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One in four students offered places to study medicine at The University of Western Australia this year will come from a rural background.

A record percentage of rural students have been offered places to study medicine at UWA, at the undergraduate level and the graduate medical program.

The final intake of 42 rural students (15 graduate and 27 undergraduate) were part of a special program - the ‘choose medicine' Rural Student Recruitment Program (RSR).  The program has succeeded in increasing the percentage for the undergraduate medical degree from only five per cent of places in 2001 to 25 per cent in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

The same spectacular success has been seen in the Graduate Medical Program which in 2005 had a rural intake of five per cent, but only three years later has reached its target of 25 per cent.

The RSR program identifies students through rural and remote areas of Australia who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine.  It provides support and mentoring to these students who often have to overcome enormous obstacles in educational opportunities, distance and support to fulfil their dreams.

The RSR program commenced in 2000, and in 2007 saw the highest number of rural students applying for the undergraduate and graduate medicine programs at UWA.  Of the 42 successful rural students 41 are based permanently in Western Australia.

This year's undergraduate rural students are from towns and regional centres around the State including Broome, Kalgoorlie, Manjimup, Kondinin, Collie, Geraldton, Bridgetown, Bunbury and Mandurah.

They will be attending the Rural Orientation Seminar on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 in the Conference Room, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences UWA commencing at 11.15am.

Students will be available for interview.

Media references

Sue Pougnault (Student Support Coordinator)  61 8  9346 7323  /  0419 174 860
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  61 8  6488 5563  /  0432 637 716