Dr Aliza Lord is training as a rural generalist in the outback city of Broken Hill. She chose advanced skills in emergency medicine as she wanted to challenge herself and the additional skills are complimentary to rural general practice. 

Dr Alvin Dousip started his GP training after working in paediatrics in New Zealand, he found that having supportive supervisors was very important to his training and wellbeing. He’s now giving back by becoming a GP supervisor in the Western NSW town of Bathurst.

Dr Amy Derrick is enjoying the opportunity to train in the Western NSW town of Cowra as a stepping stone to a life as a rural GP.  

As an elite swimmer, Dr Anna Windsor competed at two Summer Olympics and three world championships. After retiring from competitive swimming her next challenge was studying medicine and becoming a GP. Dr Windsor is now GP Synergy’s Regional Head of Education Western NSW.

Dr Benjamin Tang is a composite pathway registrar, he undertook his first GP term in Western NSW in the small rural town of Oberon – an experience he enjoyed so much he is staying on for a second term.

Life as a GP in Western NSW may not have been what Dr Caroline Ivey had envisaged in her future, but she loves living near Wellington and working as a GP in an Aboriginal community controlled health service where she is completing her Extended Skills term in Aboriginal Health.

Training with the Royal Flying Doctor Service Dr Chris Diehm is enjoying the variety of medicine he sees in rural and remote general practice as well as utilising his procedural skills in aeromedical retrievals.

Originally from Canberra, Dr Daniel Rudd has moved to Western NSW for GP training, he is loving it there and intends to stay for the long term. As the Registrar Liaison Officer for Western NSW, he also wants to ensure other registrars have a positive experience when they train in the subregion.

Dr Deborah Peterson is training as a GP at the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service where she has found her passion is working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Meet rural GP registrar Dr Edward Lee. Encouraged by his rural GP supervisor, he decided to upskill in obstetrics to meet the local community need. He found this terrifying at first, but it’s now the favourite part of his job.

Drawn to providing primary health care and continuity of care in a community of need, Dr Emily Hedditch chose to train in Western NSW, she has found the training support and work-life balance have further confirmed she has made the right career choice.

As the first registrar in NSW to train in a post accredited to offer advanced specialised training in child and adolescent health, Dr Erica Watson is looking forward to being a procedural GP and reducing some of the burden that rural families with unwell children often face in having to travel to seek treatment. Why…

Dr Funmi Komolafe is a long-term GP supervisor in the the far western NSW city of Broken Hill, she is motivated to help aspiring doctors experience and enjoy a rewarding career in general practice.  

Dr Hugh Le Lievre is undertaking his GP training in Orange, the five-minute commute to work and the incredible local food and wine are just some of the benefits of living in Western NSW. Dr Le Lievre is also a GP Synergy Registrar Liaison Officer.

Previously based in Sydney, Dr Hugh Stump is living and training in Orange. He believes the benefits of being a rural GP registrar outweigh those of being in the city, whether it’s scope of practice or lifestyle.

As a medical student, Dr Jessica Yabsley undertook rural placements and realised she loved the lifestyle and being part of a rural community, she’s now training to be a rural generalist in the Western NSW town of Coonabarabran.

Dr Jordon Cox started her GP training in Sydney but transferred to Western NSW to live and work in the small town of Blayney, where she and her family now feel part of the small community. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background? I wear many hats and love them all!  I’m…

Being based in Bathurst has meant GP registrar Dr Kelly Bradley has made great local connections. Her time is divided between her young family, playing hockey, training as a GP as well as working at the local hospital as a GP Obstetrician.

Dr Kerrie Stewart was the 2017 Western NSW Registrar of the Year, recently receiving her fellowship, she is practising in Parkes and working with GP Synergy as a medical educator.

During GP training Dr Lalana Kapuwatte has met many patients with mental illness, mostly young adults. This experience inspired her to undertake procedural training in mental health, she is now looking forward to using those skills in the community.

As a rural generalist trainee in Western NSW, Dr Lin Hu is enjoying the best of both worlds – as a GP looking after people at all stages of their lives while also providing quality obstetric care to a rural community.

Dr Madeline Wilson grew up in Sydney but a taste of rural general practice during medical school convinced her that being a rural GP was for her. The breadth of clinical work and being an integral part of the community are just part of the attraction to training in Western NSW.

Dr Marcus Hayward, who is in his second term of GP training in Bathurst, grew up in Sydney but has longer term plans to settle in Western NSW.

Dr Mark Kazzi grew up in Sydney, but after working in rural hospitals he found the job more rewarding and the training opportunities to be more diverse. He chose to relocate to Mudgee for training as he felt the welcoming community was a perfect fit.  

Dr Mary Beth MacIsaac has relocated to Broken Hill where she is continuing to supervise GP registrars, which she considers to be an investment in the future of general practice. 

Relocating to Mudgee to continue her rural generalist training, Dr Melissa Price-Purnell is loving being a part of the community and using her advanced skills in obstetrics in general practice and the local hospital.

Dr Najma Habib is undertaking her second term of GP training in the Western NSW town of Wellington, she’s enjoyed both being part of the local community and the supervision she receives as part of her training.

Dr Natalie Baptista and her family have relocated to Bathurst for her GP training, she’s looking forward to working alongside her patients on their health journey.

Dr Nicole Smith, grew up in Sydney but moved to Dubbo to do a year of training at the School of Rural Health, enjoying the lifestyle so much she has returned for GP training.

With a passion for rural health and preventative medicine, starting GP training in Western NSW has been the perfect fit for Dr Nina Dowling.

Training in Western NSW, Dr Rosie Nielsen has found herself supported by passionate supervisors who have inspired her to become an holistic and capable GP.

Dr Ryan Lui chose to train on a composite training pathway so he could experience rural medicine. Undertaking his first training term in Sydney, Ryan then moved to Dubbo where he has enjoyed the experience and the supervision he has received, he has chosen to continue his training in Western NSW.

Dr Sally Plunkett is currently training in GP community term at Gulgong, a  small town just over an hour’s drive from the large regional centre of Dubbo.

City born and raised, a love of country music and lifestyle was the impetus for Dr Sally Street and her husband to retrain for life in a rural community. She is in her third term of GP training, loving life and working as a GP obstetrician in Western NSW.

Dr Sara Berry is training on the composite pathway, choosing to spend an additional term in the Central West town of Orange, she has found the experience personally and professionally rewarding.

Dr Shamaela Ullah is training on the composite pathway as an opportunity to get out of her comfort zone and experience rural medicine. Beginning her GP training with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Broken Hill has been a wonderful introduction to rural GP training.

Based in Cowra, Dr Teena Downton is a rural generalist with advanced skills in obstetrics and gynaecology. She is passionate about rural healthcare and ensuring that rural patients access high quality and safe care close to home.

Procedural GP registrar Dr Uri Harrington, and his supervisor Dr David Harwood, had very different journeys to becoming rural GPs. Both now enjoy living and working in the Western NSW town of Parkes – Uri as a GP Anaesthetist and David as a GP Anaesthetist and Obstetrician.

Hear from three rural GPs on what it’s like to live and train in Western NSW.