Kalgoorlie
Status: Large site, 12 penultimate students
Kalgoorlie-Boulder is almost 600 kilometres inland of Perth and being a "goldrush town" features some of the grandest turn-of-the-century architecture, character buildings, and modern public art.
Fun local activities include the Boulder Markets, sunset at the Soundshell, KB Creative pop-up shops, Parkrun, regular quiz nights at The Miners' Rest, shopping "LoKal" in the CBD, and a tour of the Super Pit.
One of the four original RCSWA sites established in 2002, Kalgoorlie is RCSWA's administrative headquarters. Staff and students work from a modern office within the Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital grounds featuring large conference and training areas.
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Accommodation
Kalgoorlie RCSWA has three town houses and one one-storey unit available within 1km of the hospital and head office. These houses are also located within 3km of the CBD. All houses are well-equipped, fully furnished and fitted with wireless ADSL.
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Transport
Kalgoorlie-Boulder has transport available to the public along with multiple taxi services around town. As the township is fairly small and all houses are located near the CBD, you could get anywhere you needed to go on a bike!
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Health Services
Kalgoorlie RCSWA has a close working relationship with Plaza Medical Centre, Bega Garnbirringu Aboriginal Medical Services and Alpha Medical Centre. Plaza Medical Centre is a procedural general practice with six general practitioners. Bega Garnbirringu provides sustainable, culturally appropriate and holistic health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at both their clinic and mobile clinic which regularly visits our rural communities. Alpha Medical Centre is next to a very sizeable car park with adequate disabled parking space and access to the practice. It is housed in a very relaxed and spacious area, with brand new modern equipment.
The local hospital is Kalgoorlie Health Campus, and it is one of the largest regional public hospitals in WA with 106 inpatient beds. The hospital has an emergency department, paediatrics, medical ward, mental health inpatient unit, surgical, day ward, special care ward, Gaburu dialysis unit, restorative care, maternity, operating suite and TSSU, and endoscopy unit. Visiting specialists include arthritis clinic, audiologist, cardiologist, dermatologist, diabetes and endocrinology clinic, ENT surgeon, urologist, radiation oncologist, pacemaker clinic, nephrologist, occupational physician, plastic surgeon, geneticist, orthopaedic spinal surgeon, pain management specialist, ophthalmologist and development paediatrician.
Kalgoorlie Health Campus also hosts a variety of community services such as Aboriginal Medical Services, Community Drug Service Teams, Community Mental Health Teams and is also the base of RFDS. Private diagnostic facilities include Mayne Health and X-Ray West.
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Extra activities
Kalgoorlie-Boulder may be in the middle of the desert but from the grounds at Hammond Park, streetscapes in the city and the multiple playgrounds and parks may have you forgetting that fact. The area has multiple walking trails, cycle paths and various parks and precincts around town where you can relax and unwind. There are also many local social and competitive sporting opportunities available – football, netball, basketball, speedway, cricket, hockey, squash and volleyball just to name a few! If you are creative, Kalgoorlie's arts and crafts scene is something that shouldn't be missed, from the murals around town to productions in our theatre to the pop-up markets and of course, our local galleries – Fossick and Co, Black Crow Studio, Bush Blossom Gallery & Chunky Timbers. Goldfields Art Centre hosts everything from world-class productions to local concerts; there is always something going on.
To find out more of what you can get up to in Kalgoorlie check out the following links:
Staff Profiles
Lead medical coordinator, kalgoorlie
Donald Howarth
Donald has spent four decades in rural medicine, beginning in Broken Hill NSW where he took a special interest in lead contamination research. He later moved to Esperance WA to work in General Practice and Anaesthetics. A highlight of Donald’s career was when he supported a UWA project in war-torn Hargeisa, capital of Somaliland, teaching very poor medical students. He was inspired by the clinicians who had left the country as refugees and returned from well-paid jobs in the West to re-establish healthcare in the country.
What I love about the RCSWA
Now retired from clinical practice, I have the pleasure of helping RCSWA students sculpt their brains into the fine medical minds of the future. They transfer energy and enthusiasm to us old clinicians and we hopefully transfer wisdom to them. It’s a nice role I find myself in.
ACADEMIC SERVICES OFFICER, KALGOORLIE
Malinda Holwill
Malinda is the primary point of contact for students, managing exams, accommodation and placements to ensure they have a great Goldfields experience. Prior to RCSWA, she spent five years working at the WA Country Health Service on infrastructure, accommodation, and medical recruitment projects. Malinda moved to Kalgoorlie-Boulder from Perth 14 years ago and considers it a family-friendly town where the community always comes together to support each other.
What I love about the RCSWA
On my first day, I joined the admin team from across the state in Perth for their annual catch-up. It was wonderful to be welcomed so warmly by the entire team. I am excited to support the students on their journey to become qualified medical practitioners.
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