Rural Psychiatry Training: Perspectives from New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

Objective: To discuss the challenges and rewards of training in psychiatry while living and working in a rural area. The authors draw on their experiences as registrars on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, Australia. Conclusions:Rural psychiatrists and mental health workers meet with various challenges and rewards while practising and living in places of relative isolation; these have been described by practitioners in Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Psychiatry trainees often share these experiences but can also feel the impact of the disadvantages shared by most rural communities, particularly the lack of mental health services and maldistribution of mental health professionals. There are also unique difficulties and rewards to do with the process of training.

From Golden Beaches to the Heartland: Reflections of NSW Rural Trainees

“…A rural coordinator of training, Dr Marina Vamos, was appointed to help coordinate these trainees. 2 By the end of 2004, 13 rural-based registrars had started training. This study examines their experiences.…”

“…These doctors saw their futures not in Sydney but in the country. A rural coordinator of training, Dr Marina Vamos, was appointed to help coordinate these trainees 2 . By the end of 2004, 13 rural-based registrars had started training.…”

The evaluation of an online orientation to rural mental health practice in Australia

“…(2010) conducted a review of the literature on retention strategies for rural and remote health clinicians and found that education initiatives were highly significant in attracting and retaining clinicians. A number of other studies have focussed on the professional needs of rural medical clinicians, that include clinical supervision and access to educational resources and networks (Cleworth & Andrews 2003, Berntson et al . 2005, Lea & Cruickshank 2005, 2008, Gum 2007, Haines & Browne 2007, Nelson et al .…”

The experience of psychiatry training in rural NSW

“…In 2002 there were six rural trainees in NSW, 8 in 2004, there were nine and by 2012 The Rural Project 9 reported 17 rural based psychiatry trainees. A 2004 survey of trainees reported positive and negative aspects of training; positive aspects included a close working relationship with consultants, respect from other staff, autonomy in work and lifestyle benefits such as more favourable overtime, and negative aspects of training included isolation from their peer group, need for a high level of initiative to get through the training, challenges of working and living in the same community and difficulty coordinating rotations to the city to complete mandatory training terms.…”