FAQs - Medical Education Unit
What is the application process for rural hospital intern positions?
Intern applications must be submitted through MedCareersWA via the Postgraduate Medical Council of WA (PMCWA) centralised recruitment process.
Please note: intern recruitment has now closed for 2025 positions.
Path One – rural hospital internship
Select WA Country Health Service (WACHS) as your primary employer to complete your full intern year in a rural hospital site (Albany, Bunbury, Broome or Geraldton).
Applicants should:
- Indicate that you wish to undertake some/all of your internship in a rural setting
- Select WA Country Health Service as your first preference Primary Employing Health Service
- Rank the WACHS sites from most to least preferred
- Upload a cover letter highlighting your experience living, studying or working in a rural area, desire to live, train and practise in country WA and where you want your WACHS internship to take your career.
Path Two – metropolitan hospital internship with rural rotation/s
Select a metropolitan Primary Employing Health Service as your primary employer and preference rural rotations with your employing hospital.
Applicants should:
- Indicate that you wish to undertake some/all of your internship in a rural setting
- Rank your preferred metropolitan Primary Employing Health Service
- Upload a cover letter that includes brief details about the rural rotations you would like to undertake during your internship
- Preference rural rotations during your employing hospital’s term allocation process
I hear WACHS internships are very competitive. What happens if I'm not successful?
WACHS is proud to take on many interns each year. However, all internships in WA are competitive and applications are assessed on merit.
If you are not selected by WACHS, you will go into the pool for your next preferred PEHS. WACHS has the ability to review applications first, so you can be assured our teams will make every effort to consider your application and preferences.
Where can I access rural rotations as an Intern and for how long?
Refer to our flyers to learn more about our regions and where junior doctor placements are available.
What is the application process for rural hospital RMO positions?
Resident Medical Officers (RMO) (PGY2+) applications for rural positions are made via the annual central RMO/Service Medical Registrar recruitment process. RMOs can preference to be employed by WACHS for six month, 12 month and 24 month contracts at Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Geraldton or Kalgoorlie sites.
Any RMO vacancies throughout the year will posted on MedCareersWA.
Rural secondments are available for metropolitan RMOs via their employing health service’s term allocation process. In addition to this, metropolitan RMOs who are employed by Fiona Stanley Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital or Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital can also apply for rural rotations through the Community Residency Program.
What are the terms and conditions of rural employment?
All employees of WACHS are appointed under an award which stipulates the basic conditions of your job. Some sites may provide rural and remote specific allowances in which you can access relocation assistance, salary packaging options, accommodation allowances and other incentives. Check the DOH Awards and Agreements Website for the relevant award.
How do three-year contracts work in WA Health?
WA interns are entitled to a three year contract under the current "WA Health System AMA Industrial Agreement 2022". The aim is to provide employment for a three-year period but this does not limit you to work in one place for the entire contract length.
During your internship year, you will be asked to participate in the centralised RMO recruitment process. This is where you will indicate your employment preferences following successful completion of your internship.
If you would like to stay at your current site of employment, you will complete a simplified application form indicating your interest to stay at your current hospital.
If you wish to move to another Primary Employing Health Service, you will be required to complete the full RMO application process. During this process you will be asked to rank your employment preferences. Your preferred hospital/health services will review your application based on merit and offer positions according to Public Sector employment standards.
This process allows the most flexibility and security for interns and residents in WA.
What accommodation and travel arrangements are available?
Accommodation is provided when you are on secondment to a rural hospital from a metropolitan hospital. Whilst accommodation varies across regions, it is generally furnished, air-conditioned and either single-occupancy or shared between singles.
Salaried junior doctors employed by WACHS on a three-year contract are either required to source private accommodation, in which case they may be eligible for a weekly rental subsidy reimbursement, or shall be provided with accommodation by WACHS at a nominal weekly charge, in line with the WACHS Accommodation Policy.
Make contact with each site (Medical Education Officer or Medical Administration) to find out local requirements regarding relocation, accommodation and applicable entitlements. Email us at meu@health.wa.gov.au for regional contact details.
