Kimberley - Pilbara Hub
Our Team
Mentor, Pilbara
Graeme Fitzclarence
Graeme is a rural generalist and proceduralist, and a fellowed GP with advanced special skills in Emergency Medicine, Anaesthetics and Palliative Care. He is the Director of Clinical Training at Karratha Health Campus and is often found travelling throughout the Pilbara due to his palliative care responsibilities. Graeme was inspired to develop a career in medicine by his childhood doctor from the Wheatbelt and his GP wife. He enjoys the rural and remote lifestyle and the variety that it brings to his work.
What I love about the RCSWA
I love to see the clinical growth and maturation of students throughout the year. Their memories and friendships last forever.
Contact: hubs@rcswa.edu.au
Mentor, Kimberley
Liz Gannon
A University of Washington alumnae, Liz never considered Obstetrics and Gynaecology until her first night shift on maternity where she realised she had finally found her people. She is currently a regional specialist in O&G and is passionate about building a positive culture on the Broome maternity ward. Liz loves inspiring the next generation of GP Obstetricians who are the backbone of obstetrics for much of rural Australia.
What I love about the RCSWA
Working with RCSWA Regional Training Hubs has given me a chance to nurture one of my first loves - supporting junior colleagues. The prevocational years are challenging and a time of uncertainty so it is wise to have a solid team of supporters. I collaborate with all the stakeholders involved in rural GP training so that together we can support and inspire our amazing RMOs and students. I am frequently impressed by my junior colleagues’ commitment to competency above all else. The path to becoming a skilled Rural Generalist or Rural GP is long - like all medical training in Australia - but so worth it.
Contact: hubs@rcswa.edu.au
Project Officer, Kimberley
Gina Hailes
Gina is a proud Kimberley local who has called the region home for over 20 years. With extensive experience in the health sector, she is deeply committed to fostering the growth and success of junior doctors and medical students as they embark on their rural training journeys.
Since joining RCSWA in 2021, Gina has played a pivotal role in supporting aspiring healthcare professionals. In 2024, she expanded her impact by joining the Regional Training Hubs team, further strengthening her dedication to rural medical education and training.
Gina's passion for rural healthcare and her wealth of knowledge make her an invaluable advocate for building a robust medical workforce in regional communities.
What I love about the RCSWA
I love the opportunities RCSWA provides to our students and how that benefits our local community and regional health more broadly.
Contact: hubs@rcswa.edu.au
Kimberley Region
FAQs
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Will I still be able to get into a specialty training program if I work here?
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What is the education program?
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Can I get involved in research?
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Will I be able to do audits?
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What rotations are available?
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How many other JMOs are there?
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Will I be left on my own at work?
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Does the hospital supply accommodation?
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What is the sport/cultural/nightlife scene like?
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What else is there to do?
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Where/how can my partner find work and/or study?
There were an array of differences between living and working in a rural versus metropolitan setting. Some of those that were most striking to me were the increased sense of community, variations in first line management to match locally prevalent conditions and resource availability, and the unique range of allied health professionals with which rural practitioners work closely.Dr Aidan Lewins
RCSWA Alumni, Broome
Pilbara Region
FAQs
-
Will I still be able to get into a specialty training program if I work here?
-
What is the education program?
-
Can I get involved in research?
-
Will I be able to do audits?
-
What rotations are available?
-
How many other JMOs are there?
-
Will I be left on my own at work?
-
Does the hospital supply accommodation?
-
What is the sport/cultural/nightlife scene like?
-
What else is there to do?
-
Where/how can my partner find work and/or study?
WA Country Health Service Training Programs
Rural Generalist Pathway WA
The aim of the Rural Generalist Pathway is to streamline the training journey for aspiring Rural Generalists. Once on the pathway, trainees will be assigned a mentor who is an experienced Rural Generalist, provided with individualised career navigation, connected to our network of stakeholders and given priority access to requisite courses.
