We’ve just welcomed a new cohort of University of Wollongong (UOW) medical students to the Northern Rivers, and we couldn’t be happier to have them here.
There are 11 Phase 3 students joining us from August 2025 through to June 2026. Over the next 10 months, they’ll undertake a longitudinal GP placement, which sees them spend two days per week in a GP setting (under supervision) giving them a chance to develop clinical competence and to understand the demands of rural practice. The students will also spend time in emergency departments across the region, and working on a research project.
We kicked things off with a proper Northern Rivers welcome – a two-day cultural immersion led by our Aboriginal Health Education team, with support from Sophie Pitt, Senior Lecturer, Aboriginal health and Ashlee Williams-Barnes, Indigenous Student Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator, both from from UOW’s Graduate School of Medicine. From weaving with Aunty Tania Marlow in Ballina to walking Country with Aunty Delta Kay in Bangalow, the students got a powerful introduction to the culture, history and health of Aboriginal people in our region.
At UCRH, we believe placements should be more than just clinical experience. They’re a chance to live, learn and grow in one of Australia’s most stunning regions, and to make a real difference in local communities while you’re at it. We offer immersive, hands-on rural placements across all health disciplines, backed by subsidised accommodation, wellbeing support, interprofessional learning, and Aboriginal health education.
To our new students: welcome aboard. We’re so pleased to have you here, and we can’t wait to see what you bring to the Northern Rivers.
