Joanna Tucker, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

The first cohort of interns for the new Rural Doctor Program has been welcomed to the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network at Wallaroo Hospital.

The RDP is designed to support and encourage junior doctors to pursue generalist training pathways and medical careers within Yorke Peninsula.

A crucial initiative in rural health care, the program aims to equip doctors with essential skills for rural practice.

It involves locations in Port Pirie, Crystal Brook, Jamestown, Clare, Wallaroo, Kadina, Point Pearce, Maitland and Ardrossan.

YNLHN director of clinical training Dr Eleanor Daniel, of Arthurton, welcomed the four interns during a morning tea in Wallaroo Hospital foyer yesterday (Monday, January 6).

She said the program had been in planning for the entirety of 2024 to prepare for the year ahead.

“Throughout this year, the YNLHN will have trainees spread across the region in various teams,” Dr Daniel said.

“The RDP aims to provide junior doctors with excellent teaching and training opportunities, second-to-none supervision, a supportive learning environment and opportunity to make the most of the lifestyle available in our beautiful region.”

New intern Zakaria Shinwari said he was excited for the opportunity to work in the YNLHN.

“I’m looking forward to it — it’s very exciting to be able to learn rom the mentors and nurses here,” Mr Shinwari said.

He said he completed medical school in Fiji and had undertaken rural rotations.

Mevis Mbeki, who also started her internship on January 6, said she was excited to work for the YNLHN.

“I am happy to be here today, I’ve been looking forward to it,” she said.

“I love working in regional areas — it is where I have worked all of my career.”

Another intern, Mahum Ikram, said she enjoyed working with tight-knit regional communities.

“Everyone is super nice, it feels like a bunch of mates if I am honest,” she said.

Ryan Ton, who previously lived in Orroroo, said he was also excited to begin his internship as one of the first interns for the RDP.

“I am a bit nervous, but very excited,” he said.

“I have been living rurally for the past seven years, so that is why I applied for this job.”

Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis also welcomed the new interns.

“Of all the opportunities for improvement we have in our regional health system, increasing the supply of doctors will make the biggest difference,” he said.

“That seems to be the most difficult thing — attracting health professionals.

“This is a wonderful step in the right direction toward training more doctors locally, and hopefully retaining them and increasing the number we have to service our community.”

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners deputy chair Dr Clare Keogh said there had been excellent growth in the number of GPs training in 2025, with a 20 per cent increase nationally compared with 2024.

“General practice is a truly rewarding career,” she said.

“No other medical speciality offers the same opportunities to build trust and relationships with patients over a lifetime.

“We’ve shown we can train more in both Adelaide and South Australia’s rural communities — we just need the funding to sustain this growth.”

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 7 January 2025.