Rural Health West

09/12/2025

The WA Country Health Service has expanded its Virtual Pharmacy Pre-Admission Clinic to Kununurra, supporting patients with clear and safe medication plans ahead of surgery.

The service has proven successful in other regional locations across WA. Read more:

We’ve expanded our Virtual Pharmacy Pre-Admission Clinic to Kununurra, giving patients ready access to clear and safe medication plans before going into surgery.

This successful service has already made a difference in other country areas, read more: bit.ly/47vxka0

08/12/2025

2026 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards Finalists Announced!

Rural Health West and Country Health Service are proud to announce the finalists for the 2026 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards, recognising the exceptional dedication, innovation and impact of health professionals working across rural and remote Western Australia.

As we count down to the Awards ceremony on Saturday, 14 March 2026, we look forward to introducing each finalist and sharing their inspiring contributions to improving the health and wellbeing of country communities.

A heartfelt congratulations to all finalists and nominees!

For more information about the 2026 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards, please visit the official website.

07/12/2025

Wheatbelt friends - we need your help!

Are you able to host a couple of medical students for three nights this March?

More than 200 future doctors from Curtin and Notre Dame universities are heading to the Wheatbelt from 10–13 March 2026 for an unforgettable rural immersion, the kind of experience that inspires them to come back and work in country WA.

We’re looking for wonderful locals who can open their homes to 2–3 students, provide a cosy place to sleep, a few meals, help with lifts around town, and most importantly… share what makes your community special.

These students will be visiting: Brookton, Bruce Rock, Corrigin, Cunderdin, Dalwallinu, Katanning, Kellerberrin, Kondinin, Kulin, Merredin, Moora, Narrogin, Southern Cross, and Wongan Hills.

If you live in or near one of these towns and can host, we’d love to hear from you!
Please call 08 6389 4500 or email futureworkforce@ruralhealthwest.com.au

Let’s show the next generation of rural doctors the heart of the Wheatbelt

05/12/2025

Looking for a role where you can make a real difference?

Join Wunan Health and Wellbeing, a proudly Aboriginal-led organisation as they launch an exciting new Allied Health program in beautiful Kununurra, a place full of culture, community and unforgettable landscapes.

These new roles are perfect for people who want meaningful work, strong connections, and the chance to support individuals and families living with chronic and complex conditions.

Current Vacancies in Kununurra:
General Practitioner
Mental Health Professional
Social Worker
Podiatrist (Part Time or FIFO 0.5FTE)
Physiotherapist
Chronic Conditions Nurse

Whether you’re looking for a new adventure, a deeper connection to community, or a role where you can see your impact every day, Kununurra could be the perfect place.

For more info, contact Jo Sadler on 08 9168 1001 or via hr@wunan.org.au

Help spread the word - someone in your network might be ready for their next big adventure!

05/12/2025

Celebrating 20 Years of Dedication – Rosalie Wharton

Recently, we celebrated a major milestone – 20 years of service by our long-standing data wizard, Rosalie Wharton.

Rosalie joined Rural Health West in 2005 after a career in nursing and health information, combining her passion for healthcare with her growing love of data.

Over the past two decades, she has played a pivotal role in shaping how we collect, analyse and share workforce insights – helping inform policy, improve programs and strengthen rural health outcomes across Western Australia.

From building our first program databases to overseeing the annual GP Workforce Report, Rosalie’s work has laid the foundation for many of Rural Health West’s evidence-based workforce planning initiatives.

Her sharp analytical mind, thoughtful approach and unwavering commitment to accuracy have earned her deep respect within the organisation – and across the national Rural Workforce Agency network.

Thank you, Rosalie, for two decades of dedication and data mastery. Rural Health West is stronger, smarter and better because of you. 🫶

04/12/2025

After more than two decades providing specialist eye care to communities across the Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance regions, ophthalmologist Dr David Offerman will hang up his loupes at the end of this year.

We chatted to him ahead of his retirement later this month to reflect on his incredible career.