Can I bring my pets with me?
Unfortunately, hospital provided accommodation does not allow pets. WACHS employed doctors wishing to bring their pets will need to source private accommodation, in which case you may be eligible for a weekly rental subsidy reimbursement.
How do I stay connected?
Mobile phone coverage varies from region to region and is also dependent on your carrier service. Check whether your carrier operates in the region prior to your rural placement. If your carrier does not have good coverage in that town or region, you may wish to organise a new or temporary SIM card with a different provider to ensure you have mobile phone access.
WACHS provides internet access on-site. Off-site access to the internet for personal use may be provided as part of your accommodation or available through your personal device. Please check with the local site medical education officer before arrival.
What support is available?
At each site, you will have support from the regional Director of Clinical Training (DCT), Medical Education Officer (MEO) and hospital administration. The central Medical Education Unit (MEU) are also available for additional support or to escalate any issues. We deal with these confidentially and ask that you contact us directly on 08 6391 0640 or email meu@health.wa.gov.au.
A WACHS Employee Assistance Program also operates in each region providing free, confidential professional counselling and support that is short-term and solution focused.
Where is the rural Community Residency Program available?
This program offers an opportunity for RMOs employed by Fiona Stanley Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital to experience a rural rotation in a variety of rural settings across WA. During this placement RMOs will spend a minimum of 20% of their time in a community setting. In 2024 and 2025, Community Residency Program rotations are available in Kununurra, Derby, Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Geraldton and Narrogin. More information can be found by clicking here.
How do I apply for the Community Residency Program?
Resident Medical Officers who wish to participate in the Community Residency Program can apply through the centralised recruitment process via MedCareersWA. To be eligible for a rural CRP placement, at the time of placement RMOs must:
- hold General Registration with the Medical Board of Australia
- be an RMO employed by FSH, RPH or SCGH
- be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Your CV and a short statement of interest outlining why you wish to participate, the skills you bring and how your future career will benefit (two pages max) will need to be included. These will be used to assess your rural CRP application. Please email wachs.crp@health.wa.gov.au for further queries.
How can I access rural primary care rotations offered by WACHS?
The John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program (JFPDP) offers diverse rural community-based rotations to eligible WACHS employed prevocational junior doctors. These include primary care focused opportunities with community general practice, RFDS, Aboriginal community-controlled health care, and women’s and reproductive health.
To participate in the JFPDP, an applicant must be:
- An Australian citizen or permanent resident; and
- A WACHS-employed prevocational junior doctor in postgraduate year 1-5 at Albany Health Campus, Broome Health Campus, Bunbury Regional Hospital or Geraldton Health Campus.
There is no separate application process to participate in the JFPDP. Eligible prevocational junior doctors can preference a JFPDP rotation within the term preference form provided to them by their local WACHS Medical Education/Admin team.
To find out more about the program, visit the JFPDP section on the RGPWA website or email ruralgeneralist@health.wa.gov.au.
If you are not already employed with WACHS and are considering future employment in regional WA with WACHS, refer to the FAQ above about the application process for rural hospital positions.
Can I apply to work six months in a rural hospital and six months in a metropolitan hospital?
Yes. RMOs requesting this option can apply through the centralised RMO/Service Medical Registrar recruitment process. Your cover letter should include details regarding your preferences and reasons supporting your request.
I am interested in doing non-generalist practice Specialist College training (e.g. physician, surgery) in a rural area. Is this possible?
WACHS participates in a number of specialist training pathways, either based solely or mainly in the country, or as a rural rotation from a metropolitan based pathway.
It is possible to do all or most of psychiatry and emergency medicine training in WACHS.
WACHS employees can also apply for adult basic physician training (BPT) via the WA BPT selection process and undertake their BPT at WACHS and metropolitan sites. In addition, WACHS hosts a number of one year adult advanced physician training posts including in general and acute care medicine, geriatrics and palliative care medicine.
