Doctor What? Doctor Where? Stories of Rural Medicine in Victoria

Monash University
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Choosing a career pathway in medicine is a tough decision. With so many specialty options to choose from, the possibilities often seem endless and it can be hard to decide what medicine to practice and where. This series of conversations with doctors at all stages of their career across regional Victoria paints a picture of what training and practicing rural medicine is like, and the lifestyle that accompanies it. If you are interested in a medical career, beginning, part way through or finishing up your training, or just looking for career inspiration, this is the podcast for you!

  1. 2d ago

    Careers in Wilderness and Expedition Medicine: From Ultramarathons to Antarctica

    What if a medical career could take you far beyond the walls of a hospital? In this episode, we explore the growing world of wilderness and expedition medicine, where doctors work in remote, resource-limited and often extreme environments.  Fortunately dramatic rescues are rare and wilderness medicine is often more about planning, prevention and managing risk in environments where help may be hours or days away.  You’ll hear from two doctors building careers that combine medicine, adventure, logistics and leadership: Dr Molly Cargill – an ACRRM registrar and wilderness medicine educator heading to Antarctica later this year to work as a doctor on New Zealand’s Scott Base.  Dr Sophie Fontaine – junior doctor in Gippsland with a passion for expedition medicine, disaster response and extreme environment research. Both guests also speak about how rural generalist training complements expedition and wilderness medicine; where being calm, adaptable and resourceful when there’s no easy back up, is key. In this episode: What wilderness and expedition medicine actually involve. Why prevention and logistics are just as important as emergency response. The realities of practicing medicine in remote environments The non-clinical skills needed, including leadership and communication Practical advice for junior doctors interested in this pathway For more information about the study and training opportunities across regional Victoria, head to the Monash Rural Health website. The North West Victoria and Gippsland Regional Training Hubs have commissioned this podcast to help medical students and junior doctors learn more about training and practising medicine in regional Australia. Find your nearest Regional Training Hub here.

    37 min

  2. Jun 10

    International Medical Graduates: Exams, Pathways and Support

    Australia’s rural health system relies heavily on overseas doctors or international medical graduates (IMGs), but their pathway into practice isn’t easy. One of the biggest hurdles is the Australian Medical Council (AMC) Part 2 exam, with pass rates as low as 21–24%. In this episode we explore what it’s really like to train and work as an IMG in Australia, and how we can better support this essential part of the workforce. You’ll hear from: Dr Neysan Sedaghat - a GP who moved from Chile and navigated the AMC assessment system. Dr Mary Beth MacIsaac - Director of Medical Education at Mildura Base Public Hospital Professor Belinda O’Sullivan - Director of Research, Monash Rural Health Dr Neysan Sedaghat shares the reality of starting again in a new system including a  new workplace culture, and constant rotations. Dr Mary Beth MacIsaac explains how Workplace-Based Assessments offer a practical alternative; assessing doctors in real clinical settings and supporting them towards registration. But beyond exams, support matters. Professor Belinda O’Sullivan says better support leads to better retention, especially in rural areas.  For more information about the study and training opportunities across regional Victoria, head to the Monash Rural Health website. The North West Victoria and Gippsland Regional Training Hubs have commissioned this podcast to help medical students and junior doctors learn more about training and practising medicine in regional Australia. Find your nearest Regional Training Hub here.

    37 min

  3. Jun 3

    Moving on From Mistakes: Challenging the Medical Perfectionist Culture

    Mistakes are an inevitable part of any job, including medicine. Understanding how to learn from them and then move on (without getting trapped in self blame), is a critical skill for any doctor. This episode brings practical insights from two doctors about dealing with mistakes in medicine and the pressures of perfectionism, which is often borne out of the medical system with its exams, hierarchy and high expectations. Hear from: Dr Luke Auciello - Emergency ACRRM registrar, at Bairnsdale Regional Health Service   Dr Sophie Fontaine - ACRRM registrar, at West Gippsland Healthcare Group Together they discuss why mistakes (whether clinical or professional) usually occur as a result of multiple, complex factors, rather than being purely an individual’s fault. They also explore: Why perfectionism is deeply embedded in medical culture. The difference between clinical mistakes and professional mistakes. What to do in the moment when you realise something has gone wrong. How mentors, colleagues and debriefing can help doctors process difficult situations. For more information about the study and training opportunities across regional Victoria, head to the Monash Rural Health website. The North West Victoria and Gippsland Regional Training Hubs have commissioned this podcast to help medical students and junior doctors learn more about training and practising medicine in regional Australia. Find your nearest Regional Training Hub here.

