Thursday, 19 February 2009

The University of Western Australia has recorded its highest intake of country students into the School of Medicine since introducing the Rural Student Program nine years ago aimed at boosting the number of doctors in rural and remote regions.

Forty students from rural Western Australia will have a healthy career choice when they commence their medical studies at UWA on Monday 23 February. That represents one in four first year medical students, compared with one in 25 when the program started.

Professor Ian Puddey, Dean of the Faculty, said the increase suggested the program was helping more rural students to realise their potential and that would ultimately benefit regional WA.

"I think there is an increased awareness that a career in medicine is really achievable for rural students and there is strong evidence to suggest that many of those students will return to the regions to practise," Professor Puddey said.

Student support coordinator, Sue Pougnault facilitates 16 workshops a year for students in Years 10, 11 and 12 from Broome to Esperance, raising the awareness of medicine as an achievable career.

"I am so pleased for all the rural and remote students - I have been working with some of them over a number of years and to see their dedication and commitment pay off as they reach their ultimate goal of getting into medicine is very special to me,"

This year's student intake come from; Karratha, Broome, Exmouth/Dandaragan, Mingenew, Geraldton, Kalannie, Cunderdin, Mandurah, Harvey, Bunbury, Busselton, Manjimup, Gnowangerup, Albany/Denmark, Esperance, Kalgoorlie/Boulder, Southern Cross.

Last year 22 rural WA students who were part of the Rural Student Program graduated from the School of Medicine.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Student Support Coordinator Sue Pougnault can be contacted to arrange interviews with individual students on Friday 20 February.

Media references

Sue Pougnault (Student Support Coordinator) (+61 8) 9346 7245 / (+61 4) 19 174 860
Sally-Ann Jones (UWA Public Affairs) (+61 8) 6488 7975 / (+61 4) 20 790 098

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