Procedural Mentoring

Better Medical Care Initiative (BMCI)

The Better Medical Care for rural WA Initiative is a coordinated, targeted response to address the challenges faced by rural doctors across the State. It is a partnership between the WA Country Health Service and Rural Health West to ensure doctors can access relevant ongoing medical training, timely locum support, and professional mentoring, and that their families are well supported to live and work across rural Western Australia.

Procedural Mentoring Programs

The GP mentoring programs assist in providing a safe and skilled GP proceduralist service in rural and remote areas in Western Australia. The mentoring programs help GPs to gain confidence in their skills as they commence working as an independent procedural GP by linking them with an experienced practitioner.

Placements are available for the following mentoring programs:

GP Obstetrics Mentoring Program

Stream 1 eligibility – Candidates who have obtained their Basic or Advanced RANZCOG diploma, providing that the graduate will be working in a rural location in Western Australia where the GP obstetrics workforce is vulnerable and where there is provision to work at a regional WACHS hospital.
Stream 2 eligibility – Rural GPOs who require support and upskilling to enable them to continue to practise as a GPO in a location where the obstetrics workforce is vulnerable.
Stream 3 eligibility – Rural immersion for doctors who are undertaking training for their Basic or Advanced RANZCOG Diploma at a RANZCOG accredited training site who at the completion of their training plan to work in a rural location where the obstetrics workforce is vulnerable, and where there is provision to work at a regional WACHS hospital.

The WACHS Obstetrics Clinical Lead identifies the vulnerable locations.

For further information including upcoming events visit the WA GP Obstetrics Network website

GP Anaesthetics Mentoring Program

Stream 1 eligibility – Graduates who have recently completed their JCCA/DRGA training providing that the graduate will be working in a rural location in Western Australia where the GPA workforce is vulnerable, and where there is provision to work at a regional WACHS hospital.
Stream 2 eligibility – Rural GPAs who require support and upskilling to enable them to continue to practise as a GPA in a location where the anaesthetics workforce is vulnerable.

GP Emergency Medicine Mentoring Program

Stream 1 eligibility – Candidates who have obtained their Advanced Skill in Emergency Medicine and the candidate will be providing emergency medicine services in a rural location in Western Australia where the GP emergency workforce is vulnerable.
Stream 2 eligibility – Doctors who have recently completed the Core Rural Generalist Emergency Medicine requirements and will be providing emergency medicine services in a rural location in Western Australia where the GP emergency workforce is vulnerable.
Stream 3 eligibility – Rural GPEMs who require support and upskilling to enable them to commence or continue to practise independently as a GPEM in a location where the emergency medicine workforce is vulnerable.

Please note: Vulnerable locations are identified by the GPEMWAAG and confirmed by the Director of Clinical Training – Rural Generalist Pathway of WA.

For more information please contact the Procedural Programs Coordinator or telephone 08 6389 4500.

”This program has been invaluable in increasing my level of skills and confidence in independently practising anaesthetics as a GP Anaesthetist.
My mentor has been very accommodating, and has kindly offered to continue to support me remotely with advice on an ongoing basis.
Dr Trent Wilson, GP Anaesthetics mentoring participant, 2022

”For my part, being a new registrar is an extremely expensive activity, and you don’t yet qualify for other funding grants, so having funds to put towards courses and upskilling placements has been very important. The funding available through the mentoring program has meant that I’ve now been able to secure bookings for all of the important first-year credentialing requirements.
I was nervous about beginning to practice outside the tertiary environment, without specialist backup, and it’s been very comforting to have someone to go to and learn the logistics of practicing in a whole new environment, as well as within a whole new paradigm. Having this program allowed me to find my footing and contribute to the workforce – otherwise I’m not sure I would have actually started practising.
Dr Heidi Tudehope, GP Obstetrics mentoring participant, 2022