2023 Cadet Weekend

RDN, on behalf of the NSW Ministry of Health, offers cadetships to medical students interested in undertaking a medical career. Over the weekend, RDN brought 52 cadets together in Tamworth for the NSW Rural Resident Medical Officer Cadetship 2023 Cadet Weekend. 

Cadets took part in networking, educational and social experiences, including a rural doctor panel discussion, regional training hubs, rural preferential recruitment hospital presentations, a regional tour and internship discussion at Tamworth Hospital and a visit to Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service. 

RDN's Future Workforce Program Lead, Eleanor Knight, said the weekend was filled with wonderful opportunities for the cadets to learn and connect: "The event provided cadets with an awesome opportunity to connect with regional medical practitioners, health service providers and former cadets who are now working in rural hospitals. There was a lot of information sharing and a range of social events in a relaxed atmosphere which was very enjoyable," she said. 

Cadets reflect on their experiences

Keith Cole, Baneen Alrubayi and Jean-Baptiste Philibert (pictured) offered us the following reflections on the rich experience of attending the Cadet Weekend.

Keith Cole: 

Having the opportunity to be present at an event like this is a privilege and honour as a proud young Indigenous man from Newcastle Awabakal country. 

As a medical student, one of the biggest privileges was to see the AMS and to hear about their hopes for the future of their organisation. The best thing for me as a 3rd year medical student is I get to see the progression and be here for the next cohort of Cadets. 

It's been great to see what Tamworth has to offer including a tour of the hospital. The staff were friendly and provided an insight into their experiences. Thanks to RDN for organising the weekend and the Ministry of Health (MoH) who fund the Cadet program. 

Baneen Alrubayi:

I am a final year medical student and a recipient of the NSW Future Women Scholarship. The cadetship weekend in Tamworth was a lovely experience. The weekend was informative, covering everything we need to know for our internship applications!

The highlight was to hear about Professor Jenny May AM's unique story and how she carved out a path as a strong female leader in rural health that took her around the globe and eventually back to Tamworth. It was also a fantastic opportunity to meet and network with local doctors and reconnect with the rest of the cadets. I would like to thank the RDN for organising this weekend for us. 

Jean-Baptiste (JB) Philibert:

I am a medical student in Bathurst, as well as the immediate past chair of the National Rural Health Student Network (NRHSN). As a NSW RMO rural cadet, I am privileged to get to travel around country NSW to pick a place to settle in. This weekend I had the opportunity to be welcomed by the diverse and thriving community of Tamworth.

RDN, the hospital and university department of rural health put on a fantastic weekend of learning and sharing, as well as a cheeky game of bowls! We met the fantastic doctors that currently provide state of the art care at the hospital and we would all be so lucky to have the chance to work in this supportive environment next year!

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS:

Applications for the 2023 Cadetship Program will be opening soon. Watch us on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook, or visit the Cadetships homepage of our website to keep up to date.

To learn more about the exciting student opportunities of a rural health career, contact the RDN team at students@nswrdn.com.au or select "Opportunities for students" to subscribe to our mailing list below: