Esperance
Located 725km from Perth, Esperance is known for its pristine beaches, iconic Cape Le Grand National Park and Recherche Archipelago. The nearby farming communities of Condingup, Salmon Gums, Grass Patch, Gibson and Cascade are the backbone of the region's rich agricultural industry.
RCSWA Esperance was established in 2004 with four penultimate students arriving each year. The office is in the centre of town close to cafes and the harbour and features a library, VC room, tutorial room, study spaces, kitchen facilities and WIFI.
Street address: 90 Dempster Street, Esperance
Postal address: RCSWA Esperance, PO Box 2496, ESPERANCE WA 6450
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
I'm very fortunate to enjoy a mix of farm life with my small children, emergency medicine and teaching medical students. It is wonderful to be re-energised by fresh, excited student faces every year and to be reminded what a great 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.
Project Officer, Goldfields
Toni Hawkins
Toni is a passionate advocate for rural healthcare with deep roots in Western Australia. Born in the Goldfields and raised in Esperance, Toni has a profound connection to the communities she serves and believes that building a robust healthcare system in these areas is essential to fostering resilient communities and ensuring equitable access to medical services.
Toni is particularly committed to mentoring and supporting junior doctors, encouraging them to explore the unique opportunities and experiences of working in rural and remote settings. In her work, Toni combines her local knowledge and professional expertise to create impactful solutions that address regional healthcare challenges. She welcomes collaboration and is eager to connect with like-minded individuals and professionals who share her vision of advancing rural training opportunities in the Goldfields-Esperance Region.
What I love about the RCSWA
I love the collegial environment and the focus on student wellbeing - we are like family.
Contact: [email protected]
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