My Adelaide Top Ten For RANZCR ASM 2022

The RANZCR ASM 2022 is going to be in Adelaide - I am very excited to share the best of what Adelaide has to offer with you.

Adelaide is my adopted home city, and I love it. I have been here since late 2019 and think it is a wonderful place to live and work.

If you are attending the ASM, stop by our Prescript booth, and I will share some ideas on things to do & see. I will be joined by my colleagues, Nicola Speer and Rebecca Doyle, who have their own Adelaide highlights to tell you about.

To whet your appetite ahead of October, here is my Adelaide top ten:

1. Art

2. Sunsets

3. Food

4. Wine

5. Fun

6. Friendly STREETS

7. Beaches

8. Nature

9. Culture

10. Wine (it deserves two spots, NO?)

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1. Art

Visit the Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA) on North Terrace (a 15-minute walk from the ASM). It is one of my favourite art galleries in Australia mainly for how intimate the rooms feel and how cleverly they mix modern art with the old.

Art Gallery of South Australia - AGSA

They have some incredible exhibitions, including Yayoi Kusama: THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS (see photos below!)

Want to fit the art into your busy schedule? I thoroughly recommend using a pedicab for a tour of the street art. They will give you a great introduction to the Adelaide CBD and its hidden lanes & alleys.

(Top tip: call and see if they will arrange a pick-up from the ASM) EcoCaddy | Adelaide Street Art Green Adventure Tour

2. Sunsets

Who says you must go all the way to Perth to enjoy a sunset over the water? Head to Henley, Grange or Glenelg to enjoy a walk along the beach and spectacular sunset.

Sunsets in the city are quite the sight, too - the grid road system means you are afforded some uninterrupted views.

Near the ASM is Sol Rooftop - book a spot Sôl Rooftop - All Day Destination | Book Now - SkyCity Adelaide (their restaurant next door is excellent, it faces the opposite direction, but you can see the reflection of the sun setting on the Adelaide Hills).

3. Food

This would be a long blog if I talked about all my favourite restaurants and food experiences! So I am going to keep it snappy.

Home - Adelaide Central Market: The City of Adelaide's premier food destination. Over 70 traders under one roof.

This market is a 10-minute walk from the ASM - go there for your breakfast and lunch or find local produce to stock up your hotel room. There are two cheese stalls next to each other in the middle - ask them for a recommendation, and you won't regret it. The last time I was there, I walked away with prunes soaked in a Barossa port to go with stilton - wow!

If you love food, you will love this market. Stop by Si, Sea for a tapas lunch of local oysters and mussels. Pop to Lucia's for hearty pasta and to browse their delicatessen.

Evening meal? These you will need to book ahead:

Restaurant Botanic - this is an exceptional restaurant (book immediately!)

Press* Food & Wine (pressfoodandwine.com.au) - relaunched menu and new chef, great atmosphere and suitable for a group. Try their booths upstairs.

ORSO (orsokensington.com.au) - just out of the CBD. Excellent food and wine list.

AFRICOLA – DOP & CHOP. SHEBEEN and EATING HOUSE. "The Real Makoya". 4 East Tce. Adelaide. South Australia. - a lively atmosphere and an exciting menu. If there are just two of you, ask to sit at the counter overlooking the kitchen.

Peel St Restaurant - an old favourite. I go back to indulge in the chicken blossom salad - please try it!

ShoSho - on King William Road in Unley just out of the CBD. A fun neighbourhood restaurant with fantastic Japanese food.

4. Wine

As we are covering wine twice, this first section can be about places to have a drink in the CBD, all within walking distance of the ASM.

Wine with views:

Sôl Rooftop - All Day Destination | Book Now - SkyCity Adelaide

2KW Bar & Restaurant - 2KW Bar & Restaurant

Merrymaker Rooftop - Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets

Wine with atmosphere:

Clever Little Tailor | Quality Liquor Bar Adelaide

Leigh Street Wine Room

East End Cellars

LA BUVETTE DRINKERY

Leigh Street Luggage - Wine and Cocktail bar

Wine to taste:

National Wine Centre of Australia - this is in the botanic gardens. You are given a card and can try wine from every region - you choose a sip, a pour or a full glass. Cheese boards are available, too - this is perfect for a larger group during the day.

