With the national campaign promoting rural medical careers underway, rural GP couple Dr Melanie Considine and Dr Gerry Considine have said that if they can Go Rural, you can too.

In their guide to going rural, they say there are three big things you need to do to make it work:

• Community:
  • integration into the community is paramount if you are going to make it in the long term as a rural GP
  • Gerry and Melanie joined in on local music nights, judging talent shows and attending health promotion events
• Support:
  • there are many senior GPs, GP colleges and training providers ready to support you,including courses in emergency airway and obstetric skills, but you can tailor your skills for the needs of your community (e.g. a focus on aged care, chronic disease management, palliative care, paediatrics, mental health or emergency medicine)
  • social media allows you to access professional networking and peer support online
• Self-care
  • it is important to limit the risk of burnout by doing whatever relaxes you, such as playing music, reading non-medical books, spending time with family and getting out of town for respite

Rural Health Workforce Australia is running Go Rural with the state and territory Rural Workforce Agencies, whose role is to attract, recruit and support health professionals for rural communities.

So that medical students can get a taste of rural life the workforce agencies are holding a series of Go Rural events around the country including skills days, regional bus tours and opportunities to meet experienced rural GPs.

The first Go Rural event was held in Coles Bay in Tasmania over the weekend, and will be followed by events in places like Mudgee, Gulgong, Dunedoo, Katherine, Kalgoorlie, Traralgon and Sale.

More than 200 university health students and young doctors are expected to take part. RHWA and the agencies are also promoting Federal Government relocation incentives up to $120,000 for doctors who want to go rural.

More articles on My Health Career:

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Coles Bay image – Robyn Jay – flickr