Darling Downs and West Moreton District

GP training in Darling Downs and West Moreton district

The Darling Downs and West Moreton district is an exciting place to learn medicine.

This district is available to both rural and general pathway registrars. It sits on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range so naturally has stunning scenery encompassing winding roads and creeks, herds of grazing cattle, windmills and charming old woodsheds. The area is one of our four training districts and corresponds with the Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network. Rural pathway registrars will most likely train in this district.

I do obstetrics and look after a woman when she’s pregnant and through her whole antenatal care. I will deliver the baby and check up on both mother and baby one week and six weeks after delivery. At the same time, I can be called up in the middle of the night to help with a palliative patient and keep them as comfortable as possible at home. There’s huge variety. That’s one of the things I like about it.

Sam Petersen, Former GP Registrar, Chinchilla

About Darling Downs and West Moreton district

Every town in the Darling Downs and West Moreton district has its own unique charm. The area is known for its rich agricultural output, providing a stunning patchwork of pastures covering the endless rolling hills. State forests are scattered throughout the region and offer opportunities for camping and hiking. There are even a few tourist attractions in the area, including the Cobb & Co Museum, the heritage-listed Jondaryan Woolshed and the small Darling Downs Zoo.

Training practices

The Darling Downs and West Moreton district encompasses three of our training zones, with Zones 1 and 2 falling entirely within it. Zone 1 has 21 accredited practices, Zone 2 has 28 and Zone 3 has 13, making a total of 62 throughout the region. These rural practices offer a broad scope of experience that you may not be exposed to in urban practice. Toowoomba Hospital is the main hospital in the area.

Primary health network

The DDWMPHN area is home to over half a million people and is growing rapidly. Many residents are disadvantaged with poor education levels and health outcomes, as well as limited access to technology and transport. This makes the area’s health care critically important.

Some of the most important programs that have been rolled out in the area include Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS), Mental Health Services in Rural and Remote Areas (MHSRRA), Care Coordination and Supplementary Services (CCSS) program, Closing the Gap, Toowoomba Diabetes Clinic, and Rural Primary Health Services (RPHS). Many smaller initiatives are also being implemented, from remote care and holistic case coordination to a community liaison pharmacist trial. Find out more here: www.ddwmphn.com.au

Medical educators

While registrars receive most of their training in practice with their GP supervisor, there are also a vast range of medical educators across the Darling Downs and West Moreton district who mentor our registrars. They are: