Tropical Medical Training

I served as an Australian Army doctor for three years, spending two years based at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville and completing my General Practice Training. I was deployed twice for four and six months respectively to Timor Leste (East Timor) as part of the Australian Defence Force’s commitment there. Whilst deployed, I had the opportunity to work in the full spectrum of rural generalist work. My role ranged from providing pre-hospital emergency and retrieval care, to primary health and hospital based procedural work. I also had the chance to run clinics for the local Timor Leste population, gaining experience in tropical medicine and humanitarian aid in a developing country.

I have subsequently left the Army and am currently completing my Advanced Rural Skills training in anaesthetics at the Townsville Hospital. It was a competitive post to be selected for, and is challenging and demanding. It has been a steep learning curve coming to grips quickly in a specialty with a seemingly endless depth of detail. However, the 12 month program at Townsville Hospital is excellent and rigorously prepares you for independent rural practice.

Being a rural doctor is challenging and requires an acute awareness of balancing your ability and limitations. There may be some stressful moments in rural practice and working in the bush can sometimes be a lonely place. But it is important to remember your limits, plan carefully and to seek help early (support is often only a phone call away). Being a rural doctor is also extremely rewarding, with the immense variety of work and knowing that you are working to your fullest potential.

David Wong
28 June 2010