A word of caution on rural work

Following on from Kristen Keppel’s article (February InPsych, 2018, p. 40), I would like to offer some advice for those contemplating a move to a country practice. For many years I worked in a rural centre, and also in a remote Northern Territory town. Given my experience I have some observations to share that are not really outlined in the APS Code of Ethics or the Ethical guidelines for psychological practice in rural and remote settings. Before you contemplate a move, make an honest assessment of both your professional and personal needs. While a change may sound exciting, distance from family and friends can be debilitating, especially for single people. The lack of cultural and sporting activities can magnify this. Establishing how you might connect to the community before taking up an offer is advisable. This could include volunteering, coaching a junior football club, or running a hobby class. If face-to-face professional development activities and supervision are scarce, take advantage of the APS online resources and Skype.

Seeking the support of non-psychology health professionals is also recommended. With being the inevitable ‘big fish in a small pond’, comes the responsibility of acting professionally at all times. In a small community everyone will get to know you and behaving inappropriately will damage your reputation and that of the profession. Other good advice I was given years ago was to ‘slow down, don’t talk down, and dress down’. Try to take on board the norms of the community into which you are moving.

Another issue is the ‘head office’ mentality of some organisations. They will not always be understanding if a natural disaster such as a cyclone gets in the way of submitting a report on time. You should carefully monitor your self-perception as a practitioner. It is very easy to acquire an inflated sense of self, particularly if you are the only psychologist in town.

Despite potential drawbacks, living and working in a country area can bring many benefits. As Kirsten Keppel said, rural practice can be a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of the city.