Podiatrist Jayden Paues discovered that moving to Mount Gambier in South Australia’s beautiful Limestone Coast region put him one step ahead of his city counterparts in starting his own business.
In 2020, just two years after finishing his university degree in Adelaide, Jayden began his own practice in SA’s largest regional centre, known for its volcanic landscape and crater lakes.
“I opened my clinic in September and by the time Christmas was over I was fully booked. And I’ve been fully booked ever since!” Jayden says.
“As a professional you get embraced by the community and people find out about you pretty quickly.”
“There tends to be a shortage of professionals in regional areas, so anyone who is working in your field is already flat out,” he says.
Inspired by his rural and remote experiences as a student on placements in Whyalla, Broken Hill and the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, Jayden knew the country life was for him.
So, after graduating, he made the move to Mount Gambier on a contract with SA Health, before branching out on his own.
“I work out of a GP clinic and everyone there has really helped me. They take all my phone calls and do my scheduling. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Jayden credits other well-established regional services such as accountants and coordinators working in the disability and home support sectors for helping get his business off the ground.
“We all benefit from building up a variety of services in regional communities. When we all help each other, it’s a win-win situation,” he says.
Having recently bought a house with his partner – a fellow health professional and local girl he met at a party – Jayden is enjoying Mount Gambier more than ever.
