Charles Sturt University continues to fill the shortage of rural doctors with four third-year students of the Doctor of Medicine commencing Orientation Week at the Central Tablelands Clinical School in Bathurst on Monday 29 January.

The students continue their studies by being placed at one of the Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine’s nine regional clinical schools which span throughout NSW and extend into country Victoria.

The Orientation Week commenced at Bathurst Health Service on Monday morning where the students - Mr Dylan Byrne and Mr Blake Jones – both from Bathurst, and Ms Sharonee Anton and Ms Molly Wong from other regional communities in NSW met with local clinicians, including the Head of the Charles Sturt Central Tablelands Clinical School Dr Khalid Al-Zubaidi, General Manager for Bathurst Regional Hospital Ms Jo Holden, and dignitaries including The Hon Paul Toole MP and Deputy Mayor Mr Ben Fry.

Charles Sturt Head of the Central Tablelands Clinical School campus Dr Khalid Al-Zubaidi said this was a very important week for the third-year students as it was an exciting step from theory-based learning in the classroom to practical on-the-job experience as the students will be working with practicing doctors, patients and other clinicians in real clinical settings.

“From third-year, our students of the Charles Sturt University Doctor of Medicine are placed at one of our regional clinical schools which is made up of local health services in each area such as the local hospital, GP suites and allied health service providers,” Dr Al-Zubaidi said.

“Students are introduced to clinicians from each service who then provide critical instruction and guidance on patient care to help them develop their clinical skills in real clinical settings.”

Member for Bathurst the Hon Paul Toole MP said he is pleased to see the next generation of health practitioners shining in regional NSW.

“Being a doctor is all about giving back and helping your community,” Mr Toole said.

“It is programs like Charles Sturt’s School of Rural Medicine that is training our next generation of regional doctors, nurses and health staff which we will all need at some point in our lifetime.”

Third-year student Mr Blake Jones said he was very excited to commence his clinical school placement.

“I’m thrilled to start my clinical placement in Bathurst as this is such an exciting milestone in my journey to becoming a doctor,” Mr Jones said.

“There is nothing better than working in real clinical settings with the guidance of practicing doctors and other clinicians who have years’ of experience in helping patients with their health issues.”

During the week the students will be shown around the hospital and introduced to other clinicians around the Bathurst area with whom they will be working with for the next three years. They will also conduct various clinical skills and other competencies such as infection prevention and control.

Fourth-year Doctor of Medicine students at the Central Tablelands Clinical School continue to conduct their placements at the same locations as the commencing third-year students.

The Doctor of Medicine is conducted from Charles Sturt University in Orange at the School of Rural Medicine. Students spend their first two years of study on campus and then move to one of the regional clinical schools in their third year, where they remain until they complete their studies at the end of the fifth year.

Dr Al-Zubaidi said the time students spent at their regional clinical school locations was invaluable when it came to skills development and community connection.

“The aim is that after students spend three years in their regional clinical school’s location, they will have developed strong connections and relationships with local service providers and community members, after which time they strongly consider settling in that area,” Dr Al-Zubaidi said.

For more information on the Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine’s Doctor of Medicine visit the Charles Sturt website here.

ENDS