Why did you choose to be an RG?
I didn’t know it had a name at the time, I just worked the jobs that I liked the sound of. I went to sea, I went to Antarctica and I went to Macquarie Island and worked on the NW coast of Tasmania. I learned the things I needed to know to do that work and ended up a rural generalist.

Why did you chose ACRRM?

ACRRM was always on my mind since I was a John Flynn Scholar on Lord Howe Island with RG Dr Frank Reed. Then |Dr Jeff Ayton at the Polar Medicine Unit encouraged me to pursue ACRRM training while I was working for the PMU. It was the correct decision. I trusted my mentors and took the leap of faith. My advice to students - trust your mentors! find the people that are doing the work you want to do - really doing it - and ask them for their advice - and then believe them and trust them!

How does your ACRRM training fit in with your day to day role in Antarctica?

My ACRRM training was mostly completed with support from the Polar Medicine Unit and my work in Antarctica. I need to be able to work in the office as a GP but also perform an anaesthetic or take an X-ray, perform surgery or test the drinking water quality. It is true generalist work. ACRRM training is across so many domains that it allows the breadth of knowledge and also encourages the right "can do" attitude for this rural work.

The opportunities you’ve had in a career that not only benefits you in your community, but also personally fits in with you and your life

This is my next endeavour, i am putting my remote career on hold to move into a role where I can deliver street medicine and work with the most vulnerable population in Tasmania. I will move into a Medical Director role when I return to Tasmania to achieve that. We have a mobile clinic outreach van. I will work in a regular role as a GP during the day but head out to see street medicine in the evenings. Being in the Director's chair has a great responsibility attached but also a chance to make a classy move on behalf of the people living without the opportunities that I have had.

What would be a typical day or week in your current role?

No two days are the same. I will spend time maintaining the medical facility most days - quality control procedures, stock take, cleaning and planning for the resupply. I will also need to collect my water samples and perform the safety and quality checks on the drinking water supply and also monitor the waste treatment plant with the plumbers. There are also secondary roles helping in the kitchen, washing dishes, tending to the hydroponics shed, maintaining the library and working as the hairdresser. There are always requests from head office for media footage or photos to illustrate our work here in Antarctica so plenty of opportunity to get involved. Trips to the field help break up the monotony and we can stay in the field huts and just take a break.

Do you have any advice you have to hopeful future RG’s with the end goal to get more people to choose GP and choose ACRRM and what it opens up for them?

The best way to get students fired up for rural generalism is to get them to rural generalist placements and connected with rural generalists. When I met with the final year students in 2017 at UTAS they all wanted to be emergency doctors. None of them wanted to be GPs. But they also said they wanted to go to Antarctica. When I said “you will need to come to GP training if you want to go to Antarctica", they looked confused. There is a disconnect. The students are not exposed to the possibilities and are left confused about options and taking a long time to find ACRRM. “ACRRM” is the answer to the question “what path should I take to keep more options open?” and the answer to the question “how can I get to Antarctica as the doctor?” We need to get the students in front of the stories.Punchy, memorable and inspiring stories that are actually real, this would make an impact.