Royal Flying Doctor Service recruits young doctors to help remote communities

The doctor shortage has long plagued the Australian Outback, but a unique partnership is looking to the sky for a solution.

In a first-of-its-kind recruitment drive, doctors who have completed their initial training and want to specialise will split their time between hospital work and work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).

Ten years ago, Dr Brianna Smith came to north Queensland from Canada to begin medical school.

The journey took her to Mount Isa for a short stay. Four years later, she is the first person to take on the new role.

A young doctor checks the contents of an RFDS bag. — Dr. Smith hopes the clinical diversity will attract staff from near and far. (ABC North West Qld: Emily Dobson)

“There are disparities between the health care you can get in the city and the health care you can get in rural and remote areas,” she said.

“I am passionate about providing as many resources as possible to these people and supporting them as best we can.”

In her new role, Dr. Smith will be able to leverage her clinical experience at a higher level than ever before.

Red, white and blue jet on the tarmac at Broome Airport at sunset. — The RFDS operates health clinics in over 100 locations across Queensland. (Provided by: RFDS)

Not everything revolves around disaster recovery

A partnership between the North West Hospital and Health Service (NWHHS) and the RFDS will give young doctors a new lease of life, with the hope that these outcomes will benefit the future workforce and the community.

NWHHS Chief Executive Officer Sean Birgan said the pilot program is a great opportunity for young doctors and even better outcomes for residents.

A man in a collared shirt smiles at the camera in the office — Mr Birgan believes this is a win-win for both the education of doctors and the bush community. (ABC North West Qld: Emily Dobson)

“We fill a lot of positions in our organizations with temporary workers. They provide good service, but they are not members of our community,” he said.

“They don’t work or play with our community.

“In remote communities, there is a strong bond with healthcare workers and getting to know each other. This program allows for that.”

RFDS Queensland Chief Executive Meredith Staib said although flight doctors are primarily known for their emergency medical services, primary health care is an important part of a flight doctor’s duties.

A woman smiles at the camera in front of an RFDS plane — Ms Staib believes collaboration is key to solving the staffing shortage. (ABC News: Elizabeth Pickering)

“We travel to 108 locations across the state, run clinics and do about 30,000 consultations a year,” she said.

“It provides GP services to people who don’t usually have access to them. Distance creates diversity in the people and cases you see.

“They come in with a whole range of things, whether it’s vaccinations or treating chronic conditions. All of that makes these doctors much more experienced.”

Map of RFDS-run airbases and clinics in Australia — The RFDS has air bases and clinics throughout regional and remote Australia. (Provided by: RFDS)

Attracting and retaining

The programme has already attracted considerable interest and has the potential to help retain more young doctors in the region.

Dr Gabrielle Keating has already spent more time in Mount Isa than she planned since she arrived as a medical student five years ago.

Now the intern, a generalist, will consider staying with the company full-time, in the hopes of one day being able to participate in a pilot program — an opportunity she says she wouldn’t have anywhere else.

A doctor in a colorful coat puts an oxygen mask on a patient — Dr Keating says the opportunity to take on this position will allow her to stay in the region longer. (ABC North West Qld: Emily Dobson)

“It’s not common to do all the training in one place, but that’s the advantage of this region, the model provides a pipeline,” Dr. Keating said.

“I think a lot of medical students would like to work for the RFDS one day, it has a magical aspect to it and it’s a great way of attracting young people here before they settle in the city.

“It’s the best of both worlds from a training perspective and a great experience that I hope will make me a better rural generalist in the long run.

“Once a young doctor gets here, he falls in love with the lifestyle.”

Inside an airplane hangar with a doctor walking around with a bag of equipment — Doctors will regularly fly to remote communities to provide basic medical care. (ABC North West Qld: Emily Dobson)

Same thing with Dr. Brianna Smith.

“We thought it would be a little adventure; come for a whole year,” she said.

“And every year there were new training opportunities and interesting work.

“So we just extended the adventure.”