Why Western NSW
At Western NSW LHD, we aim to be world leaders in Rural Generalism. We value the unique skill set of Rural Generalist doctors and foster a culture that supports our clinicians through an inclusive, collaborative and caring team environment.
Our Rural Generalist positions offer:
- great variety
- procedural work
- non-clinical roles including quality and safety, clinical governance and management
- education and training
- innovative remuneration packages
- coverage for better work life balance.
In addition to providing the highest quality rural healthcare, we are world-recognised leaders in the delivery of virtual services. We use a range of 24/7 virtual care programs with the aim to make your job easier, give a better work-life balance and provide support when challenging situations arise.
We also offer a range of employment models including employment as staff specialist in Rural Generalist positions.
The main reason many people join us is that they want to be a part of shaping the future of rural health. So, if you’re up for a challenge, are driven to make an impact and want to make your mark, we could be just what you are looking for.
Choose your own adventure
Many of our smaller sites are staffed by Rural Generalist General Practitioners. Our procedural facilities at Cowra, Forbes, Mudgee and Parkes have opportunities for Rural Generalists skilled in:
- Anaesthetics
- Obstetrics
- Surgery
- Emergency Medicine.
Our non-procedural facilities have opportunities in Emergency Medicine and Aged Care.
How we support you
We are at the forefront of virtual care models designed to deliver patient care where and when it is needed and to support you by providing out of hours and weekend coverage. Models of virtual care used in our LHD include:
- vCare providing specialty-level advice, critical care expertise, transport, logistics, and coordination support
- Virtual Rural Doctors Service (VRGS) a comprehensive virtual service, the first of its kind in Australia where VRGS doctors work both virtually and in person to provide rural generalist medical coverage and fatigue management for existing VMOs
- Virtual Mental Health Emergency Care (MHEC) providing mental health assessments and emergency care to consumers across our district using teleconferencing to avoid unnecessary transport and trauma.
- Virtual Allied Health Service provides virtual access to Allied Health services including dietetics, occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy and social work.
These services have been recognised by the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation and feature in the ‘Spotlight on Virtual Care’ reports, showcasing innovation and leadership in virtual health care delivery across NSW. Each initiative was selected and reviewed through a peer-based process.
Download a report on each of the models:
- Spotlight on Virtual Care: vCare (PDF 3.83MB)
- Spotlight on Virtual Care: Mental Health Emergency in NSW (PDF 1.97MB)
- Spotlight on Virtual Care: Rural Generalist Service (PDF 1.42MB)
Incentives
Being based in a rural and remote area provides incentives and benefits not available in large regional or metro area, including:
- paid training days
- insurance rebates and
- if undertaking primary care, further training opportunities and the workforce incentive program.
Our salary packaging options include:
- up to $20,650 per year pre-tax deduction for living, meals and entertainment
- pre-tax moving costs
- rent while looking to buy in your new location, stamp duty on your new home and novated vehicle lease.
FourT's Single Employer Rural Generalist Model
We're leading an innovative whole-of-health approach to care in rural communities. Servicing the ‘FourTs’ regional NSW communities (Tottenham, Trangie, Trundle and Tullamore), this innovative pilot model aims to address the challenges of primary care sustainability in rural communities. The model provides doctors with flexibility and support, so they can deliver whole-of-health care (primary and aged care alongside acute and emergency care) in a networked, single employer system.
About the Model
One of 5 pilot sites across Australia, the FourT’s is a fully networked single employer model of Rural Generalism, supported by the Collaborative Care Program, NSW Rural Doctors Network and Western NSW Primary Health Network, local councils and community groups.
Contemporary co-located GP practices are staffed and managed to allow focus on providing safe and high quality patient care. Recognising the importance of professional networks, a FourTs Rural Generalist is well connected, working with a collaborative team of colleagues across the FourTs with access to our District’s specialists for clinical input.
Our 24/7 Virtual Rural Generalist Service supports a good work-life balance to ensure minor presentations don't impact on your day-to-day life, particularly after-hours and on weekends.
Supporting quality and safety is a key model attribute, with time to allow discussion of difficult clinical scenarios and to contribute to system improvements to advance patient care.
Features of the Four T's model
Co-created by clinicians
The model recognises clinicians, by and large, want to focus on quality medicine, and many, particularly at the beginning of their Rural Generalism career, may not want to shoulder the risk and additional workload of setting up and managing their own practice. FourT’s also addresses the level of comfort a GPs has with acute and inpatient care.
Being an employee has its advantages
As a single employer model, you will have access to competitive remuneration, where you can practice primary care that is outcome based, not based on patient volumes or billing. Whilst we are keen to see doctors move to our communities, we are happy to negotiate flexible employment arrangements including opportunities around fly-in, fly-out, relocation allowances or part-time appointments.
You will also have opportunities for learning and development through NSW Health training programs, funding for education, peer networking and support from dedicated medical leadership.
Finally, you’ll be able to shape the future of rural health through direct involvement in training the next generation of rural generalists via linkages with local universities and GP training. Opportunities to be directly involved with medical education and research are available in the region and can be discussed with interested doctors.
Always connected
As a member of the FourT’s network, the infrastructure that underpins the delivery of services is outstanding. Primary care services are co-located with the town Multipurpose Service, linking seamlessly through a single-employer model with the acute services in these towns.
Doctors receive support from a dedicated team of administrative, nursing and practice staff coordinated by the FourT’s Medical Centre Manager. 24/7 telehealth is used to access a broader network of peers for advice and clinical input when required for emergency presentations and for access to specialist care.
FourTs doctors will also utilise telehealth to support their colleagues across communities whether to assist in workload pressures, leave relief or just to discuss difficult cases.
