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Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetships
Rural Doctors Network (RDN), on behalf of the NSW Ministry of Health, is offering cadetships to medical students interested in undertaking a medical career in rural NSW.
There are two types of cadetships. This page outlines the NSW Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetship. Learn more about the Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetships for Indigenous Medical Students here.
- About the cadetships
- What are the benefits of a cadetship?
- How are payments made to cadets?
- Who is eligible?
- How to apply
- Find out more
About the Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetship
Successful applicants receive up to $15,000 per year for the final two years of 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.
Cadets in their final year of study 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:
- coastal NSW locations are not considered eligible for rural service
- students not honouring their commitment to undertake rural placements will be required to pay back all money granted to them.
What are the benefits of a cadetship?
Successful applicants receive:
- $15,000 per year for the final two years of their medical degree
- a relocation grant when moving to a rural location
- subsidised attendance at RDN conferences
- subsidised attendance at Cadet events including the annual RDN cadet road trips to the locations for rural service
- mentoring and support through RDN.
Who is eligible?
- Medical students studying at Australian universities in NSW.
- Medical students studying interstate at an Australian university or in New Zealand and who completed Year 12 in NSW.
Applicants from NSW universities must be enrolled in:
- second year medicine at Macquarie University, the University of Sydney, Wollongong or Notre Dame; or
- third year medicine at Western Sydney University, the University of Newcastle or New England, Charles Sturt University; or
- fourth year medicine at the University of NSW.
Applicants from interstate or New Zealand universities must be enrolled in their third last year of a medical degree.
Bonded Medical Place (BMP) students are eligible to apply.
Applicants must be Australian or New Zealand citizens or permanent residents of Australia.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2025 intake for the Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetships have now closed.
Further information about the program can be found in the Program Guidelines.
MEET RURAL RESIDENT MEDICAL OFFICER CADET MORGAN SEE
It was at a medical information evening during his first year studying Medicine at The University of Wollongong that Morgan See found out about the RDN Cadetship.
"Medicine is the best way I can advocate for people at their most vulnerable time and the Cadetship added another dimension to med school in terms of support," Morgan said.
Morgan credits RDN’s Cadetship for offering more than just financial support, but also networking opportunities, placements, connections and for “broadening the med school experience”.
“It’s unique; it provides an extra layer of support in medical school and professionally,” he said.
“Its biggest offering is a supportive network – from the cadet weekends and conferences at Coogee, it’s the best representation of like-minded people.
“Regardless of where you end up, if you have specific interests, RDN is able to support that with links to mentoring and placements to put your best foot forward,” he said.
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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