Across rural and remote Australia, many communities rely on visiting doctors to keep local health services running. For the doctors who take on these placements, the reward often goes well beyond the clinical experience. It is the landscapes, the wildlife and the connections they would not find anywhere else.
We caught up with Dr Lisa, our recent locum photo competition winner, about her placements across the Kimberley region of Western Australia, Doomadgee and Norfolk Island. She shares what first drew her to remote medicine, the moments that have stayed with her, and her advice for doctors considering their first locum placement, along with some of the stunning photography she has captured along the way.
“I've been doing a yearly locum placement since 2018. Initially, I challenged myself by working in remote medicine to stretch my clinical skills beyond what I call 'city medicine'. I found the experience so fulfilling that I now look forward to new locum adventures each year.”
“All of the remote communities I've worked in have had their own special qualities. One of my favourite memories is sitting by the river fishing with local Elders in Doomadgee and having a yarn at sunset.
Exploring the Kimberley region is magical; it's full of stories, characters and incredible landscapes. Norfolk Island was another standout. It's a beautiful place with a fantastic hospital team, and during my time there I discovered that my own family history was intertwined with the island's history, which was quite a revelation.”
A Kimberley sunset behind the boabs, captured by Dr Lisa during her Broome placement.
“I think because I'd been in Derby the year before and had been fishing with some of the local hospital health team while the ladies' fishing competition was on, the locals knew it was something I'd enjoy.
I felt very grateful to be invited along. It was an amazing day where I got to see incredible scenery, including freshwater waterfalls flowing onto the beach, and I even caught a 65cm trevally!”
“You will almost always be supported by highly experienced nurses and other team members who know exactly how things work in their part of Australia. They are your best resource.
It's also important to remember that help is only ever a phone or video call away.”
“One of the great things about locum work is the opportunity to explore places that can often be difficult to access.
I always make time to walk and exercise every day, after checking in with the locals about safety. I love exploring the surrounding country, and I always pack a small telescopic fishing rod and my camera because you never know what you'll see.
My Australian bird count is now up to 203 species!”
Being well prepared is essential. ALS2 certification is a must for remote medicine.
It's also important to take the time to understand the community you're caring for, their history, culture and language groups. Every place is unique, and learning that story before you arrive helps inform the care you provide and allows you to connect more meaningfully with the community.
If Dr Lisa's story has you dreaming about your own locum adventure, our team is happy to talk through what a placement in the Kimberley, or elsewhere in regional and remote Australia, could look like for you. Get in touch, for a friendly, no-commitment chat.
All photographs in this article were taken by, and are published with the permission of, Dr Lisa.