We invite you to complete your internship at Flinders Upper North Local Health Network (FUNLHN) where an internship will set you up well for a rural generalist career with the potential to continue your PGY2+ years in a rural setting.
FUNLHN oversees the public hospitals and health services in the following regions across rural South Australia:
- Whyalla Hospital and Health Service
- Port Augusta Hospital
- Port Lincoln Health and Hospital Service
This rural immersion intern experience will provide you with broad experiences across diverse clinical areas including emergency medicine, general medicine, general surgery and primary care paediatrics. You will have opportunities to work with experienced healthcare teams, under personalised supervision of experienced rural clinicians, challenge yourself and to gain valuable experience with hands-on procedural skills. You will have access to learning opportunities including the weekly junior doctor tutorial program, simulation sessions, Journal Club and Grand Rounds. Being a member of a smaller cohort of interns, you will have access to significant individual support from the Regional Training Hub and Adelaide Rural Clinical School (ARCS) Medical Education Unit and you will also develop close working relationships with your junior and senior medical colleagues. The working culture at Whyalla Hospital Health Service (WHHS) and other LHNs embrace team work and all team members are highly valued for the skills and knowledge they are able to contribute to patient care.
We invite you to become a valued member of the healthcare team in addition to the local community in Whyalla, with supported clinical placements in Pt Augusta and Pt Lincoln. This internship will set you up well for a rural generalist career and link into further opportunities in rural or specialist post graduate training and work in Adelaide or rural locations.
Residents across the Northern, Flinders Ranges, Upper North and Eyre Peninsula have access to a wide range of health care services in a number of locations throughout the region. This includes Whyalla Hospital Health Service, Port Augusta Hospital, Port Lincoln Health and Hospital Service and a variety of community based general practices, medical clinics, community and aboriginal health services.
We provide acute services ranging from in-hospital care by local General Practitioners to specialist surgical, obstetric, paediatric and anaesthetic services delivered by Medical Consultants. Services also include accident and emergency care, day and in-patient surgery, mental health services including an in-patient unit, Aboriginal health and community health.
The core catchment area is considered to be the Eastern Eyre Peninsula, where Whyalla Hospital and Health Service supports the smaller health units with the provision of more complex services.
The Whyalla Hospital and Health Service also supports a broader catchment area for more specialised services such as mental health, orthopaedic surgery, specialised cancer services and specialist rehabilitation services and with a focus on developing cardiology and geriatric services for the broader region. This larger catchment area includes the wider Eyre Peninsula Port Augusta, Flinders Rangers and the Far North. For some specialised services such as orthopaedic surgery, cancer services and cardiology, the catchment extends more broadly.
The core catchment includes a population of approximately 28,000 people whilst the larger catchment has a population of over 84,000 people. 3.7% of people in the core catchment and 7.0% of people in the broader catchment identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
Whyalla Hospital and Health Service has 75 multi-day in-patient beds, including an 8 bed high dependency unit, 4 renal chairs, 6 chemotherapy chairs, 21 same-day recovery beds, 2 operating and 1 endoscopy theatre and 9 Emergency department bays.
Whyalla Hospital and Health Service is a level 3 obstetric facility. More complex patients are referred to the level 4 facility at Port Augusta.
Paediatric clinics are run daily by paediatricians visiting from Port Augusta, where the regions paediatric service is situated.
Whyalla is a regional rural city, (ASGC RA3) servicing the remote western, Eyre and northern regions of South Australia. Rural general practices also provide comprehensive care, with a focus on high quality family medicine care, and aged care services for the residential and community population.
The teams of highly experienced doctors provide emergency care to multiple primary care sites, aged care services, aboriginal health clinics, hospital emergency departments and the wider community twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year.
The trainee is a rural based intern, whose clinical terms are based across the Far Upper North LHN to ensure a high quality and AMC accredited training in a variety of disciplines. This includes Whyalla, Pt Augusta and Pt Lincoln. Interns are supported to be accommodated in ARCS shared accommodation in each site.
Support for interns relocating to the region is provided by the Regional Training Hub based in Whyalla and TMO professional development by Regional Health SA.
All SA Health employees have access to the Employees Assistance Program as an additional source for confidential counselling and support. Contact information is available on the SA MET website.
Doctors’ Health SA is a not-for-profit, independent and profession-controlled organisation dedicated to improving the health of doctors and medical students for the good of the community.
Whyalla Intern Rotation Example:
| T1 | T2 | T3 | T4 | T5 | |
| Intern 1 | Surgery Whyalla | Medicine Whyalla | General Practice/Emergency (Jamestown) | Paediatrics/ GP (Pt Augusta) | Emergency (Pt Lincoln) |
| Intern 2 | Emergency (Pt Lincoln) | Surgery Whyalla | Medicine Whyalla | General Practice/Emergency (Jamestown) | Paediatrics/ GP (Pt Augusta) |
| Intern 3 | Paediatrics/ GP (Pt Augusta) | Emergency (Pt Lincoln) | Surgery Whyalla | Medicine Whyalla | General Practice/Emergency (Jamestown) |
| Intern 4 | General Practice/Emergency Jamestown | Paediatrics/ GP (Pt Augusta) | Emergency (Pt Lincoln) | Surgery Whyalla | Medicine Whyalla |
| Intern 5 | Medicine Whyalla | General Practice/Emergency (Jamestown) | Paediatrics/ GP (Pt Augusta) | Emergency (Pt Lincoln) | Surgery Whyalla |
Whyalla is an important hub located on Eyre Peninsula’s Spencer Gulf in South Australia, and is the region’s biggest city for retail shopping with excellent recreational, sporting and entertainment facilities. Whyalla boasts a warm climate, accessible ocean shores and saltwater fishing. Whyalla represents South Australia’s foremost combination of industrial and nature-based experiences. With vivid scenery, small city charm, distinctive mystic outback landscapes and year-round things to do, Whyalla offers discovery, unique Australian natural wonders and absolute contrast in nature based and industrial activities. Activities that are significant to the landscape and geography of the region that will enthral and gratify those looking to unearth and experience learning, adventure time and witness unrivalled sights and happenings.
Dive or snorkel and witness the camouflage and colourful mating rituals of Whyalla’s distinctive Giant Cuttlefish. Relax within the ocean and wonders of the unique Northern Coastline and beaches on the tranquil Spencer Gulf which are back dropped by the ancient Southern Flinders Ranges. Spectacular sunsets and shimmering horizons, unrivalled natural events and industry that strengthen the nation await the adventurous ready to unearth our earth’s raw essence up close.
The WHHS is located approximately 1 kilometre from the city centre with free secure staff parking available on site. Some sort of private transport is highly recommended as the city is spread over quite a large area. Most locations are only 3–8 minutes away by car, 10–15 by bicycle. There is a limited public transport system (bus) which runs primarily between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
An exciting new opportunity being created and planned for junior doctors to work, live and train across an enviable blend of medical, surgical, emergency, rural medicine, and community paediatrics. To be awed by the dramatic events and vivid colours and textures that shapes these Northern Gulf Eyre communities of South Australia.
For more information about the application process refer to the SA Health Careers website.