Tap into real-life stories inspiring health professionals to grow and thrive! Whether you’re a student, patient, just starting your career or a specialist, this podcast is for you. Join Rural Health Pro's Lisa Connors and guests from across the health sector for frank and vulnerable conversations about how to achieve personal and job satisfaction without sacrificing your health.
From managing overwhelm and exploring the impact of self-care, to the benefits of working rural, no topic is off limits. Be motivated and inspired by A Healthy Exchange.
Leading with Heart: A special Rural Health Month episode
This special Rural Health Month episode of A Healthy Exchange was recorded live at the National Rural and Remote Health Awards in Canberra at the start of November.
Professor Peter O'Mara, proud Wiradjuri man, Director of Thurru Indigenous Health Unit at the University of Newcastle and Chair of Rural Doctors Network, yarns about his experience as a clinician and the power of cultural safety in medicine with Dr Pip Kensit, Junior Medical Officer from Western NSW LHD.
Pete’s message is clear: great medicine starts with humanity, cultural safety, and genuine connection.
Watch the conversation on Rural Health Pro and learn more about Professor O’Mara’s path to medicine here.
16 Dec 2025
Thriving in remote and rural nursing: A special Rural Health Month episode
This Rural Health Month, Rural Health Pro brings you a special episode of A Healthy Exchange featuring a dynamic panel of rural and remote nurses—Clare Callaghan, Hayley Hodgson, and Karen Orchard— who share practical tips on staying motivated, building rewarding careers, and prioritising wellbeing in rural and remote healthcare. Whether you’re already working in the bush or considering the move, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration from those who know rural health best.
This episode is a recording of a live webinar, presented by
Rural Health Pro, in partnership with Nurse & Midwife Support.
Want to watch the full webinar? Head to Rural Health Pro.
Need support?
Contact Nurse & Midwife Support 24/7 on 1800 667 877 or visit their website.
CRANAplus via their Bush Support Line on 1800 805 391 or visit their website.
21 Oct 2024
Nurturing your wellbeing
In this episode of A Healthy Exchange, paramedic Dr Buck Reed discusses his career working in a small town in north-eastern NSW. He talks about the challenges of working with the ambulance in a small town, including attending callouts to people you know, and how he was able to find strength after a negative workplace experience.
Now a paramedicine lecturer, Buck uses his platform to help students prepare for the challenges and victories that come with a career as a paramedic.
6 Oct 2024
The Burnout Recovery Dr
In this episode of A Healthy Exchange, we speak to Dr Jo Braid, a rehabilitation physician and professional coach who transformed her life and career through mindset coaching. Juggling her public and private hospital clinics, and being a mum to three sons, Jo became burnt out, overwhelmed and disconnected from herself and her family. That’s when she discovered coaching and before long, she was living more intentionally and prioritising herself without the guilt. For the last three years, she has been working as a professional coach, transforming burnout recovery journeys in healthcare professionals. Jo created the Burnout Recovery Doctor business, regularly presents keynotes on burnout prevention and recovery, and hosts a podcast. Jo joins us for today’s episode to discuss her work and offer advice for health professionals struggling with overwhelm.
Listen to her top 10 best and most effective podcast episodes here:
https://www.drjobraid.com/podmap
23 Sept 2024
Succeeding through adversity
In this episode of A Healthy Exchange, GP Anaesthetist Dr Vennassa Wong shares her incredible story of a disadvantaged upbringing marked by racism and financial hardship and discusses how she used her tough upbringing as motivation to succeed.
Born in North Queensland to a diverse heritage, Vennassa faced many challenges on her journey to medicine and juggled her studies as a single parent with six children. She shares a powerful message: ‘Don't ever think that your past is going to dictate where your future is going to go’.
Listen as Dr Wong reflects on her inspiring journey and discusses the importance of owning your path to be able to change your children’s.
8 Sept 2024
Gender equity in healthcare leadership
Dr Belinda Garth is a senior research fellow and translation lead at the Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation. Together with Professor Helena Teede, she leads the National Advancing Women in Healthcare Leadership Initiative, driving evidence-based, sustainable change for gender equity in healthcare leadership. In this episode of A Healthy Exchange, Belinda uses a racetrack analogy to describe the inequity and barriers that women face on their pathway to leadership and discusses the small changes that we can make on an individual level to help bring about meaningful change.