Magill Estate Cellar Door | Penfolds | Penfolds Wines - it is a winery in the city! Enjoy sampling their wines and enjoy the view over the city and out to sea!

5. Fun

There are festivals galore in Adelaide - but you can have your own fun here at any time of the year. Why not:

Hike from the edge of the CBD up to Mt Lofty Summit? You will be rewarded with incredible views (Top tip: you can start the other way around, walk downhill and get an Uber back!) Adventure Trail from Waterfall Gully to Mt Lofty Summit | Hike (walkingsa.org.au)

Kayak with dolphins: Home - Dolphin Sanctuary Kayak Tours

Cycle along the River Torrens (or walk from the ASM up to the zoo)

Cruise along the River Torrens! (They have a bar on board) Popeye River Cruises | Explore Adelaide | Buy Tickets Online (thepopeye.com.au)

Visit the pandas Adelaide Zoo - Australian Panda Home

6. Friendly Streets

I do think you will find a warm welcome in Adelaide. Take some time to walk around the CBD, and learn about the history of the buildings. There are some self-guided walking tours you can take Experience Adelaide | Historical Trails

One easy walk (where you can't get lost) is to walk along the length of North Terrace and then loop around Rundle Street & Rundle Mall to get to King William Road, which cuts through the CBD. You will also see the parliament, major museums, libraries, and shopping areas. Plus, you will meet Queen Adelaide face to face at the Adelaide Town Hall | Adelaide Town Hall and see where the Beatles stopped traffic.

7. Beaches

They are long and sandy, and you can walk for miles & miles! The waves are gentle, and some areas are pretty shallow so that you can wade for quite a way.

Glenelg and Henley are the busier spots, but you don’t have to walk too far, either way, to find yourself some peace and quiet. Here are some walks you can do: Self Guided Walks around Adelaide's Beaches (adelaidebeaches.com.au)

8. Nature

Parks surround Adelaide CBD, a buffer to the suburbs. You can explore the new wetlands, take part in tree climbing with ropes, walk through olive groves, visit a Japanese garden Experience Adelaide | Adelaide Himeji Garden, ride horses or play golf.

Experience Adelaide | Adelaide Park Lands

Just a short trip away is the Adelaide Hills. It is excellent for walks and finding villages that blend into their woodland surrounds, such as Stirling (known as a garden village) and Handorf (known for its German heritage).

Stirling - Stirling, Attraction | South Australia

Home - Hahndorf (hahndorfsa.org.au)

9. Culture

Having lived in Sydney for 15 years, the best thing about Adelaide is you can decide to see and do something quite last minute, and it won't be sold out. It will be busy if there is an outdoor event, but you can still get a drink and find a spot to sit. If Sydney felt oversubscribed, Adelaide feels at the 85% mark with capacity (therefore 150% more enjoyable!).

Some cultural options:

Samstag Museum of Art - Connect with UniSA - University of South Australia

Tandanya Home | tandanya

Lunchtime series | Elder Conservatorium of Music | University of Adelaide

What's On - Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (aso.com.au)

Arts & Culture In Adelaide | South Australia

10. More Wine

Plan a day to try some incredible wineries in the Mclaren Vale or the Adelaide Hills. I have only tried a handful, but I am happy to share my favourites so far:

Hugh Hamilton Wines | McLaren Vale, South Australia & Mitolo Wines (you can have lunch at nearby Salopian Inn)

Pike & Joyce - Adelaide Hills Winery & Cellar Door - Lenswood Vineyard – Pike and Joyce Wines (their degustation with matching wines is a fantastic experience)

Shaw And Smith (AUS)

The Lane Vineyard - Home - The Lane Vineyard (book lunch there)

“I hope you have a great trip to Adelaide for the RANZCR ASM. Remember to stop by our Prescript booth to say ‘hello’!”

— James Hill - Founder Prescript Recruitment

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About James Hill

I'm James Hill - a medical recruitment specialist. I am passionate about solving the regional doctor shortage in Australia and finding doctors for hospitals and practices across both permanent and locum positions.

