Media

Immersion program to inspire next generation of rural medical professionals

12 March 2018
Around 160 medical students from Notre Dame and Curtin Universities are visiting the Wheatbelt this week as part of a unique immersion program designed to address a state-wide regional doctor shortage.
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Collaborative effort to tackle Pilbara health workforce issues

30 January 2018
A group of peak health bodies and agencies are providing a powerful voice for the Pilbara, working together to address the longstanding challenges in improving the region’s health workforce capacity.
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Boost for health professionals, rural communities

20 November 2017
A new scholarships program launched today will make it easier for rural medical and health professionals to access education and training.
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New Board directors for Rural Health West

18 October 2017
Rural Health West welcomes Liane Papaelias and Cathy Bolt to its Board of Directors following the Annual General Meeting held on 17 October 2017.
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Final weeks to have your say about ageing in the community

9 October 2017
People aged 65 years and over and Aboriginal people 50 years and over are encouraged to complete a survey about how confident and comfortable they are about growing older in the community.
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Ongoing GP services in Wickham and Dampier

9 October 2017
Rural Health West is working closing with the City of Karratha, Rio Tinto and 360 Health to secure GP services in the community.
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Exploring digital health prospect in country readiness project

20 July 2017
A ground-breaking research project to help determine the barriers for rural and remote general practice in adopting digital health is about to kick off across the State.
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Outreach health funding secured for another three years

28 June 2017
People living in rural and remote communities will have greater certainty about visiting health services with Rural Health West recently receiving a new three-year contract to plan and deliver outreach services across Western Australia.
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Better eating, better health for rural communities

9 June 2017
A pilot program running in 18 locations through June will help Aboriginal people make better food and nutrition choices.The nutrition pilot is being funded by Rural Health West and delivered through local health service providers, with each provider tailoring the program to suit the needs of the local community.
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Becoming better skin cancer spotters

6 June 2017
Medical and health professionals working in the Kimberley will become better skin cancer spotters with a one-off workshop coming to Broome thanks to a partnership between Skin Check WA, melanomaWA and Rural Health West.
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Rural Workforce Agency Network to administer John Flynn Placement Program

2 May 2017
The Rural Workforce Agency Network (RWAN) will administer the nation-wide John Flynn Placement Program (JFPP) from 1 July 2017. The Rural Workforce Agencies will administer the JFPP in their respective states.
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Life Membership Award for rural health champion

10 April 2017
One of Western Australia’s longest serving medical directors, Dr Stephen Langford, has been awarded Rural Health West Life Membership in recognition for his contributions to rural medicine over three decades at this year’s Rural Health West Doctors’ Service Awards.
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Specialist eye surgeries for Kimberley communities

3 March 2017
70 Indigenous people from remote communities in the Kimberley will have crucial eye and ear surgeries over coming months as part of a national program to reduce waiting times for people living in rural and remote areas. 
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Better health outcomes for people living in rural Australia

18 February 2017
People living in rural and remote communities will have greater access to high quality health services with the Australian Government today announcing a $93 million investment for rural workforce agencies. 
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Specialist eye surgeries for Great Southern communities

2 February 2017
150 Indigenous people from the Great Southern will have crucial eye surgery over the next four months as part of a national program to reduce waiting times for people living in rural and remote areas. 
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Rural doctors to hear from imprisoned journalist Peter Greste

10 January 2017
Rural medical and health professionals will have an incredible opportunity to hear a first-hand account of Peter Greste's experience and fight for freedom at the 2017 Rural Health West Annual Conference and Doctors Service Awards in April. 
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Healthy communities with access to quality healthcare

23 December 2016
Rural and remote communities have had more consistent access to quality medical care with a record number of locum doctor assignments arranged across Western Australia during 2016.
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Strategies must address distribution of doctors in the bush

14 December 2016
Rural Health West supports moves to review undergraduate medical training places and says future strategies must focus on improving the distribution of doctors in regional and remote areas of Australia.
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Pilbara collaborative identifies priority areas

7 December 2016
Peak bodies and agencies representing Pilbara health, education, police and community have met with the aim of collectively tackling some of the region’s most entrenched health and social issues.
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Awesome location says AWESoME attendee

25 November 2016
Twenty-six medical and nursing professionals from across Australia recently took part in a unique medical upskilling weekend across iconic sites such as Brides Cave, Wilyabrup Sea Cliffs and the Blackwood River. 
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New approach to tackling smoking

