For Dr Sarah Goddard, Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory has always been called home, and having the opportunity to move back to work as a GP, surrounded by family and well-known faces, has been a dream come true.

“I guess I am working my dream job. Having the opportunity to work and help my community is so rewarding and being home makes me very happy,” she said.

Tennant Creek is a remote town, with many surrounding cattle stations, roadhouses, and a large Aboriginal community. As there is such a large distance between hospitals and specialist treatment, the patients’ Sarah sees can have complex issues, from chronic disease to acute illnesses, but their personalities and big hearts are what make the job enjoyable.

She's happy to have returned home and is currently in her second year of training, working at both Tennant Creek Hospital and Tennant Creek General Practice.

“I choose ACRRM when I was in medical school because rural medicine was always the path I wanted to take. Plus, being an ACRRM registrar I was able to return to my home community and undertake my training,” she said.

Being an Aboriginal woman, Sarah is very passionate about Indigenous health and being involved in management and education.

Sarah wishes to promote rural and remote medicine especially the Northern Territory. She would like to be able to share her story and inspire people to travel to the NT and experience the rural and remote lifestyle in conjunction with working in the community.

“Rural and remote medicine gives you amazing work life balance, but it also allows you to experience real life medicine, and the ability to really challenge yourself. I’d highly recommend it to anyone."