The Rural Generalist Pathway WA Coordination Unit is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health under the National Rural Generalist Pathway.
Contact: ruralgeneralist@health.wa.gov.au
Find out more: ruralgeneralist.health.wa.gov.au
Rural Psychiatry Training WA
Rural Psychiatry Training WA (RPTWA) is Australia’s first ever dedicated rural psychiatry training program. The program provides comprehensive rural training at over 30 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) accredited posts.
We provide unique and comprehensive training experiences in rural generalist psychiatry, with Stage 3 trainees completing Certificates of Advanced Training considered on a case-by-case basis. Stage 1 trainees are allocated to one of four comprehensive training hubs in Albany, Broome, Bunbury and Geraldton. Each hub has the full range of training posts required for completion of a five-year generalist RANZCP Fellowship. Stage 2 and 3 trainees also have the option to explore the unique and well-supported training posts available at each of our rural training centres across WA.
The RPTWA program provides a comprehensive and fully supported pathway to a rewarding rural psychiatry career. The RPTWA team are based across WA, with the program delivered from our training hub in Bunbury.
Contact: rptwa@health.wa.gov.au
WA Intensive Care Training Pathway
The WA Intensive Care Training Pathway (WAICTP) is a new training initiative that launched in 2024. The WAICTP is a networked training pathway open to current and future Intensive Care Medicine trainees in Western Australia.
The Pathway enables trainees to complete the CICM Training Program requirements in a streamlined fashion by providing access to training rotations, integrating training across tertiary, outer metropolitan and rural health services, supporting individual educational needs based on a trainee's phase of training.
The Pathway is centrally coordinated within the WACHS Medical Education Unit and is supported by a centralised recruitment, selection and allocation process.
Contact: WAICTP@health.wa.gov.au
WA Rural Physician Training Pathway
The WA Rural Physician Training Pathway aims to provide a networked training approach for WA rural physician trainees.
In Basic Physician Training (BPT), the Pathway will map a three-year training journey within the WA Country Health network, with in-reach rotations to partnered level 3 training settings for a period of 12 months to achieve the Royal Australasian College of Physician (RACP) Basic Physician Training Adult Internal Medicine (BPT AIM) training requirements. The Pathway will progress into supporting RACP Advanced Training to ensure a coordinated and networked approach across rural WA.
Centrally coordinated by the WA Rural Physician Training team.
Contact: WACHS.BPT@health.wa.gov.au
Networking
Established in 2021, JMOKS is a society that wears many hats, including advocacy and representation for junior doctors and registrars, plus the organisation of social and educational events. The society helps Kimberley junior medical officers connect with one another and get the most out of their time living and working in this exciting region.
Contact: jmoks@health.wa.gov.au
The Kimberley Health Professionals Network aims to connect people working in health in the Kimberley region through high quality local professional learning, networking and social engagement.
Contact: contact@khpn.com.au
Find out more: khpn.com.au
The Pilbara Health Professionals Network aims to connect people working in health in the Pilbara region through high quality local professional learning, networking and social engagement.
Contact: contact@phpn.com.au
Find out more: phpn.com.au
Western Australian Rural Doctors in Training (WARDiT) works closely with local medical administrations and hospital executives to ensure JMOs – as representative stakeholders – are given a seat at the table. This involves engagement in professional matters, industrial relations, education and training, the promotion of fair work environments and workplace culture, to name a few. Networking and support are high priorities along with mentorship, social events and inclusivity (both in and out of work).
Find out more: wardit.com.au
The WA Rural Paediatricians Network represents rural paediatricians and paediatricians who provide rural outreach to children and families in WA. The Network is independent of the WA Country Health Service and the Child and Adolescent Health Service and provides advocacy on issues relevant to rural paediatricians.
The Network acts as a forum for discussing shared issues in service delivery and clinical care, supports rural training network, and provides networking and educational opportunities to its members.
Contact: hubs@rcswa.edu.au
