“We are absolutely loving it!” Renee’s Bush Bursary experience in Bourke

Renee Oldfield, a former Paramedic from Toowoomba, is completing a two-week Bush Bursary placement in Bourke with fellow University of Notre Dame first year medical student, Grace Higgins.  

Administered by RDN and funded by individual NSW rural councils, Bush Bursaries provide selected medical, midwifery and nursing students in NSW/ACT with financial assistance to cover the costs associated with their placement. 

Halfway through her trip, Renee was interviewed on Outback Mornings, Outback Radio 2WEB and said so far, it’s been “absolutely amazing!” 

 “The community has been really open to us and all the health settings have as well,” Renee said. “We are absolutely loving it!” 

“No matter what I go through with placement and what areas I’m interested in, I will always end up in a rural or remote community!” 

As part of the bush bursary, both women requested to go “as remote as possible” and were “lucky enough to be given Bourke”. 

Grace Higgins, who’s originally from Narrabri, said going rural as part of her career placement was something she always wanted to do. 

“It’s something that, going into med school, I knew that I wanted to do. And so, the moment I got in, I started connecting with the [NSW] Rural Doctors Network to help me as they’re the ones who obviously help with the servicing across NSW. 

“We know how important it is to have health professionals coming out to these communities and also staying in these communities is really important, so you have the continuity of care… so we are definitely hoping to do that in the future!” 

Listen to the full interview with Grace and Renee on Outback Radio 2WEB. 

Pictured L-R: Pat Canty from Western NSW Local Health District with medical students Renee Oldfield and Grace Higgins. Credit: The Western Herald