Unique and valuable rural primary care experience for WACHS prevocational doctors

Are you interested in doing a rural primary care rotation?

The John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program (JFPDP) offers unique and valuable rural training experiences through well-supported placements with excellent learning opportunities.

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, the JFPDP offers 10-11 week rural primary care rotations to eligible WA Country Health Service (WACHS) employed prevocational doctors.

The JFPDP is intended to build prevocational doctors’ confidence, exposure and interest in rural general practice and rural generalist medicine. In WA, the program is run by WACHS through the Rural Generalist Pathway WA (RGPWA) Coordination Unit.

If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident and a WACHS-employed prevocational doctor in postgraduate year 1-5, you may be eligible.

There are seven primary care organisations offering rural primary care rotations* through the JFPDP:

• Collie River Valley Medical Centre
• Health by Nurture
• Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service (KAMS)
• Panaceum Medical
• Pioneer Health Albany
• Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS)
• South West Aboriginal Medical Service (SWAMS).

*Rotations are subject to funding, accreditation and recruitment.

These organisations deliver excellent medical care to their patients and provide great support for the supervision and wellbeing of prevocational junior doctors.

In 2023, 28 prevocational junior doctors completed a JFPDP rotation.

Dr Alec Disley, who completed a rural primary care rotation at Pioneer Health Albany, acknowledged the uniqueness of the rotation. 

“The women's health rotation has been a great experience for me. I gained exposure to a range of women's health issues and have grown in confidence in this area of medicine," Alec said.

Alec said he sees himself working as a GP or rural generalist in Albany in the future. 

“It was a great privilege to work closely with many experienced GP obstetricians. I feel this has been an invaluable step in my journey pursuing a career as a rural generalist.”

Dr Angela (AJ) Park, a resident medical officer at Broome Health Campus, and Dr Joshua Briotti, both undertook rotations with KAMS and RFDS. 

“I have enjoyed getting to know patients on country in the community and being able to work on clinical and non-clinical Aboriginal community health projects,” AJ said. 

“Overall, I came to enjoy the rotation and I am left thinking a lot more about rural GP as a career - particularly working in Aboriginal Health,” Joshua added.

“I particularly enjoyed working in Beagle Bay and learning from the experienced GP supervisors.”

Dr Jeremy Jones was full of praise for the support offered to him following his rotation at SWAMS in Bunbury. 

“SWAMS offers a lot of learning opportunities through formalised teaching, teaching on the run and mini ad hoc sessions."

“The entire team at SWAMS have been fantastic and I have learned heaps,” Jeremy added.

To find out more about the program, contact the RGPWA Coordination Unit on (08) 6553 0873 or email ruralgeneralist@health.wa.gov.au.