Weekend boat trips with friends, hiking the oldest rainforest in the world and diving with the fish along The Great Barrier Reef, it sounds like a dream, right? For Dr. Dan, his locum experience in Far North Queensland has allowed him to live that dream and work at the same time.

Locum work was something that Dr. Dan had planned on doing as a part of his career progression. Hailing from the U.K, he saw this as the perfect opportunity to work, travel and create memories simultaneously.

But for him, locum work is more than just work and play. It has given Dr. Dan the opportunity to work flexibly, create balance in his life and find a sense of community in the places he worked, particularly regional and rural areas.

He was inspired by his local GP after shadowing him for some work experience. He saw that what he learnt could be applied practically, help people, but also use soft skills. Much of the patient experience is centred around bedside manner and being able to talk with the patient.

Patient relationships are some of the best parts of the job for Dr. Dan. No matter the outcome he loves to be able to connect with patients, learn their stories and act as an advocate and educator. To him, treating a patient is more than diagnosing them, it is about engaging and listening which can sometimes help more than physical treatment.

When asked what his career highlight is, he said there was not one highlight, more generally contributing to health care as just one of the many cogs within the health mechanism.

“It doesn’t feel like I’m saving lives, I’m playing my part in someone’s health, contributing to the team. It’s special to be a part of healthcare in general” he said.