For many junior doctors in Western Australia, the Wheatbelt is their first foray into the agricultural heart of WA. For 70 per cent of those seconded to Narrogin Health Service, Potts Farm Day is also their first time on a working farm. 

Facilitated by RCSWA Regional Training Hubs with support from Rural Generalist Pathway WA, Potts Farm Day is a grassroots initiative tackling one of rural health’s biggest challenges - attracting and retaining doctors in the regions. 

By connecting city-based junior doctors with the realities of agricultural life, the day bridges knowledge gaps and builds meaningful relationships that enhance rural healthcare delivery.

Image: From left, Potts Farm Day participants with Jo Potts (centre), Shayne Potts (driver) with kelpie Jess, and Dr Ben Nwankwo.

Where it all began

The seeds of Potts Farm Day were planted in 2016 when RCSWA Regional Training Hubs Project Officer Joanne Potts invited medical students to her family’s working farm to experience the rhythms and realities of Wheatbelt life.

Jo recalls that the day began as a simple idea to help medical students based in Narrogin to connect. It has now grown into a robust medical education training day that includes junior doctors, GP registrars, and senior clinicians. 

Since expanding in 2023 to include junior doctors, the day has become an immersive, simulation-based event designed to reflect the true nature of rural medical emergencies and life on the land.

“I really wanted to showcase the region in the hope that the junior doctors who come here on rotation will love it and want to return,” Jo said. “And just as importantly, I wanted to provide meaningful education so they can genuinely connect with their patients by understanding the terminology, the obligations, and our way of life.”

Participants face simulated emergencies ranging from quad bike accidents to allergic reactions and chainsaw injuries, all while learning about crop cycles, sheep husbandry, and the logistics of agricultural export.

“We’ve brought in agricultural specialists who take the group through the farming seasons and industry pressures unique to the Wheatbelt,” Jo said. “It’s vital context. Agriculture is the biggest industry here and employs a lot of the population. Our doctors need to understand that.”

The inclusion of FACEM-led simulation training has further strengthened the program’s educational foundation, transforming it into an interdisciplinary event that does not just inform, it prepares.

“I didn’t know anything about farming before today. Now I can understand what my patients are talking about—and I can see how that builds trust.” Junior Doctor

Cultivating connection and careers

The power of Potts Farm Day extends well beyond the paddock. As the sun sets, participants gather around a fire for what Jo calls “campfire mentoring” - a relaxed and powerful evening of shared meals, stories, and career reflection.

“It’s a wonderful way to collaborate with our rural health stakeholders in an informal setting,” Jo said. “The conversations are phenomenal, and the relationships that come from these sessions lead to real outcomes. Two final-year RCSWA students who attended a recent event are now on the rural generalist pathway because of that night.”

Participants echo these sentiments, citing the day as a transformative glimpse into a rewarding future.

“The farm day helped me see how rewarding rural practice can be, not just professionally, but socially too.” GP Registrar

Image: Potts Farm Day is the first taste of rural life for many doctors and medical students and can be life-changing for them.

July 2025 marked the twentieth Potts Farm Day since its inception, a milestone that reflects the endurance and evolution of the educational program and the Potts family’s passion for rural medical education.

Jo said the day has evolved significantly into a full-scale education event where doctors are offered meaningful and memorable experiences. 

"For many, it’s their first time on a farm and that’s something special to share,” Jo said. “You can sense how included people feel. That emotional connection is powerful. When junior doctors feel genuinely welcomed, they start to imagine a life here.”

In a state where rural doctor shortages remain a critical issue, Potts Farm Day is helping to change the narrative. By creating space for exposure, understanding, and relationship-building, the program is helping to shape medical careers that stay rural.

“This is more than education, it’s about growing a rural workforce,” Jo said. “When doctors in training have these experiences early on, they can see that rural practice is not only achievable but deeply fulfilling.”

Potts Farm Day is cultivating more than just interest, it is securing the future of rural healthcare one doctor at a time.

For more on Potts Farm Day, contact [email protected]. 

Find out more about our Regional Training Hubs initiatives here.