As the founder of Prescript Recruitment, I have the practical experience of delivering an exceptional recruitment service with the result that communities everywhere have the healthcare they deserve.

My sixteen years of working with healthcare providers have given me a first-hand insight into the issues they face to attract doctors. Prescript has a successful track record of filling critical and niche doctor roles in every State and Territory.

Adelaide is home to the Prescript mascot Bonnie, and that is where you can find me. Borders permitting (we are all familiar with this!) I am often hopping on a plane to visit colleagues in Hobart, Sydney, Melbourne and all the remote corners of NSW.

'Impact' is a crucial motivation for the Prescript team and me - we link the work with finding excellent jobs for doctors to our giving goal for people living in poverty overseas. So every time you work with us, great things happen here in regional Australia + also for your medical career + also for those in need of clean water in Ethiopia.

I'd love to hear from you. There are three ways to contact me:

1. Call me on 0410 792 310

2. Email james@prescript.com.au 

3. Or click 'Connect with Prescript’

Connect With Prescript

“I believe for you to partner with the right medical recruitment agency, that reflects your wishes and lifestyle choices, is so important. Prescript’s focus is on what matters most to you, whatever stage of your career, your location or your future plans.”

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“Prescript are medical recruitment specialists.”

At Prescript we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Every day we’re focused on two clear outcomes - Helping hospitals find doctors that create departments and clinics that run better, have more capacity and less stress. And placing Doctors in jobs that leave them feeling highly valued, rewarded and, most importantly, enjoying what they do.

We believe that when we get these two crucial things right, it has a huge impact on the regional doctor shortage and the healthcare of communities across Australia.

There are three ways to contact us:

1. Call 1300 755 498

2. Email contact@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript'

Connect With Prescript

We’d love to hear from you!

“We’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage, leaving doctors loving what they do and regional communities feeling like they have the best doctors in town.”

Welcome Paul Tillman - Senior Recruitment Partner For Non-Specialist Doctors

We are delighted to welcome Paul Tillman to the Prescript Recruitment team! Paul is our Senior Recruitment Partner for non-specialist doctors - focusing on helping doctors find RMO, Registrar and SMO positions across Australia.

“Having worked in medical recruitment for over five years, I have a great understanding of the roles available and the challenges health services face in finding staff for their vacancies. ”

As Prescript’s Recruitment Partner for non-specialist doctors, I am passionate about building close relationships with both the doctors and health services I work with. I always aim to provide a personal and tailored service and will strive to find the best opportunities for doctors based on their needs and goals and, in turn, provide health services with the best fit for the vacancies they have.

Before working in medical recruitment, I was a Registered Nurse in the UK and worked as a Respiratory HDU Nurse for NHS trusts. This means I have a great insight into the challenges of working clinically and always try to consider this in my work.

I am currently studying Nursing again to allow me the opportunity to return to some clinical work in Australia. My family and I moved to Melbourne from the UK over five years ago, and I enjoy travelling and exploring Australia whenever I can, as well as getting back home to visit family in the UK.

My passions are spending time with friends and family, including my dog Ted, eating and drinking out, enjoying the Australian weather (when Melbourne allows) and sports – most of all football (or soccer, as I am often told).

I always have time for a chat and a joke with health services and doctors alike and look forward to building new connections at Prescript.

How To Contact Paul

Paul is based in Prescript’s Melbourne office, near the Docklands and Southern Cross Station. You are welcome to come by for a coffee when you’re near!

Prescript’s Senior Recruitment Partner - Non-Specialist Doctors

0415 075 498 // paul@prescript.com.au

Prescript Recruitment, L2/696 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

 

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“Every day the team at Prescript is focused on what we do best - helping regional areas find doctors, filling rosters and providing peace of mind.”

Connect With Prescript

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“Prescript are medical recruitment specialists.”

At Prescript we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Every day we’re focused on two clear outcomes - Helping hospitals find doctors that create departments and clinics that run better, have more capacity and less stress. And placing Doctors in jobs that leave them feeling highly valued, rewarded and, most importantly, enjoying what they do.

