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In rural and remote health, we can often wear our competence like a superhero’s cape. We are expected to be capable, steady and solutions-focused. We are the person people call when things fall apart. We are often the first and last point of care across vast...
At times, we can feel drained, if not emptied of energy. It could be the long hours, professional isolation or workforce shortages that contribute to this feeling. However, sometimes the deepest distress comes from something harder to describe: knowing what the right...
For most people, it’s all too easy to unconsciously bring work home with you. In rural and remote healthcare, where the boundaries between community roles and personal lives are often blurred, it can be even more evident. For example, you might stay late finishing...
This week is Harmony Week, with National Close the Gap Day on Thursday, 19 March. I write this as a non-Indigenous psychologist who has worked alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues and communities in remote settings across the ‘top end’. What I...
Most of us know our inner critic well: mine tends to show up most when I am tired. Our inner critic is the internal self-talk that passes judgment on our actions, can tell us we are unworthy and attacks or guilts us when it can. The critic often points out everything...
This Thursday, 8 March, is International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is “Give to Gain”, a campaign that encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration and emphasises the power of reciprocity and support. The International Women’s Day website highlights that...
We are frequently encouraged in the rural and remote workforce to “build resilience”, or “be more resilient”, or even told “you’ll get used to it”, particularly when we are struggling with something. Resilience is often regarded by some as a personal virtue and is...
This Friday, 20 February, is World Day of Social Justice, with the theme “Empowering Inclusion: Bridging Gaps for Social Justice”. Whilst the theme emphasises inclusive policies, social protections, and addressing systemic inequalities (the outward systems of...
After a delayed return to Victoria after a road trip to the Kimberley, there was a lot of time for reflecting on the spaces between people, services, and moments of being seen. Rural and remote work does have its challenges, including distance, which reminded me of...
Moments of self-doubt are common, particularly when faced with uncertainty or new challenges. We can feel anxious, doubtful, or perhaps even like a fraud/an impostor. You might think that you can’t tolerate the discomfort, uncertainty, or distress you're feeling. The...
Change is a constant. It’s the one thing that we can reliably foresee happening in life. It might look like a new job, marrying or separating, buying or selling a house, or living away from family for the first time. Sometimes those changes are exciting and something...
No matter if it’s romantic partners, friends, family, or coworkers, every relationship should have the underlying elements of clear communication, mutual respect, and healthy boundaries. These principles help to foster trust, understanding, and support, which we would...