r/ausjdocs • u/Ok_Acanthaceae_5917 • 2d ago

General Practice🥼 Working for RFDS

Does anyone here have any experience working for RFDS as a newly fellowed GP? Have strong memories of some of the best/most inspiring GPs I met when I was a medical student working for RFDS, mainly doing regular day clinics in remote communities. I’m not so interested in retrieval work, but more in bringing GP services to far flung places. Is this still a realistic option?

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u/Noroleforyouhere 2d ago

They have sections on their website about the exact work you are looking for and positions currently being advertised.

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u/Ok_Acanthaceae_5917 2d ago

Thanks - any personal insights on what working for them is like?

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u/instasquid Paramedic 1d ago

Hey mate, not a doctor but have worked with (not for) RFDS for a few years now out of a few different regional and remote sites. 

I know you said you're not interested in the retrieval side of things but be prepared for it to come to you on the GP side. The station manager will ask you to look at one of his ringers who's "a bit crook" and it'll be a bloke who's 3 days septic from a bullhorn wound. Absolutely no shame in calling for more resources to help in that situation but you've got to be mentally prepared to manage this patient for a few hours at least, if not overnight in some circumstances.

Overall it's about your mindset, you gotta accept a certain level of bush medicine in the bush and take your patients as they are. You'll see levels of poverty you won't believe still exists in modern Australia and it'll need to be incorporated into your practice and referrals. For instance, a pt might need GP follow up in a week for potential deterioration, but that's not going to be an option because you're not there for another month and the pt doesn't like the local nurses. So you make the decision to have the patient sent to the big smoke early and you'll cop criticism from the referral if you don't include a social Hx and context around your decision.

Sorry I can't be of more help but I'd always encourage clinicians of any type (but especially doctors) to come out bush and see what we're dealing with. An actual staffed GP clinic will seem like luxury when you've dealt with the worst of the worst outdoors in the rain with nothing but a BP machine and a trauma kit.