Heartbeat of Carnarvon community draws four medical students

Carnarvon doctors have welcomed four fresh faces as the latest group of medical students arrives in town.

Ben Tomlinson, Kahli Fraser, Tamsin McQualter and Jamie Tamm are medical students from the University of WA who will be based in Carnarvon this year.

Since 2002, the Rural Clinical School of WA has been sending students to remote and regional areas to help deliver better health outcomes.

The students had a well-attended welcome function at the Carnarvon Yacht Club and toured the town’s health services, St John Ambulance facility, rifle club and the Gnaraloo coastal area with some of the medical fraternity.

They will work closely with the Carnarvon health services and attend day clinics in communities across the Gascoyne.

They all said the drawcard was working in a more intimate environment.

“We get so much more contact with patients working regionally,” Ms Fraser said.

“In Perth, you’re jostling for contact, but here we have every opportunity to engage with the patient.

“We are looking forward to having that ‘light bulb’ moment where theory and practical experience clicks, and we have a greater opportunity of that occurring in Carnarvon with direct access to doctors and patients.”

The students will continue to study full-time while doing practical experience in the Gascoyne.

Mr Tamm said they were keen to be involved in the community and were looking to get involved in team sports. “We have met lots of friendly people and we feel very welcomed into the town,” he said.