The WA Intensive Care Training Pathway (WA ICTP) is coordinated by WACHS and provides a supported and coordinated pathway, including required non-metropolitan rotations, for those interested in intensive care training with the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM).
Finally there are other rural rotation options for those doing general surgery, anaesthetics, obstetrics, radiology and ophthalmology training.
What are the current training pathways offered by WACHS?
WACHS is currently developing and collaborating on a number of exciting career pathways. Current pathways hosted by WACHS include the Applied Surgical Pathway in Rural Environments (ASPIRE) Program, Rural Adult Physician Training, Opportunities and Rotations (RAPTOR) Program, Rural Psychiatry Training WA, WA Intensive Care Training Pathway and the Rural Generalist Pathway.
ASPIRE is a two year program for WACHS junior doctors who are interested in General Surgery.
RAPTOR is a 12 month program for WACHS Junior Doctors who are interested in rural Physician Training. WACHS doctors can also apply for and undertake training at WACHS sites as part of the WA Basic Physician Training program and can undertake Advanced Training in General and Acute Care, Geriatric and Palliative Medicine.
If you are interested in learning more about the training pathways contact meu@health.wa.gov.au.
I would like to become a rural generalist. How can I join the rural generalist pathway?
As part of the National Rural Generalist Pathway, WACHS hosts the Rural Generalist Pathway WA (RGPWA) Coordination Unit to support the expansion of a dedicated training pathway for aspiring rural generalists in WA. The aim of the RGPWA is to facilitate the transition for rural generalist trainees through the various educational and training components, as well as provide post-fellowship support to rural generalists.
The RGPWA is flexible and can be joined at various points throughout a current or aspiring rural generalist’s training journey. If you are interested in training to be a rural generalist or are currently enrolled in training, you may be eligible to apply to join the pathway. The pathway offers an open intake with applications accepted throughout the year.
To find out more about the pathway, including the eligibility criteria and the application process, visit the RGPWA website or email ruralgeneralist@health.wa.gov.au.
You can also sign up to our Rural Generalist Pathway Interest Group to receive news and updates.
I would like to be a procedural rural GP. Can I do my procedural obstetrics and gynaecology training in a rural hospital?
Training for the Basic and Advanced Diploma of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is available at King Edward Memorial Hospital and a number of WACHS sites including; Albany, Bunbury, Broome, Hedland, Karratha, Kalgoorlie and Geraldton.
I am applying to the General Practice training program but would like to complete further rural RMO rotations prior to commencing my General Practice training placements. Is this possible?
Yes. PGY2 doctors must complete a hospital training year at an accredited hospital, prior to commencing their General Practice placements.
WACHS employs Resident Medical Officers (PGY2+) and this time can be counted as your GP/hospital year. You can discuss this option with your training supervisor through your GP College.
I am interested in Public Health prevocational training positions.
The Midwest Public Health Unit offers two six-month positions in Geraldton. To secure one of these positions, include an Expression of Interest in your application to WACHS for consideration.
What types of education and training opportunities are provided?
Each regional hospital has ongoing education and training for interns, RMOs and registrars. The site DCT and MEO organise / provide an education calendar which includes a variety of formats; lectures, tutorials, grand rounds, junior doctor meetings, journal clubs and simulation education (e.g ALS2, PLS, simulation-based workshops). Each WACHS region hosts an Emergency Medicine Education and Training (EMET) hub which provides predominantly simulation and scenario-based training opportunities in emergency, critical care and trauma medicine.
Junior doctors are provided with protected teaching coordinated by the regional Medical Education Unit. The smaller clinical teams in rural hospitals also provide more one-on-one learning opportunities and increased scope for procedural skills practice such as lumbar punctures, chest drains and ultrasound guided cannula insertion.
There are a variety of workshops run centrally including Teaching on the Run and Foundations for Leadership Program. In addition, there is the opportunity to undertake projects and rotations as part of the WA Institute for Health Leadership Clinical Service Improvement Program (CSIP).