Let’s be honest: burnout has become far too common in medicine.
For many doctors, it shows up quietly at first, missed gym sessions, a little less patience at the end of the day, a creeping sense of dread about the next rotation. And then suddenly, it’s bigger: exhaustion, frustration, even questioning whether the career you worked so hard for is still sustainable.
One of the biggest drivers? The instability of short-term roles. In city-based hospitals and metro locums, doctors often cycle through teams, systems, and shifts so quickly that there’s no time to find solid ground. The uncertainty is draining. Research backs this up: frequent transitions, role ambiguity, and lack of continuity all fuel stress and emotional exhaustion. And it’s not just doctors who pay the price, continuity matters for patients too. A systematic review of 22 studies found that in 81.8% of cases, patients who consistently saw the same doctor had lower mortality rates (BMJ). Stability doesn’t just feel better, it delivers better outcomes for everyone.
Adding to the strain, burnout is now deeply entrenched across general practice. In a national survey of GP supervisors, 79% reported exhaustion and 71% reported disengagement (RACGP). Burnout isn’t a personal failure, it’s a systemic signal that the way we’re working simply isn’t sustainable.
But here’s the good news: there’s another way. And it doesn’t just involve a new contract, it often involves a new landscape.
Why Permanence Heals
Stability Helps You Thrive
When you’re always moving between short-term roles, you’re making constant micro-decisions: How does this clinic run? Who do I report to? What’s the culture here? That decision fatigue builds up fast.
A long-term rural or coastal contract gives you something short-term placements can’t: stability. You know your team, your systems, your patients, and your community. Instead of burning energy on endless adjustments, you get to channel it into your work, and your life.
Think of it like shifting from sprinting to a steady jog. With less stop-start chaos, your body and mind find their rhythm again.
A Sea or Tree Change is More Than a Move
Here’s the thing: it’s not just the length of the contract that makes the difference. It’s where you go.
A sea or tree change isn’t simply about swapping skyscrapers for surf or suburbs for gumtrees. It’s about giving your brain and body a reset. Studies show that time spent in green spaces (like forests) and blue spaces (like the ocean or rivers) measurably lowers cortisol - the stress hormone linked to burnout.
But beyond the science, doctors living in coastal or rural areas tell us the same thing: life just feels different. The pace is slower. Weekends are for hiking, surfing, or just sitting still with a view. Even the rhythm of the community itself is calmer, which naturally spills over into how you show up at work.
A coastal GP from NSW said
“I’d always thought burnout meant I needed to work less. But moving coastal showed me it wasn’t just about hours - it was about environment. Surfing before I started the day or walking the beach after a shift became my reset button. I started enjoying medicine again.”
It’s less about “escaping” the city, and more about rediscovering balance.
Community is the Hidden Burnout Buffer
Something remarkable happens when you stay in one place long enough: you stop being “the new doctor” and start becoming part of the community.
“After a year in a small town, people knew me beyond ‘doctor’. I was coaching the junior footy team, and my kids were at the local school. Suddenly, medicine felt part of a bigger picture. That sense of belonging gave me a resilience I’d never had in the city.” - Rural Generalist, QLD
In rural and coastal towns, medicine doesn’t exist in a vacuum. You’ll often find yourself involved in local schools, sports clubs, and community events. These non-clinical roles aren’t distractions, instead they’re anchors that rebuild identity and connection outside of work.
There’s also the richness of cultural integration. Many long-term placements involve working closely with Indigenous health organisations. These partnerships don’t just add professional value, they give a deeper sense of purpose to the role.
When you feel known, valued, and connected in your community, the protective effect against burnout is powerful. It’s not just about practising medicine; it’s about living fully.
The Permanence Paradox
It sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? That taking on something “long-term” could actually lighten your load. But that’s the permanence paradox: stability, nature, and community don’t tie you down; they set you free.
Doctors who choose long-term contracts in rural or coastal areas often describe the change in simple terms: I finally had time to breathe.
In fact, recent research found that 73% of Australian rural GPs experienced burnout in the past year, a clear reminder of why long-term, community-rooted placements can offer doctors something precious.
Your Next Step
If you’re reading this and recognising signs of burnout, maybe it’s time to explore a different path. A long-term contract in a rural or coastal setting could be the circuit breaker you didn’t know you needed.
At Prescript, we make the move simple. From credentialing to logistics, from helping you settle into a new town to staying connected long after you arrive, we’re here as your support crew. Because this isn’t just about filling rosters, it’s about creating sustainable, rewarding careers for doctors, and healthier futures for the communities that depend on you.
Explore long-term rural and coastal roles with Prescript. Discover where a change of scenery could take you.
