University of Western Australia
A new rural placement program from The University of Western Australia, Notre Dame and Curtin, now offers final year medical school students year-long training in Albany, Bunbury or Broome.
Leveraging from vast experience, the Rural Clinical School of WA (RCSWA) has worked alongside UWA’s Medical School to deliver exemplary medical education over the past 20 years.
Based in Bunbury, Dr Andrew Kirke is the RCSWA Head of School and works with many former RCSWA students who are now experienced and enthusiastic educators in rural hospitals.
“We will be selecting the students, providing the education program, providing pastoral and practical support and bringing enthusiastic and skilled doctors on board to teach and mentor the students,” Dr Kirke said.
“The community connection provides a rich student experience that many describe as one of the best aspects of their medical training.
“It really is an exciting time for a new placement program, one that will benefit students intending to develop rural clinical skills into the future and drive real change in rural communities.”
Dr Helen Wilcox is Head of UWA’s Medical Education Unit and works with the RCSWA to develop the program’s long-term benefits.
“We’re enabling medical students who have undertaken an RCSWA placement in their third year, to stay on in a rural environment during their final year,” Dr Wilcox said.
“This sustains a rural pipeline, where a thriving rural medical workforce will in turn lead to healthier patients and communities.”
The program is also designed to prepare students for a rural internship after they graduate from medical school.
“We know that one of the strongest predictors of graduates choosing to work in a rural setting after graduation is the rural experience that they have as a student,” Dr Wilcox said.
The UWA Medical School has already received great interest from current students, with an increase in final year student numbers from four in the initial 2020 pilot to 20 for the 2023 program.
Image: Rural placement program students and staff.