    35 min

  4. May 27

    What Does a Career with the Royal Flying Doctors Service Victoria Look Like?

    If you thought the Royal Flying Doctor Service is only about emergency retrievals and outback planes, then think again.  In Victoria, it actually looks quite different. In this episode you’ll hear from two general practitioners who combine living and practicing in Melbourne, with regular clinical work in the remote town of Robinvale, in north-west Victoria: Dr Anita Moss, GP obstetrician at Bayside Health and RFDS GP. Dr Catherine Sloan, GP at Q1 Medical, Melton and RFDS GP. Both doctors travel to Robinvale every six weeks for face-to-face clinics and continue care via telehealth. They explore the many career pathways the RFDS Victoria offers doctors, particularly in general practice, rural medicine and community care and describe why being a Flying Doctor is one of the most rewarding aspects of their career. In this episode, they discuss: What working for the RFDS can actually look like in Victoria. How GPs combine metro practice with regional and remote work. Why rural medicine accelerates learning and broadens clinical skills. The role of telehealth in modern rural healthcare. Supporting multicultural and farming communities with complex health needs. Why prevention and continuity of care are so rewarding as a doctor. For more information about the study and training opportunities across regional Victoria, head to the Monash Rural Health website. The North West Victoria and Gippsland Regional Training Hubs have commissioned this podcast to help medical students and junior doctors learn more about training and practising medicine in regional Australia. Find your nearest Regional Training Hub here.

    34 min

  5. May 20

    Lifestyle Medicine and the Art of Difficult Conversations -

    Lifestyle medicine is gaining momentum as healthcare systems grapple with rising rates of chronic disease and the limits of reactive, treatment-focused care. But alongside the science sits something just as important; the art of having difficult conversations with patients about weight, alcohol, behaviour change and long-term health. In this episode, Dr Louise Sterling discusses how lifestyle medicine goes beyond offering simple health advice, focusing instead on a structured, evidence-informed approach to whole-person care. Dr Sterling is a GP at Gladstone Street Medical Clinic in Warragul, Victoria, a former GP obstetrician and was the first GP in her community trained to perform caesarean sections. Now specialising in lifestyle medicine, Louise explains how considering factors such as sleep, stress, movement, nutrition and social connection can help doctors better understand the drivers behind chronic illness and support meaningful change. The conversation explores the challenges of navigating sensitive clinical discussions without shame or judgement, and why listening deeply to patients is often the first step toward better outcomes. Dr Sterling also offers practical reflections for junior doctors and medical students, encouraging them to practice lifestyle medicine themselves by protecting their own health and wellbeing during medical training.  For more information about the study and training opportunities across regional Victoria, head to the Monash Rural Health website. The North West Victoria and Gippsland Regional Training Hubs have commissioned this podcast to help medical students and junior doctors learn more about training and practising medicine in regional Australia. Find your nearest Regional Training Hub here.

