Committee to provide support and connection for rural female GPs

In March this year, RACGP Rural established a gender-inclusive Doctors for Women in Rural Medicine (DWRM) Committee, aiming to elevate, empower and encourage women working in rural medicine. 
 
Ongoing access issues, coupled with a decreasing GP workforce, have led to well publicised healthcare challenges in rural and remote communities.
 
For women, access to healthcare such as contraception and medical abortion is particularly critical, as is antenatal and postnatal care, and mental health care.
 
In an effort to inform recommendations to the RACGP Board and Federal Government aimed at supporting women working in rural and remote medicine, the committee has been working to facilitate a connection for female rural GPs to share experiences, challenges and solutions.
 
It will also deliver continuing professional development (CPD) educational activities.
 
As part of Women’s Health Week 2022, the DWRM Committee is hosting two educational webinars which aim to help improve women’s health in rural and remote communities.
 
Women’s health in rural and remote Australia – 8 September
Providing rural and remote GPs with information around the challenges of providing women’s health services, this webinar will also explore how care has been provided during the pandemic and the ongoing uses of contraception and medical termination.
 
Women in rural medicine: What’s out there for you – 11 September
This session will cover key professional and personal options available to women working in rural medicine across Australia, including family considerations, professional career streams, special interests, general practice pathways, grants and community engagement. The session will conclude with an open discussion with GP colleagues from around Australia.
 
Queensland GP Dr Kaylene Girgenti is inaugural Chair of the DWRM Committee.
 
She told newsGP the upcoming webinars will help support rural and remote GPs providing care to female patients, particularly where isolation can be an issue.
 
‘My role as Chair is to facilitate the committee in reaching out and connecting with women who are working rural and remotely,’ Dr Girgenti said.
 
‘And I’m most looking forward to seeing how that connection strengthens us both as a profession but as individuals.
 
‘I find that for women everywhere, isolation can be a big thing, no matter whether you’re a medical professional or otherwise, so trying to connect to people and finding your tribe is a big part of helping with mental wellness, the feeling of connectiveness, and shared experiences.
 
‘Hopefully our members will connect and get something out of the committee.’
 
Based out of Townsville where she works in the public and private hospital, Dr Girgenti also practises in remote locations such as Karumba in north Queensland and Magnetic Island, and has a large female demographic across these areas.
 
‘With all my patients I try to promote general health, but I suppose for women in particular, it’s often just encouraging them to dedicate as much time to themselves as they would other family members and other people,’ she said.
 
‘Particularly mothers tend to put their own health needs behind those of their kids and their partners, so when you’re talking about women in general, just encouraging them to dedicate as much effort to their own health as other family members is a big part of it.’
 
And when it comes to her own health and wellbeing, Dr Girgenti says she should ‘probably’ practice what she preaches more.
 
‘I am really mindful in trying to achieve a better work–life balance, and I probably have in the past, but a lot of health professionals these days are just getting quite burnt out, because of shortages in the workforce and increase in demand from the community,’ she said.
 
‘To get the balance right between how much you’re working and how much you’re giving to other people and to yourself, is a big part of finding that balance.
 
‘Then there’s the usuals, like regular exercise, keeping your body healthy and moving, eating well, getting enough sleep, making good lifestyle choices in general. And all the stuff for your mental health – catching up with family and friends and trying to make time to do that.’
 
A sub-committee of the RACGP Rural Council, the DWRM Committee will soon have a dedicated web page, but in the interim, rural or remote RACGP members can find out more or express interest in joining via the DWRM Facebook group.
 
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