News Archive

A total of 33 rural students, from as north as Broome to Albany on the south coast, will begin undergraduate studies this month as the third cohort of The University of Western Australia's program.

The students received an offer from UWA to study graduate medicine via the program which identifies students from throughout rural WA who are interested in medical careers.

Student support coordinator Sue Pougnault, from UWA's Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, said the program provided support and mentoring to students who often had to overcome big obstacles in education opportunities, distance and support to achieve their goals.

"Last year, we ran 23 workshops from Broome to Esperance for rural students in years 10, 11 and 12 which helped raise awareness of medicine as an achievable career," Ms Pougnault said.

"I am so pleased for all the successful rural students - I've worked closely with most of them over a number of years and to see their dedication and commitment to their studies pay off as they reach their ultimate goal is very special for me.

"It's great to see the ongoing success of the Rural School Leaver Pathway in supporting rural students."

UWA's Winthrop Professor Geoff Riley, Head of the Rural Clinical School of WA, said it had long been known that students from a rural background were at least three times more likely to go back to the bush as those from an urban background.

"Of course we would be delighted if all our ‘choose Medicine Rural School Leaver Pathway' students chose to return to the country once they've completed their studies," Professor Riley said.

This year's rural school leavers come from Broome, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Buntine, Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton, Manjimup, Cuballing, Kojonup, Cranbrook, Albany and Denmark.

This week 52 rural students also commenced their studies in the new four year postgraduate Doctor of Medicine at UWA, which represents 25 per cent of the overall intake.

Media references

Sue Pougnault (UWA Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences)  (+61 8)  6488 4851  /  (+61 4) 19 174 860
David Stacey (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716