    36 min

  6. May 13

    Dealing With Imposter Syndrome in Medicine

    Medicine attracts high achievers, but even the most capable doctors can feel like they don’t belong. In this episode we explore imposter syndrome; the persistent feeling that you’re not good enough, that you don’t deserve to be where you are, or that someone will eventually “find you out.” You’ll hear from three doctors at very different stages of their careers: Dr Thelma Boshoff, a PGY3 Rural Generalism trainee with RACGP who came to medicine as a mature-age student after a career in physiotherapy. Dr Will Hardy, an ACRRM trainee pursuing Rural Generalism, based in Bairnsdale. A/Prof Rob Dawson, a recently retired Anaesthetist and Director of  the Gippsland Regional Training Hub, Monash Rural Health. Dr Boshoff shares a deeply personal story of how imposter syndrome during internship became so overwhelming she nearly left medicine altogether, before the encouragement of a mentor helped her return and continue her career. The doctors discuss: Why imposter syndrome is common in medicine How perfectionism and hierarchy can reinforce self-doubt The role of mentors, peers and support networks Why self-reflection is a key clinical skill The importance of having a life outside medicine For more information about the study and training opportunities across regional Victoria, head to the Monash Rural Health website. The North West Victoria and Gippsland Regional Training Hubs have commissioned this podcast to help medical students and junior doctors learn more about training and practising medicine in regional Australia. Find your nearest Regional Training Hub here.

    43 min

  7. May 6

    Didn’t Want Rural… Now I Wouldn’t Trade It - Dr Joe Wong

    So you’ve just received your internship allocation… and it’s rural. For some junior doctors, that moment can bring mixed feelings, especially if they were hoping for a metro hospital. That’s exactly how Dr Joe Wong initially felt. Growing up in Malaysia and studying medicine overseas, Joe assumed the biggest hospitals in Melbourne were the best places to train. Like many medical students, his understanding of the system came largely from online forums, rankings and what others said about “prestigious” hospitals. Instead of a metro internship, Joe was allocated to the Gippsland Rural Intern Training (GRIT) program. One year on, his perspective has completely changed. Now a PGY2 doctor at the West Gippsland Healthcare Group in Warragul, Joe says working in a rural hospital gave him more hands-on experience, closer mentorship and a supportive workplace culture that helped him transition into the Australian health system. In this episode, Joe shares: Why he initially felt disappointed about a rural internship. The pressure many graduates feel to work in “prestigious” hospitals. How rural training can provide broader clinical exposure. The value of smaller teams, stronger relationships and supportive colleagues For more information about the study and training opportunities across regional Victoria, head to the Monash Rural Health website. The North West Victoria and Gippsland Regional Training Hubs have commissioned this podcast to help medical students and junior doctors learn more about training and practising medicine in regional Australia. Find your nearest Regional Training Hub here.

    28 min

  8. Apr 29

    Keeping Medicine Human in the Age of AI - Dr Shizar Nahidi

    Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of everyday medical practice; from patient notes, documentation and imaging, to risk prediction and clinical decision support. But while AI is powerful, the ethical frameworks, governance systems, and clinical guidance needed to support its safe use are still catching up.  In this episode, Dr Shizar Nahidi discusses why AI should be understood as an assistance tool, rather than a human replacement.  Dr Nahidi is a Psychiatry Registrar at Latrobe Regional Health and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer with Monash University’s School of Rural Health, who is actively involved in research and policy work around AI governance in healthcare. He says artificial intelligence is incredibly useful in crunching the numbers and supporting decision-making, however it cannot pick up on the nuances of patient-care. The conversation also delves into the risks of AI in medicine, including data privacy, bias, over-reliance on algorithms, and the loss of personalised care. Dr Nahidi highlights the importance of transparency, critical thinking and clinician oversight. Despite the risks, Dr Nahidi is ultimately optimistic about the future of AI, which if implemented responsibly, could result in rural doctors being able to spend more face-to-face time with their patients. For more information about the study and training opportunities across regional Victoria, head to the Monash Rural Health website. The North West Victoria and Gippsland Regional Training Hubs have commissioned this podcast to help medical students and junior doctors learn more about training and practising medicine in regional Australia. Find your nearest Regional Training Hub here.

    30 min
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About

Choosing a career pathway in medicine is a tough decision. With so many specialty options to choose from, the possibilities often seem endless and it can be hard to decide what medicine to practice and where. This series of conversations with doctors at all stages of their career across regional Victoria paints a picture of what training and practicing rural medicine is like, and the lifestyle that accompanies it. If you are interested in a medical career, beginning, part way through or finishing up your training, or just looking for career inspiration, this is the podcast for you!

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