When Dr Maelle Morgan moved to Moree for her GP training, she only expected to stay for two years.
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Five years later, she is a qualified GP who can't imagine living anywhere else.
She's hoping to encourage more doctors to work and train in towns like Moree, by sharing her story in a promotional video with local GP training provider, GP Synergy, to showcase the benefits of being a rural GP in the New England/Northwest region.
"Since my partner and I have been here we've adopted two dogs, bought a house and had a baby - we're not going anywhere!" Dr Morgan said.
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"I definitely recommend doctors undertake GP training here and I'm happy to tell them why.
"Being a rural GP I can tailor my practice to my interests, at the same time provide valuable care to the local community.
"In a typical week I work in general practice where I have a special interest in women's health, as well as work at the hospital in emergency medicine, internal medicine and surgical assisting.
"I can see someone in practice, admit them to hospital and discharge them back to the practice where I can continue to manage their care."
Dr Morgan said the support from the Moree community and local GPs is another major reason she decided to stay.
"I love living in Moree, as the people here are so welcoming and friendly, and I'm involved in lots of local activities," she said.
GP Synergy CEO, Georgina van de Water, said the local community plays an important role in helping doctors settle in and form personal networks.
"GP registrars contribute significantly to primary healthcare provision in rural areas like Moree," she said.
"Since 2002, more than 10,000 doctors have achieved fellowship through the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) program nationally.
"To specialise as a GP, doctors spend three to four years in the AGPT program, training in accredited facilities, with dedicated supervisors and regional medical education support and delivery.
"Over the many years that we have been training doctors to specialise as GPs in rural communities, the consistent feedback we receive is that they find rural training a rich and rewarding learning environment.
"As we have seen in the case of Dr Morgan, how local communities welcome and support GP registrars during their training and beyond can have a considerable impact on their decision to stay once they reach their fellowship goals."
