Destination Medicine Podcast

To celebrate National Rural Health Month, we’ve reached into our archive and are replaying one of our most popular rural episodes of all time. Dr Rebecca Irwin has planted her flag in the town of Barcaldine in Queensland’s Central West, and it’s here she intends staying. As a rural generalist based at Barcaldine Hospital, she can’t imagine she’ll want to move. In this episode, we follow Dr Irwin’s indirect path to medicine, and the impact a nursing degree had in her subsequent choices. She sheds light on the highlights and challenges of her medical training, particularly the shift from general to paediatric medicine, her rural placements, and the invaluable support received throughout her journey. She also describes her current role at the hospital, providing a unique blend of primary and emergency care, the fulfillment found in her daily interactions with the community, and balancing work and family life in this vibrant rural setting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a farm in remote WA to becoming a rural anaesthetist in Tasmania – Deb Wilson’s path was anything but straight. She describes growing up in a family that prioritised education, reveals how a reluctant start in anaesthetics became her calling, and how she balances front-line care, and mentorship in one of the most beautiful corners of the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After starting her career as a veterinarian, Dr Amanda Fulton couldn’t ignore the calling to study medicine. At 29, she took the leap, retraining while raising a young family, and is now a trainee at Port Augusta Hospital South Australia’s Flinders Ranges. Amanda shares the challenges of stepping back into student life, the rewards of rural practice, and how she balances medicine with motherhood, teaching, and her passion for dance. Her story is one of courage, adaptability, and commitment to community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While it might seem like medicine is for the well healed, it’s actually a course that creates opportunities for everyone. Rhi Noble, now a Junior Doctor at Lismore Base Hospital, is an extraordinary example of fighting through disadvantage, with purpose, grit, knowing exactly who she is and what she wanted to do with her life. Raised and supported, mainly by her grandmother and the LGBTQIA community of the Northern Rivers, it was this group of people that formed her community, helped her grow and believe in herself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jessica Mepstead gave herself two months to study for the GAMSAT.  Already working as a dietician, she chose not to tell a soul until the result – she passed! She also gained some great insight and perspective on the process. And while her drive and passion are undeniable, the workload still astounds her. Now a 3rd year medical student at Dubbo School of Rural Health, Jessica is embracing Dubbo life to the fullest, from the number of opportunities in her clinical study program to the incredible lifestyle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From playing gigs in pubs to delivering babies in the Outback, Liam Halford’s journey to medicine was anything but typical. Growing up in Gawler, South Australia, with no family history in medicine, Liam discovered his passion for rural healthcare through placements in Maleny and Broken Hill. He shares how hands-on experiences, tight-knit communities, and unexpected adventures — including ambulance rides and camel races — shaped his training and inspired a deep love for country medicine. His story is a reminder of what’s possible when you step outside your comfort zone.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Always a country kid at heart who is training in emergency medicine, Dr Brittney Wicksteed is already emerging as a key leader in rural health in her home state of Western Australia. She’s now WA Rural Doctors in Training Chair, as well as the Vice President of the Rural Doctors Association of WA. It was Dr Wicksteed’s journey through medical school that really helped her to realise rural medicine was where she truly belonged. She shares how growing up in small-town Western Australia, boarding school in Perth, and early exposure to rural placements shaped her path to emergency medicine, and she discusses the unique hands-on skills, strong mentorship, and problem-solving mindset that rural training provides — offering invaluable experience that city-based trainees may miss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.