The third year students are part of ANU’s Rural Stream Program which aims to provide students with a whole year, positive rural experience to foster interest and commitment to a rural medical career.

Students will spend the year rotating through the Bega Valley Medical Practice, the Sapphire Coast Medical Practice, the Sapphire Clinic and local hospitals. Students will also be assigned to both local and visiting medical specialists.

“Local general practitioners teach and mentor the students in a rural community context,” said Dr Mark Oakley, Bega academic co-ordinator.

“This is invaluable as they get hands on medical training and they find out about health care in rural Australia.”

“ANU’s Rural Clinical School started sending students to the valley in 2004 and we are now starting to see students return to the area as practising doctors.”

“Last year we had five students so it is pleasing to see that this year six students chose to come to the Bega Valley Shire to continue their medical education.”