Dr William Freestone, Sam Moretti, Dr Maelle Morgan (supervisor), Taylor Johnson and Dr Courtney Streeter during their rural medical placements in Moree. Photo: Moree Online News
Four medical trainees are getting a close look at rural health care in Moree, working across local GP clinics, the hospital ward and emergency department as part of their medical training.
Dr William Freestone and Dr Courtney Streeter are completing 10-week junior doctor placements, while final-year medical students Taylor Johnson and Sam Moretti are spending longer periods in town as they gain experience across a broad range of rural health settings.
Together, they are working alongside local doctors, nurses and allied health professionals while experiencing the variety and responsibility that come with practising medicine in a regional community.
For Taylor, a final-year University of New England medical student from Maclean in the Clarence Valley, the opportunity to learn across several healthcare settings has been one of the biggest advantages of her placement.
She is completing an 18-week placement through UNE’s Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship, working across Associate Medical Practice, Gwydir Medical Practice, Pius X Aboriginal Corporation, Moree Hospital’s ward and emergency department, and with visiting specialists, allied health, nursing, midwifery and community health services.
“That is the beauty of the Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship in that we can choose our own adventure every day,” Taylor said.
She said the experience had reinforced her interest in rural medicine.
“I find this kind of medicine really rewarding because you can do so much for your patients and can be really involved in every stage of their care,” she said.
Dr Streeter, originally from Nowra, is spending her placement working between the Moree Hospital ward, emergency department and Gwydir Medical Practice.
Although she previously completed a medical student placement in Coonabarabran, this is her first time living and working in Moree.
She said one of the biggest surprises had been the diversity of cases seen in rural medicine.
“Despite the low population numbers, there is still just as much, or more, variety in medical presentations as in a metro hospital,” Dr Streeter said.
She is interested in radiology but is still exploring her career options.
Dr Freestone, a resident medical officer who grew up in Manilla, has worked at Tamworth Base Hospital for the past two-and-a-half years.
He said moving to Moree had brought an extra level of responsibility.
“Coming even more rural to Moree there had been a big step up and requiring a lot more independence,” he said.
Dr Freestone is working across Associate Medical Practice, hospital ward rounds and the emergency department two days each week.
He is interested in general practice, with a focus on Indigenous health, and said Moree had already made a positive impression.
“The town is a nice country town and reminds me of home,” he said.
Sam, a final-year medical student from Melbourne, is based in Moree until late October after previously training at Armidale Hospital.
He is completing placements in general practice and the hospital’s medical ward and said every rural community offered something different.
“I always find it interesting how each town has its own unique feel and ways in which their practices operate,” Sam said.
He is interested in psychiatry and general practice.
Away from the hospital and clinics, the trainees have also been getting to know Moree.
Taylor said the welcoming nature of local people had stood out.
“It’s so obvious just how kind and welcoming everyone is,” she said.
She has visited local markets, enjoyed coffee and breakfast at local cafes, and is looking forward to exploring the Pally Bush Markets and Moree’s artesian pools.
Dr Freestone has been sampling local food and coffee, including Brooker’s Coffee, breakfast at Relaxing Cafe and a pub meal at the Royal Hotel.
Sam has not had much time to explore but is keen to visit the artesian pools and see some of the natural attractions around the district.
Dr Streeter has already made several trips to the artesian baths and offered one light-hearted observation about life in Moree.
“Moree is very flat!! And doesn’t have a 50m pool,” she said.
For now, their time in Moree is part placement and part introduction to rural life, with plenty still left to see outside the hospital and clinics.
