Achieving Work-Life Balance: Dr Katrina White’s Locum Experience on the Beautiful Kangaroo Island, SA
Work, family, friends, and life. How well do you balance them?
Locum doctors usually have a great work-life balance due to the flexible opportunities that locuming offers. Like Dr White, they can travel solo or bring their loved ones during the placement. The more, the merrier!
Our founder, Clare, had the pleasure of meeting Dr White in January this year near her hometown on the Mornington Peninsula. They enjoyed a lovely lunch together and discussed future family-friendly locum opportunities. At Prestige Medical Recruitment, we value building genuine relationships with our locums and always strive to connect in person whenever possible.
We recently placed Dr White as a GP ED Locum with Kangaroo Island Medical Clinic and Kangaroo Island Health Service in Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, SA. Here are some questions we asked to get a glimpse into life as a locum on one of Australia’s most stunning islands, known for its unique wildlife, fantastic beaches, and authentic food and wine experiences:
Why did you choose Kangaroo Island as your locum location?
“I had always wanted to go to Kangaroo Island and I enjoy remote/rural work, so the opportunity to combine work experience with holidaying there with my family was a win. Travelling from interstate was easy with connecting flights to KI through ADL.”
What did you get up to during your time off?
“I booked our family adventures in advance as we were there in peak summer/tourist season - and we were pleasantly surprised that it was easy to find a quiet beach as so many on the 150km long island! My family really enjoyed sand-dune buggy rides & sand tobogganing, koala nature walks, an ocean safari boat trip, and snorkelling with dolphins & seals on our first weekend there. Driving through the national park to see the impressive Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch and walking through the Platypus waterholes was fantastic. Visit & swim to Vivonne & Emu Bays, Stokes Bay and the local tidal pool in Kingscote. We enjoyed many of the nice restaurants on the island on my time off - Fig Tree, Penneyshaw Pub, Sunset winery, Ozone Hotel, Amadios and the Brewery. Still plenty of areas to explore and things to do on KI - I’ll just need to go back!”
Did you see any interesting cases or learn anything new?
“The hospital computer system Sunrise was a learning experience, but the training provided was good, and I can see how the system works well for the state sharing patient care and results that help with patient management. The locals were pleasant and often presented with health issues that had been going on for a while, due to living remotely or couldn’t get an appt at the clinic. Learning to manage patients’ health issues on the island without sending them to the mainland was an enjoyable challenge that the patients appreciated. We had a challenging cellulitis case to manage but had good guidance from RAH from ID services. Nursing staff at the hospital had excellent clinical and triage skills - they were supportive and a pleasure to work with.”
What are your top highlights from this placement?
“Great rural work experience, supportive and efficient organisation by PMR, and nursing & admin staff at the locum were friendly and easy to work with. Kangaroo Island is a stunning location with plenty to explore and adventures to share with your family on your rostered time off.”
Locuming provides an exciting opportunity for you and your family, as demonstrated by Dr Katrina White’s experience on Kangaroo Island. If you’re looking for family-friendly options, we can help you find choices that cater to your family’s needs, taking into account your children’s ages and interests.
Ready to Explore Locum Opportunities?
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your locum journey, working in remote communities like Kangaroo Island 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.
