Broome welcomes 14 new students from the Rural Clinical School of WA to the city

A new cohort of students from the Rural Clinical School of WA have arrived in Broome, with the 14 trainee doctors set to work at Broome Hospital and clinics around the city over the coming year.

The 10 penultimate and four final year students in Broome are joined by seven other students in Kimberley, three in Derby and four in Kununurra.

A collaboration between the medical schools of the University of WA, the University of Notre Dame and Curtin University, RCSWA offers year-long rural internships to medical students in their last two years of undergraduate studies.

RCSWA Director Dr. Andrew Kirke said program participants were encouraged to enroll after hearing about positive experiences from previous students.

“The program has been consistently popular and has grown over the past five years with its expansion to Curtin University and the addition of senior year internships,” he said.

“Students, after a great time in the country, asked if they could come back and talked to their classmates, who then wanted to come too.

“We show the students all the great things about country life and medicine. . . From their point of view it’s exciting work, they know it’s challenging in the countryside, but that’s what attracts them.”

About 50 percent of RCSWA graduates complete some type of rural internship as physicians, and 25 percent begin long-term internships of up to five years in rural areas.

Broome Rural Clinical School’s medical coordinator, Dr. Rachel Hall said the students enjoyed their time studying and enjoying the Broome sunshine.

“They are all very happy to be here and should have a great year ahead,” she said.

Students also have the opportunity to continue working in the countryside after graduation with 25 year-long rural internships offered each year by the WA Country Health Service.

Other rural hospitals involved this year include Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Collie, Esperance, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Narrogin, Port Hedland and Warren Blackwood in Manjimup.

WHERE THEY GOED

Albany: 12 penultimate students and six seniors

Broome: 10 penultimate students and four final year students

Bunbury: 12 penultimate students and six final year students

Busselton: 10 penultimate students

Collie (new location for 2023): Four penultimate students

Derby: Three penultimate students

Esperance: Four penultimate students

Geraldton: 12 penultimate students and four final year students

Kalgoorlie: 12 penultimate students

Karratha: Seven penultimate students

Kununurra: Four penultimate students

Narrogin: Four penultimate students

Port Hedland: Seven students

Warren Blackwood (Bridgetown): Six penultimate students