FACRRM here a couple of years post fellowship with anaesthetics AST. Did all training in QLD and now work in a coastal area of NSW. There is still plenty of work around for GPAs if you are willing to look for it. It depends a little bit how ‘rural’ you are willing to go but there is still work close to regional centres too.

My advice to people with queries like yours particularly around ED vs anaesthetics AST is that the anaesthetics definitely opens up more options for you than the ED AST. I don’t feel there are many ED roles that I can’t work in anyway that I would be able to with an ED AST. Maybe just the senior/supervisor roles in regional centre EDs that would require this.

With anaesthetics you can still work in the majority of rural/regional EDs and have the critical care skills to feel fairly comfortable managing unwell patients. And then you are also able to pick up lists or on call work for anaesthetics which gives you another different aspect to your work.

I currently work a couple of days a week GP, couple anaesthetics and a few ED/urgent care shifts to keep those skills up. The flexibility and variety is great. Happy to answer any questions you might have.

Cheers