to require a standalone specialist. Take a look at Northern District Community Health's We want a GP song, aimed at...