Out of hours, category 3-5 presentations are managed by the Virtual Rural Generalist team via telehealth, ensuring you get a good night’s sleep and appropriate work life balance.
Easy in and gracious exit
We subscribe to the Rural Doctors’ Network concept of “easy entry, gracious exit,” recognising that some Doctors will want to include the FourTs as part of their career growth, and for others, we hope they will fall in love with our region, supported by this innovative model, and stay.
The FourTs model enables the practice of Rural Generalism with ease and is suited to an early career Rural Generalist who wants to develop their expertise in a supportive and collegiate environment or a seasoned practitioner who would like the autonomy to focus purely on practicing quality medicine.
The FourTs aspires to be world leaders in rural health care, integrating best-practice primary care principles and innovative approaches to acute care.
Apply now
Applications are open for Rural Generalist Staff Specialist/Visiting Medical Officers in Tottenham, Tullamore, Trundle and Trangie.
Apply for a 4Ts role
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4T's Single Employer Rural Generalist model
We're leading an innovative whole-of-health approach to care in rural communities, servicing the 4Ts (Tottenham, Trangie, Trundle, Tullamore).
Virtual Rural Generalist Service (VRGS)
The Virtual Rural Generalist Service (VRGS) was developed by WNSWLHD to support local medical and nursing staff to deliver safe and high-quality care to rural and remote communities. VRGS delivers a comprehensive virtual service and is the first of its kind in Australia.
VRGS doctors work both virtually and in person to provide rural generalist medical coverage for hospitals and multipurpose services (MPS) and fatigue management when a local visiting medical officer (VMO) is not available or needs a break (including overnight and on weekends).
VRGS provides the following to all rural facilities in Western in addition to other in-scope sites and LHDs, alongside on-site clinicians:
- Video consultations to emergency department patients
- Medical management of acute inpatients
- Virtual ward rounds for inpatients
- Clinical support for residential aged care (RAC) residents in rural MPSs where the local GP is not available
- Face to Face coverage for rural hospitals for 25% of shifts
VRGS launched in February 2020 and evolved from a telephone-based advice service that existed in the district for almost 15 years prior.
Virtual Rural Generalist
As a VRGS doctor you will form part of an innovative and dynamic team of skilled, Australian-trained clinicians to provide telehealth and face-to-face care to patients presenting at many of the Western rural and remote facilities.
During your shift you will use modern telehealth equipment from your home or office to conduct patient reviews, document management and prescribe medications for the patients you care for virtually.
Assessments are support by skilled local nursing staff on-site and emergency specialists in our virtual care (vCare) hub should a patient require escalation or retrieval to a larger facility. You will also assist local clinicians during times of high demand and times when they may require a break in their VMO role.
You will conduct virtual ward rounds and have access to patient notes and medications through the electronic medical records and electronic medications systems.
As a team, the virtual rural generalist service will ensure a high level of safety and quality, conducting morbidity and mortality meetings, monthly team meetings, safety reviews and developing protocols as needed.
All doctors are expected to work face-to-face in our region for the following:
- 25% of shifts (min 16 days/year) expected to be onsite and in person providing medical coverage to rural facilities
- Twice yearly team face-to-face workshops in the District to improve service provision and conduct location-specific training
- Two-day Orientation program is required to be attended in-person in the District upon commencement
A great place to live and work
Our region is so diverse, there's something for everyone. You can create a lifestyle where you live your best life, focusing on the things that really matter to you.
Learn about the Western NSW region and our unique lifestyle.
Closer than you think
You have the choice of several daily flights to Sydney from Dubbo, Bathurst, Orange, Parkes and Mudgee and several flights a week to Melbourne and Brisbane from Dubbo and Orange
It’s a 3 hour drive to Sydney and Canberra from Bathurst, 3.5 hours from Orange and 5 hours from Dubbo to Sydney.
Our facilities
Procedural Hospitals
We have multiple positions available in our procedural hospitals as Rural Generalist Staff Specialists, working for the service as a full-time employee or on a Sessional VMO contract to develop general practice alongside your hospital work. We're flexible and you can discuss your preferences with our team.
Find out more about our Procedural Hospitals and life in our regional communities:
Apply now - Procedural Hospital roles
Current vacancies in our Procedural Hospitals
Multipurpose Services
As world recognised leaders in the delivery of 24/7 virtual care services you can use these services to make your job easier, provide a better work-life balance and receive support when challenging situations arise.
Find out more about our Multipurpose Services and life in our regional communities.
Apply now - Multipurpose Service roles
Current vacancies in our Multipurpose Services
- Visiting Medical Officer - General Practitioner - Gulgong
- Visiting Medical Officer - General Practitioner – Condobolin
- Visiting Medical Officer - General Practitioner - Cobar
- Staff Specialist/Visiting Medical Officer - General Practitioner - Gilgandra
- Visiting Medical Officer - General Practitioner - Coolah
- Visiting Medica Officer - General Practitioner - Narromine
- Visting Medical Officer - General Practitioner - Nyngan
- Visiting Medical Officer - General Practitioner - Wellington
Our stories
Dr Kelly Bradley, GP Obstetrician
Trained as a Rural Generalist Obstetrician, Dr Kelly Bradley enjoys the variety working at Dubbo and Bathurst Hospitals.
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Meet our Western NSW GP VMOs
Our GP VMO team talks about their experiences and support they receive to be their best while working in regional NSW.
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WNSWLHD Virtual Rural Generalist Service (VRGS)
Western NSW Local Health District's Virtual Rural Doctors Service (VRGS) a comprehensive virtual service, the first of its...
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Contact Western NSW LHD Recruitment
Express your interest in working in Western NSW.