Derby

The port town of Derby lies near the mouth of the mighty Fitzroy River, on the eastern shore of King Sound, surrounded by vast tidal mud flats. The Kimberly boasts the largest tidal range in Australia - more than 11 metres. Derby is situated at the southwestern end of the Gibb River Road and is the gateway to northern Australia's gorges, meaning it is prime country for rural adventures. The Shire of Derby-West Kimberley's population is comprised of more than 50 per cent Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent peoples across 54 communities.

Established in 2005, Derby RCSWA is one of the oldest sites in the school. The RCSWA office is located within Derby Aboriginal Health Services and is a short distance from the hospital. With study spaces, a common room and kitchenette, the office is accessible to students 24 hours a day.

Accommodation

The RCSWA house is a four-bedroom open plan house with wide verandas that overlook the Derby marsh, providing a vantage point for viewing sunrises. The house is furnished, and wireless internet is provided.
Transport

Students who come to Derby should bring their own vehicles. Many of the local attractions are accessible only in the dry season, and most only by 4WD. If students have a 4WD, that is great, but if not, they can borrow the RCSWA 4WD for weekend excursions. Derby is a great place to ride a push bike, however, this has its limitations in the wet season and should not be relied upon after dark.
Health Services

Derby has two main health providers, WA Country Health Service and Derby Aboriginal Health Service (DAHS). There are no private GP practices in Derby. DAHS has a walk-in clinic for acute medicine and clinics for antenatal care, child health, sexual health, and adolescent health.

Derby Hospital has an emergency department, an adult ward, a children’s ward, and birthing suite, which is staffed by District Medical Officers with rotating junior doctors. There is an allied health team based at the hospital.

DAHS employs GPs, nurses, an Aboriginal Health Practitioner, with visiting allied health professionals. A general physician, obstetrics and gynaecology, general surgeon, paediatrician, developmental paediatrician, and psychiatrist visit regularly from Broome, while other specialists visit from Perth or further afield.

There is a Kimberley Mental Health and Drug Service office based in Derby, and a Social and Emotional Wellbeing Unit embedded at DAHS.

Students will have a rich and diverse medical experience in Derby.
Extra Activities

Derby is a mecca for outdoor living: camping, fishing, boating and 4WDing are the things you will find most people doing when they aren’t busy working. Each year a mountain biking event called “The Gibb Challenge” leaves from Derby. Teams or soloists ride from Derby to El Questro along the Gibb River Road.

In town, Derby has a library, public swimming pool, sporting fields, a horse racing track, a speedway, and historic jetty. Past RCSWA students have taken advantage of these facilities, playing AFL, volleyball, netball, basketball, golf, and lawn bowls, to name a few.

Each year during the dry season, Derby has a Boab Festival which includes events such as the Kimberley Art and Photographic Awards, the Boab Festival Basketball Carnival, the Mowanjum Festival, the Long Table Dinner, the Bush Poet’s Breakfast, film nights, quiz nights, and the Derby Cup Races.

Floods, bushfires, gorges, fishing, crocodiles, mangoes and mossies: Derby RCSWA is a dynamic and engaging small site. It will suit students who are flexible and adventurous, and who have an interest in Aboriginal Health. Susannah Warwick
Lead Medical Coordinator

Staff Profiles

Lead Medical Coordinator , Derby
Susannah Warwick

Susannah is a Co-Deputy Director of RCSWA, Sub Dean of Student Affairs and the lead Medical Coordinator in Derby. She coordinates medical student training in Derby, teaches Derby students and supports student wellbeing. When she isn't with her RCSWA students, Susannah can be found at Derby Aboriginal Health Service working as a GP. She now calls Derby home after stints in Canada and Queensland.

What I love about the RCSWA
I love living in a small rural community, working with three universities, working in medical education and the collegiality of the RCSWA.

Medical Coordinator, Derby
SinKaan Chan

SinKaan provides clinical teaching and leads tutorials for students in Derby. As a mentor she helps them through any issues they encounter during their RCSWA year. SinKann began in Derby as a GP registrar in 2009-2010, moved to Darwin for 10 years, and then relocated back to Derby in 2020. Aboriginal health has always been an area of her interest since training as a GP and it has always been her desire to work at the local Derby AMS.

What I love about the RCSWA
I enjoy teaching and sharing my clinical experiences with the students. Through the School, it is a privilege to meet all the amazingly passionate MCs across rural WA, and being able to share our clinical, teaching and life experiences.

Medical Coordinator, Derby
Matthew Kelly

Matt works as a rural generalist in ED and anaesthetics, and joined RCSWA in 2021. Matt teaches penultimate year students, which includes classroom teaching and practical sessions in the hospital. After completing his internship at Royal Darwin Hospital, Matt went on to work in Papua New Guinea as part of the Integrated Health Patrols, which offered mobile triage, testing and treatment to remote communities and training to local healthcare staff. Matt has worked in Derby and the broader Kimberley area since 2014.

What I love about the RCSWA
I love the opportunity to work with enthusiastic students who have chosen to gain experience in the exciting world of rural healthcare.

Derby has this special vibe that you have to see to love it. The community is lovely and welcoming, and for a small town it has a lot of energy.SinKaan Chan,
Medical Coordinator