Study Rural and Remote Medicine

The last thing the Tasmanian based nurse expected was to find the perfect offering through a north Queensland university.

“When I looked at the content of what other universities were offering, nothing spiked my interest,” she said.

Then she discovered JCU’s Masters of Rural and Remote Medicine.

“The course was perfect for me as I wanted to stay on the floor and not go into a management role. It also focussed specifically on rural remote medicine. I haven’t found a part of the course that isn’t relevant to me.”

She said the course content has been enlightening, particularly the focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

“I’ve managed to bring back a lot of skills that aren’t generally taught or learnt in Tasmania. That’s been a real eye-opener for me and for my colleagues working around the health deficits that we face working with the cohort we look after.”

“I’ve also learnt a lot about telemedicine and how we can maximize it and what is being done with telemedicine in other areas. That has been a big advantage for me to take back into my workplace.”

Rayne said she’s found the course to be a good balance between the hands-on skills used in her workplace and the broader application of rural and remote health. It’s also opened her eyes to a range of new opportunities.

“It’s good exposure, there is a lot of networking with my peers and a few GPs have even offered me locum positions in central Australia that I would never have thought about doing,” she said.

“It’s broadened my perspective of what I am worth in the profession. It has advanced my knowledge of how other people cope with working in isolation while learning the tricks of the trade. That has been one of the most comforting things about it.”

Rayne admits some of her friends thought she was crazy to study through a university at the other end of the county but said she’s never felt far away.

“At first it appeared a bit daunting, but I became involved with this community at JCU. The university staff are so approachable. It shows they've specialised in this area because it was just so accessible to me… and you really can’t get much further away from the campus than where I am.”

Combining study and full-time work as a rural and remote nurse in the Tasmanian Youth Detention system was never going to be easy. But Rayne believes JCU is well set up to support its remote students.

“I study and work full time and it is challenging. It’s about time management. The staff at JCU have been very flexible. That has been helpful and has motivated me to finish a lot faster as well.”

She said the structure of the course with its nested qualifications makes tackling a Master’s degree more manageable. Which is why she’s encouraged friends to follow in her footsteps.

“A lot of my friends are working rural or remotely, while others are considering it. If they only want to do the Graduate Certificate, or are not sure about tackling a Masters they can do it in baby steps.

“That is the beauty of it. You can just do those two units and have your Certificate or go on to your Diploma or finish your Masters. There is no pressure.”

She said she would recommend the course to any health professional wanting to develop their skills in the field.

“It’s not that crazy elephant that only a few people can tackle. You can have a life as well. You can find a happy balance with the right guidance and a good team.”

As for her future, Rayne said the course has helped her rethink her career and further explore rural and remote health options. The first change included a move to north Queensland.

“We like the northern Queensland lifestyle. I’ve also finished my nurse immunization course and can combine all my skills to work around Queensland. The Masters of Rural and Remote Medicine has given me a lot more confidence to go and do that.

Find out more about studying a Graduate Diploma or Master of Rural and Remote Medicine at James Cook University.