Rural Northwest Health chief executive Janet Feeny said it was challenging to attract young medical graduates who wanted to practice in metropolitan and regional areas where specialised rotations were available, and access to mentors and education was easier.

She said there were options governments could look at to make help recruitment.

“Rural medicine, and particularly that of the general practitioner in a rural setting, could be better recognised as a specialised practice,” she said.

“This could be supported with continued expansion on graduate rotations to the rural areas through universities.

“More support could also be considered for rural doctors to have the time to supervise, train and mentor, as it is important that all new practitioners can access the right support at the right time.”

Ms Feeny said it was difficult to get locum doctors to fill positions when the area’s general practitioners were on leave.

She said the costs involved in doing this could also be challenging.

Ms Feeny said recruiting qualified and skilled registered and enrolled nurses was also a challenge for the service, despite the many benefits a rural lifestyle afforded.

“We have a lot to offer anyone wanting to work in our area, with career development opportunities, great country schools and well-equipped hospital working environments,” she said.

“Our communities are embracing of new people and families. We don’t have the pressures of metro or larger hospitals with car parking issues and peak hour headaches.

“You can come to work and walk into a positive and professional environment where you are welcomed by everyone – our patients, our residents and our team.”

Ms Feeny said with the community’s health needs becoming more complex due to ageing populations and other rural health concerns, it was hard to attract the right mix of skilled professionals to provide care for all stages of health.

“We need a variety of skills, from graduate roles where the clinician is joining the profession for the first time as a registered practitioner, to experienced clinicians who support the complex care our community needs,” she said.

Ms Feeny said the health service used a number of avenues to recruit staff, including the internet, social media, print media advertising, and attending university career days and career days within the region.

She said the service also supported residents in the area who might be interested in a health career – particularly students – by helping them access health-related disciplines at university or on-the-job training programs in the region.