In Adelaide during April, Tanja Hirvonen, Mental Health Academic for Centre for Remote Health, presented a one-hour interactive session about the importance of self-care to eleven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander General Practitioner (GP) trainees and GPs.

Tanja was invited by the Indigenous General Practice Registrars Network (IGPRN) whose aim is to assist all Indigenous GP registrars through to Fellowship by providing support throughout their training and assessment.

The workshop covered the many benefits of working in a caring role including the ability to give back to others, and also challenges that may arise when working in such responsible roles. Also addressed were the additional cultural load and cultural responsibilities that may be experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners, the fact that vicarious trauma, burnout and emotional exhaustion are real concerns and how to practise self-care to ensure that practitioners bring the best of themselves to the workplace.