What could be the attractions of working in Karratha, an isolated Indian Ocean city in a northern desert region of Western Australia? Our article reviews the new Karratha Health Campus and what the city has to offer.

Karratha - Where is it?

Karratha is a small city in the Pilbara Region of the remote state of Western Australia adjoining the port of Dampier on the Indian Ocean. Despite its small size and relatively isolated location, its importance rests in the fact that it is the hub of Australia's vast natural resources and biggest multinational companies.

Karratha is the primary base for mining and industry in the region and the home of Rio Tinto’s grand iron ore mining operations in Western Australia. It is also the location of some of Australia's biggest natural resource developments; Pluto LNG and the North West Shelf LNG (both liquid natural gas facilities owned by Woodside Energy ) and Yara International's ammonia and ammonium nitrate production facilities.

There are also sea salt mining and ammonia export operations and this hot bed of industry is poised to grow with massive grants from the Australian government. Its population is projected to expand and the city suburbs are swelling. 

A superb new health campus has just been built. At a cost of A$173 million, the Karratha Health Campus is the biggest investment in a public hospital ever undertaken in regional Western Australia.

History and Geography of Karratha, Pilbara

Karratha was founded in 1968 when the local port city of Dampier could no longer accommodate the processing and exportation workforce of the Hamersley Iron mining company. It was expanded in the 1980s, with the development of the petroleum and liquefied natural gas operations of the North West Shelf Venture. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, predominantly Ngarluma, make up 10.1% of the population and it is estimated that the Yinidbarndi, Yaburara, Mardudhunera, and Woon-goo-tt-oo peoples have lived in the surrounding area for approximately 50,000 years. 

The city's name comes from the cattle station of the same name, which derives from a word in a local Aboriginal language meaning "good country" or "soft earth". There are excellent Aboriginal tours and ancient rock art in this region which blends a curious mix of ancient history, amazing natural scenery and cutting edge industry.

Karratha is located approximately 1,535 kilometres (954 mi) north of Perth, the state capital of Western Australia and 241 kilometres (150 mi) west of Port Hedland on the North West Coastal Highway. It is roughly rectangular in layout and is located on flat land adjacent to Nickol Bay. Tidal salt flats and areas of mangrove separate the city from the sea. Immediately to the rear of the city (south) lies a line of low hills.

Karratha is composed of 9 main suburbs: Karratha City Centre, Bulgarra, Pegs Creek, Millars Well, Nickol, Nickol West, Baynton, Baynton West, Tambrey and one industrial area, known as both the LIA (Light Industrial Area) and KIE (Karratha Industrial Estate). 

Karratha's housing development continues, with new villages and suburbs being built. Baynton West is currently being developed. A new suburb going east of Bulgarra with an indigenous name, Mulataga has received council approval. There is current development of a second industrial estate: Gap Ridge which is west of the city, past the cemetery.

Pilbara is Western Australia's second most northern region, defined by the Indian Ocean to the west and the Northern Territory border to the east. The Kimberley region lies to its north across the Great Sandy Desert and the Pilbara's southern reaches border the Midwest and Goldfields regions. 

The region covers a total area of 507,896 sq km (including offshore islands). Most of the inhabitants are located in the western third, whereas the eastern third is largely desert with few inhabitants.

Climate

Karratha has a hot semi-arid climate with warm to hot all year round temperatures and low rainfall, most of which falls in late summer due to the influence of tropical cyclones and the monsoon. Winter temperatures rarely drop below 10 °C, while maximum temperatures stay in the mid to high 20 °C's and days are sunny with low humidity. Summers are very hot and usually dry although the erratic influence of the monsoon can cause periods of high humidity and thunderstorms.

Population

In 2020, the population was 23,118 and this is expected to grow as the industrial and mining labour force expands. According to the 2016 census

• 65.7% of people in Karratha were born in Australia. 
• The next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 5.3%, Philippines 3.0%, UK 2.9%, South Africa 1.5% and India 1.3%
• 76.2% of people in Karratha spoke only English at home. 
• Other languages spoken at home included Tagalog 1.7%, Filipino 1.1%, Afrikaans 0.8% and Mandarin 0.7%.

Facilities

• Education is provided through four public primary schools, one independent public school and one private primary school, one public and one private high school (Karratha Senior High School and St Luke's College), a TAFE centre with remote university facilities.
• A new state of the art library was opened in 2018, Karratha Public Library.
• A new hospital was opened in 2018, Karratha Health Campus.
• Red Earth Arts Precinct opened in 2018. This venue has a theatre that can also operate as an indoor cinema, outdoor cinema, rehearsal rooms and art spaces.
• Karratha Airport has two passenger airlines servicing the city with regular schedules: Qantas and Virgin Australia. The airport also serves as the hub of the Pilbara's light-aircraft and helicopter services, enabling contractors to access offshore destinations and other parts of the region. Cape Preston Aerodrome [YCPR] is about 70 km south of town.

Annual festivals and events

• Each year in August Pilbara Iron, Dampier Salt, Woodside Petroleum Limited, and other smaller companies sponsor one of the largest festivals in the North West, over two days. The name FeNaClNG Festival is derived from Fe (iron), NaCl (salt) and NG (natural gas) with reference to the areas vast natural resources.
• Red Earth Arts Festival.
• Cossack Art Awards.

Sports

• The North Pilbara Football League (NPFL) is an Australian rules football league with seven teams: Karratha Kats, Karratha Falcons, Dampier Sharks, Roebourne Magpies, Wickham Wolves, Port Hedland Rovers and South Hedland Swans.
• The Pilbara Rugby League has 6 teams: Karratha Stormers, Karratha Broncos, Karratha Roosters, Port Hedland Juniors, South Hedland Cougars and Wickham Wasps.
• Soccer has 5 teams: Bulgarra Glory, Karratha Snow Whites, Nickol, Dampier Red Dogs and Salt.
• West Pilbara Cricket Association has 6 teams: Karratha Kats, Baynton Lions, Rec Club, Dampier Taverners, Wickham Wallabies and Pegs Creek Crabs. 