We believe that when we get these two crucial things right, it has a huge impact on the regional doctor shortage and the healthcare of communities across Australia.

There are three ways to contact us:

1. Call 1300 755 498

2. Email contact@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript'

Connect With Prescript

We’d love to hear from you!

“We’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage, leaving doctors loving what they do and regional communities feeling like they have the best doctors in town.”

Welcome Melissa Crane - Prescript Quality Standards (PQS) Manager

We are delighted to welcome Melissa Crane to the Prescript Recruitment team! Melissa is our Prescript Quality Standards (PQS) Manager and is dedicated to providing exceptional service to our doctors, health services and recruitment partners. She brings her client-focused attitude, as well as her previous knowledge of medical credentialing and love of all things administrative and process-driven, to reinforce the quality standards at Prescript.

“PQS gives peace of mind to health services that each Prescript doctor has met a consistent level of checks. Plus doctors can rely on PQS to help their applications stand out, as well as minimise duplication of paperwork.”

— Melissa Crane

“Work smarter not harder” is an affirmation that Melissa likes to apply when it comes to creating new processes that can increase productivity and make our work more efficient and smooth.  Melissa prides herself on being able to build great rapport with clients - great communications skills are crucial to success in her role.

Melissa is originally from Ireland and moved to Australia almost nine years ago, making Melbourne her home away from home. Melissa loves to cook and would gladly have a roast dinner every Sunday if she could. She loves hosting dinner parties and sharing a nice bottle of red with friends. When Melbourne weather allows, she will always take the opportunity to relax at the beach or the park in the sunshine.

How To Contact Melissa Crane

Melissa is based in Prescript’s Melbourne office, near the Docklands and Southern Cross Station. You are welcome to come by for a coffee when you’re near!

Prescript Quality Standards (PQS) Manager

0451 828 615 // melissa@prescript.com.au 

Prescript Recruitment, L2/696 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

 

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“Every day the team at Prescript is focused on what we do best - helping regional areas find doctors, filling rosters and providing peace of mind.”

Connect With Prescript

---

“Prescript are medical recruitment specialists.”

At Prescript we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Every day we’re focused on two clear outcomes - Helping hospitals find doctors that create departments and clinics that run better, have more capacity and less stress. And placing Doctors in jobs that leave them feeling highly valued, rewarded and, most importantly, enjoying what they do.

We believe that when we get these two crucial things right, it has a huge impact on the regional doctor shortage and the healthcare of communities across Australia.

There are three ways to contact us:

1. Call 1300 755 498

2. Email contact@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript'

Connect With Prescript

We’d love to hear from you!

“We’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage, leaving doctors loving what they do and regional communities feeling like they have the best doctors in town.”

Doctors With Borders

Did you know doctors are not exempt from interstate travel restrictions? Australia had a doctor shortage in regional areas before COVID, but complicated border restrictions exacerbate this.  

Regional and remote areas rely on locum doctors flying from one side of the country to another to provide specialised medical services. These doctors are confirmed far in advance to secure their time – plane tickets, hotels and motels booked, paperwork and background checklists thoroughly ticked off – most importantly, patients are booked in for the locum doctor to see. 

When interstate border restrictions happen, the doctor cannot go or risks quarantining. Due to the shortage of doctors, there is often no one to replace them at the last minute. You then end up in the situation of that regional community going without the healthcare they deserve.

I understood why it is easier to have blanket rules, especially at the pandemic's beginning. Now it is doing more harm than good. It is dangerous to stop doctors from flying. I am calling for a nuanced approach. Now is the time to allow doctors to fly to where they need to be.

Decision-makers talk about 'keeping us safe', but unseen consequences exist. If these consequences remain unseen and unspoken, then who is held accountable?

I feel in a unique position as a doctor recruitment agency owner to see first-hand the lack of joined-up thinking in Australia with border rules. Prescript Recruitment has a helicopter view of what is happening across every State and Territory. We help fill critical vacancies. We see each day how well-meaning rules to protect us are making people sick.

Let me share a typical day for the Prescript team working from home:

ABC News 24 on in the background

Morning team zoom meeting "We're expecting a government press conference at 11"

We regroup at Midday to digest the latest news.

