From beach volleyball to Kimberley adventures: Meet Dr Josaphine Sadler, camping enthusiast and aspiring rural generalist

Meet Dr Josaphine Sadler, one of our Rural Generalist Pathway WA trainees and WA Country Health Service resident medical officers!

Dr Sadler is an aspiring rural generalist, currently working at Broome Health Campus. This year, she plans to advance her rural generalist training journey by applying to the rural generalist fellowship program with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, in addition to completing her Diploma of Child Health.

Outside of her professional commitments, Dr Sadler enjoys staying active by playing netball and beach volleyball. Her dedication to both her career and personal interests exemplifies the well-rounded spirit of a future rural generalist. She recently took some time off from her busy schedule to embark on a camping trip in the breathtaking Kimberley region.

Here’s the story in her own words:

“Having spent the last two years working in Albany, I decided it was time for a bit of a sea change, so I have swapped the white sandy beaches of the Great Southern for the red pindan of the Kimberley. The year started with a complete temperature shock for someone who had grown used to the cold: 36 degrees and 80% humidity from 7am to 7pm for two months. Despite the humidity, it was a very unusual wet season in that we got very little rain and therefore very little relief from the heat. Now though, the dry season has graced us with its presence, and that means one thing: camping.

Owing to a mutual gap in our ED rosters, my friend and fellow resident medical officer, Dr Ni Nanayakkara, and I took off up the Dampier Peninsula for a three-night camping trip. Our first stop was at Pender Bay with a camping spot on cliffs overlooking the ocean. Crystal clear waters, rock hopping and a beach full of hermit crabs to watch. Pender Bay also ticked off an official Kimberley bucket list item: finding a frog in the toilet!

The next day we spent some time at the Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, featuring iced lattes and prawns by the infinity pool, before heading to our next camping spot at Banana Well. Here we discovered that the peninsula is home to wild donkeys who are not afraid of hanging out near campgrounds. I slept soundly, but Ni tells me that the donkeys are not afraid of braying loudly at 3am! The local creek is full of crocs, but there is a pool to cool down and hide from the flies in, and pet guinea fowl running around the campsite for some entertainment. 

The next morning, we headed off again. I misplaced my coffee maker among the camping gear and so a mandatory stop was made at Willie Creek Pearl Farm for some caffeine, before heading on to James Price Point for our last night. The afternoon was spent with our feet up on the esky, a book, and admiring the sunset on the red cliffs that look like they belong on Mars, not Earth.

Then it was just a matter of heading home on our last day to wash all the mud and dirt off the car. The many insect bites were worth it for a taster of beautiful Yawuru country. Here's to the rest of the dry season!”

Thanks, Dr Sadler, for sharing your story with us. We are so happy to be supporting you through your rural generalist training journey!

Left: Dr Sadler and her friend basking in the warmth of the Kimberley sun. Right: Snippets from Dr Sadler's recent camping trip.