Check out the Women in Rural Health Leadership group on Rural Health Pro.
23 Aug 2024
Boots to Scrubs - Chloe Campbell
Chloe Campbell grew up on a sheep and cattle farm in the rural community of Bombala. A career in medicine was never on her radar but when an anaesthetist recognised her abilities during a nursing placement and suggested she study medicine, Chloe found herself determined to become a doctor. This was the beginning of her journey to medicine, and Chloe is now a fourth-year medical student at Charles Sturt University.
In this episode of A Healthy Exchange, Chloe talks about navigating the path to medicine without solid support or mentors and the incredible national campaign and scholarship program she helped develop to support other rural women to become doctors.
Learn more about Boots to Scrubs https://amsa.org.au/initiative-groups/boots-to-scrubs/
11 Aug 2024
Finding your community in times of change
Having moved eight times in seven years, including one international relocation, Jeanette Del Zio is no stranger to uprooting her life. Jeanette is the spouse of a surgeon and heads up the Australian Doctor's Spouse Network, a community of medical spouses who, like herself, support their partners on their medical journey and throughout their careers. ADSN is a judgement-free collective where members exchange advice to navigate challenges such as the logistical hurdles of moving and looking after your own wellbeing. In this episode of A Healthy Exchange, Jeanette discusses how she juggles her own successful career as an interior designer and business owner with the constant changes that go hand-in-hand with being a medical spouse. Jeanette’s message about the importance of building a community to lean on in times of change and uncertainty will resonate with anyone in the health profession.
29 Jul 2024
Passionate, Persistent and Positive - Professor Jenny May
A Healthy Exchange podcast this week gives listeners the behind-the-scenes, insider scoop into all things recruitment, retention, and wellbeing for people seeking to get into medical school and change careers, or doctors about to enter the industry.
Dr Jenny May speaks to our guest presenter for the week, Jeremy Mitchell about professional pathways, how to increase your chances of getting into med school, what support is available to make dreams a reality, what rings alarm bells for recruiters and the importance of realising that no longer are doctors recruited to rural and regional areas for
14 Jul 2024
The happy body at work
In this episode of A Healthy Exchange podcast, Anna-Louise Bouvier introduces us to Physiocise, a specialised neck and back program and one of Australia's first medically supervised exercise classes.
We take a look at the psychological and social factors that can take their toll on the body and how periods of prolonged stress or changes in lifestyle can
contribute to pain. Anna-Louise shares some significant findings related to shift workers and offers some simple lifestyle changes we can all make to maintain our physical well-being and mental health as we grow older.
The impact of exhaustion, sleep, stress, digital devices and movement on mental and physical health are all explored in this insightful chat with Anna-Louise
who shares her own ‘wake up call’ and what it took for her to start prioritising her health again and how you can too.
30 Jun 2024
Putting the ‘ish’ into your wellbeing plan
The first episode of A Healthy Exchange podcast for 2024 launches straight into the importance of peer connectedness within the medical industry and advocating for your own health and well-being with the vibrant and energetic NSW doctor, Kathryn Hutt.
Dr Hutt is a GP and the Medical Director for Doctors’ Health New South Wales, an independent and confidential 24/7 phone service for doctors and medical students to safely and anonymously speak with colleagues and doctors to encourage authentic connection.
Dr Hutt shares her thoughts on social media and her ideas about vulnerability and offers listeners an easy-to-remember analogy to manage stress. Dr Hutt also explains why she’s been known to sneak baby lambs from the country to the city and why it's okay to be perfect-ish in an industry that often attracts perfectionists.
Learn more about Doctors Health: https://doctorshealth.org.au/
7 Jun 2024
National Rural & Remote Health Awards 2024
Rural Health Pro is thrilled to announce that nominations for the National Rural & Remote Health Awards 2024 are now open! Help us celebrate the dedication and hard work of those making a difference in rural and remote health by nominating before 8 July. https://www.ruralhealthpro.org/s/awards
30 Nov 2023
Dr Simon Woods – Leading with Kindness
In episode five of ‘A Healthy Exchange’ podcast series, Senior Healthcare Executive Dr Simon Woods, talks to host Lisa Connors about leading with kindness.
Dr Woods describes the healthcare system as complex and believes doctors, management and community all play a role in creating change.
