Will Hunter, Yorke Peninsula Country Times
Rural medicine has received a boost as regional Australia continues to face a severe shortage of general practitioners and healthcare staff.
The federal government has allocated $114.2 million over four years to permanently increase the number of Commonwealth-supported placements available to rurally trained university students.
It is hoped more doctors will be tempted to practise in rural areas, with a portion of the funds to be utilised for new regional training facilities.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners rural chairperson Associate Professor Michael Clements said he hoped the move would increase access to essential health and medical services for those in regional communities.
“The RACGP has long been calling for government to facilitate more regional and rural placements for medical school students to encourage future doctors to live and work outside of major cities,” he said.
“We need more future doctors not only studying in the bush but having a positive experience immersing themselves in a rural community.
“Only then can we hope to break the magnetic bind that cities have on our future workforce.”
Kadina Memorial School graduate Tarran Dunn is currently studying a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Adelaide.
He said he hoped to return to the region upon completing his training to help alleviate the pressures faced in regional healthcare settings.
“Growing up, I found it insane we have a massive hospital in Wallaroo but still rely so heavily on services in Adelaide,” he said. “I know personally of cases where people present to hospital with something reasonably minor but still need to be transported to Adelaide as we simply don’t have the services available.”
Mr Dunn obtained a Commonwealth supported place through the Bonded Medical Program in which a portion of his HECS-HELP debt is paid in exchange for a minimum of three years of service in rural medicine.
“This doesn’t concern me as I will probably work most of my years in rural medicine anyway,” he said.
“I think offering students a CSP serves as a good incentive and although there’ll be a few people from the city who move out and complete their mandatory service time, hopefully more people overall are exposed to rural medicine and how good it can be as a result.
“Often times, the best doctors you find in the country are those who tried practising rurally for a few years and, through their experience, found out how much they love being in the regions.
“To anyone thinking of studying medicine, do it — and take up the countless opportunities to do parts of your studies rurally.
“These experiences have shaped a lot of my ideals and convinced me even more so to continue pursuing regional medicine.”
This article appeared in the Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 25 July 2023.