What action do we need to take?

➞ Which locum doctors can't go to where Prescript booked them?

➞ Which locum doctors can't get home from where they are working currently?

➞ What help can we provide in replacing a locum doctor for a hospital?

➞ Can a doctor race across a border right now before the roadblocks are in place?

➞ Due to uncertainty, which doctors have to cancel their future booked locum positions?

The news channel announces another rule change from another state or territory.

We regroup to digest the latest news.

We action 1 to 5 again.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

This isn't about the impact on Prescript, but it paints a picture of the chaos caused by a border closure. Imagine the hundreds of patients having appointments cancelled behind every locum doctor cancellation. You might not even know, as a patient, you have missed out on doctors services. Is the delay you experienced to see a specialist expected or the direct result of a doctor trapped on the wrong side of a border?

In just the last few days, WA putting restrictions on doctors travelling has meant cities (we are not talking remote) have to go without certain specialist coverage. Is the consequence of that quantifiable?

Something that I can see that won't appear on any report is all the missed opportunities. Uncertainty with borders makes doctors hesitant to put their hands up for locum work. There have been so many false starts that it makes sense for a doctor to stick closer to home. Why risk a trip to a remote part of Australia when you might lose that income or lose that chance to help? We can never know all the good that hasn't happened – these are the locum positions that were not cancelled but never even started—missed opportunities for patients and communities.

What is the solution? I believe the federal, state and territory governments can make doctors the exception that proves the rule. Doctors who are double vaccinated, boosted and willing to fly should be allowed to. Time to move away from black & white and find the grey in-between – it is in the grey that we will see better healthcare.

To be clear – there must still be rules. Remember, though, that there are always rules for locum doctors. The paperwork for a locum position in regular times could make your toes curl – credentialing, qualification checks, police reports, references, immunisation history (this bit is nothing to do with COVID vaccine – it's all the other immunisations doctors have to prove). The point is that if you are going to let any section of the community cross borders, you can trust that doctors will be willing and happy to provide whatever assurances are needed.

Let's throw away these blanket rules that are stopping doctors fly. If you want exceptional healthcare from exceptional doctors, l say let's put an exception in place now!

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About James Hill

James is a medical recruitment specialist. He is passionate about helping regional hospitals and practices across Australia find doctors for their permanent and locum positions.

As the founder of Prescript Recruitment, he has the practical experience of delivering an exceptional recruitment service for doctors with the result that communities everywhere have the healthcare they deserve.

James has fifteen years of working with healthcare providers, and this has given him a first-hand insight into the issues they face to attract doctors. His successful track record of filling locum and permanent positions in every State and Territory means he knows what strategies work and what don't.

Adelaide is home to the Prescript mascot Bonnie, and that is where you can find James. Borders permitting (we are all familiar with this!) James is often hopping on a plane to visit colleagues in Hobart, Sydney, Melbourne and all the remote corners of NSW.

There are three ways to contact James:

1. Call James on 0410 792 310

2. Email james@prescript.com.au 

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript’

Connect With Prescript

“I believe for you to partner with the right medical recruitment agency, that reflects your wishes and lifestyle choices, is so important. Prescript’s focus is on what matters most to you, whatever stage of your career, your location or your future plans.”

---

“Prescript are medical recruitment specialists.”

At Prescript we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Every day we’re focused on two clear outcomes - Helping hospitals find doctors that create departments and clinics that run better, have more capacity and less stress. And placing Doctors in jobs that leave them feeling highly valued, rewarded and, most importantly, enjoying what they do.

We believe that when we get these two crucial things right, it has a huge impact on the regional doctor shortage and the healthcare of communities across Australia.

There are three ways to contact us:

1. Call 1300 755 498

2. Email contact@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript'

Connect With Prescript

We’d love to hear from you!

“We’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage, leaving doctors loving what they do and regional communities feeling like they have the best doctors in town.”

Welcome To Prescript - Mel Houston - Senior Recruitment Partner For Doctors

We are delighted to welcome Mel Houston to the Prescript team!

