Editorial by Dr Anna Western
If you’d told me 10 years ago that I’d be delivering babies in Kalgoorlie, I wouldn’t have believed you. Back then, I was a marketing executive working with Coca-Cola, building a comfortable career in the creative world. Medicine was something I respected from afar until, one day, I realised I wanted more. Not just a career change, but a life with greater purpose.
So, I took a leap of faith. I left behind 12 years in design and began studying medicine at the University of Notre Dame. During my penultimate and final years, I undertook a rural placement at the Rural Clinical School of WA in Kalgoorlie. At the time, I thought it was a temporary stop but now I can’t imagine working outside of rural medicine.
Kalgoorlie is a hidden gem when it comes to medical training. The hospital here offers real responsibility, support, and community. It’s big enough to provide a wide range of specialties, but small enough that you’re not lost in the crowd. As a junior doctor, you’re given hands-on experience early, and you get to work directly with senior clinicians who genuinely care about your development.
In rural medicine, you're not just observing from the sidelines - you’re in it. One day you’re managing chronic diseases, the next you're assisting in theatre or responding to a mining injury. And as someone pursuing advanced skills training in obstetrics, I’ve had the incredible privilege of supporting women through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. There’s something profoundly humbling about being there at the beginning of a new life, especially in a community you’ve grown to know and love.
But rural practice isn’t just about clinical diversity. It’s also about lifestyle and that’s where Kalgoorlie truly shines. I can walk to work. My kids’ school is close by. I’m not stuck in traffic after a long shift, I’m home in minutes, having dinner with my family. That kind of balance is hard to come by in the city, and for me, it’s priceless.
Of course, the rural path isn’t without its challenges. You need to be adaptable and ready to think on your feet. There are fewer hands-on deck and less access to many services our city colleagues take for granted. But that’s also where the growth happens, where you build resilience, independence, and confidence.
Today, I’m continuing my Kalgoorlie adventure as a Rural Generalist registrar, undertaking advanced skills training in obstetrics. It’s not the fastest or easiest path, but it’s deeply fulfilling. If you’re considering following this route, especially in Kalgoorlie, my advice is simple: take the leap. The opportunity, the community, and the meaning are all waiting for you.
To hear more about my journey and what it’s really like to make the shift from corporate life to rural medicine, tune into my episode of the Destination Medicine Podcast "From marketing to medicine " where I share the highs, the challenges, and everything in between.
