Esperance

The picturesque town of Esperance, known for its pristine beaches, iconic Cape Le Grand National Park and Recherche Archipelago, is located on the southeast coast of WA, 725km from Perth. The network of small farming communities, such as Condingup, Salmon Gums, Grass Patch, Gibson and Cascade are the backbone of the region's rich agricultural industry. In town, the newly developed foreshore shows off the best of what Esperance has to offer: sun, surf, sailing, fishing and community.

Established back in 2004, Esperance is RCSWA’s southernmost site. Located in the centre of town, the office has a library, VC room, tutorial room and kitchen facilities such as a fridge, toaster, sandwich maker, and tea and coffee facilities. Students are welcome to use the office for study and have 24-hour access.

Accommodation

Students are accommodated in a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house, located within a 10-minute walk of the town centre, GP practices and the hospital. The house is fully furnished with a queen bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers and study desk in each bedroom, lounge suites, dining table and chairs, kitchen equipment, fridge, washing machine, outdoor setting and barbecue. There is a double garage and driveway parking for two additional cars.
Transport

It is strongly advised that students bring their own car to Esperance as there is no public transport. Students without a car can get around to clinical placements on a bicycle, however winter in Esperance is not always conducive to cycling.
Health Services

Esperance Health Campus is the major Integrated District Health Services for Esperance and surrounding south-east coast region. The hospital houses 12 treatment areas in ED, two state-of-the-art resus bays, acute mental health assessment room, isolation room, two private consulting rooms and a procedure room. It has two operating theatres, a new operating theatre, a day surgery unit, a new obstetrics wing with two labour delivery rooms, single private rooms and a specialised nursery. Obstetric and anaesthetic services are provided by GP Obstetricians and GP Anaesthetists. Local GPs undertake the bulk of the emergency department shifts with some additional locums when required.

Services offered at the Health Campus include emergency medicine, ambulatory care, acute medical and surgical services, various allied health services, chemotherapy, day procedures, dental, medical imaging, mental health in-reach, obstetrics, palliative care and stress testing. Onsite pathology is provided by PathWest.

Regular visiting specialists to Esperance include cardiology, diabetic clinic, echocardiography, gastroenterology, general surgeon, geriatrician, gynaecology, medical physician, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgeon, otorhinolaryngology (ENT), paediatrician, renal physician, rheumatology and urologist.
Extra activities
Students who spend their RCSWA year in Esperance often find themselves camping, 4WDing, exploring and swimming in-between their clinical work and study. Surrounding the town there are magnificent national parks with trails to walk along and paths to explore. Along with these activities you can get involved in a range of sporting, arts, culture and service groups. Options include surfing, sailing, pottery, music events, flying, cycling, bird watching, dancing, ultimate frisbee, football, soccer, cricket, hockey, netball, basketball, volleyball, book clubs, life drawing, volunteering with ambulance, fire brigade or SES and many other activities. A full list of the many groups found in Esperance is available here: www.esperance.wa.gov.au/community-database.

For more information visit the following links or alternatively Esperance RCSWA staff can give you all the inside information on where to go!
- Experience Esperance
- Visit Esperance

I relish the mix of working in GP, inpatients and emergency medicine. It is wonderful to be reenergised by fresh, excited student faces every year and to remember what a privilege it is to be a rural doctor. Genevieve McPherson
Medical Coordinator, Esperance

Staff Profiles

Lead Medical Coordinator, Esperance
Louise Pearn

Louise guides Esperance RCSWA students through learning medicine in a rural town as well as working out what type of work/life balance they want for their future careers. When she is not teaching at the RCSWA, Louise can be found working in general practice or at the local hospital's emergency department. She has spent a decade living and working in Esperance.

What I love about the RCSWA
It is a dynamic organisation that fits the rural work model and is less bogged down in beaurocracy than other parts of medicine. I love the unique experiences that medical students can gain, whilst developing new and different life skills in a smaller community.

Medical Coordinator, Esperance
Andrew Marangou

Andrew is a Rural Generalist and is responsible for teaching general practice and internal medicine content to Esperance RCSWA students. Andrew found himself on his career pathway after an interest in biology and family encouragement. Working as an orderly in a hospital further drove his desire for a rural medical career. Andrew has spent the past decade working in Esperance and previously completed locum work in the Kimberley.

What I love about the RCSWA
I've always had an interest in teaching and enjoy the moment when a lesson 'clicks' with a student, and they realise what they have learned.

Academic Services Officer, Esperance
Toni Hawkins

If anything needs sorting in Esperance, Toni is the person to talk to. She sorts everything from student housing to timetables, events, community engagement, orientation, and liaising with the local hospital and GPs. After travelling the world, she decided to call Esperance home and joined the RCSWA.

What I love about the RCSWA
I love the people and our students - we are like family.