Things to do

Twice the size of the United Kingdom, the Pilbara region in Western Australia has some of the world’s most stunning ancient natural landscapes, dating back 3.5 -4.3 billion years. With over 700 historic Indigenous archaeological sites and 1,000,000 rock engravings (Petroglyphs), many dating back some 30,000 years, the Burrup Peninsula is the perfect place to discover the unique art, history and culture of the Aboriginal people of the Pilbara.

Deep rocky canyons lead to peaceful plunge pools in the beautiful Karijini National Park. Hundreds of islands with dazzling white beaches and untouched coral gardens are yours to explore on the Dampier Archipelago and Mackerel Islands. And yet the Pilbara is also known as the engine room of Australia - home to a massive mining industry in crude oil, salt, natural gas and iron ore. An incredible juxtaposition of two very different industries.

Explore the Pilbara's colonial past in Roebourne, the oldest settlement in the North West. Cossack is a ghost town and has many beautifully restored historical buildings which offer an insight to the hardships and successes of the first settlers. There is also a perfectly positioned lookout here overlooking Jarman Island’s lighthouse built in 1888, the long white sand and sparkling blue ocean that is Settlers Beach.

Travel inland and you will experience the unique communities of the rugged outback, from Tom Price, the highest town above sea level in Western Australia, to Marble Bar, the hottest town in the country.

Natural parks and nature reserves 

Karijini National Park in Australia’s North West is all about adventure; exploring ancient rocky tunnels and plunging gorges, paddling through crystal-clear waterways and swimming under stunning waterfalls. And the best bit? Its most amazing scenery is all within easy reach. As you stand amongst the ancient geological formations of Karijini National Park, you feel awestruck at the red layered cliffs that line the spectacular gorges eroded by nature over billions of years. The Pilbara’s gum trees, termite mounds and expansive plains give way to picturesque gorges, refreshing waterfalls and the emerald waterholes of Karijini National Park. A soothing oasis of trees and ferns provide shady refuge as you explore the wonders of this Western Australian national park.

A few more parks worth exploring include:

• Barlee Range Nature Reserve
• Millstream Chichester Natural Park
• Cane River Conservation Park

Hiking and biking

The Pilbara regions and neighbouring Kimberley regions of Western Australia combine to form a million square kilometres of extraordinary grandeur, colour and contrast. Stretching from Onslow in the south to Kununurra in the north east, the Northwest is rich in pioneer and Indigenous history and breathtaking scenery of ancient rugged ranges, spectacular waterfalls and pristine coastlines. Home to incomparable natural attractions and blessed with a year round balmy climate and a variety of flora and fauna that simply can’t be found anywhere else.

The area offers outback expeditions, bush walks, hiking and biking trips, luxury cruising, four wheel drive safaris and cultural encounters and a pristine beach.

Swimming, Diving, Sailing and Fishing

The Pilbara coast offers world-class boating, fishing, diving and snorkelling. Should you visit in turtle nesting season, between September and April, watch out for female turtles laying their eggs and newly hatched babies scrambling to the ocean. Pristine beaches, beautiful coral gardens and abundant fish beckon you to Point Samson. There is another event on Mother Nature’s calendar that you can experience year-round - the incredible Staircase to the Moon occurs on full moon dates between March and October along the Pilbara coast.



The 40 mile beach, Gnoorea Point, offers nature based camping with great fishing from the beach. For off-shore fishing, there is also a natural boat ramp. This is just 56 km south of Karratha

Karratha Health Campus

Opened in 2018, the health campus has been built in the town’s centre and replaces the old Nickol Bay Hospital, now permanently closed. It has world class healthcare facilities bringing together many services under one roof and providing valuable support to smaller regional hospitals including Roebourne, Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Onslow.

In addition to outstanding emergency and hospital care, the new Karratha Health Campus provides a comprehensive 'one-stop shop' for the delivery of integrated health services including physiotherapy, speech therapy, counselling, community health nursing and community mental health

Upgrades include: 

• A new 40-bed facility with significantly expanded emergency department. 
• New CT scanner, surgical ward, maternity wing and delivery suites. 
• Expanded facilities for outpatients and essential services such as child health and medical imaging, brought together in a single health care hub. 
• World-class telehealth services 
• Helipad 

Job Opportunities at Karratha Health Campus

The campus offers excellent employment and career opportunities for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals who enjoy working in rural areas on a short term locum contract or longer term employment.

Medical Positions Available:

• General Practitioners, District Medical Officers with skills in emergency medicine, obstetrics or anaesthesia
• General Surgeons
• General Physicians
• Anaesthetists
• Registrars, House Officers
• Psychiatrists
• Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Types of Employment Contract

• Locum - paid at an hourly or daily or shift rate set out in a Medical Services Agreement. The rate is determined by experience and qualification level. Travel and accommodation expenses are reimbursed.
• Permanent - full time contracts for a 5 year duration, often renewable. Additional benefits include superannuation with salary packaging, paid vacation, study leave and relocation packages.

Requirements

• AHPRA registration - specialist or general depending upon the job
• Right to work in Australia - citizen, permanent resident or visa with the right to work
• Medical degree
• Relevant specialist qualification
• Experience as defined in the job advertisement

If you are interested in locum or permanent jobs in Karratha Health Campus or similar hospitals in Western Australia, please register your CV and contact us with details of your availability for work. Search advertised jobs.