Dr Claudia McCulloch

I am fortunate to have spent quite a bit of time working and studying rurally. I completed two terms at Broome Health Campus last year and am currently working at Albany Health Campus as a WA Country Health Service (WACHS) employee. I decided to return to Albany after an awesome Rural Clinical School year here in 2019. Both Broome and Albany have been incredible places to work and live.

Broome allows exposure to a wide range of interesting pathology within a super supportive environment. The breadth of medicine performed by Kimberley clinicians each day is unlike anything I have experienced in the city. Exposure to this generalist approach to medicine has helped me to develop a wide variety of different skills. I was able to further expand my skillset working closely with First Nations people. I learnt more about Australia’s traditional owners throughout my six-months in Broome than I have in my entire life. The Kimberley seems to attract a certain type of friendly and adventurous person which makes for a great place to meet like-minded friends and explore beautiful landscapes.

Where Broome allows exposure to a true generalist lifestyle, Albany offers a slightly more specialist approach, and with this, several training opportunities. I am very lucky to be completing several courses this year, including the Emergency Medicine Certificate, Women’s Health Certificate and ProStart anaesthetics course. Access to a wide range of experienced specialists provides the perfect environment in which to expand your medical knowledge, all the while enjoying the benefits of country-town living. The work hours and beautiful coastline down here allows for a social and care-free lifestyle.

For anyone looking to learn to improve as both a well-rounded practitioner and individual, I couldn’t recommend working in a regional hospital more!

Photo: Dr Claudia McCulloch on one of her adventures in the Great Southern