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involved in the community. Because
it’s the sense of community and that
close-knit environment that’s a real
drawcard for anyone who goes rural
and if you don’t experience that, you’ve
gone out there and missed out on that.
The second thing I would say is take
something to do in your quiet times,
because there are going to be quiet times.
There are no cinemas, there’s no bowling
alleys, there’s no pub or clubs generally.
So, take some creative writing, take some
music, take some paint, do some artwork.
Findyourself inthebushandactuallyspend
that time learning to develop yourself.
The third thing I would say is be on the
ball with your clinical knowledge. You
don’t have a lab down the road. You
don’t have an MRI machine or a CT scan
down the road. Your patients will have to
travel maybe two or three hours to get to
those types of things. So, be up to date
on your clinical knowledge. Know how
to diagnose from clinical signs, really
listen to your patients and know how to
the ability to continue your profession
wherever you are. And I think it’s a big
blessing that you can give to people
in rural areas, and they can involve you
in their personal life; so in saying that,
that’s an advantage and a disadvantage.
People will be your patients, but they will
also be your friends so you do have to
be able to draw that line between being
their doctor and being their friend, but
at the same time it’s such a privilege.
What advice would you give
to students going on a rural
or remote placement?
If a student was to come to me and ask
me ‘what are the three things I need
to know to go rural?’ I would say this:
One, get involved in everything you can
when you’re out there. Get involved in
the local sporting club. Say yes to every
experience, if someone says come and
muster my cattle for the weekend, do it.
That’s the best thing you can do, get