AS a fifth generation member of a farming family growing up between Delegate and Bombala, Chloe Campbell never gave studying to be a doctor a thought.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"I never thought it would be possible for me, especially with my high school scores and where I lived," she said. "That was something for the city kids really."
Ms Campbell represents a new era of targeted medical student with Charles Sturt University welcoming a federal government program that will wipe the university debt of doctors or nurses who work in rural, remote or regional areas after graduation.
Finding the right students is key, with over 1000 applicants for next year's medical degree intake at CSU of which 38 have been selected.
Ms Campbell, who has studied nursing and is moving into her second year of medicine, represents the candidate needed: she works in small rural hospitals and understands her community's needs.
"I heard about the medicine degree while I was completing my nursing degree through CSU and I realised this was basically the most wonderful opportunity to come to rural students wanting to progress into medicine," she said.
She believes recruiting others like herself, young professionals keen to take another step, is key.
"But also the younger people wanting to pursue a career in medicine. Saying hey, we've set up this opportunity where you can do this, you can go and train remotely.
"Country kids, we understand the struggles of mental health and drought, we understand what these communities go through."
Minister for Regional Health Dr David Gillespie visited Charles Sturt University's medical school at Orange with Member for Calare Andrew Gee on Tuesday.
"Our region fought for years to get this medical school established against entrenched opposition," Mr Gee said. "We can all take pride in the fact that it will be training doctors in the bush for practice in the bush for generations to come."
Almost 500 students each year will undertake nursing, midwifery or medicine studies at the Orange campus.
Ms Campbell believes governments "can throw as much money as they want" to supporting rural people who are passionate about their communities.
"Support the people that have that passion to be there," she said.
Dr Gillespie acknowledge there is an imbalance of services in country health districts.
"We're trying to repopulate the ranks and that's why I announced the initiative to encourage young graduate doctors, who have started their post graduate training to stay and choose to practice in regional areas," he said.
"We've offered fee relief for your HECS debt or your HELP debit if in your first post graduate year you stay and work for a minimum of two years. To get the full fee relief you need to do one year for each one year of your degree.
"Charles Sturt's a five year degree so that would be five years to get your whole HECS debt or HELP debt waved. That is a huge incentive for young Australian-trained doctors to stay and practice in country towns."
The offer also applies to nursing practitioners.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.centralwesterndaily.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Catch up on our news headlines at Google News
HAVE YOUR SAY
Send a letter to the editor using the form below