Spreading their wings

RCSWA Geraldton final year students Christopher Lloyd and Liam Hubble gained some unique perspectives of rural medicine during their elective placements recently. 

Christopher took to the Kimberley skies with the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) Broome thanks to scholarship funds from the Rural Health West Elective Scholarship Program (administered by RCSWA Regional Training Hubs).  

Christopher says he is grateful for the scholarship that allowed him to embark on such a valuable two-week placement. 

“I was able to experience first-hand the challenges and satisfaction of providing much-needed healthcare throughout the Kimberley,” he recalls. 

“From primary health clinics to time-critical emergencies, highly professional teams of doctors, nurses and pilots deliver quality healthcare in settings that directly contrast with what most Australians have come to expect of healthcare.

“The vast distances covered by RFDS Broome over some of the most breathtaking landscapes are impressive to say the least.”

Image: Christopher Lloyd at Broome Airport.

Liam stayed put in Geraldton for his four-week elective and was thrilled to gain exposure to general practice, emergency, and general medicine, as well as assessing and managing his own patients under supervision.

“My elective experience provided an insight into various healthcare roles available to country doctors and how each of those roles contributes to improving rural communities’ healthcare outcomes,” Liam explains.

“This experience has only strengthened my desire to pursue a career in rural medicine and I very much look forward to starting my internship in Geraldton next year!”

Image: Liam Hubble enjoying Geraldton life.

Scholarship applicants must be medical students at a Western Australian university enrolled in their penultimate or final year of study. Only RCSWA-approved electives in a regional, rural, or remote site of MMM 2-7 status in Western Australia will be considered in the first instance, with RFDS placements considered on a case-by-case basis as funding allows.

Eligible placements must be for a minimum of two weeks duration and preference will be given to placements of longer durations. Scholarship payments can only be used to assist with travel and/or accommodation expenses and are capped at $2,000 (North of the 26th parallel, Goldfields and Wheatbelt), or $1,000 (for other sites) at the discretion of RCSWA.

For more information about placement opportunities in 2024, contact our Regional Training Hubs project officer [email protected].