Always a country kid at heart who is training in emergency medicine, Dr Brittney Wicksteed is already emerging as a key leader in rural health in her home state of Western Australia. She’s now WA Rural Doctors in Training Chair, as well as the Vice President of the Rural Doctors Association of WA. It was Dr Wicksteed’s journey through medical school that really helped her to realise rural medicine was where she truly belonged. She shares how growing up in small-town Western Australia, boarding school in Perth, and early exposure to rural placements shaped her path to emergency medicine, and she discusses the unique hands-on skills, strong mentorship, and problem-solving mindset that rural training provides — offering invaluable experience that city-based trainees may miss.

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After two decades working to heal the planet, Dr Stefanie Pidcock made a huge change, pivoting to a career of healing individuals in a rural setting. And this ecologist-turned-medic hasn’t looked back. Dr Pidcock shares her journey to healthcare, describing why she enthusiastically recommends rural internships, with their high level of training in some of the most beautiful locations in Australia. Dr Pidcock highlights the supportive mentors, hands-on learning, and tight knit communities that make rural medical practice so rewarding. 

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Living where people know your name, and are keen to stop and chat, is high on Dr Courtney-Anne Blackhall’s priority list for life, as is having a broad-based career in this friendly environment. So the Northern Rivers, with its beaches, restaurants and cool sea breezes is the perfect location to work as a rural GP. Courtney-Anne shares the story of her journey from Perth to Lismore, discussing the unique challenges of rural healthcare and why saying “yes” shaped her path to becoming a compassionate and adaptable GP.

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Growing up a city kid, it hadn’t dawned on Dr Emma Jones that she could and would dedicate herself to being a Rural Generalist. Then a conversation with other medical students about the benefits of living regionally led her to the John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program. Taking part in rural placements ignited her passion for regional healthcare. She hasn’t looked back. Now a GP in Geraldton, she thrives in a diverse, flexible career that includes private practice, rural outreach, hospital work, and medical education. Emma shares her journey, the challenges she faced, and the rewards of life as a rural doctor.

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A frightening experience at the age of 16 prompted Jack Howard to study medicine. He was on a country road when his grandfather experienced chest pains, and Jack didn’t know how to help except to drive at speed to the nearest country hospital. With limited guidance and no real medical role models, Jack was forced to navigate the complexities of medical school applications alone and says he “went in very naively.” His story underscores the profound impact of rural medical practice and the importance of resilience and community support. His story shows how personal experiences can shape a fulfilling career in rural healthcare.

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It's certainly not a common trajectory — from an established career in graphic design and marketing to medicine — but that’s the extraordinary career path of Dr Anna Western, a Rural Clinical School of WA alumna now working in that state’s Goldfields region. Anna discusses her choices and the determination that was required to undertake medicine while raising three young children. She reflects on the pivotal moments that led her to medicine, the challenges of balancing study with family life, and the unique opportunities and rewards of rural practice. Anna says open spaces, a vibrant community and scope for professional growth in Kalgoorlie has transformed and enriched her life and career.

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Soaring to the heights of rural and remote medicine — and not just in RFDS planes — Dr Jessica Martyn has enjoyed an extremely varied and exciting career. Dr Martyn, who is now the Head of Unit at the Port Augusta Hospital Emergency Department, has a passion for emergency medicine and regional healthcare that was shaped by her unique upbringing, hands-on medical placements, and early career experiences. From growing up with a search-and-rescue pilot father to working in Alice Springs, Jess shares how the challenges and rewards of rural medicine have fuelled her commitment to regional communities, and how living and working outside the city offers unmatched opportunities and lifestyle benefits.

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From learning to winch out of a helicopter to providing critical care in the most demanding circumstances, Dr Katie Barnes spends her career undertaking risky retrieval missions for patients. It’s an extraordinary specialisation, and one she says can be terrifying. Growing up in Byron Bay, Katie is training as an emergency medicine specialist and retrieval doctor in her home Northern Rivers region. She discusses the challenges and rewards of working in rural healthcare, the excitement of retrieval medicine, and her experiences balancing a medical career with family life. She also offers advice to women medical students and professionals considering a career in emergency or retrieval medicine, highlighting the flexibility and support available.

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The pristine beaches, the effortless rural lifestyle and participating in a welcoming community. It was all too much for Dr Isaac Taylor to resist. So he’s returned to the place he grew up in to serve the communities of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. In this episode of 'Destination Medicine', Dr Taylor shares his journey from childhood to coming home as a GP registrar. He also discusses his unexpected path into medicine, the rewarding experience of rural placements, and his current role in Cummins as part of the Remote Vocational Training Scheme.

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It’s hard to beat the regional doctor lifestyle. That’s according to veteran Dubbo GP Dr Andrew Moreton, who has dedicated his career to lifetime care in regional NSW. He’s had the opportunity to bring up his children on a small property just a few minutes from town while practicing a varying professional life and contributing to the community. In this episode of Destination Medicine, Dr Moreton shares his journey from aspiring psychiatrist to rural general practitioner, describing the moment he realised his passion for holistic care. He reflects on the diverse opportunities he's encountered in rural medicine, from teaching and mentoring to public health projects in remote communities like Bourke. Andrew offers advice to medical students, emphasising the limitless possibilities in general practice and the rewarding connections forged through rural healthcare.

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