Mel is a Senior Recruitment Partner, working with rural generalists and emergency medicine doctors across metro and regional Australia.

Her experience covers over fifteen years of medical recruitment, specialising in senior doctors and solving the healthcare shortage.

Mel is an expert in working in close consultation with hospitals, departments and clinics to fill their critical vacancies. Her success has included roster management, executive search projects and in-depth relationship building with locum doctors.

Mel is from the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria and loves its beach lifestyle and the fact it is just close enough to the city (but not too close!).

“I am excited to join the team at Prescript. I love being able to make doctors happy and find them the best locum jobs for them.
I also love finding out about different regional locations and promoting this to doctors, so they have the best locum experience.”

— Mel Houston

How To Contact Mel Houston

Mel is based in Prescript’s Melbourne office, near the Docklands and Southern Cross Station. You are welcome to come by for a coffee when you’re near!

Mel Houston - Senior Recruitment Partner

0414 716 132 mel@prescript.com.au 

Prescript Recruitment, L2/696 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

 

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“Every day the team at Prescript is focused on what we do best - helping regional areas find doctors, filling rosters and providing peace of mind.”

Connect With Prescript

---

“Prescript are medical recruitment specialists.”

At Prescript we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Every day we’re focused on two clear outcomes - Helping hospitals find doctors that create departments and clinics that run better, have more capacity and less stress. And placing Doctors in jobs that leave them feeling highly valued, rewarded and, most importantly, enjoying what they do.

We believe that when we get these two crucial things right, it has a huge impact on the regional doctor shortage and the healthcare of communities across Australia.

There are three ways to contact us:

1. Call 1300 755 498

2. Email contact@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript'

Connect With Prescript

We’d love to hear from you!

“We’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage, leaving doctors loving what they do and regional communities feeling like they have the best doctors in town.”

🥇 400,000 Days Of Water Donated! Prescript's Giving Update

“We have reached an incredible milestone towards our giving goal of one million days! Four hundred thousand days of access to safe drinking water for rural communities in Ethiopia.”

— Stef McLaughlin - Prescript's Giving Manager

For 2021 and beyond, our giving goal is to provide 1 million days of access to clean water to families living in poverty in Tigray, rural Ethiopia.

Reaching over 400,000 days of water donated is another enormous step towards our giving goal, and it feels incredible to be able to give back to those communities that need it the most.

With the recent unrest in Tigray, lives depend on the restoration of the water supplies, now more than ever.

➞ Our giving goal was initially to help with new hand-dug wells, giving communities access to clean water and the tools/expertise to manage the equipment for the future.

➞ Devastatingly, the conflict in the Tigray region has resulted in some 5000 water points, including many village wells, being rendered non-functional

➞ This contribution is to repair damaged wells or build new ones. We are determined to hit our one million days of clean water as quickly as possible and keep going.

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How Have We Reached 400k Milestone?

Because of you! It is through the incredible work of our Prescript doctors and healthcare organisations that we have reached this milestone. Prescript links our day to day business activities as a medical recruitment company to our giving goal.

Giving examples:

✓ When a hospital or practice confirms a doctor in a locum or permanent position in regional Australia ➞ Prescript donates 💧

✓ When a doctor refers another doctor to us ➞ Prescript donates 💧

✓ When a doctor registers as a new candidate with Prescript ➞ Prescript donates 💧

✓ When a doctor completes a reference for another doctor ➞ Prescript donates 💧

✓ When a hospital or practice agrees to work with Prescript on a long-term vacancy ➞ Prescript donates 💧

All the 💧💧 adds up. Thank you and a BIG ⭐️ to everyone who has enabled us to keep giving.

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About The Water Projects

The projects we are supporting fund the construction of hand-dug wells in the Ethiopian province of Tigray.

 

➞ During the recent unrest in northern Ethiopia, the project areas have continued to run but thousands of wells and water sources have been deliberately damaged or destroyed.

➞ The water program began during the 1980s civil war and evolved to a point where its low technology techniques were the best for implementation in times of conflict.

➞ Our support will assist with the restoration of damaged water supplies to secured villages.

