Life as a Locum in Broken Hill, NSW: Dr Jane Watt’s Experience
Dr Jane Watt has been a valued member of the Prestige Medical Recruitment locum family since 2021. When not practising as a GP locum, Jane dedicates her time to travelling the globe and enjoying her most loved role as Granny.
Our founder Clare had the pleasure of meeting Dr Watt in her hometown of Armidale during a family caravan trip across Australia back in 2021. At Prestige Medical Recruitment, we take pride in building genuine relationships with our locums and always strive to connect in person whenever possible.
We recently placed Dr Watt as a GP Locum with Maari Ma Health in Broken Hill, NSW. Here are some questions we asked to get a glimpse into life as a locum in one of Australia’s most unique and vibrant regions:
Why did you choose Broken Hill as your locum location?
“I have worked in many remote places in the NT, SA and Queensland. For a change, I wanted to do Indigenous work in my home state of New South Wales.”
What did you get up to during your time off?
“The Broken Hill region offers a wealth of choices for out-of-hours activities. Maari Ma kindly provided me with a vehicle that allowed me to explore both the ‘Silver City’ and its stunning surrounding countryside. The absolute highlight activity for me was visiting Mutawintji National Park to view the extensive areas of rock art of the Pantyikali People.”
Did you see any interesting cases or learn anything new?
“Living in Broken Hill provides an environmental challenge due to the presence of elevated levels of environmental lead in the soil, dust, and water. 47% of all children and 79% of Aboriginal children in Broken Hill have lead levels above the NHMRC recommended safe level. Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation is one of two agencies that monitors the blood lead levels of the people of Broken Hill. Families bring their babies and children to Maari Ma to have this monitoring conducted, thankfully, through a simple finger-prick test.”
What are your top highlights from this placement?
“It was a privilege for me to work with the Aboriginal Health Practitioners of Maari Ma, and to work in an organisation that has the trust and respect of the Broken Hill community. It was also extremely easy to access allied health services, including social well-being and mental health services, for patients of Maari Ma.”
Dr. Jane Watt’s experience in Broken Hill exemplifies the incredible impact locum GPs can have on communities while gaining unique professional and personal growth. At Prestige Medical Recruitment, we’re proud to support healthcare professionals like Jane in their journey to make a difference where it’s needed most.
Ready to Explore Locum Opportunities?
Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your locum journey, working in remote communities like Broken Hill offers a unique blend of challenge and reward. If you’re looking for flexibility, diverse clinical experiences, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact, locum work could be the perfect fit for you.
Browse our job listings or get in touch to learn more about our available placements. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Get in touch with us by phone or email as some jobs don’t even make it to advertisement.
