• Charles Sturt University’s School of Rural Medicine launches new premises in Bathurst central business district
• The expansion supports the next phase of the School’s Central Tablelands Clinical School which caters for student doctors in their third, fourth and fifth year
• The premises provide study space, a clinical simulation room and all related facilities for students to maximise their studies in their final years while on placement
• The expansion highlights the University’s commitment to training and retaining future doctors in rural areas.  

Charles Sturt University’s School of Rural Medicine has celebrated another milestone with the launch of new premises for the Central Tablelands Clinical School in Bathurst.

Located at 102 William Street, the facility has been created to cater for students on placement in their third, fourth and fifth year who are studying the Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine) / Doctor of Medicine.

The Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine) / Doctor of Medicine is being jointly delivered between Charles Sturt University and Western Sydney University under the Joint Program in Medicine (JPM) which was launched in 2021 at Charles Sturt in Orange.

Charles Sturt Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Renée Leon, PSM said the school had made a remarkable impact on rural and regional communities in the short time it had operated.

“The Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine has received roughly 800 applications every year from prospective doctors since it opened,” Professor Leon said.

“This shows the continuing, critical demand for rural and regional doctors and the vital support our school gives these communities by producing much-needed doctors in areas that need it most.

“Our hope is that one day, local people may not have to wait lengthy periods, or travel to bigger metropolitan areas for health services they simply can’t go without.”

The new premises cater to students who are conducting their placements between third, fourth and fifth year, and offer a study space, a clinical simulation room and a library area.

Mr Blake Jones, a third-year student from Bathurst who is currently studying through the Central Tablelands Clinical School is looking forward to having a central location to frequent in between placement activities.

“The new space will provide a great base for us to study, participate in tutorials and practice clinical skills in the simulation room,” Mr Jones said.

“It’s great to connect with peers and lecturers in person, building relationships and collaborating in groups, which is so important for us on our path to becoming doctors.”

Independent Member for Calare, the Hon. Andrew Gee, MP, said:

"I, along with the university and community members fought long and hard for the Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine to reduce the outrageous and unfair healthcare gap between country and city people,” Mr Gee said.

“The day it opened; country Australia breathed a sigh of relief as it marked the beginning of rural doctors finally being trained in our local country communities for practice in the country, for locals.

"This medical school and the graduates it produces are going to make a crucial contribution to the health of rural and regional Australians for generations to come."

A key objective of the school is that by training future doctors locally, many will stay as practicing doctors in rural communities experiencing healthcare shortages. 

The placements being conducted through the nine Charles Sturt Clinical schools under the Joint Program in Medicine (JPM) sees third-year students undergo the Rural Generalist Placement Program (RGPP) in areas across New South Wales and into Northern Victoria.

During the students’ third, fourth and fifth years of study they bring their skills and knowledge to local residents, first-hand by rotating through local hospitals, GP clinics and other healthcare services.    

Dean of the Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine, Professor Lesley Forster, said it was fantastic to see the school go from strength to strength.

“Providing these premises is not only a significant achievement for the University, but also for the Bathurst community and broader healthcare networks in the region,” Professor Forster said.

“The students gain real-world skills in clinical settings while assisting with providing vital healthcare skills as they develop community connections, which lay the foundation for living in these communities long-term.”

The Charles Sturt Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine) / Doctor of Medicine is a five-year undergraduate degree.

Since the inception of the Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine there has been a total of 150 students enrolled to become practicing doctors. Within each year group there are approximately 37 students, spanning from first-year through to fourth-year students.

In 2025, the Central Tablelands Clinical School will welcome 11 students to utilise the new facilities. This will be comprised of four students in their third year of study, three students in their fourth year, and four students in their fifth and final year.

There are nine clinical schools established through the Rural Generalist Placement Program. These schools aim to allow students to study in a region where they intend to work. The schools include:

• Central Tablelands Clinical School, covering Bathurst and Mudgee
• Central West Clinical School, covering Forbes, Parkes, Grenfell, Cowra
• Orange Clinical School
• Hastings Macleay Clinical School, covering South-West Rocks, Kempsey and Wauchope
• Mallee Clinical School, covering Swan Hill and Deniliquin
• Murray Clinical School, covering Albury, Beechworth, Corryong, Corowa
• Murrumbidgee Clinical School, covering Hay, Lake Cargelligo, Hillston and Griffith
• Northern Rivers Clinical School, covering Macksville, Nambucca Heads, Bowraville and Bellingen
• Riverina Clinical School, covering Finley, Temora and Wagga Wagga

ENDS