Four WACRH graduates on how their rural placement inspired their decision to return to work in Geraldton

After finishing their rural placements in the Mid West across the fields of psychology, speech pathology, podiatry and optometry, several graduates have shared their reasons why they returned to Geraldton to start their careers. The four graduates completed their final-year rural placements last year with the Geraldton-based WA Centre for Rural Health as part of the University of WA. The immersive, hands-on experiences they gained in regional WA inspired them, playing a big part in their decisions to come back and work rurally. Optometrist Xin Ru Lim initially felt uncertain about rural life but was keen to challenge herself. “The outreach trips to Mt Magnet and Gascoyne Junction were eye-opening,” she said. “Seeing the limited access to healthcare firsthand made me realise the importance of rural health services.” A standout moment for podiatrist John Bacus was surfing with his supervisor after clinic hours, giving him a glimpse of the region’s enviable work-life balance. He was also inspired by positive feedback from past students and staff professionalism. “The knowledgeable and friendly clinical supervisors, along with the excellent accommodation provided, made Geraldton an easy choice,” Mr Bacus said. For provisional psychologist Alexis Pallister, it was the sense of community and diversity that attracted her to working in regional and remote WA. “Visiting remote schools with as few as 10 students was deeply meaningful,” Ms Pallister said. “The dedication of teaching staff and the strength of these communities left a lasting impression.” Speech pathologist Rhiannon Harris found the experience of completing all her final year clinical placements in Geraldton transformative. “I received real feedback on how my work positively impacted clients and it made me realise I could go rural and still be well supported,” she said. WACRH’s rural placement program in the Mid West, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions supports students from almost 20 health disciplines from universities across Australia. Students work alongside experienced supervisors and benefit from cultural training from Aboriginal mentors, including on-country experiences and clinical yarning workshops. The program also provides shared accommodation at no personal cost to students, access to vehicles and bikes, and opportunities to build connections with potential employers. WACRH director Professor Sandra Thompson said these four examples, and many more, were testament to the power of rural placements. “Their return to Geraldton strengthens the local health workforce and shows how meaningful placement experiences can shape career paths,” she said. “Continued investment in rural placements is essential to ensuring regional communities have access to skilled, passionate health professionals.”