Students / trainees

Rural Clinical Schools

The Rural Clinical Schools program is designed to encourage medical students to take up a career in rural practice by enabling them to undertake extended clinical training placements in rural locations.

The program also seeks to have a more immediate impact on the rural medical workforce by encouraging health professionals to take up rural academic positions, often through joint funding arrangements with local area health services.

The development of rural medical training infrastructure, including new educational facilities and student accommodation is also a major aspect of the program.

In 2008, an Evaluation of the University Departments of Rural Health Program and the Rural Clinical Schools Program was undertaken.

There are currently 14 Rural Clinical Schools across Australia, managed by 13 Universities. Each Rural Clinical School has multiple training locations:

• The University of New South Wales Rural Clinical School
  Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Griffith, Leeton and surrounding regions.
  
  
• The University of Sydney School of Rural Health
  Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst, Broken Hill and surrounding regions.
  
  
• The University of Queensland Rural Clinical School
  Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and surrounding regions.
  
  
• The Rural Clinical School of Western Australia
  Kalgoorlie, Esperance, Geraldton, Port Hedland, Broome, Albany, Karratha, Derby, Bunbury, Narrogin, Kununurra and surrounding regions.
  
  
• Monash University School of Rural Health
  Traralgon, Moe, Sale, Bairnsdale, Mildura, Bendigo and surrounding regions.
  
  
• The University of Melbourne Rural Clinical School
  Shepparton, Wangaratta, Echuca, Ballarat and surrounding regions.
  
  
• University of Tasmania Rural Clinical School
  Burnie and the North West region.
  
  
• The University of Adelaide Spencer Gulf Rural Health School
  Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Port Lincoln, Minlaton, Kadina, Clare and surrounding regions.
  
  
• Flinders University Rural Clinical School
  The Riverland region of South Australia (Renmark), Mount Gambier and the Hills Mallee Fleurieu regions, Warnambool.
  
  
• The Northern Territory Rural Clinical School (through Flinders University)
  Alice Springs, Katherine, Gove and surrounding regions.
  
  
• The Australian National University Rural Clinical School
  Cooma, Goulburn, Bega, Young, Batemans Bay and surrounding regions.
  
  
• The University of Newcastle Rural Clinical School
  Tamworth, Armidale, Moree, Taree and surrounding regions.
  
  
• James Cook University Rural Clinical School
  Mackay, Cairns, Atherton, Mt Isa, Thursday Island and surrounding regions.
  
  
• University of Wollongong Rural Clinical School
  Nowra, Lismore, Leeton, Dubbo, Broken Hill, Bowral and surrounding regions.

For more information on the Rural Clinical Schools program, please email health.workforce@health.gov.au