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Rural experience

The significance of rural experience

Rural placements in the University of Sydney Medical Program allow students to see and experience a range of clinical problems that don’t present in metropolitan settings. Clinical practice often reflects local resources and custom, and exposure to new ways of doing things can be an important learning experience.

Each student undertaking the USydMP is required to spend a minimum of eight weeks of the course on placement in a rural location - the requirement of the rural placement is limited to Australia. Four of these weeks are usually spent working in rural general practice and other community-based clinical services during the Community Rotation. Other opportunities for rural experience exists throughout the rest of the course (see below) and students are expected to take advantage of these opportunities to obtain at least four more weeks of rural experience.

With the establishment of the Dubbo Clinical School, the Faculty of Medicine is also aiming for 25% of each yearly cohort to undertake 50% of their clinical time in the Dubbo Clinical School region. Students allocated to the Dubbo Clinical School spend extended periods in stages 3 to 4 (usually up to 32 weeks - equivalent to one academic year) in the Dubbo Clinical School region.

In addition, both

continue to give support for the general course program at their sites, as well as providing student orientation, accommodation, teaching, library services and educational facilities. The rural experiences of University of Sydney Medical Program extend across the length and breadth of NSW.

Other opportunities for rural experience

Opportunities exist for rural experience outside the Community Rotation. Students can choose from the following options, based on resource availability:

  • Options of up to one week during Stages 1 and 2 of the USydMP. These must be individually negotiated by students with rural practitioners, and must meet the requirements laid down for Options during the course. (see Introduction to Stages 1 & 2 - Options)
  • Rural hospital placements during the Integrated Clinical Attachments of Stage 3. Availability varies between Clinical Schools.
  • Rural placements during the Psychological Medicine and Child and Adolescent Health Rotations in Stage 4.
  • Students who are interested in working in one or more rural locations during their Elective Term are encouraged to do so. The assessment and other course requirements of the term must, of course, be met.
  • Five-week placements with country hospitals during the Pre-Internship (PRINT) Term. Such placements must be approved by the PRINT Committee, and course requirements of the term must be met.
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Scholarships for rural experience

There are several types of scholarships available to students to help them gain experience in rural medicine. The best way to obtain up-to-date information on them is to search for scholarships on:

In addition, the National Rural Health Alliance administers the RAMUS Scheme on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing:

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MIRAGE

Multidisciplinary Interest in Rural And General health Education (MIRAGE) is the student club which caters for University of Sydney students with an interest in rural career options.

The University has two major health faculty campuses, the main city campus and Lidcombe campus, and activities are undertaken on both.

MIRAGE implements local activities, excursions and skills-training programs, and provides input and student members for scholarship interview panels. Faculty staff provide input and support for MIRAGE via the Rural Careers Project Steering Committee.

Website: www.mirage.soc.usyd.edu.au

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