‘I’m not afraid of the country’: Julia Creek’s new GP Adam Louws

After a long search involving media campaigns and a $500,000 salary, Julia Creek’s newest GP has arrived. See what he has to say.

Julia Creek Multi-Purpose Medical Centre

After a long search involving media campaigns, a $500,000 salary and a free house, Julia Creek’s newest GP has arrived.

Adam Louws started working at the Julia Creek Multipurpose Medical Centre in March, ending a two-year doctor drought in the outback town.

The young doctor said he’s “absolutely, completely new” to outback life but is determined to make the long-haul.

“I’d never heard of Julia Creek before I saw the ad, and it wasn’t so much that I needed the money, but I realised this was a town that really needed a doctor,” Dr Louws said.

The job ad promised a $500,000 salary and free house to any qualified GPs, but it got little traction until the media reported on how few doctors were applying to the position.

New Julia Creek GP Adam Louws.

The Melbourne-raised Dr Louws said he wasn’t afraid of the bush, unlike many of his city counterparts.

“I think maybe a lot of doctors have never actually been outside the cities. Certainly not most medical students. They are born and raised in the inner city,” he said.

Dr Louws said medical schools prioritise getting the “absolute number one students in the country” into their programs, which often translates to kids from elite capital city schools.

“JCU (James Cook University) is the only university I can think of where they want students to be good at a few more things, like being able to talk to people,” he said.

Dr Louws said he remembers attending one class as a medical student filled with 20 kids.

“17 of those 20 came from just three inner city schools. And only two to three kids didn’t have a parents who was a doctor,” he said.

“Most people in medical school have a doctor in the family. I stood out a bit: my dad was a carpenter, my mum worked for Centrelink and my stepdad was a truckie.”

In the few weeks he’s been in Julia Creek, Dr Louws is already embracing outback life - including participating in the DirtNDust adventure run.

He knows some people are concerned he won’t last long in the job.

“One of the big comments I’ve seen on Facebook about me is ‘yeah we’ll believe it when we see it’,” he said.

“This is a community that’s been let down before by workers... but I’m not afraid of the country.”

Those looking for a bit of assurance should note Dr Louws made the move with his wife and young children.

“We homeschool the kids, which made the move comparatively easy for us,” Dr Louws said.

His new job involves looking after the hospital, aged care and GP services at the Julia Creek Multipurpose Medical Centre.

“A lot of people have a fear there aren’t jobs out here,” Dr Louws said.

“But there are some really well-paying jobs available. Recently the town baker left and we need one. I’m willing to be the face of that recruitment campaign, in the name of fresh bread.”

Originally published as ‘I’m not afraid of the country’: Julia Creek’s new GP Adam Louws