Click the link to read what he had to say.

https://ruralhealthwest.com.au/great-southern-farewells-ophthalmologist-dr-david-offerman/

03/12/2025

Rural GPs we want to hear from you!

The Rural Health West Annual GP Survey is now open. Between September and March each year, we invite all currently practising rural GPs in WA to complete this important survey.

Your insights directly inform how we support you and your communities.

Here’s why it’s important to have your say:
From last year’s survey your feedback helped reveal the biggest challenges facing rural general practice, including:
• Bureaucracy and red tape particularly around processes, registration bodies and federal agencies
• Excessive workload and the pressure of delivering care in under-resourced settings
• Recruitment and staff turnover, one of the most consistent struggles across rural WA
• Limited local referral options, including both specialist services and NMDAH pathways
• New CPD requirements and difficulty accessing CPD
• Remuneration pressures
• Housing and childcare shortages in remote regions such as the Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfields
• Difficulty taking leave, with 100 GPs reporting challenges getting time off
Every year, your survey responses directly influence how we help you:

• Comments that flag issues are referred to our teams whether that be CPD, Locums, Grants, or Recruitment so support can be offered promptly.
• Your CPD topic requests guide the education we develop for the following year.
• Your data feeds into the Minimum Data Set (MDS), helping identify statewide workforce trends such as retirements, IMG reliance and shifting GP distribution.
• Your responses become part of our Annual GP Workforce Report, Annual Workforce Activity Plan and Health Workforce Needs Assessment, important tools used to advocate for resources, funding and policy changes where they’re most needed.

This is why getting your survey in matters.

You shape the programs, supports, and workforce initiatives that are designed for you and your experience helps protect the future of rural general practice in WA.

Not sure if your survey has arrived? Check your inbox if it hasn’t arrived drop us a message at database@ruralhw.com.au . Once you’ve received it complete the survey today and you might even win yourself some Haigh’s like Dr Des Taverner in the Kimberley.

02/12/2025

Since 2023, Rural Health West has partnered with The University of Western Australia Dental School to deliver immersive rural placements for final-year dental students – an initiative that is shaping the next generation of dental professionals while strengthening access to oral health care in remote communities.

Led by senior lecturer Dr Jilen Patel, the program places students in rural clinics across the Pilbara and Kimberley, where they work alongside experienced clinicians and engage in meaningful community outreach. These placements provide far more than clinical skills – they build cultural competence, strengthen problem-solving, and deepen understanding of rural health systems and community dynamics.

For students like Jim Rae, who completed his placement at Mawarnkarra Health Service in Roebourne, the experience has been career-defining.

“You’re not just treating teeth, you’re earning trust and trying to address barriers that go well beyond the clinical,” Jim shared. He now plans to practise in regional WA and mentor other students pursuing rural pathways.

These immersive placements are essential for workforce development. They not only provide high-quality care to communities with limited dental services, but also create opportunities for students to experience the rewards and challenges of rural practice.

For more information regarding student rural placements, please contact our Future Workforce Project Officer on choosecountry@ruralhealthwest.com.au.

01/12/2025

Applications are now open for the 2026 Indigenous Health Scholarship Program (IHSP), with the federal government committing $1 million over two years to support up to 80 scholarships annually.

The program will be managed by an Indigenous organisation,Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA), for the first time and will provide both financial assistance and mentoring to First Nations students pursuing careers in the health sector.

Students can receive up to $5000 to help cover everyday study costs such as books, equipment and other essential expenses.

Applications open 26 November and close on 15 February 2026.

Applications can be made online.

Find out more here: https://iaha.com.au/ihsp/

27/11/2025

WA Country Health Service Goldfields is a special place to work.

But don’t just take our word for it, hear directly from the incredible team about what makes the region such a rich, meaningful and rewarding place to live, work and make a real impact.

WA Country Health Service - Goldfields is a great place to work. But don't take our word for it, hear from our wonderful staff about what makes the region su...