Great Southern
Living in the Great Southern
The Great Southern region of Western Australia offers a unique blend of natural beauty, vibrant community life, and modern amenities, making it an ideal place for psychiatry trainees and their families.
Nestled along the picturesque south coast, the region boasts a mild Mediterranean climate with warm summers and cool, wet winters, providing a comfortable living environment year-round. The historic port town of Albany, the region's administrative centre, is renowned for its stunning natural harbor and rich cultural heritage. With a population of around 60,000, the Great Southern region offers a close-knit community feel while still providing access to essential services and facilities such as banks, libraries, shopping centres, and healthcare services.
Families will find a range of educational opportunities, with 45 schools offering primary and secondary education, as well as higher education options through apprenticeships, TAFE, and university facilities, including campuses of the University of Western Australia and Curtin University in Albany. The region is also well-equipped with recreational facilities, including sports centres, swimming pools, and access to world-class trails like the Bibbulmun Track and the Munda Biddi Trail. Whether you enjoy outdoor activities, arts and crafts, or simply a relaxed lifestyle, the Great Southern region provides a welcoming and supportive environment for both professional and personal growth.
Related Links
WACHS Great Southern Health Services
WACHS Living in the Great Southern Videos
Living in the Great Southern Profile
Great Southern Mental Health (GSMHS) Website
WACHS MH Great Southern Profile (PDF)
Training in the Great Southern
The Great Southern Mental Health Service (GSMHS) offers a comprehensive and dynamic training experience for psychiatry trainees. The service provides acute inpatient and community care through multi-disciplinary teams based in Albany and Katanning, ensuring a broad exposure to various mental health conditions and treatment modalities. Trainees will have the opportunity to work within specialized teams, including Adult Mental Health, Older Adult Mental Health, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and the Acute Inpatient Unit, as well as participate in consultation liaison at the Albany Health Campus. The GSMHS is committed to high-quality education and training, offering teaching opportunities for medical students and junior medical officers, and providing supervision for registrars in line with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) standards. This diverse and supportive training environment ensures that trainees are well-prepared for a successful career in psychiatry.
RANZCP Training Posts
From RPTWA’s Comprehensive Training Hub in Albany, the Great Southern region offers accredited training posts across all stages of RANZCP training, including Acute Adult inpatient training in Stage 1 and Stage 2/3 experiences in Adult Psychiatry (AP), Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (CL), Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP), Psychiatry of Older Adults (POA), Research (RES), Addiction Psychiatry (ADD) and accreditation for Stage 3 trainees completing CAP, ADD, POA and AP Advanced Training.