Itinerant to others, this is what happened when Dr. Pip Bunting, the newly appointed doctor in Julia Creek, Queensland, came across her dream job. It all began during the simple act of talking over beers with her brother. The tiny town of just under 550 people became front page news recently. A recent viral job advertisement for a remote general practitioner position went viral for advertising a ridiculously high $600,000 salary for the role, piquing interest from all over the world.
Adam Louws, Julia Creek’s former doctor, took the position for two years before moving to Brisbane with his family. In fact, the local health service was stunned at the volume of responses to the job advertisement. All told, we received applications from 95 candidates across the planet! Dr. Bunting’s journey to this position illustrates not only her dedication to rural medicine but the unique pathways that can lead healthcare professionals to remote areas.
A Rural Generalist’s Journey
Dr. Bunting, an Australian rural generalist with extensive experience in emergency medicine, expressed her excitement about making Julia Creek her permanent home. On a personal note, she revealed that her brother once drove road trains throughout the Top End. He was in Julia Creek often to pick up COVID tests. It was during one of those visits that they heard about the doctor vacancy, encouraging her to apply for it.
“That’s how I found out about it, and then of course from there I’d heard all this stuff that was going on in the background with the viral campaign,” – Pip Bunting
She admitted that the viral campaign did play a key role in raising awareness about the position. Her decision was truly guided by her back-and-forth with her brother.
“But honestly, it was a discussion with him, not the campaign itself.” – Pip Bunting
Dr. Bunting described Julia Creek as a place of opportunity and beauty, calling it “a bit of a utopia” and highlighting its captivating sunsets.
“What a great place to work when every day ends with a magic Julia Creek sunset.” – Pip Bunting
The Importance of Rural Medicine
Just last month, the Medical Board of Australia and the federal government formally declared rural medicine a specialty practice. Although this important decision was unexpected, it has sparked a renewed enthusiasm for this exciting and essential field. Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler said working towards a national standard was essential for training in rural generalist medicine. This landmark initiative will give thousands more doctors a greater incentive to work in rural areas.
Sean Birgan, chief executive of the local health service, recognised how important the doctor position is in these communities. He stated,
“These roles require a huge responsibility for a single town doctor.”
Birgan noted that the offered salary and entitlements were aligned with those of any qualified doctor working in remote regions of Queensland.
“The salary and entitlements for this position were in line with the entitlements of any doctor, working with the suitable qualifications, in a remote location in Queensland.” – Sean Birgan
She shared her vision for the variety of roles she will fill as a rural generalist. She said one of the most exciting aspects of her future career is the wide range of patients she’ll get to see.
“You get to use all your skills. You’re dealing with patients that have babies, right through to aged care and everything in between,” – Pip Bunting
Looking Ahead
Dr. Bunting looks forward to seizing the opportunities that her new role affords her. She is a vocal proponent of programs that encourage rural young people to consider medicine as a career. She is convinced that the impending establishment of medical rural schools is a positive move towards achieving this goal. She wants more professional development focused on inspiring students in their local communities.
“It’s a real privilege to be invited into people’s lives as doctors, sometimes at the best times of their life, sometimes at the worst.” – Pip Bunting
As Dr. Bunting settles into her new post, we hope that she finds as much reason for optimism as we do. In Julia Creek, she’s sure she made the right choice.
“We’re very confident we’ve made the right choice,” – Sean Birgan
