Medical

An intern year at a regional health service like GV Health was a real surprise for Dr Janis Wong.

"It wasn't what I expected, but it was something that I was really looking forward to. I knew from peers and colleagues that having rural experience is always beneficial, so I was really looking forward to it," Dr Wong said.

Moving to Shepparton from Melbourne, Dr Wong said her experience was vastly different to others who had metropolitan placements.

"We have the opportunity to have more responsibility over patients. While it felt a bit more challenging at times, senior staff were always very approachable and I knew there was someone on hand to seek advice or help from," she said.

"I felt like I grew a lot more and at the end of the year I felt more prepared for what was coming up next."

With rotations in General Medicine, Emergency Department, Orthopaedics and a cover rotation in General Medicine, Psychology and Oncology, Dr Wong said there was always the opportunity to learn.

"At a regional hospital you get so many different doctors from metro rotating and coming through. I found that was really good because you're able to learn from different people and hear their experiences," she said.

"Everyone gives you different advice and that guided me as to where I wanted to go and where to apply as well.

"As well as that I really enjoyed the community aspect, and you have those little moments where you're able to work out an issue together."

Making the move from Melbourne to Shepparton, it was quite a change for Dr Wong, but she still felt at home.

"But it's nice when you're off work you can really relax, your friends are all two to five minutes' drive away from you," she said.

"And a big plus for me was being a five-minute drive from work, it really helped with very early mornings and when you're going home tired you know bed is not too far away."

To anyone considering an intern year at a regional health service, Dr Wong said people shouldn't see it as a disadvantage to progressing your career.

"Having been up here and meeting registrars from metro Melbourne gave me insight, and really helped me get a position in the city," she said.

"I would say definitely consider Shepparton as a choice, just go for it."

For Travis Holmes, an internship in a regional hospital meant he could experience every aspect of healthcare in a tight-knit community, while still having the opportunities of a larger regional centre.

Originally from Victoria, Travis headed up to Queensland to study before deciding to make the move back down south to be closer to family.

"I was excited to go through this pathway because I had completed all my placement in regional and rural locations in Queensland," he said.

"I'm familiar with the Goulburn Valley because my grandparents used to live in Murchison and we would always head up to the Murray River for holidays.

"I was looking forward to coming here but I didn't know a lot about the hospital at the time, except that it was getting a revamp and I thought it would be a good place to start my medical career."

As part of his internship, Travis had rotations through Surgical, Emergency and Medical as well as two electives of Anaesthetics and Oncology.

"I was excited for both of those because they're not rotations you typically get to do as an intern in their HMO," he said.

"Anaesthetics was a particular highlight for me. I'm interested in a Critical Care pathway, and that's what I'll be doing next year as I transition to Monash Health."

The opportunity for Travis to gain hands-on experience as well as a sense of independence – while still being supported – was essential to his learning.

"GV Health is an institution that encourages autonomy and one that gives you a lot of exposure to clinical and hands-on experience," he said.

"There are really good opportunities here, particularly in the Critical Care field."