“What really attracted me to the End-to-End Cohort was the fact that it was a 2.5 year dedication to rural placement. While this may be daunting to some, I saw this as a great opportunity to get properly immersed within rural culture and to develop a deeper understanding of the rural health disparities, which are extremely prevalent in this day and age. I knew I always wanted to do at least some rural, as I really wanted to be close to the forefront of patient care rather than watching from afar.

The End-to-End program encourages you to experience the rural health system very early on in your studies, a time where you are still learning the foundational clinical skills. As the teams tend to be smaller in rural hospitals, I have felt like a valued member of the treating team; I have been given plenty of opportunities to take notes, perform assessment exams, see my own patients and chase results.

Getting involved with the community has definitely been a highlight of my rural placements so far. I got a part-time job, joined social netball and a local running club and made many new friends, some of which were health staff working at the hospital! Seeing friendly familiar faces down the hospital corridors really made me feel part of the community and made the whole rural experience even more enjoyable.

I’ve also been involved with MUMUS Teddy Bear Hospital for 3 years now and have been fortunate enough to hold various roles. In my first year, I was the Year A representative and helped organize some of the Gippsland events under the supervision of the rural events coordinator. Last year in Mildura, I was the rural events coordinator for the area and was lucky enough to facilitate 4 different primary school events throughout the Mallee region for Year 3B-5D students to attend. I also organized some events that the visiting Year 2 students to attend during their rural rotation week. This role was a great way to get involved with the community and I found it incredibly rewarding. We often got feedback from teachers and other staff saying the impact that Teddy Bear Hospital has had on their school.”

Learn more about the Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine

Learn more about the End-to-End Rural Cohort