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Rural Health Workforce Australia is the national peak body for advocacy and representation on Australian rural and remote health workforce issues. RHWA represents Rural Workforce Agencies in all states and the Northern Territory of Australia. Rural Health Workforce Australia is the national peak body for advocacy and representation on Australian rural and remote health workforce issues. RHWA represents Rural Workforce Agencies in all states and the Northern Territory of Australia.

Seachange Treechange Lifestylechange

Rural Health Workforce Australia has developed a series of documentaries entitled ‘Seachange, Treechange, Lifestyle Change…’ Produced by award-winning film maker Olivia Peniston-Bird, the short videos enable urban GPs to hear directly from Australian-trained GPs who have made the shift to rural or remote practice.

As Dr Paul Collett says in his documentary: “Remote practice is both challenging and enriching. It offers the opportunity to stretch your boundaries, get your own rewards and feel you’re achieving something. And you don’t have to be superhuman to do it.”

The GPs and their partners also explore the perceived barriers associated with working in the bush - barriers such as a heavier workload and lower remuneration. Overall, these rural GPs have generally found a good work/life balance and remuneration.

General Practice in rural and remote areas has often been portrayed as demanding and challenging. CEO of Rural Health Workforce Australia, Dr Kim Webber, explains: “There has been a barrage of material detailing the problems the rural and remote health workforce is facing. We are working to dispel the myths associated with rural practice and reduce the remaining barriers. Significant levels of funding and services are being offered to rural and remote health practitioners.”

As a result of changing work practices and a wide range of incentives, rural and remote practice is now recognised by many as an attractive alternative to the pressures of city practice. A survey conducted for the Rural Workforce Agency of Victoria (RWAV) found that 78 per cent of rural GPs moved to the country because they liked the country lifestyle, 64 per cent wanted the opportunity to practise comprehensive care, 49 per cent wanted the chance to practise procedural skills and another 49 per cent cited family reasons.

Dr Webber says: “Our documentaries are an opportunity for urban GPs to see and hear what it’s really like to relocate. Through our website, they can easily access the five-minute documentaries when they have a short break at work and they can show them to their partners at home.”

Go to www.gplifestylechange.com.au to view the documentaries. If you would like to use these documentaries for your own organisation, please contact Rural Health Workforce Australia.