Pervasive feelings of powerlessness, the pressures of healthcare staff dealing with rising and sometimes unrealistic expectations from consumers, feelings of disconnection and a lack of autonomy are all issues facing the Australian healthcare system right now. This thought-provoking discussion with Dr Woods looks into the reasons why, and how a little compromise, conversation, respect and listening can go a long way in helping to address these issues and create change for the future.
22 Nov 2023
Conference Catch-up
This week we are broadcasting from Rural Health Month, Rural Health Pro’s month of events for rural health professionals. Whether you're a conference attendee looking to revisit key moments or someone eager to stay informed on the latest in rural health, Conference Catch-up keeps you in the loop. Join me, Jeremy Mitchell and my guests as we dive into the rich tapestry of insights presented at Rural Health Month 2023. To find it search Conference Catch-up in your podcast app or visit ruralhealthpro.org that’s ruralhealthpro.org.
30 Oct 2023
Prue Wheelwright: The flying nurse
Prue Wheelwright is a nurse, midwife, author and farmer’s daughter who has experienced careers of extreme contrast which has taken her right across the world from taking care of members of the Saudi Royal Family, to living and working in Ethopia and within some of Australia's most remote First Nations communities. Prue now works with Australia's Royal Flying Doctor Service on a roster which perfectly nurtures her love of caring for others with the spirit of travel and tells her story of falling in love with a career she never planned on pursuing!
Buy Prue’s book here.
https://www.hachette.com.au/prudence-wheelwright/the-flying-nurse-saving-lives-and-swaddling-babies-from-outback-australia-to-africa-and-beyond
please note prices vary considerably
10 Oct 2023
Dr Natalie Burch: Walk for wellbeing
Former Tasmanian Rural Doctor of the Year, Dr Natalie Burch, is a highly qualified, respected and awarded doctor who opens up to host, Lisa Connors, about how transformative multi-day hikes have been to overcoming burnout and improving wellbeing.
Introduced to bushwalking by her best friend, Dr Burch now draws on her own experiences to benefit others and aims to create environments and education programs to support and celebrate doctors by combining nature, relaxation and evidence-based strategies for better wellbeing and burnout prevention.
No matter what career you’re in, this is a thought-provoking, advice-filled, honest chat set to benefit anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed juggling personal and professional relationships. You may even want to pop your headphones in and go for a walk while you listen!
SHOW NOTES:
Dr Burch is inviting doctors to join her for a three-day retreat designed exclusively for doctors to escape,
recharge and focus on their wellbeing. Learn more here:
https://www.taswalkingco.com.au/bruny-island-doctors-long-weekend/
For all enquiries and bookings please contact Tasmanian Walking Company on (03) 6392 2211 or email bookings@taswalkingco.com.au
9 Oct 2023
Jamie Page: The Power of Positive Psychology
Jamie Page is a Registered Nurse with more than 10 years of clinical experience. He holds a Master of Leadership (Health and Human Services) and is currently working as a management consultant in the Health, Aging and Human Services sectors. In this episode of A Healthy Exchange, Jamie speaks to host, Lisa Connors about the positive impact affirmative bias, positive psychology and virtuous actions can have in a healthcare setting. Jamie discusses the circle of influence, brain gain versus brain drain and how, with a health workforce under pressure, leaders need to be thinking about developing environments that attract staff who can flourish and thrive, to ultimately retain them.
Link Jamie’s research paper
https://www.ruralhealthpro.org/s/rhp-news/a2TMp0000003Oc5MAE/meet-jamie-page-registered-nurse-driving-health
12 Sept 2023
Ben Bravery
A trained Zoologist working as a scientist in Beijing, Dr Ben Bravery was only 28 years old when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer and made the decision to become a doctor. Patient first, and now a fully qualified doctor, Ben decided he needed to “get inside the system” to enact change and empower patients to be seen as humans and not just a “bed number”. As a patient, “I’d been reduced to a problem and they’d forgotten there was a person there,” Ben explains. “It’s about taking an interest in the patient as a person and then connecting as people.”
Inspired by an appetite for change and filled with optimism about the future of medicine, Dr Bravery aims to bring the doctor patient relationship a little closer and shares his personal journey as a patient, medical student and now doctor, including his own experiences with self-doubt and anxiety and what he believes needs to change to ensure the ‘system’ doesn’t forget about the people at the heart of it.
Link to Ben’s book https://www.benbravery.com/
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