Dr David Hateley
When did you get your first taste of rural work?
My first rural job after I finished was on King Island (population 1500) in the Bass Straight for almost three years. Here I did everything from primary care, emergency medicine, hospital medicine, nursing home care and palliative care. It provided a good base for rural practice; however, now I mostly do anaesthetics and emergency medicine.
How did you navigate GP training and advanced skill training?
After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I moved to WA and completed a Cert ED in Busselton, Geraldton and Albany and then the JCCA in Bunbury.
Is there a certain temperament that suits being a rural generalist?
I think having the ability to go with the flow is an important part of being a rural generalist. It can certainly change from office-based primary care to needing critical care skills on the same day.
What does the next generation of rural generalists look like to you?
The next generation is exciting! Young doctors being trained with skills who want to work rurally. What’s not to like!
When you’re not at work, what do you do with your free time?
I am a keen surfer. Currently l help Dr Phil Chapman with running the organisation Surfing Doctors who provide volunteers for remote surf camps, mostly in the third world, and running education and conferences.
What are the hours like working as a rural generalist?
The hours are varied depending on the job. ED work is very shiftwork oriented with not too much on-call and the anaesthetics work has more on-call but is generally business hours work.
What is unique about the region you work in?
My current job is a sabbatical from the WA Country Health Service and I am employed by the Australian Antarctic Division at Mawson Station! Otherwise, I reside in the South West but work all around the state.
What is your favourite thing about the region you live in?
The South West has so much to offer. Good walks, surfing, mountain biking, wine and great restaurants. But the best thing about the region is a restaurant called Miki’s Open Kitchen in Margaret River.
If you weren’t a doctor, what would you have done for a career?
I would be a firefighter for sure! They seem to have work-life balance sorted out!
If you could have any superhero power, what would that be and why?
That I could fly really fast. That way going to work at different places would take minutes instead of days and hours! Photo: Dr David Hateley just as he landed in Antarctica