Dr Jennifer Reath
If Australia has difficulty in recruiting and retaining doctors in rural areas, then attracting doctors to work in rural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is an even greater problem. The general practitioner (GP - a key provider of mainstream primary health care in Australia) is an important member of the health care team in most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. While this work offers many unique opportunities for learning about a different culture, working in an area of need, developing and using clinical and communication skills, GPs are often isolated with little support or cultural training and sometimes undertaking roles for which they are ill-equipped. The Rural Faculty of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners conducted a needs assessment to determine what resources and support would enhance recruitment and retention of GPs in Indigenous communities. Following analysis of this needs assessment, an innovative program was planned involving a range of strategies, developed and implemented in partnership with Aboriginal community controlled organizations. We will discuss the results of the needs assessment and the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies including cross cultural training, mentoring, development of orientation manuals, provision of clinical guidelines and other GP and training and IT resources. While the impact of these strategies on GP retention rates is yet to be determined, outcomes in terms of GP and community satisfaction indicate their likely success.