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Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetships for Indigenous Medical Students
Rural Doctors Network (RDN), on behalf of the NSW Ministry of Health, is offering cadetships to Indigenous medical students with a strong intent to undertake a medical career in rural NSW.
There are two types of cadetships. This page outlines the Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetships for Indigenous Medical Students. Learn more about the Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetship here.
Jump to:
- About the cadetships
- Cadet Stories
- What are the benefits of a cadetship?
- How are payments made to cadets?
- Who is eligible?
- How to apply
- Find out more
About the cadetships for indigenous medical students
Successful applicants receive up to $30,000 throughout their medical degree. In return, they agree to undertake two of the first three years of their hospital training in an eligible rural NSW hospital.
In their final year of study, cadets apply for an intern position through the Rural Preferential Recruitment (RPR) process or Aboriginal Medical Workforce pathway administered by the Health, Education and Training Institute (HETI).
Rural service can be undertaken in major NSW hospitals west of the Great Dividing Range, including Tamworth, Dubbo, Orange, Wagga Wagga, Broken Hill and Albury.
Please note that:
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coastal NSW locations are not considered eligible for rural service
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students not honouring their commitment to undertake rural placements will be required to pay back all money granted to them.
There are two pathways for Indigenous student cadets:
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Payments are spread across three years.
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Students are paid in the last two years of their medical degree.
The return of service component for these two pathways is two years.
CADET STORIES
Meet Indigenous Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadet Taylor Glover
Taylor Glover is a Dharawal Woman who grew up in the beautiful Illawarra region and, after a self-described ‘chaotic’ childhood, was fostered at age 13 into a beautiful family whose undivided love and stability empowered her to “strive for higher things”.
It was this support, matched by a fierce determination to “break the cycle of poverty” that saw Taylor become the first person in her family to go to University.
With no contacts or previous knowledge about medical programs and support like the Cadetship offered by RDN, it was a post on RDN’s social media that first alerted Taylor to the prospect of applying for, and benefitting from, a Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetships for Indigenous Medical Students.
“The Cadetship has provided me with an incredible network of friends all around NSW,” Taylor said.
“We always say that we know we’ve found our tribe because we are all so like-minded and supportive of one another.
“Furthermore, the Cadetship has allowed me the financial freedom to complete placements in smaller towns, which comes with travel, accommodation and other miscellaneous costs.”
READ MORE CADET STORIES:
- Shay-Lee Coulson's driving force to "increase the likelihood of a First Nations patient presenting to a First Nations doctor"
- RDN Indigenous Cadets interviewed on ABC Radio
What are the benefits of a cadetship?
Successful applicants receive:
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$30,000 during their degree
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a relocation grant when moving to a rural location
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subsidised attendance at RDN conferences
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subsidised attendance at Cadet events including the annual RDN cadet road trips to the locations for rural service
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mentoring and support through RDN.
How are payments made to cadets?
Pathway 1
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First year - $6,000
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Second year - $12,000
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Third year- $12,000
Pathway 2
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First year - $15,000
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Second year - $15,000
Who is eligible?
Indigenous cadetship eligibility
- Indigenous Australian medical students studying at an Australian university in NSW.
- Indigenous Australian medical students studying interstate at an Australian university or in New Zealand and who completed Year 12 in NSW.
There are two eligibility pathways as an Indigenous Cadet.
Pathway 1
Applicants must be studying medicine in:
- first year at Macquarie University, the University of Sydney, Wollongong or Notre Dame; or
- second year at Western Sydney University, the University of Newcastle or New England, Charles Sturt University; or
- third year at the University of NSW; or
- the fourth last year (with three years remaining) of a medical degree at an interstate Australian University or New Zealand University.
Pathway 2
Applicants must be studying medicine in:
- second year at Macquarie University, the University of Sydney, Wollongong or Notre Dame; or
- third year at Western Sydney University, the University of Newcastle or New England, Charles Sturt University; or
- fourth year at the University of NSW; or
- the third last year (with two years remaining) of a medical degree at an interstate Australian university or New Zealand university.
Applicants must be Australian or New Zealand citizens or permanent residents.
Bonded Medical Place (BMP) holders are eligible to apply.
Pictured: 2021 RDN cadet weekend
How to Apply
Applications for the 2026 intake of the Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetships for Indigenous Medical Students will open in July 2025.
Further information about the program can be found in the Program Guidelines.
More information for students:
Email students@nswrdn.com.au if you would like any more help learning about the exciting opportunities of a rural health career.
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