The Ballarat Group Practice registrar feels this suits him. He enjoys regional city lifestyle in Ballarat and wants to feel even more a part of the community.

Dr Mayston wants to create a more sustained care role with his patients after three years working in a hospital.

“I’m coming from a background of having all the toys and tools at my disposal but am now reminded by the fact treating a patient as a GP can be over several weeks or months,” Dr Mayston said.

“My mum has been quite a big influence on me, being a nurse. What interests me is continuity of care, especially working with young families and kids or elderly couples and really spending time getting to know and understand them on that part of their life journey.”

Dr Mayston grew up in both Melbourne and Adelaide but moved to Ballarat in 2015 to take up an internship year at Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital. He also did his residency at the Base before spending a year as an anaesthetic registrar. 

He said he always enjoyed helping people, and now wants to pursue this in general practice. Less than a fortnight into the new role and Dr Mayston is loving it.

Murray City Country Coast hosted a strong contingent of GP orientation training in Ballarat this month for doctors moving into clinics across the state’s west, including Ararat and Stawell.

The intense two-day forum aimed to equip registrars for the transition from specialty fields to the broad range of skills and knowledge needed by GPs, particularly in rural and regional areas.

Dr Mayston felt Ballarat was the perfect place to start GP life. He does not like to travel and personally, this was a large factor to move from the capital city – in Ballarat, all he needs is just a short drive away.

“It really helps with work-life balance. Even if it is important work-related stuff you need to do, you are still not far away from home,” Dr Mayston said.

“It’s a good town with good plans for growth and you can see there’s new hub created, in places like Lucas, so not everyone has the need to go into the city all the time, like to see a doctor.

“...The cost of living is cheaper and there’s good schools. I’m really into running so I’ve joined a club, Eureka, and have really engrossed myself in running with Ballarat Regional Athletic Centre.”

Dr Mayston has joined the new Ballarat Group Practice, near the Arch of Victory.

MCCC is a regional training organisation offering the Australian General Practice Training Program, which is based on an apprenticeship model.

Registrars like Dr Mayston, start work in a rural, regional or Melbourne-based community with teaching supervision training and advice.

MCCC trainer Rachel Lee the registrars brought a lot of specialist knowledge to their new roles, but now need to build localised knowledge. Key issues in focus at orientation were: Aboriginal health; skin and dermatology; and, chronic disease management.

Registrars work for three-to-four years to become fully qualified or fellows of either the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners or the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, or both.

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