*CSU and WSU to hold community forum on Thursday 13 September to share ideas and information about the joint program in medicine

*Invited community members from across Central West to hear presentations from university leaders and contribute ideas

*CSU and WSU will follow up with a full-day Curriculum Planning Workshop to identify the distinct needs of rural health in medical education

Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Western Sydney University (WSU) will hold the first community event on Thursday 13 September to share ideas and planning information on the joint program in medicine.

CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann and WSU Dean of Medicine Professor Annemarie Hennessy will speak at the Foundation Community Forum.

The Foundation Community Forum enables invited community members and other stakeholders to ask questions, share information, and contribute ideas to the planning for the joint program in medicine.

The joint program in medicine is a partnership between CSU and WSU to establish a medical school based in Orange, with the first student cohort for an undergraduate medical degree to commence in 2021.

Professor Vann said the medical school will help to ensure rural and regional Australians will have the same access to high quality healthcare services as city-based Australians.

“Our partnership with WSU to establish a medical school in Orange will improve health outcomes for Australians living and working in rural and regional Australia,” said Professor Vann.

“We are excited to talk with the community about the progress of the joint program in medicine, which will focus on ensuring the program delivers the distinctive outcomes that meet the needs of our regional communities.”

WSU’s Professor Hennessy said the Foundation Community Forum would be followed by the first full-day curriculum planning workshop on Friday 14 September to understand the specific needs of rural and regional health in medical education.

“These events mark another stage in the collaboration between Western Sydney University and Charles Sturt University to progress the joint program in medicine,” Professor Hennessy said.

“The joint program in medicine will not only provide a world-class education for medical students, it will ensure graduates have the capabilities required for effective rural medical practice.”

The events on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 September will be held at CSU in Orange.