18 November 2016
A new research project soon to kick off in the Pilbara will take an innovative approach to tackling smoking amongst Aboriginal women. 
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Goldfields medical professionals see opportunity to treat chronic eye disease

24 October
Goldfields and medical students will have an opportunity to learn from one of the state's leading eye specialists this week.
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New role for highly respected South West doctor

11 October 2016
Respected local general practitioner, Dr Andrew Kirke was today announced as the newest member of Rural Health West’s Board of Directors. Dr Kirke is a passionate supporter of the rural health sector and his new appointment is a natural extension of the many roles he plays in ensuring rural communities have access to safe, quality medical care.
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Junior doctor receives rewarding experience working in the Pilbara region

22 September 2016
A long time interest in rural medicine has seen Bunbury-born Dr Emma become the star of a short new vignette promoting rural medical training opportunities. The Community Residency Program offers Resident Medical Officers the opportunity to experience community-based medicine in different rural locations before committing to their chosen specialty.
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Doctors in race to save 'lives' at Rottnest

9 September 2016
This weekend, the beaches and tourist hotspots of Rottnest Island will be the backdrop for a series of simulated medical emergencies including a near drowning, a snake bite, a stroke and a potential spinal injury.
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New role for health stalwart in the North West

26 August 2016
Rural health stalwart, Chris Pickett, has recently started work with Rural Health West in the role of Regional Advisor – North West, here he will support local health agencies and work with communities to tackle pressing health issues.
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Caution needed before changes to doctor's visa rules

25 August 2016
The contribution of International Medical Graduations to the rural Western Australian medical workforce should not be understated.
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Solo country doctors to get more support

1 July 2016
A new project from Rural Health West will boost support to solo general practitioners in rural Western Australia to create a more stable and sustainable medical service in small country towns.
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Esperance health workers to discuss ice strategies

17 June 2016
Esperance health professionals treating patients affected by methamphetamine use will have a chance to speak to one of the State's leading authorities on illicit drug use this week.
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Goldfields international medical workforce receives ongoing support

07 June 2016
The Forward to Fellowship program, designed to support International Medical Graduates currently working in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Kambalda, has been extended thanks to the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program. For more information about the program, please contact Rural Health West.
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Health students heap praise on Harvey weekend

23 May 2016
A recent taste of working in the rural health sector has been warmly received by a group of final year university students considering a career in rural Western Australia.
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Health students head to Harvey

9 May 2016
Twenty final year medical, nursing and allied health students will get a taste of rural practice in Harvey from 13-15 May 2016. The three-day Go Rural weekend is part of a national program to expose health students and professionals to living and working in a country town to encourage them to consider a career in a rural location. 
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Wheatbelt local wins state-wide award

26 April 2016
Ms Samantha Aurisch, Practice Manager from Bruce Rock Health Centre, has received the Rural Health West General Practice Manager Award for 2016. Sponsored by MDA National, the state-wide annual awards acknowledge and reward the integral role that practice managers play in ensuring rural general practices provide a sustainable service for their communities.
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New role for long-time rural medicine supporter

22 April 2016
Well-known rural medicine advocate, Professor Geoffrey Riley AM has been appointed as a new Medical Advisor for Rural Health West.  Professor Riley will provide high-level advice on issues of strategic importance to the CEO and Board of Directors. 
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Rural doctors Gibb back to the community

12 April 2016
Rural Health West is sponsoring two teams of Kimberley doctors, medical students and their families who will be taking part in this year's Gibb Challenge. The teams will be cycling 740 kilometres, travelling the length of the Gibb River Road, over five days to raise money for Sirens of Silence, a charity supporting emergency services workers.
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Rural health professionals eye opportunity to learn from the best

30 March 2016
Rural health professionals from around the region will come together to extend their knowledge about eye health with a new series of workshops being held in Albany by renowned ophthalmologist and McCusker Director Dr Angus Turner throughout 2016.
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Extraordinary Rural Doctors Awarded

21 March 2016
Fifteen rural doctors have been recognised for their outstanding service to rural communities at this year’s Rural Health West Doctors’ Service awards held on 19 March.
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Images
20 year award recipients
30 year award recipients
Special award recipients

Rural Health West continues to improve attraction of the future health workforce to rural and remote Western Australia

