Rural medical students mentor peers towards university medicine

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 4 Nov, 23:21 · Archive

Two medical students have founded Rural Rounds to help country teenagers pursue medicine despite science shortages.

Rural medical students Eliza O'Sullivan from Bendigo, Victoria, and Brooke McDonald from Castlemaine have founded Rural Rounds to help country teenagers pursue medicine. The organisation mentors and coaches regional and disadvantaged students on university applications and career pathways.

Rural students face substantial barriers to entering medical school. Many country high schools do not offer chemistry, and students must travel for science classes, learn via distance or forego them altogether. Students seeking medical careers often rely on television dramas for information and face pressure to achieve university entrance scores of 99 and above whilst competing with well-resourced city peers. Small town healthcare has also centralised over decades, limiting work experience opportunities.

Ms O'Sullivan told AAP: 'If you don't see many people in the career, that certainly makes it harder to imagine how you could do it. You need someone in your corner.' Research shows rurally-raised medical students are more likely to remain in regional areas to fill long-term doctor shortages. However, complex policies can force junior doctors out of rural areas during their final training years. O'Sullivan said country backgrounds should be viewed as an advantage: 'There are challenges, but it's a strength.'

How it is being reported

• Rural medical students are just what the doctor orderedTwo young medical students are helping rural teenagers get into university as country high schools face science teacher shortages and bush hospitals shrink.Perth Now · 4 Nov, 23:05
• Rural medical students are just what the doctor orderedTwo young medical students are helping rural teenagers get into university as country high schools face science teacher shortages and bush hospitals shrink.The West Australian · 4 Nov, 23:05

In this story: Eliza O'Sullivan · Brooke McDonald · Rural Rounds · Bendigo · Castlemaine · Victoria

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