• Applications for the Charles Sturt University and Western Sydney University Joint Program in Medicine are now open
• Prospective medicine students can apply for admission through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) from now until Wednesday 30 September
• First cohort of medicine students will commence their studies at Charles Sturt in Orange in February 2021

Applications for entry into the inaugural Charles Sturt University and Western Sydney University Joint Program in Medicine are now open.

Prospective students have until Wednesday 30 September to apply for the course through the Universities Admission Centre (UAC), with students from rural and regional backgrounds strongly encouraged to apply.

The five-year undergraduate Doctor of Medicine will be delivered at the Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine in Orange and will train highly skilled medical graduates, in the regions, to boost the regional health workforce and improve regional health outcomes.

Associate Head of the Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine Professor Damien Limberger (pictured left above) said the opening of the application process is an exciting milestone for the program and signifies the University is one step closer to training future doctors for rural and regional Australia.

“It is my pleasure to announce applications for the Charles Sturt University and Western Sydney University Joint Program in Medicine are now open,” Professor Limberger said.

“This is an important and celebratory milestone for the program and brings us one step closer to training medical students in country Australia who will go on to practice in our rural and regional communities.”

Dean of Rural Medicine in the Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine Professor Lesley Forster said the program provides students with the opportunity to learn in a hands-on environment while preparing for a rewarding career in medicine.

“If you are interested in a career in rural medicine and helping Australians outside of metropolitan areas access high-quality healthcare, I encourage you to look into this course,” Professor Forster said.

“Having worked as a doctor in regional and rural communities, I know first-hand the truly valuable contribution rural and regional doctors make and the rewarding and fulfilling career they can lead.”

The first cohort of 37 students will commence their studies in Orange in February next year. All of the teaching and clinical placements for the course will take place in rural and regional areas of NSW.

The curriculum for the course has been designed for rural contexts, taking into account the healthcare needs of rural communities and the capabilities of local health services.

Under the Rural Entry Admissions Scheme, the ATAR requirement for rural and regional applicants is 91.5. For non-rural applicants, the ATAR requirement is 95.5. Additional entry and admission requirements are listed on the Charles Sturt website.

Students will be taught in a supportive community environment, which includes state-of-the-art teaching facilities, small class sizes, and a personalised teaching approach.

The program will also include a multidisciplinary approach where students are provided with opportunities to learn and train alongside Charles Sturt’s allied health and nursing students.

Many of the lecturers, tutors and supervisors will be practising rural and regional medical doctors and allied health professionals.

Prospective students from the Central West region of NSW who are interested in the medicine course can also apply for one of three $25,000 scholarships generously funded by the Central NSW Joint Organisation.

Scholarships valued at $5,000 and $20,000 that were funded by the Central West Medical Association before its closure are also available to medical students originating from rural Western NSW.

Further information about the University’s scholarships is available on the Charles Sturt scholarship webpage.

More information about the Doctor of Medicine is available on the Charles Sturt website or by phoning 1800 275 278.

Prospective students must apply through UAC and select Doctor of Medicine - Charles Sturt University/Western Sydney, Orange campus (UAC course code 725505) as one of their preferences.

On completion of the course, graduates will be qualified to commence work as a medical intern (pre-vocational training) within the hospital system and in the future be able to apply for a vocational specialist training program, such as general practice, surgery or other medical specialties.