18 February 2016
Rural Health West has recently recruited its first Aboriginal Student Ambassador. Adriane is passionate about Aboriginal health and would like to pursue a career where she can impact the lives of Aboriginal people. The Rural Health West Aboriginal Health Conference 2016 will be a platform for Adriane to network with people who have similar interests in Aboriginal outcomes and who are also advocates for ‘closing the gap’, both in cultural differences and the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people.
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Rural Health West continues to support a sustainable, high-quality medical workforce in the Goldfields

18 February 2016
Now in its second year of operation, the first cohort of Forward to Fellowship members have recently completed their fellowship examinations, enabling them to become fully qualified medical specialists in their field of General Practice.
Rural Health West provides support for doctors who are working towards their fellowship through the recently established Forward to Fellowship program. This program provides participants with clinical mentoring to aid in doctors’ professional development and social assistance to encourage retention of the new workforce.
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Beckett's Choose Country for rural career

27 January 2016
GP proceduralists Dr Bethany Nelson and Dr Jeremy Beckett discuss how living and working in a rural location has led to a balanced lifestyle that they enjoy with their four children. The video highlights how they planned their rural careers and the various opportunities and experience they have had along the way.
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Rural Health West plays ball to benefit rural communities

11 January 2016
Every year Rural Health West sends currently practising country doctors an Annual GP Survey. To encourage doctors to complete and return their survey, Rural Health West offered to contribute one sports ball per survey to benefit a rural community. In December 2015, a total of 750 new sports balls were provided to several not-for-profit regional organisations that help promote a healthy lifestyle through the use of sport.
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Rural Health West announces appointment of new Chief Executive Officer

4 January 2016
The Board of Directors would like to announce that Mr Tim Shackleton has agreed to join Rural Health West as the new Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 February 2016. Mr Shackleton has extensive professional experience in the rural and regional health sector.
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Local doctors participate in a new emergency training workshop

7 December 2015
Rural Health West hosted the inaugural Paediatric Emergencies and Clinical Healthcare Scenarios (PEaCHS) workshop at the Busselton Health Campus on 4 December 2015. The PEaCHS workshop covers all aspects of paediatric emergency care and is one of the first workshops solely dedicated to this training in Western Australia.
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New eye and ear services program has success

18 November 2015
The new Eye and Ear Surgical Services Program has completed its first visit to the Kimberley region with 20 locals who had been on a waitlist being treated. The program will be visiting Kimberley, Midwest, Goldfields and Great Southern regions in the coming months.
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Local doctors explore Superpit

18 November 2015
As part of the Rural Health West Forward to Fellowship program doctors and their families in Kalgoorlie-Boulder were treated to an outing at the Superpit.
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Rural Health West hosted an awesome Wilderness Medicine Conference

11 November 2015
Rural Health West hosted 34 delegates at its newly developed Adventure Weekend – Emergency Simulation of Medical Encounters (AWESoME) Wilderness Medicine Conference. View our events calendar for upcoming events.
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Skills by the Sea Conference a great success

21 October 2015
Rural Health West hosted over 80 delegates at its Skills by the Sea Conference held in Fremantle on 17 October 2015. View our events calendar for upcoming events.
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More general practitioners choose country

7 July 2015
Provides details of statistics on general practitioner numbers in rural Western Australia has reported in the recently published Western Australia's General Practice Workforce Update.
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Extension of Southern Inland Health Initiative

26 May 2015
Rural Health West welcomes the news that regional Western Australia is set to benefit from continued funding for medical services as part of $150 million investment under the Western Australian Government's Royalties for Regions Southern Inland Health Initiative.
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Rural doctors find their place

18 May 2015

Rural Health West has produced a report Finding My Place which outlines the factors influencing the attraction and retention of doctors in rural Western Australia, as reported by the rural doctors.
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Kalgoorlie to host next generation of doctors

4 May 2015

Rural Health West has selected Kalgoorlie to host six junior doctors with the aim of encouraging them to Go Rural with their medical careers.The junior doctors will experience a range of medical settings and opportunities, from the Royal Flying Doctors, to Aboriginal Medical Services, the local hospital and general practices during their three day visit..
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Extraordinary Rural Doctors Awarded

9 March 2015
Rural Health West has presented awards to 23 rural general practitioners and specialists who have been recognised for their dedication and long-term service to rural and remote Western Australian communities.
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