Rural experience adds to doctors' skills set

Ten student doctors from Perth have been welcomed to Bunbury for the year as they undergo clinical studies with the WA Rural Clinical School.

Hailing from UWA and Notre Dame universities, the students will spend 12 months practising different specialties at the South West Health Campus and other health services around Bunbury in the hope that they will one day return to work as professional doctors in regional areas.

School medical coordinator Dr Clare Willix said students who undertook their clinical year in regional areas gained more practical experience than those in metropolitan areas, which was a positive outcome.

‘‘In regional areas there are a lot less students so it’s a lot more hands-on,’’ Dr Willix said.

‘‘They get a lot more responsibility and they come away with a lot more confidence. ‘‘The students are already getting out there and helping to deliver babies and working in the emergency department.’’

Dr Willix also said it was good for students to become familiar with living in country areas as the demand for graduated doctors in the regions was high, and students who had experienced their clinical rotation rurally were more likely to return later.

‘‘As we all know, the big need is to get health professionals into rural areas,’’ she said.

Notre Dame University student Maeve Kiely volunteered for a regional placement and is so far loving her time in Bunbury.

‘‘The opportunity to understand what it is like to live in a rural place is really special,’’ Miss Kiely said.

‘‘I think the rural clinical program provides you with a unique clinical opportunity above and beyond what you can get in the city.’’

Miss Kiely said she would consider returning to work in a regional centre after graduating university.

‘‘I would definitely be considering it in the future,’’ she said.

‘‘I have met people here who have returned to the South West after doing regional clinical years in the past.’’