I literally had a year on the road during Covid locumming through outback NSW with my Troopy and dogs. I worked in country hospitals, ACCHOs and General Practices. I am still a rural locum but now I get to go home to Victoria between placements. Amazing experience!

Dr Maria Da Costa June 29, 2024

I survived my 2 week post in Katherine, NT, without major incidents. It was the usual diverse GP work. More diabetes than expected, my share of paperwork, dermatology I had only seen in an Atlas. I had to research investigations and management choices as there were no other options in a reasonable radius. There were the women happy to be pregnant, others hoping not to be. There was grief, alcohol misuse, relationship problems. There were cheeky ones and the brightest 97 year old of them all. My little sample of humanity.

I have enormous respect for the colleagues who do it long term. I had it easy. Competent staff, a pleasant environment, managers who are trying to improve their community. I am relieved I made it but above all I am grateful. I have had opportunities to travel and work in amazing places. Come Monday I will be back to my usual routine. But I will be refreshed. I don't know how long it will last. Perhaps until I get the urge for some more red dust...

#justaGP

(Editor: by way of further explanation: Maria is a GP based in Sydney who enjoys doing locum medical work in remote communities and has done previous volunteer work in Timor Leste.)

I try to do a locum job once a year. When I first started I did a REST course and emergency obstetrics training. I have always just wanted to work in a community that had at least some sort of hospital not too far away for support. I now avoid less mainstream software too, it takes me too long to learn a new system and I find it a source of frustration. I was meant to have come to Katherine a few years ago when they were desperate and the only GP practice in town had closed. But Covid happened. I promised at the time I'd come back when possible. It happened that whilst there is now another Practice in town, the GP I replaced took some leave.

So, I do my more than needed CME but have no major extra training. I have a fair idea of how the system works in NT as I worked in a smaller community here before. I am aware of my areas of comfort and discomfort. And I suppose I have a little gypsy gene that needs to express itself once in a while 😜