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Go Rural

Rural road trip for university health care students

Each year, as part of its commitment to growing and supporting the future rural health workforce, RDN organises "Go Rural" student road trips to rural and remote areas of New South Wales. Over four days, Go Rural takes university students out to visit medical facilities and hear from guest speakers, as well as participate in community and cultural events such as farm visits and Aboriginal culture tours. It offers an incredible opportunity for medical, nursing and allied health students to see first-hand the benefits of working rurally and forms part of RDN's program of rural immersion experiences designed to encourage students towards a career in rural health.

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Who can apply?

Go Rural is open to university students enroled in a medical (1st or 2nd year ONLY), nursing, midwifery or allied health degree in NSW/ACT. This includes overseas students. Up to 20 students will be selected to participate in each event.

Cost

Go Rural is funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) and administered by the Rural Doctors Network (RDN).
The program funding covers the cost of:

  • coach transport
  • shared accommodation
  • most meals
  • all activities/tours.

Dates and Itineraries

The second of three Go Rural trips for 2025 will visit Orange, Narromine, Bourke, Coonamble, Dubbo and more, and run from the 5th to the 8th of June.

Applications for this trip are open. 

Keep an eye on this page and our social media, or sign up for our newsletter at the link below to be sure not to miss further details of this trip as they're released!

 

 

See below to learn about the highlights and experiences of recent Go Rural Trips:

Apply now!

Applications for the next Go Rural road trip are open!


Testimonial 

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Nicola Murphy, Doctor of Medicine student at the University of Notre Dame, says the Go Rural trip she took to far western NSW has shown her working rurally doesn’t mean her opportunities are limited.

“Rural communities are so willing to support health professionals, and it’s great to have the opportunity to see that as a doctor, nurse or allied health professional, you are so valued within the community,” she said.

Nicola spent her childhood years growing up on her family’s farm in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, where she says she witnessed the amazing relationships rural GPs can have with their patients.

“I realised I want to have a similar relationship with my patients one day, to guide them in tough times and support them in great times.

“My goal is to become a Rural Generalist and deliver integrated care that supports patients’ physical, mental and emotional health.”

Go Rural provides students like Nicola the opportunity to form connections not only with rural NSW communities but also with her fellow students. Nicola says these networking opportunities are extremely important.

“We are easily influenced at this stage in our careers, so being able to have these experiences as a group is really important.

“Meeting rural health professionals, viewing the facilities in rural communities and imagining ourselves there in the future, has been an excellent experience.”

Nicola Murphy, Doctor of Medicine student at the University of Notre Dame and Go Rural August 2019 participant.

Read more:

 

 

Find out more

Email students@nswrdn.com.au if you would like any help or to learn more about the exciting opportunities of a rural health career.

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