➞ It is estimated that some 5000 wells in Tigray are now non-functioning because they have either been damaged as a result of the conflict, or communities have no access to spare parts, or there is no technical support.

➞ It is crucial that we help to get these wells back up and running to their previous state. Without a well, women can spend 3 hours every day collecting about 20 litres (for her whole family) of polluted water from sources often shared with defecating livestock.

➞ The whole family benefit from having access to clean water - meals can be prepared earlier, improved sanitary practices also mean less illness and fewer missed school days.

What’s Next?

We’ll keep you updated on Tigray news and any information we receive about wells, their repairs and clean water.

Thank you for being part of the Prescript community and helping us reach our one million days goal.

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About Stef McLaughlin

Stef is Prescript’s Operations, Leadership & Giving Manager, working with regional hospitals and practices across Australia to ensure that doctors start on time. Stef is responsible for Prescript’s PQS and our one million days of water giving goal.

There are three ways to contact Stef:

1. Call Stef on 0416 544 577

2. Email stef@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript'

Connect With Prescript

“B1G1 is something I am extremely proud of. I am proud of what we have achieved and genuinely love that our work directly impacts lives, not just here within my home, Australia, but also overseas.
”

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“Prescript are medical recruitment specialists.”

At Prescript we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Every day we’re focused on two clear outcomes - Helping hospitals find doctors that create departments and clinics that run better, have more capacity and less stress. And placing Doctors in jobs that leave them feeling highly valued, rewarded and, most importantly, enjoying what they do.

We believe that when we get these two crucial things right, it has a huge impact on the regional doctor shortage and the healthcare of communities across Australia.

There are three ways to contact us:

1. Call 1300 755 498

2. Email contact@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript'

Connect With Prescript

We’d love to hear from you!

“We’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage, leaving doctors loving what they do and regional communities feeling like they have the best doctors in town.”

What's Your (Work) Wellness Action Plan?

Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Will our internal borders reopen soon? Will doctors be able to fly to every part of Australia to provide locum services or take up a new permanent role? These are the questions we are asking at Prescript.

Just before Christmas 2020, I remember posting on our company notice board that 2021 would be full of good news. Onwards and upwards - sunny uplands await! Well, of course, we know what has happened since then.

We are almost at that point again. I am peering ahead into 2022 and thinking about what it will look like for our Prescript doctors, our Prescript health service clients and our Prescript internal team.

Our job as a medical recruitment company is to support our doctors and clients ‘now’ and remind them there is a ‘later’. The ‘later’ we refer to is healthcare as usual - doctors able to travel freely, communities getting the healthcare they deserve.

My job as the founder of Prescript is also to support our Prescript internal team ‘now’ and remind them there is a ‘later’ too. Looking after the team when times are tough and inspiring them that good times lie ahead.

Maybe a silver lining of the pandemic is that conversations about mental health are happening with more frequency and urgency. It’s ok not to be ok.

How have you supported your mental health when working from home doing telehealth & teleradiology or from your workplace at a hospital or a clinic? Do you have a wellness action plan?

Prescript has seen how hard doctors have been working:

★ staffing fever clinics

★ swapping from their usual roles to go where the need is greatest

★ volunteering to quarantine to fulfil locum commitments

★ crossing national and inter-state borders when possible

★ showing good humour and understanding with all the travel changes that have taken place

★ making sure regional communities have the healthcare they need

The health services we work with have been incredible, too - each time a border closed, we saw medical administration and management swing into action to put a plan in place to cover shortages. Flights booked, cancelled and rebooked; accommodation reservations unpicked; credentialing paperwork fast-tracked. Phew!

I do want to share a massive acknowledgement for the Prescript Recruitment team. I know that the doctors, hospitals, and practices we partner with have benefited from having Prescript operate at full capacity – the team have been there to manage cancelled locum shifts, change travel logistics, juggle border closures and answer questions. Our recruitment and credentialing teams have worked diligently to support our Prescript doctors and health services.

What has Prescript done to support our Prescript team?

