Offering medical services in rural Australia
Australia’s beautiful sun burnt country offers vast amounts of land and opportunity with wide open spaces and plenty of nature to enjoy. The result is a number of unique pocket communities stretched out across the region. While they offer a number of perks in terms of lifestyle – there’s certainly plenty of peace and tranquillity – the relative isolation of these townships means that access to some critical services, including medical treatment, can be limited.
Most rural residents rely heavily on local medical practitioners to provide the care and service they need. As a result, many medical practitioners in Australia will find that their services will be highly valued in these areas as there is a significant shortage of staff and specialists. Meanwhile, setting up a practice in rural areas offers an attractive lifestyle to those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the capital cities.
The Rural Medical Practice
While many rural residents recognise that they’ll have to travel to metropolitan areas for specific treatments, including surgical procedures, patients in regional areas look for clinics to provide anaesthetic, obstetric, minor surgical and other minor procedural services. Regional practitioners and clinics need to actively recruit and attract new staff and hires. Medical students are an invaluable resource as they’re more likely to be receptive to the local lifestyle. Skilled workers from overseas are also encouraged to contribute their skills to these communities. Transition grants are available to help practitioners make the move.
Medical Practice Ownership
With a laid back setting, a genuine caring community and the ability to offer your services to individuals who are really in need, working in a rural practice can be quite an attractive option to skilled doctors. Meanwhile for those looking to branch out and continue to develop their careers, establishing a rural practice offers great opportunity to build on their skills and focus on the areas they’re most interested in.
For rural doctors looking to establish or own their own clinic, the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency (RDWA) offers a Transition to Practice program to support doctors who are looking to build their own business. The program teaches basic business management skills as well as helps to answer fundamental questions, including hiring and recruiting staff and how to finance medical equipment. Meanwhile, the federal government offers numerous grants and support for practices in these areas including funds to build new facilities and fit-outs and as well as supply new equipment.
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