“This is why I started.”

When Annette Hackett was 10 years old, she completed a primary school project on the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). From that moment, she knew she wanted to work with the RFDS one day. She didn’t know exactly in what role — that part would come later — but the direction was set.

Many years on, that childhood ambition became reality. Annette went on to work with the RFDS in both Western Australia and Queensland. Rural generalism, though it wasn’t called that at the time, was the natural fit. Curious by nature and drawn to variety and challenge, Annette found that rural medicine offered exactly what she was looking for.

“I get bored easily, and like seeing different parts of Australia. I also like being challenged, and rural work has allowed me to do anaesthetics, obstetrics, ED, youth health, remote work, palliative care, telehealth… as well as general practice.”

The breadth of rural medicine allowed her to continually expand her scope and respond to the needs of the communities she served.

More recently, as she moves into the later years of her career, Annette has branched into teaching, voluntary assisted dying services and administrative work. She has also embraced locum opportunities — now even working in New Zealand — and occasionally allows herself the rare luxury of a day off.

Looking back, Annette believes few other medical pathways could have offered the same freedom to pursue such a wide range of interests.

“It hasn’t always been easy but it’s been satisfying, and I have no regrets.”

While she may not claim perfection in any one area, she takes comfort in knowing that the skills she has developed have helped many patients through difficult moments and on to the care they needed.

And she’s not quite finished yet. Annette is still searching for the cherry on top of what has already been an extraordinary career.

Dr Annette Hackett (PGY41), currently working in Esperance, WA.