How do doctors look after their own health while caring for their patients? In this episode of Life Hacks, Dr Emily Moody speaks with Dr Roger Sexton, rural GP and Medical Director of Doctors’ Health SA, about the importance of seeking support during personal or professional health crises.

With over 35 years of experience in rural practice and doctors’ health advocacy, Dr Sexton explores the unique barriers doctors face when accessing care, including stigma, confidentiality concerns, and professional expectations. He also reflects on the cultural shifts that are changing how the profession understands and supports doctors’ well-being.

The conversation highlights the critical link between doctors' health and patient safety, the evolving support systems available to rural clinicians, and the importance of showing up to work ‘in good shape’.

A must-listen for registrars and early-career rural generalists navigating life and work in remote settings, this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and practical strategies for staying healthy and thriving in practice.

Well-being Support Services

• Doctors' Health SA: (08) 8366 0250
• Doctors' Health NSW: (02) 9437 6552
• Doctors' Health QLD: (07) 3833 4352
• Doctors' Health NT: 08 8366 0250 (via SA service)
• Doctors' Health Advisory Service WA (DHASWA): (08) 9321 3098
• Victorian Doctors Health Program (VDHP): 1300 330 543
• Drs4Drs (National): 1300 374 377 (1300 DR4 DRS)
• Bush Support Line (CRANAplus): 1800 805 391

For more information and additional resources, visit ACRRM Wellbeing Support: https://www.acrrm.org.au/support/wellbeing/well-being-support

How do case-based discussions (CBD) help registrars develop clinical reasoning and prepare for Fellowship? In this episode of Life Hacks, Dr Emily Moody speaks with Dr James Fraser, ACRRM’s Director of Assessment, to explore the purpose, process, and preparation behind this essential assessment.

James, an experienced clinician and educator with expertise in rural generalist medicine, provides a deep dive into CBD. He explains how this assessment evaluates registrars' clinical reasoning and decision-making using real patient cases. From selecting cases to managing the de-identification process, James offers practical advice and insights to support registrars' success.

Emily and James also discuss how CBD fits within ACRRM’s programmatic learning approach, its connection with other assessments like STAMPS and mini-CEX, and the role of feedback in shaping better doctors.

Whether you're preparing for CBD or simply curious about its role in training, this episode offers valuable insights for registrars at any stage. Tune in to discover how CBD promotes critical thinking, refines professional skills, and supports lifelong learning.

What does it take to become a leader in rural medicine? In this episode of Life Hacks, Dr Emily Moody sits down with Associate Professor Dan Halliday — the 100th registrar to train for Fellowship with ACRRM and a former College President. Drawing on over 20 years of experience, Dan shares his journey from growing up on a sheep and cattle farm in Tenterfield to becoming a rural generalist obstetrician and a leader in rural healthcare.

Dan reflects on the pivotal moments and mentors that shaped his career, the importance of saying "yes" to opportunities, and the lessons learned in balancing leadership, advocacy, and clinical practice. He also discusses the challenges of transitioning to college-led training and the recognition of rural generalist medicine as a specialty.

This episode offers inspiring insights for anyone passionate about rural medicine or considering a leadership or advocacy role in healthcare. Tune in to hear Dan’s advice on stepping up, embracing challenges, and driving meaningful change in rural and remote communities.

In small communities, the line between personal and professional life can get blurry—so how do rural doctors manage professional boundaries? In this episode of Life Hacks, Dr Emily Moody speaks with Professor Turun Sen Gupta, Acting Dean and Academic Head of Medicine at JCU, about the challenges of maintaining boundaries in rural and remote practice.

With 30 years of experience in medical education, Professor Sen Gupta explores what boundaries are and the distinction between boundary crossings and violations. They also discuss which boundaries are flexible versus absolute and the challenges of managing dual relationships in rural settings.

This conversation is especially valuable for anyone beginning their career in rural and remote healthcare, offering key insights and practical strategies for managing professional boundaries in these unique contexts.

Join Dr Emily Moody and Professor Lucie Walters in the latest episode of ACRRM Lifehacks. Emily and Lucie speak about the diverse nature of communities and the privilege of being rural generalist doctor in community. Themes like humility, reputation identity and the role of ACRRM are all discussed.

Lucie is passionate about improving the health outcomes of rural people through the education, training, and professional support of rural doctors. She is also a past President of the Australian College or Rural and Remote Medicine.

Lucie talks about her career as a rural generalist and an academic and explores the multitude of career pathways that are available to fellows. She speaks about academic medicine, university opportunities and the role further study in a doctor’s career.

Dr Emily Moody speaks with Dr Tim Leeuwenburg, a career rural generalist and FACRRM who works on the remote Kangaroo Island in South Australia.

In this podcast, Tim shares stories from his career. He emphasises the importance of being prepared as a rural generalist for the multitude of situations in which they will encounter. Tim also speaks about vulnerability, being connected with a support network and understanding how to support others.

Discussed in this podcast:

• Pre-Hospital Emergency Care (PHEC) - ACRRM
• Sandpiper Australia – Supporting Pre-Hospital Care in Rural Australia

In the second part of our interview with Dr James Best, Emily and James talk about practical ways to engage neurodivergent children and their carers in a primary care environment. James offers suggestions on how to make a safe space and how to engage with the children in a respectful and non-threatening way.

James and Emily also discuss a variety of current issues in raising children, such a screen-time, prescription of drugs and behaviour management.