More rural medical student placements on the way

Universities can now apply for additional Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) for rural-trained medical students, in what has been described as a ‘boost for rural healthcare’.
 
The 80 new CSPs will be in place permanently from 2024 and are being supported by a funding allocation of $114.2 million over four years. The Federal Government has also confirmed that it is investing up to $82 million in rural medical school infrastructure.
 
‘Growing medical training across rural and regional Australia will improve access to medical care for people living outside of major cities,’ Assistant Rural and Regional Health Minister Emma McBride said.
 
‘We know that maximising rural clinical training opportunities leads to students far more likely to choose to practise in rural and regional communities.
 
‘This initiative does more than just provide improved healthcare. It improves the educational, economic and social outcomes of our rural and regional communities.’
 
Universities with medical schools, or who have partnered with an existing medical school, will be eligible to apply for additional CSPs and for funding to invest in new regional and rural training facilities through GrantConnect, with successful applicants likely to be notified from August.
 
RACGP Rural Chair Associate Professor Michael Clements said the investments represent a boost for regional healthcare that he hopes will have a significant impact on improving access to essential health and medical services.
 
‘The RACGP has long been calling for government to facilitate more regional and rural placements for medical school students to encourage future doctors to live and work outside of major cities,’ he said.
 
‘At the end of the day, you can’t be what you can’t see. We need more future doctors not only studying in the bush but having a positive experience immersing themselves in a rural community.
 
‘Only then can we hope to break the magnetic bind that cities have on our future workforce.’ 
 
However, while Associate Professor Clements has welcomed the move, he also said the next challenge is encouraging more medical students to take up a career in general practice.
 
‘I think if more medical students had greater exposure to general practice and we were able to improve the portability of entitlements through GP training, we could boost the GP workforce,’ he said.
 
‘The college will keep up the fight on that front, because as things stand, we are facing an estimated shortfall of more than 11,000 GPs by 2032 and this problem is particularly pronounced outside of major cities.’
 
Associate Professor Clements also welcomed the investment in new infrastructure.
 
‘Adequate infrastructure is crucial to support comprehensive medical training and ensure that medical students have access to modern facilities and resources. They deserve nothing but the best,’ he said.
 
‘By providing funding for these new facilities, the Government is taking a proactive step in addressing the infrastructure needs of medical schools in regional areas, making them more attractive destinations for medical students and increasing the likelihood of graduates choosing rural practice.
 
‘This announcement is timely, particularly given a recent report found that each person in rural Australia is missing out on nearly $850 a year of healthcare access, which equates to a total annual rural health spending deficit of $6.5 billion.
 
‘We have a long way to go, and this is a small yet important step forward in bridging the gap and boosting rural healthcare.’
 
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