★ Kept every member of Prescript fully employed

★ Shared financial data for full transparency

★ Shared the business plan for each quarter to help the team feel secure

★ Daily team meetings via Zoom - focus on what help is needed and sharing team kudos and thank-yous

★ Introduced an Employee Assistance Programme for confidential counselling. Each Prescript team member had/has access to six hours of support over the phone, face-to-face or online

★ Wellness day off (see more here)

★ Team trivia quiz hosted by a comedian (online)

★ Sweek Mickie cookie deliveries

★ Biggest Morning Tea for the Cancer Council (we baked cakes and biscuits)

★ In-home massages for Sydney team members

★ Friday zoom wine-downs

★ Remote parties for celebrating birthdays

★ Baby shower games

★ Group meditation/hypnosis with an online library of resources available

★ Buddy system for support and time off

★ Sharing the responsibility for coming up with team activities

★ Budget for home-office set-up

★ Christmas 2020 get-together at Quay in Sydney

★ March 2021 get-together in Adelaide

★ Team communal lunches (remote and together)

Navigating through the last 18 months has been challenging.

Focusing on a wellness action plan has helped. It has meant that it’s ok not to be ok and it’s ok to prepare in advance.

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What Is A Wellness Action Plan?

Mind.org.uk details what we can do to look after our own mental health and wellbeing.

Identify your triggers

“Working out what triggers poor mental health for you can help you anticipate problems and find solutions. Whether it’s taking in too much negative news and media regarding the current circumstance or a heavy workload. Finding out your triggers can help.”

Take Time For Yourself

“Spending time on yourself is essential for your wellbeing, and helps you be more resilient. It’s vital to prioritise your own needs sometimes, rather than the demands of your work. Ignoring your needs can lead to stress and burn-out.”

Be Kind To Yourself

“In our current climate, we’re all going through a difficult time. It’s important to be kind to yourself and remember it’s okay to not be okay. We may feel different from one day to the next as situations change so it’s important to be kind to yourself.”

Connect with others

“Depending on the circumstance, working from home right now can be a lonely job. Evidence suggests that feeling close to, and valued by other people is a basic human need. Good relationships are important to our wellbeing. Try joining morning or evening online exercise classes, joining Facebook groups or even starting your own.”

Celebrate the small successes

“We all want to contribute and make a difference to the things we work on, we want to feel accomplished and that we’ve achieved something. So it’s important to celebrate the successes, big and small. Some days that might mean a great piece of work, other days it could mean doing housework or making the bed. Try to identify one small thing each day that you can accomplish.”

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About James Hill

James Hill is a medical recruitment specialist. He is passionate about helping regional hospitals and practices across Australia find doctors for their permanent and locum positions.

As the founder of Prescript Recruitment, he has the practical experience of delivering an exceptional recruitment service for doctors with the result that communities everywhere have the healthcare they deserve.

James’ fourteen years of working with regional healthcare providers has given him a first-hand insight into the issues they face to attract doctors. His successful track record of filling locum and permanent positions in every State and Territory means he knows what strategies work and what don’t.

James is also a writer of blogs for LinkedIn and the Prescript Recruitment website where he draws on his experience to share his opinions on current staffing issues.

There are three ways to contact James:

1. Call James on 0410 792 310

2. Email james@prescript.com.au 

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript’

Connect With Prescript

“I believe for you to partner with the right medical recruitment agency, that reflects your wishes and lifestyle choices, is so important. Prescript’s focus is on what matters most to you, whatever stage of your career, your location or your future plans.”

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“Prescript are medical recruitment specialists.”

At Prescript we’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage in Australia.

Every day we’re focused on two clear outcomes - Helping hospitals find doctors that create departments and clinics that run better, have more capacity and less stress. And placing Doctors in jobs that leave them feeling highly valued, rewarded and, most importantly, enjoying what they do.

We believe that when we get these two crucial things right, it has a huge impact on the regional doctor shortage and the healthcare of communities across Australia.

There are three ways to contact us:

1. Call 1300 755 498

2. Email contact@prescript.com.au

3. Click 'Connect with Prescript'

Connect With Prescript

We’d love to hear from you!

“We’re known for helping solve the regional doctor shortage, leaving doctors loving what they do and regional communities feeling like they have the best doctors in town.”