Dr Vicki Mattiazzo

I worked for many years in the NT in both Darwin and rural areas which I loved. We moved to rural NSW in 2015, initially fr a year, but loved this area too so stayed. I Took on practice ownership for 7 years which gave me insight into the rewards and challenges facing practices. I sold the partnership in 2022 and since then have been returning rural and remote work working for RFDS in a primary care role out of Broken Hill as well as other remote area locums. I have continued by work as a VMO in Cooma District Hospital.
 
I decided to become more involved with the rural council as I wanted to contribute more to advice ating for rural practices and practioners within the college.

I went into medicine in the post graduate program always with the idea of doing general practice because it offered me the opportunity to work across a wide range of interests and locations. Sometime that breadth of knowledge has been overwhelming but now I embrace the fact that we are the manager of complexity.

I was born in Adelaide but always loved the lifestyle offered by living rural. We wanted to raise our children in the country and be able to balance our work interest with family life. On the whole I think we have managed to do this. Now that my children have left home, I have more opportunity to return to remote area work.

I love getting out of the clinic and driving through extremely beautiful landscapes, even on my short commute to work. IT really lifts my spirit. I really love not dealing with traffic. I love being part of a community, and yes sometimes boundaries blurr, but the pros and been greater than the cons. I love the characters I meet and the stories of people I see. I love the wide scope of practice, the skills I develop and the relationships I have build with my urban network of specalists who have been so supportive of me asa rural GP. I feel like I have been able to really develop my skills in this role.

Nothing heroic in the traditional sense but something that a lot of GPs experience. I love it when, 7 years after a conversation with a patient about their smoking, they finally come to you and say they are ready to quit because the want to be able to hike in the mountains. I love seeing patients who have stuggled with addiction and mental health issues finally take control and turn things around, seeing them in a local shop holding down the first job they have had in years. I love going to the high school presentation night seeing kids getting awards, or just finishing school, who you know have climbs massive obsticles just to get there. The dramas of acute medicine are in credible but it is the slow burn of general practice that has given me some of my greatest job satisfaction.

I would like to contribute to advocating for rural practices and practritioners, keeping us ion the radar. I would also lioke to see more rural kids getting into health professions.

I started medicine when I was 33. Perhaps coming to it late means I have really appreciated it. I love what I do and I feel to lucky to have a great job, which contributes to the lives of individuals as well as communities, incredible job flexibility and I get to live in amazing places. Of course, I can feel burn out, but being able to take a moment to experience my environment by going for a walk or a swim or ski, or even just pulling off the side if the road to stop and look at the beauty around me helps to fill up my bucket for the next battle.