Interns gain experience

Eight junior doctors training in Ararat are gaining experience practicing in a rural area.

The interns are at East Grampians Health Service through a Grampians Medical Training Program.

The program is a partnership between East Grampians Health Service, St John of God Ballarat Hospital, Maryborough District Health Service and clinics including Ararat Medical Centre and Maryborough’s Nightingale Medical Centre and Clarendon Medical Centre.

The interns completed their training in various institutions, including Monash University, Melbourne University, Notre Dame University, Flinders University and University of Sydney.

All are now working in their first year as doctors.

At East Grampians Health Service, the interns will work on rotation through the operating theatre and at Ararat Medical Centre.

East Grampians Health Service development and improvement manager and junior medical office manager Sarah Woodburn said the program was about helping the interns gain experience as a general practitioner.

This included working as a GP obstetrician, anesthetist and in a hospital.

“The idea is by training doctors in rural areas they are more likely to want to stay and practice in rural areas,” Ms Woodburn said.

“It’s all about increasing our medical workforce for the future.”

East Grampians Health Service chief executive Andrew Freeman said feedback indicated the program provided interns with hands-on opportunities, something that was rare in metropolitan areas.

East Grampians Health Service has been part of the intern program for five years.