The Dubbo School of Rural Health was set up in 2021 by the former Liberal National Government in conjunction with Sydney University.

From its latest cohort Coonabaraban’s Liam Morrissey has gained a 2-year internship at Dubbo.

‘’The idea of the course was to get more doctors out to the bush and all of us had come from country towns.

"Of the 24 students most say they want to be involved in practices or hospitals in the country."

Four junior doctors are part of the new intake from the University course in Dubbo.

‘’I want to be out here with my fiancée and the internship has given me the opportunity at Dubbo Base as a junior doctor," Liam said.

"I would like to eventually set up my own practice out here and settle in the bush.

"It suits my values, my personality."

Dubbo Hospital takes in many Western Plains patients and Liam is enjoying his time.

"The area we cover is massive here we cover Western NSW from Dubbo to Broken Hill.

"There are so many opportunities out here so future doctors should give it a go here and build relationships in the community."

As a Junior Doctor time he has spent time across western NSW, as far as Broken Hill.

 "Narromine and Lightning Ridge were fabulous places to be and work at it.

"Travel is so easy. Our metro counterparts spend most of their time in traffic so I find it much better out here.’’

Liam grew up in a family of five on the Baradine side of Coonababaran and says he had a fantastic childhood

"It was awesome roaming round the paddocks and walking around the wide-open spaces out there near the Warrumbungles in the bush and the mountains.

"I loved tennis, swimming, basketball at Coonabraban High School so it kept me fit and enthusiastic," he said.

Federal Health and NDIS Minister Mark Butler says the Government is working on increasing bush student placements in Sydney University's program in Dubbo and in Charles Sturt University’s Rural School of Health in Orange.

Both those programs are designed to keep country kids in our health workforce.

“By growing our medical workforce, we are strengthening Medicare for decades to come," Mr Butler said in August 2025.

“More training places will deliver more doctors to care for Australians in every corner of the country.”