Regional Training Hub
The Northern NSW Regional Training Hub (NNSWRTH) is a partnership between the Northern NSW Local Health District and UCRH. We are one of 26 regional training hubs across the country funded through the Commonwealth Government’s Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Program, each working to build medical training pathways within a region and guide students and trainees. We were founded in 2018 and work hard to help students find their path to a rural medical career.
Our Services
- Medical workforce development
- Medical education delivery and support
- Career pathway guidance
- Rural generalist pathway advocacy
- College accreditation support
- Integrated Rural Pipeline Enhancement
- Clinical supervisor education
Destination Medicine
Tune in for the lowdown on being a rural doctor! The Destination Medicine podcast started as a collaboration between four rural NSW regional training hubs including ours and has grown with many other hubs now contributing to the series. Each episode brings the story of a doctor and their journey into rural medicine. The idea is to help anyone who thinking about a career as a rural doctor make informed decisions and navigate the journey with greater confidence.
Episodes are available via the Destination Medicine website or via your favourite podcast provider.
How to become a rural doctor?
Rural and regional communities need more doctors.
To find out how you can pursue a medical career in these regions, please look at the pathway below. We can provide more detailed information and support to help you as you progress from step to step.
Complete a university medical degree
Successfully complete Year 12 or obtain your undergraduate degree.
Take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) or the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) admission test.
Generally if you want to pursue undergraduate medicine you will sit the UCAT, while the GAMSAT is usually required for those interested in a postgraduate medicine degree.
Complete an internship
An internship is a one-year phase after your university training where you undergo supervised clinical training within an accredited hospital.
Interns receive provisional registration from the Medical Board of Australia and attain full registration upon successfully completing their intern year.
Most hospitals operate with five rotation blocks throughout the year, each lasting 10 to 12 weeks for interns. To help recruit interns for rural positions, you can apply for Rural Preferential Recruitment position. Rural hospitals reserve specific positions for RPR applicants, ensuring that you can access optimal training opportunities.
Complete a residency
After completing your internship, a junior doctor progresses to the role of a resident medical officer (RMO). Typically, RMOs dedicate a year or more to working within a hospital before choosing a specialisation.
After you complete a residency, many doctors consider a specialised training pathway. This involves either applying to become a registrar of a specialist college or pursuing additional general training as a Senior Resident Medical Officer (SRMO). Many rural training hospitals offer additional training positions for SRMOs and registrars interested in rural medicine.
Become a registrar
After a residency, most junior doctors commence shaping a more defined medical career, opting for a specific specialty area for further training. Some choose a highly specific focus, while others continue with broader training in a more defined field, such as critical care.
To become a registrar, junior doctors must apply for and gain acceptance into the training programs offered by the college of their preference.
General practice training can be completed in rural communities, and many specialties can be predominantly pursued in various rural hospitals.
Fellowship
After you have completed your selected college’s specialty training program, you are entitled to practice medicine independently, whether as a general practitioner, a specialist physician or a surgeon.
Resources & Links
- Regional Medical Training (Medical Training Opportunities in Southern Regional Australia)
- Northern NSW Local Health District
- Healthy North Coast
- NSW Rural Doctors Network
- Northern Rivers Doctors Network
- Australian College for Emergency Medicine
- Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
- Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
- College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
- Royal Australasian College of Physicians
- Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
- Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators
- Royal College of Pathologists of Australia
Contact
- NNSWLHD-LIS-RTH@health.nsw.gov.au
- 0417 110 930
- 02 6624 0200
- Level 4 Crawford House, Hunter Street Lismore NSW 2480
