A four day tour of the central west for 20 medical, nursing and allied health students, leaves from Sydney for the Western Plains on Thursday 17th August.

This is the third of this year’s ‘Go Rural’ road trips, hosted and funded by NSW Rural Doctors Network (RDN), where students will experience GP practice and hospital tours, clinical activities, community events, farm visits and social functions in towns including Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Brewarrina and Nyngan.

“Since 2019, RDN’s annual ‘Go Rural’ road trips have provided over three hundred students with opportunities to experience the many and varied benefits of working and living in rural communities. The students get to experience first-hand what their professional and personal day-to-day life could look like and how rewarding it can be," RDN Future Workforce Project Lead Eleanor Knight said.

Research findings that show rural exposure during medical training is strongly associated with an increased likelihood of students entering rural practice after graduating which has led to the formation of "Go Rural."

Occupational Therapy student Elise Jay is keen to experience this region of NSW as a friend of hers from University of Canberra now works in Coonamble.

“My friend was a year ahead of me doing Occupational Therapy and really enjoys working in Coonamble so this Go Rural trip will give me a good sense of whether my future also lies in rural healthcare,” she said.

The tour isn't only focussed on the medical with tours to the Brewarrina fish traps and a meal with local council members at Gold Medal Chinese at Nyngan.

“The students meet a range of health professionals, as well as community leaders and residents in town and on the land. These trips have encouraged many students to follow a career in rural health as they are drawn to the landscapes, cultural offerings and opportunities for adventure in rural settings," Ms Knight said.

“RDN also offers a number of scholarships and cadetship opportunities focused on attracting and building a larger and more sustainable workforce in remote, rural and regional communities."

Final year medical student Lavina Mital was drawn to this Go Rural trip after enjoying her Indigenous Health placement in Tamworth.

“My mum is a GP in Sydney so I grew up witnessing how she healed people, drawing me to medicine in the first instance and then living and working in Tamworth for 5 weeks really opened my eyes to the benefits of rural medicine.

“The variety of clinical exposure with patients from very different backgrounds to mine in Sydney, along with the easier pace of life, the real sense of community as well as meeting patients from all walks of life, really appeals to me.”