DRS4DRS (National)
A national not for profit organisation dedicated to improving Doctors health. Provides a comprehensive website and a Confidential Telehealth Service for Doctors and medical students.
Website: https://www.drs4drs.com.au/
Confidential Telehealth Service 24/7
Australian support groups for Doctors and Medical Students
Connect with peer support networks across Australia.
Explore professional communities, rural support services, Facebook groups, and specialist networks that help doctors and medical students build connections, share experiences, access wellbeing resources, and find support throughout their careers.
- GENERAL SUPPORT GROUPS (for doctors in Perth/Australia)
- Connecting WA GPs is GPHQ: GPHQ allows both established and establishing GPs in WA to connect, communicate and learn from each other in a secure, private, online community.
- GPs Down Under: This is a Facebook social media page offering an online community for GPs in both Australia and New Zealand, providing a forum where doctors can network and chat in a supportive learning environment. It is for registered doctors only.
- Doctors with disabilities: Doctors with Disabilities Australia is a body advocating for an inclusive profession, without regard to physical attributes.
- FOR RURAL DOCTORS
- Bush Support Services (delivered by CRANA plus) offer a confidential telephone service for doctors and their families in remote and isolated locations.
- Broome Docs. This site is intended to provide a single source of up‐to‐date educational material for country doctors.
- Rural Health West have produced a ‘Health & Wellbeing’ resource, which includes the contact details for a range of support organisations.
- LGBTIQ+ GROUPS (for doctors in Australia)
- Australian Lesbian Medical Association (ALMA): The Australian Lesbian Medical Association (ALMA) was founded in 1999 for lesbian doctors, lesbian medical students and their partners. Website: http://www.almas.org.au/
- Rainbow Doctors Australia: A group for members of the LGBTIQ community who are medical students or doctors. Learn more on Facebook
- INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATES GROUPS
- IMG Huddle WhatsApp Group: for access to IMGs to converse informally and ask questions that they might not feel comfortable asking their locally graduated peers – be it related to professional practice or personal life. Join the group by contacting Dr Ashwita Siri Vanga: https://www.facebook.com/ashwita.vanga
- Perth AMC Preparation Facebook Messenger Group: to help people reach out to colleagues in nearby neighbourhoods and find study partners. There are also Mock Exam sessions organised via the group, as well as free practice sessions in Public Libraries across Perth. Join the group by contacting Dr Ashwita Siri Vanga: https://www.facebook.com/ashwita.vanga
- FACEBOOK GROUPS
- GPs Down Under: Online community of GPs in Australia and New Zealand. A number of offshoot groups with special interests.
- Doc 2 Doc: Community of female doctors and doctors in training. Mission to support women through the journey from medical school to specialisation and beyond, in a supportive and interactive environment.
- WA GP Registrars and New Fellows: WA based GPs and New fellows support group.
- Medical Mums and Mums to Be: group for medical mothers, fathers and parents to be. Has a number of spin off groups including state based, book club, Mindful parenting groups.
- Doctors with Depression and other mental health conditions: Doctors only group who self identify as having depression or other mental health illnesses.
- Bonded Medical Place Doctors and Students: A group of medical students and doctors who are contracted to the Bonded Medical Placement Scheme to support each other and discuss all aspects of the contract.
- Doctors & Fitness: group for doctors to post their pictures/videos to inspire other doctors in fitness pursuits.
- FACEBOOK GROUPS
- GP Jobs and all Healthcare and Medical in Australia: Community for health professionals to find employment within Australia.
- UK to Australia GP Group: Group of GPs and GP trainees who have come, are in the process of coming to Australia, or thinking of coming to Australia from the UK.
- Medical Education and Wellbeing Innovators: This community is for medical professionals or those working with medical professionals to connect, share ideas, resources, seek feedback and inspire each other on all things medical education and wellbeing.
- IMG Workforce Australia: Group for IMGs working in Australia.
- Creative Careers in Medicine: An independent group for people interested in non standard careers in and around medicine.
- GPHQ: A private discussion group for WA GPs associated with GPHQ
- Adopt a Healthcare Worker Western Australia: Make a commitment to look after the health and wellbeing of healthcare workers in the COVID 19 environment. Support examples include check‐ins, shopping, meals assistance and child care.
- ABORIGINAL DOCTOR GROUPS
- Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA): AIDA is a not-for-profit, member-based, professional association supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students and doctors. https://aida.org.au/
- OTHER
- Social Media and Critical Care (SMACC): An international not for profit multidisciplinary critical care conference and twitter presence. https://smacc.net.au/
- Balint Society of Australia and New Zealand: Group sessions with a focus on clinical practice in medicine, with special reference to the health professional‐patient or client relationship. Online and face to face meetings. https://www.balintaustralianewzealand.org /about/
- Doctors for the Environment: Association of medical professionals focused on promoting good health through care of the environment. https://www.dea.org.au/about‐dea/
If you know of a good WA or Australian support group for Doctors and Medical Students not listed above then please send details to manager@dhaswa.com.au
