A rural rotation to remember at Collie River Valley Medical Centre
Dr Ashley Cridland and colleagues from Collie River Valley Medical Centre, including Dr Peter Wutchak and Tanya Wutchak (bottom left).
At the end of last year, Dr Ashley Cridland applied for a position on the John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program (JFPDP), hoping to broaden her experience in rural healthcare and challenge some of the assumptions she had about working in private practice. In Term 2 this year, Dr Cridland completed a JFPDP rotation at Collie River Valley Medical Centre (CRVMC) in the beautiful South West region. Here’s what she had to say about her time at CRVMC. Driving "up the hill" (as the locals say), I was nervous – unsure if I would be able to keep up and wondering how I would cope outside the hospital environment I had now become so accustomed to. But the moment I walked into CRVMC, I was greeted with warm smiles, a thorough orientation, and most importantly, welcomed into the sacred 10am daily morning tea ritual. By the end of week two, it felt like I had come home. The patients in Collie are warm, friendly, and so appreciative of the work you do. It has been a great privilege to feel accepted by such a resilient and strong community. The work itself was incredibly engaging and highly varied. I joined Dr Lee for hospital visits as a GP anaesthetist and was lucky enough to be involved in a C-section with GP obstetrician Dr Kallawk. I believe the autonomy and opportunity to work independently during this term has significantly grown my skills and confidence as a junior doctor. I left this term feeling empowered and more inspired than ever, and I think it may have been my favourite ten weeks as a junior doctor so far. To the incredible team at CRVMC – thank you. To the admin and nursing staff – you are highly efficient, brilliant and an absolute joy to work with. To the doctors – I am deeply grateful for your generosity in sharing your extensive knowledge and time. I hope to return as a rural practitioner in the not-too-distant future as I continue working towards my goal of becoming a rural psychiatrist. To anyone considering a future in rural practice or simply wanting to broaden their clinical skills and experience, I wholeheartedly encourage you to apply for the JFPDP.