Meet Dr Alex Tyler:

GPRA NT Rural and Remote Scholarship recipient in 2025

Dr Alex Tyler: Answering the call of remote medicine

From the windswept Eyre Peninsula to the red heart of Alice Springs, Dr Alex Tyler has spent the past two decades building a life in service of rural and remote health.

Now, as one of the 2025 recipients of the GPRA Northern Territory Rural and Remote Scholarship, she’s continuing that journey with renewed purpose – and deep gratitude.

From nursing to medicine: A career of care

Born in New South Wales and raised in Canberra, Alex’s road to general practice wasn’t a straightforward one.

Before becoming a doctor, she spent 10 years working as an emergency nurse at The Canberra Hospital – a formative chapter that shaped both her clinical instincts and her commitment to care.

“I think I’ve always been drawn to helping people,” she says.

“I remember watching the Thredbo landslide disaster unfold on the news as a kid and feeling that I wished there was something I could do.

“That desire to be useful has stayed with me.”

Training ground: From the south coast to the centre

After studying medicine at the University of Wollongong’s Shoalhaven campus, Alex began her junior doctor years across the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District – working in Wollongong, Nowra, Bulli, Shellharbour and Milton/Ulladulla.

Eager to expand her skills and immerse herself in rural medicine, she joined ACRRM and accepted placements in South Australia’s Riverland region and Whyalla on the Eyre Peninsula.

But it was a month working in the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands with Nganampa Health that truly sparked her passion.

“That experience changed everything,” she reflects.

“It gave me a glimpse into the complexities, challenges, and incredible rewards of remote medicine. I knew then that this was the kind of work I wanted to commit myself to.”

New home, new purpose in Alice Springs

At the start of this year, Alex and her partner packed their life – and their beloved dogs and cats – into the car and made the four-day drive north to Alice Springs.

“Moving for my career is difficult, but also exciting and I am lucky to be supported by my partner,” she says.

Since February, Alex has been working in the emergency department at Alice Springs Hospital, immersed in a fast-paced environment that tests her adaptability and skill every day.

“I love the variety and the unpredictability of working in remote EDs,” she says.

“It’s where adaptability becomes your biggest strength. In rural practice, you never quite know what’s coming through the door – and you need to be calm, resourceful, and ready for anything.

Why general practice? Flexibility, connection, impact

Alex’s move toward general practice is underpinned by a strong desire to serve communities outside of major cities.

“I’m most excited about becoming a GP because I can work in rural and remote areas of Australia,” she explains.

“As a career choice, it offers me amazing flexibility in terms of where and how I can work. There are literally unlimited options in our unique country if you want to work outside of the major cities.

“GP gives me the flexibility to contribute meaningfully to remote communities while also continuing to grow as a clinician.”

She also values the long-term relationships GPs can build with their patients, and the chance to uncover what’s really going on behind a presenting complaint.

Alex recalls one experience in particular, working as a junior doctor in a small rural area, when an older woman presented repeatedly with chest pain.

“While her cardiac tests were normal, I had the time to ask if anything else was bothering her,” she says.

“She confided that she’d been struggling with her mental health and having thoughts of suicide.

“I was glad that I had the opportunity to be there for that patient, and had the skills taught to recognise a patient trying to tell me something that is different from their actual presentation.”

Receiving the GPRA NT Scholarship: A game-changer

Now, as a recipient of the GPRA Northern Territory Rural and Remote Scholarship, Alex is planning to use the funds to further strengthen her clinical toolkit.

“I was absolutely blown away to receive this scholarship,” she says with a smile.

“I feel so privileged to be able to use these funds to help support my educational journey, and am excited to bring back my new skills to our community here in Alice Springs.”

The scholarship will support her attendance at the EMCORE Emergency Medicine conference and the Emergency Trauma Management training program – essential components of her critical care training – as well as help cover the cost of her StAMPS exam later this year.

Looking ahead: A future in the Outback

In the next five to 10 years, Alex sees herself continuing to explore Australia’s most remote corners – rotating through different communities and returning to city hospitals periodically to refresh her skills and recruit others to the rural cause.

“I am most excited about becoming a GP so I can work in rural and remote areas of Australia,” she says.

“I also see myself having time back in metropolitan centres to update and consolidate my skills – as well as recruit more staff for remote areas!

“I love to travel, and to work in new environments with new people.”

A word of thanks

As she prepares to attend the upcoming GPRA NT GP Registrars Forum in Darwin, Alex is looking forward to meeting fellow registrars who share her passion for rural and remote health.

“I would also like to say thank you to all of my supervisors and mentors who have supported me through my training, as well as GPRA for this wonderful opportunity,” she says.

Find out more about the NT Forum, and secure your place
Read more about the GPRA NT Scholarships