Rural Doctors Network (RDN) Bush Bursaries and Country Women's Association (CWA) Scholarships provide selected medical, midwifery, and nursing students in NSW/ACT with up to $1,500 each to assist with the costs associated with participating in the program, including travel to and from the placement, meals, and other discretionary spending during the placement. 

Applications are open now, but be quick as they close on July 1st.

Recipients are paired up by RDN and spend two weeks on a placement in country NSW during their university holidays.

The placement aims to provide a rural immersion experience by combining the enjoyable aspects of country life and rural medicine. 

The program is funded by individual rural councils, with many western plains councils offering support to the program, hoping the taste of rural life will bring more health professionals to regional areas.

Berni Phillips, a first year medical student from Sydney, took advantage of the scheme last year, heading to Nyngan with another city dweller, first year nursing student, Cindy Stewart.

The pair had never met before heading out west but the long journey, punctuated by fuel and grocery stops, soon forged a friendship.

It didn't take long for the young women to embrace country life, with Ms Phillips saying the slower paced lifestyle and sense of community was "really nice" after the anonymity of living in the city.

“After our time in Nyngan we both had a huge sense of achievement and confidence that going rural with our future careers is the right path for us.  We also found it hard to leave and say goodbye to the medical centre, locals, and each other, as this program made it feel like Nyngan was our home," Ms Phillips said. 

Lachlan Shire Council, hosted two Bush Bursary student in 2022; Abby Connor and Angeline Reed, who were placed in local health facilities over a two-week period.

The students spent their time between the Aboriginal Health Service, Tottenham Multi-Purpose Service and the Condobolin Hospital.

Unfortunately, at the time, the students were unable to get to Lake Cargelligo as the roads were closed due to the flood event. But this didn't quash their enthusiasm.

"The placement was not only super fun but it also reinforced my desire to practice rurally after graduation," Ms Connor, a first year medical student said. "I was able to see the reality of what healthcare is like in such a small town and despite the challenges, every single person that works in that space adores what they do."

"I'd definitely recommend this opportunity to other students. It really helped showcase the reality of rural medicine, not only the strengths, but the challenges."

Ms Reed a nursing student, shadowed an enrolled nurse at the Condobolin Hospital during her time on placement, which included attending home visits.

"It was great to see how valuable community nursing is in regional health," she said.

It is precisely these type of insights which the program hopes will encourage more early career regional health professionals.

To apply, students must be enrolled in a NSW or ACT university in their first or second year of a medical degree, in any year of a nursing degree or midwifery degree.

Both rural and urban based students are eligible to apply for the program, it is not necessary to be studying in a city. So, if you or someone you know ticks all these boxes, why not apply?

The future of your regional communities just might benefit in the long run.

Further requirements can be found here.